So at last here is an update. I have lived with this as a half written chapter for so long it almost drove me crazy but I hope I've managed to pull it together.

Thanks for the reviews, for reading and for the favs and follows and to all those still sticking with this story.

Apologies for any mistakes—it's late now and I just need to post this and I don't think I can proof it anymore.

Hope you enjoy. Let me know.

...

Frankie was still on bended knee when Gail and Holly staggered through the door supporting Steve between them. She looked up, her expression morphing from earnest to annoyed, which almost instantly was replaced by comprehension. She sprang up, with Alannah not far behind, and helped manoeuvre Steve to the couch.

'He's been shot,' Alannah said. It was more an observation than a question, but Holly nodded anyway. 'We need to get him to a hospital.' Alannah turned to Frankie. 'Call an ambulance.'

'No, no,' Steve wheezed desperately, 'Chou could have people watching the hospitals. Please, please just patch me up. I need to find Melody.' With great effort Steve went to sit up but he was too weak. Judging by the stain on his shirt, he'd already lost a lot of blood.

'Sorry buddy, you're not going anywhere but hospital,' Alannah said.

This time Steve attempted to stand, swearing as his legs buckled and he collapsed backwards onto the couch. It must have been a strange sight—the four women hovering over Steve, not wanting to psychically restrain him because of his injury and yet forming a kind of corral around him lest he try to slip past. Although given Steve's state, the latter was unlikely.

'What are you doing?' Gail asked as Steve groaned in frustration.

'If you won't help I'm going to look for Melody myself.'

'We didn't say we wouldn't help, Steve. We can figure this out but let Holly and Alannah take a look at you first.'

Holly had retrieved some towels from the linen closet and she pressed one to Steve's shoulder. He hissed in pain and his head fell back.

'There isn't time,' he insisted, but with less fight.

'Steve, how about this, you tell Gail and Frankie about Melody while Alannah and I take a look at you,' Holly suggested, her voice so soothing and reasonable that Steve stilled.

He gave a heavy sigh, which Gail took as assent.

'I don't like this,' Alannah said. 'We need to get Steve into surgery. What if the bullet hit an artery.'

'Then he would have bled out on the way from London,' Holly pointed out. 'Gail, find some scissors. Alannah, get your medical kit. And Frankie, help me get Steve sitting up again.'

Alannah looked across at Frankie, who gave a quick nod. The three women then did as directed; grateful, Gail suspected, to have a purpose. Rachel had once said Holly would have made an excellent ER doctor such was her ability to rapidly and calmly assess, diagnose and treat a patient. When Gail returned with the scissors, Holly started cutting off Steve's shirt.

'Hey, that's one of my favourites,' Steve joked weakly. He had paled markedly and his brow was covered in sweat.

'It's a pimp shirt,' Gail retorted as she gently helped Holly pull off the remainder of the garment.

Surely Steve realised he was in no state to go searching for Melody, but then he possessed a stubbornness that Elaine had always mistaken for tenacity. Although, in hindsight perhaps that was just spin. After all, her mother had admitted that she always regarded Steve as the weaker of her two children.

Gail held her breath as Holly and Alannah took their time examining his shoulder.

'It's a flesh wound. Clean exit,' Holly surmised after what seemed to Gail like an eternity but in reality was no more than seconds.

'You're lucky the bullet didn't hit a major artery,' Alannah said. 'This may sting.' She held up a syringe with anaesthetic before pushing it into Steve's good arm. He barely seemed to register, instead feverishly launching into an account of what had happened back in London.

'Cormann must have found out Melody was undercover. He and some other guy turned up at the house. They shot me and took Melody.' Steve pushed a hand into the pocket of his jeans, forcing Holly and Alannah, who were in the process of cleaning the wound with a saline solution, to stop their ministrations. Wincing with the effort, Steve pulled out his phone. 'Here', he held it out to Gail. 'Cormann sent me a message. He wants to do a trade. Listen.'

Gail recognised Cormann's voice immediately. 'Here's the deal Steve, if you want to see Melody again we need safe passage out of Canada and get your sister and that other dyke detective to back off. Reckon you can do that? If not, well—' Cormamn made a popping sound to indicate a gun shot. 'And if you don't think I'm serious,' he paused, 'go on Melody, tell your boyfriend what I have planned for you.'

There was scuffling and then Melody spoke. 'I'm okay Steve,' she said, but Gail could tell from the strain in her voice that she was scared. There was the sound of a slap and Melody gave a little cry.

'That's not what I told you to say,' Cormann growled. 'Go on now.'

Someone, a man by the sounds of it, started to remonstrate with Cormann but then the phone cut out abruptly.

'When was this sent?' Gail asked.

'Twenty minutes ago. Maybe half an hour,' Steve said. 'I was already on the road.'

'Good. It's unlikely Cormann would have done anything rash in so short a time.' Gail didn't have to spell it out. Chances were Melody was still alive, but she'd become a liability the longer this dragged on. 'We can put a trace on that number.'

'No police,' Steve said, gripping Gail's wrist so tightly she almost cried out. 'I called back. It rang out. They would have tossed the phone.'

'What about Melody's phone?' Frankie asked.

'She left it in the house.' Steve lowered his head dejectedly. 'Shit. I don't know why we're even bothering. Cormann has probably killed Melody by now.'

'Except if he wanted Melody dead he would have shot her, not kidnapped her,' Gail reasoned, her tone gentle. 'Melody is safe as long as Cormann sees her as a bargaining chip. That other guy who was with Cormann—was he about thirty, black hair, lean.'

Steve nodded.

'Costa Dukas. I asked you about him. His stepfather is Melody's godfather. Costa might be the reason they took her alive.'

'God, I hope you're right.' Steve shifted in his seat, his agitation starting to build again.

'Okay so,' Gail rubbed a hand over her face. She didn't want to admit she was at a loss. They might be lucky, but based on experience she knew it would take more than just she and Frankie to find Melody. They needed the resources of the police department and even that might not be enough. None of this would have been news to Steve and yet he was adamant that Gail didn't send for back up.

'Call Elaine,' Steve said.

'Does she have the authority to make a deal?' Gail asked.

'I don't know,' Steve's head fell back on the couch again, his despair palpable. 'Please, please just call her. She'll know what to do.'

'Maybe you should,' Holly said to Gail softly.

It wasn't like Steve to beg. What harm was there in calling Elaine, Gail reasoned. Unless, of course, Elaine and Steve were colluding with Chou. But it wasn't as if Gail had a lot of options. She could call Oliver—he'd always get her out of a jam. But if it turned out Steve and Elaine were mixed up in something criminal, Gail wouldn't forgive herself for getting Ollie involved, especially as he almost went down once before because of Steve.

'It's worth a shot,' Frankie said.

'Yeah, yeah, okay,' Gail bit her lip as she pulled out her phone. Elaine answered on the first ring.

'Gail,' she said tersely. It sounded as though she was in a car. 'I'm only a few blocks away.'

'You know about Steve?'

'Has he reached you.'

'Yeah, he was shot.' Gail didn't bother sugar coating it.

'I am aware.' Elaine sounded impatient. 'That's why I sent him to you.'

'You sent—oh okay.' Gail bit her lip again. How was it that she still let Elaine make her feel like an idiot.

'Whatever you do, do not take Steve to a hospital. It's not safe. And consider that an order.'

'Yes mom,' Gail all but rolled her eyes. 'I guess you know about Melody too.'

'Yes. She is our priority right now. Are you and Detective Anderson carrying weapons?'

'Yeah.' Even though Francine had been arrested, Gail still carried her service pistol, even off duty, and Frankie never went anywhere without a gun, proposal or no proposal.

'Good. I need you ready to head out when I get there. And Gail—'

'What?'

'No back up.' With that Elaine rang off.

For Steve's sake, Gail didn't react, even though her first impulse was to swear and fling her phone again a wall like she was a teenager again. Elaine still had that affect on her. Gail had walked a little away from the group to make the call and now she felt their eyes on her, expectant.

'What did Mom say? Has she found Melody ?' Steve asked.

If only it was so easy, Gail thought as she filled them in on the conversation. When she got to the part about she, Frankie and Elaine going to look for Melody, Holly glanced up. 'Just the three of you?' she asked, trying to keep her expression neutral, but little furrows had appeared in her brow, making it clear to Gail that she was worried.

'Shouldn't we get back up?' Frankie asked. 'Put an APB out.'

'I said no police,' Steve shook his head so vigorously that Alannah and Holly had to stop what they were doing. 'There are people on the force who want Melody dead.'

'Bent cops?' Gail asked.

'Yeah. Mom's been running an undercover op. You were right about Chou. He is trafficking women, except it's way bigger than you thought. Chou has officers on his pay roll. We have our suspicions about who but we haven't identified all of them.'

'We?' Gail said. Was Steve part of the undercover op? How did that work? Clearly Elaine trusted her bent son more than Gail, a decorated detective who had proved herself over and over again. Not enough for Elaine though. Never enough.

'We need to suture this,' Alannah explained to Steve as she rummaged through her medical kit for a needle and sterilised suture thread.

'Will he be okay?' Gail asked.

'Yes,' Holly said, 'despite all the blood the wound isn't that big. Probably caused by a 22 caliber. And Steve, you managed to get hit in exactly the right spot.' She smiled at him.

Steve made no attempt to respond but sank back further into the couch.

'Right spot. What do you mean?' Gail frowned.

'The bullet has gone through the pectoralis major and minor muscles,' Holly began.

'In English,' Gail said irritably and then immediately shot Holly an apologetic look.

'The muscles in the upper chest,' Alannah indicated the spot on her own body. 'You know pecs.'

'Oh,' Gail said, 'and that's a good thing?'

'It means the bullet didn't hit any bones, arteries or nerves,' Holly answered. 'Otherwise we'd be in trouble.'

Steve made a face.

'Are you, Steven?' Gail asked.

'Am I what.'

'In trouble? And Mom too, for that matter.'

'We're not doing anything illegal, if that's what you mean, ' Steve said and then hissed as Alannah pushed the suture needle into his flesh.

'Maybe you shouldn't be talking,' the surgeon suggested.

'Gail, can this wait until Elaine gets here?' Holly asked. There was a tightness in her voice even though she tried to sound level.

Gail nodded but she wasn't happy. She hated not having the full picture. So far, all she knew was that her mother was running a clandestine undercover operation with Steve, a convicted felon, and had clearly and knowingly obstructed Frankie and Gail's investigation into the disappearance of Melody Fisher and Cormann's brother Mitchell. She better have a good explanation, Gail thought sourly.

By the time Elaine knocked on the apartment door, Steve was sedated and groggy. If Elaine was worried for her son, she didn't show it, accepting Holly and Alannah's assurances that he was in reasonable shape.

'We don't have much time,' she said to Gail and Frankie. 'Any ideas about where Cormann has taken Melody.'

'Palmer has a cabin near London but I'm sure you know about that,' Frankie said.

'Yes. Detectives Ward and Collins have had it under surveillance for the past few weeks. Melody is not there.'

'Nick and Juliette?' Gail's mouth fell open.

'Yes, Detectives Ward and Collins. I said that.' Elaine was short.

'But,' Gail tried again.

'No need to stand there gawping. Palmer and a sidekick are out there now, but there's no sign of Cormann. Detective Collins put a tracker on Cormann's car. It was dumped in a parking lot on the outskirts of the city.'

'Wait, wait. Mom, what the hell is going on,' Gail asked.

Elaine sighed. Later Gail would realise it wasn't from impatience or because her mother expected blind loyalty but because of the sheer complexity of the operation.

'Right now you need to trust me Gail,' Elaine said, 'And if all goes according to plan, Chou will be spending tonight in a cell.'

Gail couldn't help herself. 'So you're not working for Chou,' she said.

'You think I'm corrupt?' Elaine's laugh was hollow.

'You tell me,' Gail crossed her arms and stared hard at her mother. Elaine didn't flinch.

'I'm clean. You're going to have to take my word on that. But the longer we stand here talking the less likely we'll find Melody alive.' Elaine paused expectantly.

What could Gail do? On the balance of probabilities Elaine was telling the truth. She doubted her mother would drag her into something criminal. Then again, who knew what her family was capable of. Nevertheless, she gave a curt nod and said, 'Okay', her voice tight.

'Good.' Elaine's response was equally clipped. 'You've been keeping tabs on Cormann. Where's he likely to go?'

'The archery clubhouse,' Gail said without hesitation.

'You don't think he'd be foolish enough to go to his apartment?' Elaine asked.

'Possibly, but from Steve's description, Cormann's accomplice is a guy called Costa Dukas. When he was a teenager Costa did odd jobs,' Gail put the last two words in inverted commas, 'for Cormann at the archery club. His stepfather also happens to be Melody's godfather. What's the bet Costa recognised her.' Gail looked across at Frankie who nodded in agreement.

'And Costa worked construction at the archery site and right from the start displayed an unhealthy interest in the crime scene. We're working on the assumption he may have been involved in the murders of Melanie Fisher and Mitchell Cormann or at least helped dispose of the bodies,' Gail added. 'It's like the archery club is a magnet for him.'

'Makes sense,' Elaine said, already turning towards the front door.

Gail hesitated and then glanced back to Holly and Alannah, who were by Steve. Holly was doing her best not to appear anxious but Gail could tell she was uneasy, not about Steve—because who better to patch up a gunshot wound on the fly than Holly and Alannah—but the fact that Gail was heading out without any kind of back up. Gail crossed the room and took Holly's hand.

'Do you think Elaine knows Melody's pregnant?' Holly asked quietly. It wasn't what Gail had expected her to say, and she suspected it wasn't the most pressing thing on Holly's mind.

'Somehow I doubt it.'

'Will you be,' Holly began.

'Careful,' Gail finished. 'Always am.' It sounded glib and though Gail hadn't meant to underplay Holly's apprehension that's how Holly interpreted it. She let Gail's hand drop.

'I'm going to say it every single time.' Holly half smiled, her lips quirking a little downwards so if anything she looked rueful.

'I know,' Gail said softly, 'I'm sorry. And I always want you to say it.' She made an apologetic face and took a step toward Holly. 'I love you,' she said and leaned in to kiss her, just quickly because she knew Elaine was watching and impatient to leave, but after the kiss ended Holly brought her hands up around Gail's neck and left them there.

''Yes,' she said, looking solemn.

'Yes?' Gail raised an eyebrow in confusion.

'Yes, I want to spend the rest of our lives together,' Holly smiled properly now, wide and unrestrained.

'You heard that?'

Holly nodded.

'And you do?' Gail was grinning now.

'Yes,' Holly leaned in closer, 'so you better come back in one piece,' she said and then kissed Gail again.

Elaine coughed. 'We need to go.' Rather than an order it was said almost apologetically.

Gail pulled away from Holly and nodded.

Once in the elevator Elaine didn't hold back. 'I can't believe my own daughter thought I was corrupt.'

Gail shouldn't have been surprised. From an early age she had been taught it was her duty as a Peck to protect and serve—a noble enough ambition but for the fact that not all Pecks found policing to be their calling. At the same time, in fact as far back as she could remember, it was impressed upon Gail that her loyalty was first and foremost to her family—not her police family but her blood family.

It had never occurred to Gail that these two things could conflict, and until Steve's arrest she had never imagined she might be asked to choose one over the other. Her father had made it plain he regarded Gail's failure to lie for Steve on the stand a betrayal of the family. Having only recently reached something of a rapprochement with her mother, had she just blown that too?

Gail turned doleful eyes upon Elaine. 'Like our family doesn't have a track record.'

'Hmph,' was all Elaine said.

Frankie shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

'If you'd actually trusted us enough to tell us what you were doing then I wouldn't have had to go looking for explanations,' Gail pointed out.

'I suppose my behaviour could have seemed somewhat suspicious.'

Gail's eyes widened. You think, she almost said out loud but Frankie shook her head in warning.

'For the record, Holly figured out what you were up to,' Gail said instead.

'Smart woman,' Elaine nodded approvingly, 'make sure you hang on to her.'

'Yes mother.' As if she needed Elaine to tell her that. No doubt, in the future her mother would take credit, telling whoever was listening that it was she who had told Gail that Holly was a keeper.

The ding of the elevator doors saved them from further discussion. Gail wasn't certain who was more relieved—herself or Frankie or indeed Elaine.

It was decided they'd take Frankie's car, Elaine's being more ostentatious and therefore more noticeable. Elaine retrieved a vest from the trunk of her Audi, while Gail and Frankie pulled on their own. Without any consultation, Elaine took the front passenger seat. Gail rolled her eyes which made Frankie smirk. Not that Elaine noticed. She was too busy settling herself in the front.

'So why did neither of you inform me about Costa's connection to Melody,' Elaine demanded as they exited the underground carpark. She half turned so she could look at Gail in the back seat.

Did Elaine appreciate how unreasonable she was being, Gail wondered. 'Because we only just found out today and as I said if you'd kept us in the loop then we would have known to tell you.'

Elaine inclined her head just a little, whether to acknowledge Gail was right or in disagreement was unclear.

'Obviously Melody wasn't aware of the connection between Cormann and Costa,' Frankie said.

'She mentioned her godfather lives in Toronto, but nothing about the stepson,' Elaine said. She didn't need to elaborate. Had Melody known, there was no way she would have been sent undercover.

'We don't think Melody has had that much to do with Costa. He only returned to Toronto recently but it looks like he immediately resumed contact with Cormann,' Frankie continued. 'Costa's stepfather told us he and Cormann had gone to stay at a friend's cabin in the woods. We assumed it was Palmer's cabin.'

Elaine nodded.

'So why didn't Cormann and Costa take Melody back to the cabin?' Frankie asked. 'Why drive to Toronto?'

'If they think the police are closing in maybe they believe they'll have a better chance if they ditch Palmer,' Gail answered before Elaine had a chance. 'Maybe they're not thinking rationally at all and just panicked and made a run for it. Costa was probably shocked when he recognised Melody.'

'True,' Elaine agreed. 'And Cormann always struck me as a weasel. He's not going to stand by Palmer if it means going down with him. In fact, it would suit Cormann just fine if both Palmer and Chou are put away.'

'Okay, don't you think it's about time you told us about your covert little operation, Mom,' Gail said.

'You've guessed most of it,' Elaine admitted and scoffed, 'but I'd hardly call it little. Strategic. Yes strategic is a better word.' She seemed quite pleased with the description.

Gail sighed elaborately.

'Oh, you want an explanation,' Elaine said brightly. Gail was convinced her mother was goading her ever so slightly. Payback for thinking Elaine was corrupt, Gail supposed. 'It seems all roads lead to O'Leary,' Elaine added cryptically.

Gail had never felt more tempted to throttle someone in her life and that was saying something given how much Chloe used to drive her crazy. Perhaps sensing Gail's frustration, Elaine began her story. Once O'Leary was sent to prison and Chou took over the Toronto streets, Elaine began hearing rumours that he was trafficking women from Asia. They were brought in by boat via Port Stanley, which was only about forty minute drive from London. Palmer had a large shed adjacent to his cabin where he kept the women until they were transported to the city. That might take some days, even weeks.

'We think Palmer used that time to wear the girls down before they were handed over to Chou,' Elaine said.

'Wear down? ' Gail asked, 'you mean these women have no idea what they're getting into.'

Elaine shook her head. 'They think—or have been led to believe—they'll be given a legitimate job and residency. It's a sophisticated con.'

Gail made a face. 'So why keep this from us?'

'Steve would have told you that Chou has some senior officers on his payroll.'

Both Frankie and Gail nodded.

'That's why I decided to work with outsiders. As well as Melody, I bought in Detectives Ward and Collins here from Vancouver. And it's not that I didn't trust you, I just didn't want information leaking. For all we knew, Chou had someone at 15 who was feeding him information.'

'But why get Steve involved?' Frankie asked.

'We needed to get someone on the inside. Given Steve's connection to O'Leary he seemed like a logical choice.'

'Why would Chou trust Steve. He worked for Chou's rival who he then ratted on. Not exactly winning credentials,' Gail pointed out.

'I vouched for him,' Elaine said.

'You,' Gail's jaw dropped. 'You're,' she tried again but couldn't get the rest of the words out.

'I will repeat again—I am not corrupt,' Elaine said, 'but Chou thinks I am. I've been cultivating that relationship ever since O'Leary went down. I've been playing—.'

'The long game?' Frankie suggested and Elaine nodded in agreement, although Gail had a feeling that was not what she had intended to say. Playing the villain perhaps?

'Three days ago Steve and Melody helped bring a shipment of women from Port Stanley. It was a test for them to prove themselves and it seemed to go well. Palmer felt Melody would be an asset because the women were more likely to trust a female. Then it went—' Elaine paused.

'Pear-shaped,' Gail jumped in.

Elaine narrowed her eyes. From experience, Gail knew her mother wouldn't admit there had been a fuck up, at least not until she found a scapegoat to take the fall or a way to clear up the mess.

'So where are these women now?' Gail asked.

Elaine looked at her watch. 'In 30 minutes, Detective Ward is leading a raid on Palmer's compound.'

'Yeah, she and whose army.' Gail's words were tart but she was beyond caring what her mother thought.

'Sue Tran and twenty other ETF officers,' Elaine responded.'I think that should do the trick, don't you'. She turned to look fully at Gail, but Gail gave her nothing, just the steely Peck stare. Elaine raised an eyebrow before continuing. 'At the same time Sergeant Shaw, assisted by some of your colleagues from 15, will arrest Chou.'

'So Oliver and other officers at 15 were in the know all this time?' Gail was incredulous.

'I only bought them onboard this evening. In the light of what happened to Melody and Steve, we had to escalate the raids. I needed you and Detective Anderson to help me track down Melody.'

They were nearing the clubhouse and Gail suggested they turn on to a narrow side road which led up a small rise overlooking the building site. It was leafy enough to camouflage the car, still Frankie flicked off the head lights.

From this position they had a good view of the derelict building. The windows were still boarded up and the adjacent car park was empty, although two large diggers had been left alongside the clubhouse making it difficult to tell if the corrugated sheet which boarded up the door had been moved.

'No sign of a car,' Gail pointed out.

'Maybe they hid it,' Frankie said.

'Or maybe they took an Uber,' Gail replied dryly.

Frankie rolled her eyes. 'Should we go take a look?' she asked.

Elaine nodded and Frankie did a quick u-turn, keeping the lights off. She cut the engine at the bottom of the rise, letting the car cruise to a stop in a stand of trees about 100 metres from the clubhouse.

The site was surrounded by a wire fence and up close they could see the padlock on the gate had been cut. Frankie eased the gate open, stilling for a moment when it creaked, and then motioning for Elaine and Gail to follow.

The diggers came into view as they rounded the corner of the clubhouse. Wedged in between the two machines was a small blue sedan. Clearly stolen, if the baby seat in the back was anything to go by.

The sound of the corrugated sheet being wrenched open made the three of them freeze. Out here they were completely exposed. Light spilled over the clubhouse from a high flood lamp jutting out above the security fence. Even though they were hugging the wall of the clubhouse, if they moved it would immediately attract attention.

Costa appeared from the clubhouse and half jogged toward the diggers, a gun held loosely in one hand. There seemed to be an urgency about him. Was he on the move? If so, they didn't have time to get back to the car and follow him. Gail cut her eyes to Frankie and Elaine but they gave nothing. Elaine pulled out her phone and typed out a quick message. Back up at last, Gail hoped. As if by silent agreement, the three of them unholstered their weapons.

Costa reached the nearest digger, tucked his gun in his back pocket, unzipped his trousers and then with a loud sigh of relief began to piss, directing the steady stream of urine against the tire of the machine. Gail was the first to move. Four strides and she had whipped the gun from Costa's back pocket and had her Glock at his temple.

'Hello Costa,' she said coolly.

He was so shocked, he half turned, one hand still on his exposed dick, drops of urine dribbling onto his trouser leg. His mouth opened and closed comically, like a fish on dry land, but no sound came out save for the whistle of his breath as he tried not to hyperventilate.

'I'd put that away if I were you,' Gail nodded towards Costa's dick, 'you don't want to add public indecency to your charge sheet.'

Frankie, who was right behind Gail, sniggered. She kept her gun trained on Costa as Gail pulled a pair of handcuffs out of her jacket. For some reason, as she brought Costa's hands behind his back, he started to shriek. Gail wanted to strangle him. It brought Cormann to the doorway of the clubhouse. He had an arm around Melody's neck and a pistol to her head.

'Let him go or I'll shoot her,' Cormann shouted.

Gail had finished cuffing Costa and now she shoved him in front of her. She kicked his legs from beneath him so he fell to his knees, keeping her gun trained on him. Even from this distance she could tell Cormann was shaking by the way the gun wobbled in his hand. Elaine, who had stayed in the shadows by the clubhouse, positioned herself on the right side of the doorway. She stepped close enough to Cormann that she could have touched him, but Cormann was too focussed on Gail and Frankie to notice.

'Drop the gun, Cormann,' Frankie said. 'Otherwise this isn't going to end well for you'

'You think,' Cormann laughed, an unhinged and desperate sound. 'And yet here I am with a gun pointing at a pig's head and make no mistake I will shoot her.'

'Not if I shoot you first.' As she spoke Elaine placed her gun against Cormann's own temple. He was so shocked he actually jumped and nearly dropped his gun.

'Seems like you're in a jam, Cormann,' Gail said almost sweetly. As she finished speaking there came the sound of sirens, distant at first but then advancing ever closer.

'We've arrested Palmer and Chou,' Elaine said, 'if you surrender now, you'll have a chance to tell your side of the story before they put you in it.'

Cormann swallowed.

'Or we could just tell Chou you ratted on him. I'm sure even in prison he could find a way to get to you.' Elaine's voice was as sweet as Gail's had been a moment ago and she actually smiled, like the thought of Chou getting his hands on Cormann was quite appealing,

'Jesus Len, just fucking do what they say,' Costa pleaded, 'I don't want to be a part of this anymore. We should tell them what they need to know.' A wet patch was spreading down one of his trouser legs and Gail realised that, despite having just relieved himself, Costa had pissed his pants. Literally.

The sirens were louder now. If Gail were to guess she'd say the squad cars—it sounded like there were two—had turned onto the road that led to the clubhouse. They'd be here in one, maybe two minutes.

Cormann must have realised this too but instead of accepting the futility of his situation, he panicked. Pushing Melody down the clubhouse steps and on to the ground, he aimed the gun directly at Costa. Cormann moved fast but Gail, anticipating what he would do, moved faster, throwing her body on top of Costa so they were both sprawled flat on the dusty ground.

Costa let out a small 'ooff'. He was trembling violently. A shot and then the ping as the bullet hit the digger. Steve was right. Cormann had lousy aim. As soon as Cormann pulled the trigger, Elaine and Frankie had pounced on him. It didn't take much to disarm and cuff him.

Elaine was breathing hard but there was a glint in her eye like she hadn't had this much fun in awhile. Gail registered that the sirens had stopped and in the next moment Fiona Vincent and Matt Kennedy rounded the corner of the building, shadowed by Duncan and Anna Robinson. They had their guns drawn but holstered them once they took in the scene.

'You missed all the fun,' Elaine called out, seeming quite jovial.

'We left as soon as we got your message but it doesn't look like you needed us after all,' Fiona replied with a grin.

Only then did Gail notice Melody was still lying motionless on the ground, her hands tied behind her back. Not caring about Costa (he was cuffed and there were plenty of other people now who could deal with him), Gail went to Melody, untying her wrists and helping her sit up. Melody winced and put a hand to her stomach.

'You alright,' Gail asked, 'the baby?'

'I think I'm bleeding,' Melody said, trying to be brave and calm but her bottom lip quivered.

'Okay, we'll get you to a hospital,' Gail said softly and then raised her voice. 'Can someone radio an ambulance.' She turned back to Melody. 'If I help, do you think we can get you sitting on the steps?'

Melody nodded. Gail put an arm around her and she rose unsteadily to her feet before collapsing back on the steps. Her colour wasn't great. Grey rather than pale and her eyes were glassy.

'Are you injured?' Elaine asked.

Gail flicked her eyes to Melody's face. It wasn't her place to tell Elaine that Melody was pregnant. She wasn't even sure that Melody knew Steve had told her.

'I may be miscarrying,' Melody said.

'Oh.' To say Elaine was thrown was an understatement. She looked at Gail who inclined her head in confirmation. 'Oh,' Elaine said again. Gail could practically see the calculations in her mother's head. She must realise Steve was the father.

Then just like that Elaine pulled herself together. 'The ambulance isn't far away, Detective Cooper,' she said, her tone kind. 'Gail, a word.' The last was said briskly and she motioned for Gail to follow her until they were out of Melody's earshot.

Gail braced herself for a dressing down. She expected Elaine would ask exactly how long she had known Melody was pregnant and why she hadn't seen fit to share this information. The fact that Gail was privy to this information first must be killing her mother.

'I want you to accompany Detective Cooper to the ER,' Elaine said. 'There is a chance Chou may still have people watching the hospitals so I don't want you to leave Detective Cooper's side. Do you understand. I'm trusting you to keep her safe.'

'Of course' Gail said gravely and might have said something more but Elaine was already striding over to Fiona Vincent.

Gail returned to the step and sat next to Melody, who leant against her as if needing the support to stay upright. Gail didn't say anything but put an arm around her. It was kind of strange. She didn't know this woman and generally she hated touching people, especially strangers, yet here she was acting like Chloe.

Steve?' Melody whispered after a moment.

'He's safe and he's okay,' Gail reassured.

The ride to the hospital was mercifully quick. Melody's face was pinched and she only spoke when the paramedics asked questions. Otherwise, she focussed on an invisible spot on the ambulance ceiling, and it seemed to Gail that Melody might be willing the baby to stay put.

If Gail was religious she would have said a prayer, instead she tried to make her own invocation. She wasn't sure who to bargain with but resolved that if this baby survived she'd put aside whatever differences she had with Steve and be the best aunt any kid could ask for.

'Are you the partner?' a nurse asked once Melody was in an examination cubicle.

'Um,' Gail found herself unaccountably awkward. 'I'm a police detective.'

'My husband's sister,' Melody said.

Wait, did Melody just say husband? Shit. That gave Gail pause. She wondered if she looked as dumbstruck as Elaine had on learning Melody was pregnant.

'Wait outside then,' the nurse said, shooing Gail out of the cubicle and drawing the privacy curtain. Gail nearly collided with the doctor, who ducked around her and into the cubicle.

Gail stood awkwardly in the middle of the ward. All but one of the ER beds was occupied. The person adjacent to Melody had a hacking cough, and in the next cubicle along, through a half open curtain, Gail could see an old man, the bed dwarfing his emancipated frame, which was so motionless it was hard to tell if he was breathing. From further down the ward came the sound of retching, followed by the reassuring voice of a nurse. Behind Gail, a woman was sobbing in that hysterical hiccuping way of someone coming off a bad trip. And overlaying that was the beep, beep of machines and the acrid smell of disinfectant that seemed to burn your nostrils. Man, she hated hospitals.

Gail pulled out her phone. 1 am. Would Holly still be awake? She and Alannah were probably taking turns to monitor Steve. Deciding to risk it, Gail brought up Holly's number and hit call.

'Gail,' Holly answered immediately, making Gail realise she'd been waiting for news. 'You're okay.' The way Holly spoke, her voice warm, and full of love and that happiness that comes with relief, made Gail feel as though she herself was literally enveloped in all those things. Like a protective shield that would get her through the rest of the night.

'Yeah. All in one piece.'

'Frankie called before. She told us you went with Melody to the hospital.'

'Yeah. They're checking her out now.' Gail's voice wavered a little then and for some stupid reason tears pricked at her eyes.

'Are you really alright?' Now Holly's tone was concerned.

'It's—Melody may be miscarrying.'

'Oh Gail.'

'Don't tell Steve. Not until we know for sure.'

'Okay. But do you need someone with you? I could come.'

'It's better you stay with Steve.'

The sound of a curtain being pulled back made Gail turn to see the doctor emerge from Melody's cubicle.

'I'd better go. The doc just finished examining Melody. I'll text you when I know more, okay. And get some sleep.' Gail disconnected after reassuring Holly she'd call if she needed anything.

The doctor motioned Gail to follow him down to the nurses' station. 'Melody is bleeding heavily,' he spoke In a hushed voice and Gail had to strain to hear him above the sounds of the ward. 'But I'm not certain she's lost the baby.'

'That's good then right,' Gail asked hopefully, surprised at how desperately she cared.

'I'm afraid it could just be a matter of time,' the doctor said. 'We're taking Melody for an ultrasound and we'll have a better idea once that's done.'

Melody insisted Gail come with her for the ultrasound. Lying on the gurney, she looked small and frightened, and without thinking Gail took her hand and gave it a squeeze. Melody forced a brave smile. 'Thank you,' she said quietly and gripped Gail's hand tightly.

'So you are 11 weeks along?' the sonographer asked.

Melody nodded.

'This will feel cold at first,' the sonographer warned as she applied gel to Melody's belly and then began moving the transducer across her abdomen.

There was the familiar rushing sound of the sonogram and then faintly, oh so faintly but definitely there, the sound of a heart beat. Gail wanted to whoop.

'Is that?' she asked tentatively.

'Sure sounds like it,' the sonographer said, 'and don't be alarmed by how rapid it sounds. It's quite normal for babies hearts to beat that fast.'

Gail grinned at Melody who smiled in return, not completely certain.

'I'm just going to speak to the doctor,' the sonographer said, 'if you'll excuse me.'

'Everything all right?' Gail looked up.

'It's best if the doctor speaks to you.'

Gail blew out a breath. She wished Holly was here. Holly was fluent in doctor speak and she'd know what questions to ask, and if Melody was getting the right care, and she most definitely wouldn't let anyone leave Melody hanging with half assed explanations.

'We didn't plan to get pregnant,' Melody said. Just like in the ambulance, her gaze was fixed on a spot on the ceiling. 'I wasn't supposed to fall for your brother but he's—' Melody broke off.

'A charming rogue,' Gail suggested.

'A loveable one,' Melody looked away from the ceiling and directly at Gail, 'I love Steve. I know it's complicated but sometimes you can't help who you love.'

'True,' Gail agreed, 'but a detective dating an ex detective who was convicted of corruption, that's going to be tough.'

'We got married.'

'I guessed as much when you told the nurse Steve is your husband.' Gail replied dryly. Did Melody and Steve actually get around to doing any undercover work or were they too busy falling for each other, she wondered.

'It was impulsive, I know.'

'Steve can have the effect on people,' Gail admitted.

'He proposed after he found out about the baby. He was so excited to be a father.' A tear leaked very slowly from the corner of Melody's eye and down her cheek. She didn't bother to brush it away. Gail wasn't sure how to respond. It should be Steve sitting here not her. She squeezed Melody's hand again, conscious of how manifestly inadequate the gesture was.

A bustle at the door and the the doctor from earlier strode in. He nodded at Gail and pulled up a chair so he was sitting alongside Melody. His face was grave. Gail recognised that expression. It was the one she wore when she had to inform the next of kin of a death in the family. Melody must have recognised it too because she said, 'Have I lost the baby?'

'Um. Yes and no,' The doctor frowned, taken aback by her directness. 'I have some distressing news and some good news,' he said, and Gail had the impression he was reverting to a rehearsed script. 'And in situations like yours the hospital offers counselling. I want to admit you tonight so we can monitor you.'

'And the baby,' Melody said, for all intents and purposes seeming more in control than the doctor.

Gail held her breath.

'This is in fact not that unusual,' the doctor began again.

'Just spit it out,' Gail said, finally losing her patience. From her experience it was best to deliver bad news without a lot of preamble but this guy seemed to think he had to cushion the blow but clearly wasn't sure how. Didn't doctors did some sort of bereavement training before they graduated?

Rather than hurrying him up, Gail's words seemed to throw the doctor. 'Is Melody still pregnant,' she tried for a softer tone.

'As I said, yes and no,' the doctor said, his expression mournful, as though the information he was about to impart hurt him more than it would Melody.

'And,' Gail flapped her hand to prompt him. Really she didn't think pregnancy was something that was ambiguous—either you were or you weren't. Although she had heard of ectopic pregnancies. That could explain the bleeding.

'Miss ah Cooper did you know you were pregnant with twins?'

Melody shook her head. 'I was due for my first scan next week.' Her eyes were wide now and afraid.

All Gail could do was fixate on the word 'were'. Pregnant past tense, but then the doctor had answered her question about whether Melody was still pregnant so cryptically.

'I'm sorry Miss Cooper but you've lost one of the babies. As I said this is not uncommon and there is no reason you can't carry the remaining twin to full term. But I'd like to admit you for a few days so we can make sure the bleeding has settled.'

'Is my other baby okay?' Melody's voice was barely above a whisper.

'Doesn't appear to be going anywhere at the moment,' the doctor smiled and

patted Melody's hand so awkwardly it bordered on creepy.

Gail wasn't sure whether she should feel sorry for the guy or chase him away. She was saved from doing either by the arrival of an orderly with a wheelchair and instructions to take Melody to another ward.

Melody was given a private room, which was probably Elaine's doing, and Gail wondered at her mother's ability to multitask at a time like this.

'Do you want me to call anyone. Family?' Gail asked when Melody was settled in bed.

'They're all in Vancouver,' Melody said.

'What about your godfather?'

'Col?' Melody scoffed lightly. 'He thinks we're close but I've never really felt that. He's a friend of my parents and I kept in contact with him for their sake.'

This revelation made Gail like Melody a little more. Col wasn't the kind of guy anyone would warm too. Fussy and and querulous and a little too prepared to rat out his stepson, even if Costa had turned out to be guilty. Although Gail suspected Col would have thought ill of Costa regardless.

'So,' Gail drew out the word, 'are you feeling okay.' It was a stupid thing to ask, but she couldn't think of anything else that might do.

Melody looked down at her hands and then back up at Gail. 'You know it's strange. I feel like I'm grieving for something I never had, and I should be happy I'm still pregnant and yet I feel this—.' She paused and made a face.'I don't know how to describe it.'

'Absence.' Gail suggested.

'Yes. An absence. But how can you miss something, or someone I guess, that's gone before you knew it existed.'

'Because you can't unknow what you know,' Gail shrugged. It sounded nonsensical but Melody nodded slowly like Gail had imparted something profound. 'And you're allowed to grieve losing the possibility of what might have been,' Gail added, thinking she'd spent a good part of two years doing just that after Holly left for San Francisco.

Again Melody nodded. 'You know, there is a history of twins in my family but I never heard of anyone losing one.'

'Maybe they didn't realise,' Gail suggested, 'apparently if it happens early in the pregnancy you might not even notice.'

'Steve told me you're dating a doctor but how'd you know that?'

Gail held up her phone. 'Google doctor. It's called vanishing twin syndrome.'

'Vanished.' Melody settled a hand on her stomach protectively. 'That's exactly how it feels.' She sighed. 'I wish Steve was here.'

Melody fell asleep soon after. It was past 3 am. Gail heard police sirens on and off and she wondered if all this activity was focused on mopping up Chou's operation. She sent Holly a text with an update but didn't get a reply so assumed Holly must be sleeping at last.

Gail settled in the visitor's chair, unholstering her gun and putting it in the waistband of her jeans. If she was serious about safeguarding Melody, she should probably be positioned outside the door but for some reason she was reluctant to leave Melody by herself.

It wasn't just because of the miscarriage although that was a part of it. They hadn't spoken about Melody's kidnap. Sure it was only for a few hours and Cormann and Costa weren't exactly deranged psychopaths but Gail knew how much it rocked your sense of self. It had made Gail feel vulnerable in a way she had never imagined possible. As a police officer you were used to being in control, to have an authority that most people, even if grudgingly, respected—and then boom, just like that she was as powerless as the victims she was supposed to protect.

Watching Melody sleep, Gail found that she herself was overtaken by a weariness that went right through to her bones and which she knew was a culmination of the past weeks. Though heavy lidded and sluggish, Gail fought to stay awake. She kept her vigil as dawn broke and the city started to stir, and nurses on the ward bade colleagues a cheery good morning at shift change.

Gail didn't remember closing her eyes but the next thing she knew her feet were pushed from where she had rested them on the second visitor's chair and there was Steve grinning.

'Great job you're doing protecting my wife, pale fail,' he said and then let out a small oof when he registered Gail had wedged her gun in his ribs.

'You should know better than to creep up on people like that asshat,' she said as she holstered the weapon, 'I was a hair's breadth from pulling the trigger.'

Steve scoffed. 'While you were snoozing on the job, mom and Frankie locked up Chou and Palmer.'

'Should you be up and about,' Gail asked, suddenly noticing how washed out her brother appeared.

'I've been cleared by two doctors.'

'He wouldn't take no for an answer,' said a voice from the doorway.

Now it was Gail who was grinning as she turned to see Holly, who smiled back.

'We were planning on bringing him in anyway to get checked out,' Holly shrugged.

Melody began to stir and Gail decided it best to give she and Steve some space.

'Breakfast?' Holly asked once they were in the corridor.

'You bet. I'm starving,' Gail exclaimed. Then without warning Holly pulled her into a hug, holding Gail so tight she couldn't have escaped even had she wanted to.

'Sorry,' Holly said as she released her. 'I'm just so relieved you're safe and this is all over.'

'You don't need to apologise,' Gail said, taking Holly's hand. 'You and only you are allowed to hug me anytime.'

Holly took Gail to a diner across the road.

'I know how much you hate being in hospitals and anyway the food in the hospital café is crap.'

Neither said much while they waited for their order to arrive. Just held hands, and exchanged small smiles, content simply to be. As she ate, Gail filled Holly in on what had happened with Melody.

'How is she taking it?' Holly asked.

'Okay considering but I think all she wanted was to have Steve there last night. I wasn't much of a substitute.'

'Honey, I'm sure you took good care of her.'

Gail twisted her mouth. 'You know hospital vigils and all that touchy feely shit is not my thing. It was exhausting!'

Holly tilted her head and regarded Gail sceptically.

'What?'

'Nothing.'

'Seriously what?'

'I think you're underselling yourself.'

'Whatever,' Gail flapped her hand and got up to go to the bathroom. On the way out of the stall she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her hair was standing up in uneven tuffs, there were dark circles ringing her eyes, and her shirt was dirt stained from where she'd shoved Costa to the ground. No wonder the waitress gave her a strange look when she and Holly walked in. Probably thought Holly was being charitable and feeding a homeless person. Gail splashed water on her face and tried to smooth down her hair but to no avail.

When she returned from the bathroom she found Elaine and Frankie seated at the table (evidently Elaine had called Holly to find out where she and Gail had snuck off to). They looked as tired as Gail, but while Frankie was still wearing the same clothes from the night before, Elaine had changed into her uniform which made her appear crisp and put together. Elaine couldn't stop herself from giving Gail the once over. She pursed her lips but didn't say anything.

'When were you intending on telling me Melody was pregnant?' She asked as Gail sat down.

The sun had barely risen and the inquisition was underway. Gail should have anticipated as much. Now she wished her mother had said something about her appearance. It would have provided a diversion.

'Uh, I only found out a few days ago. Steve wanted to tell you in person. I felt I should respect that.'

'Hmm,' Elaine said in a noncommittal way so it sounded as though she accepted but wasn't entirely satisfied by Gail's explanation. 'Where's that coffee?' She tapped her fingers on the tabletop and looked around for a waitress.

Gail bit her lip. It was Steve who had fucked up—well, Steve and Melody by sleeping together while undercover—and it was Steve's decision to hold off telling his parents about the pregnancy, so why did Elaine make her feel like it was her fault. Wait until she heard that Steve and Melody were married. Guess she'd be held responsible for that too, much in the same way her father had ostracised Gail for her failure to lie for Steve on the stand rather than focus on the real wrongdoing.

'Is there anything else you're not telling me,' Elaine narrowed her eyes. It was like she could read Gail's mind.

'Just like you didn't share the fact that Steve was part of your undercover op, or oops that you were running an undercover op that intersected with our case.'

Elaine gave an impatient flap of her hand as if to say that was all in the past now.

'Did you know about this Detective Anderson?' Elaine turned to Frankie.

'Uh, not the pregnancy,' she said, shrinking a little under Elaine's gaze.

'Mother, if Steve has anything to share with you it's up to him,' Gail said.

'So there is more?' Elaine leant back in her chair. 'I had a feeling.'

The appearance of the waitress with the coffees momentarily distracted Elaine. She took a sip from her cup, savouring the taste, before swallowing. 'Ahh,' she said, smacking her lips, 'I'm going to need a lot of caffeine today.'

Clearly Elaine had moved on from Steve for now. Not that Gail could relax. Her mother was certain to bring it up again, and it was guaranteed to be at a moment when she could catch Gail completely off guard. Leslie, Gail's therapist, had theorised that growing up Gail had been in an almost perpetual state of alertness—fight or flight, the acute stress response. It didn't prepare you for much, and it certainly hadn't helped Gail make her way in the world.

'So you arrested Chou?' Gail said.

'Arrested and charged,' Elaine smiled for the first time since Gail had sat down. Beamed in fact. 'Of course, it's just the beginning. More charges will be bought against him once we conclude the investigation but the trafficking of those young women is enough to put him away for a long time.'

'And Palmer?'

'Costa and Cormann were very cooperative. Linked Palmer to a number of unsolved murders. All done at Chou's behest of course.'

'And you were right about Cormann being in debt to Chou,' Frankie said. 'He owes him over a million dollars. So when Melanie Fisher started asking questions about Chou's involvement with sex slavery, Chou made Cormann deal with her.'

'But why not use one of his gang members?' Gail asked, 'its not like Cormann was a trained killer.'

'Perverse pleasure,' Frankie shrugged. 'Chou told Cormann that Melanie was his responsibility because she was dating Cormann's brother, Mitchell.'

'But Cormann could have come to us.'

'He was in too deep by then,' Elaine said. 'Chou threatened to kill him if he didn't take care of Melanie, and Cormann claims if he hadn't killed her, one of Chou's goons would have. In any case, Palmer was tasked with ensuring Cormann did as he was told.'

'And Mitchell?'

'Figured out his brother had killed Melanie so Len lured him to the clubhouse and shot him with a bow and arrow. Costa helped dispose of both bodies and he sliced off Mitchell's toes to make it look like O'Leary was behind the killing.'

'So Costa's job on the construction site was that just a coincidence?' Holly asked.

Frankie moved her head side to side as if to say maybe. 'Yes and no, Costa was looking for work when he came back to town and Cormann put in a word for him with Viscom. Cormann and Costa must have forgotten where they buried Mitchell and Melody because they didn't think the bodies would be disturbed by the site excavation.'

'This is going to be hard on Professor Dukas,' Holly said.

'What made Costa help Cormann?' Gail asked, 'besides his obsession with cutting up dead things.'

Holly made a face.

'Hey, you're not obsessed and you do it legally,' Gail teased.

Frankie smirked. Holly rolled her eyes.

'As we know Costa was a weird kid,' Frankie said, 'didn't fit in at school, didn't really have friends, hated his home life with his stepdad but then Cormann took him under his wing. Gave him the job at the club, made him feel like he belonged.'

'Became a father figure,' Holly suggested.

'Yeah,' Frankie agreed, 'so Costa was willing to do anything for Cormann.'

'And it turns out Palmer began to use both Cormann and Costa to dispose of bodies. It's quite a list, many of them those unfortunate young women. Once they used them up, they murdered them,' Elaine said heavily. 'Holly, I'm afraid the forensics department will be kept busy for some time.'

They talked a little more after that. When push came to shove, Palmer was happy to rat on Chou and the cops working for him. Ten to be precise. As Elaine had suspected, they were mainly Palmer's contemporaries but they were scattered throughout the force and senior enough to ensure Chou got the protection he needed.

'No one at 15 though,' Elaine said.

'Yeah?' Gail said it like a question.

Elaine sighed. 'Until recently 15 was seen as O'Leary's patch.'

Oh, of course, Gail thought, because of Steve.

'What will happen to the women Chou trafficked?' Holly asked.

'It will take time to trace all of them but they will be offered support and counselling and I hope they'll be willing to testify against Chou,' Elaine said. 'There is some talk the women brought from overseas will be offered residency but that is a matter for the government.'

It was a major coupe for Elaine. Enough to put the Pecks back on track, Gail imagined. Though still not enough for Steve to return to the force. For a woman so used to being in charge of her own and her family's destiny it must be galling that no matter what she did, Steve would never be a police officer again. Still, Gail had to admire her mother for pulling this off.

'You know out there at the clubhouse I remembered what it used to be like before I got stuck behind a desk,' Elaine enthused suddenly.

Stuck behind a desk? Wasn't it her choice to climb the ranks? Gail gave a disbelieving shake of her head but Elaine didn't notice because she was too busy listening to Frankie.

'Yeah, I had a feeling you were having fun out there,' Frankie grinned.

Suck up, Gail decided, catching Holly' eye. Holly suppressed a smirk

'Well, after this I think I'm going to make it my business to be more hands on,' Elaine said, looking quite chuffed at the thought.

Gail's heart sank. Oh great, Elaine would probably insist on ride alongs.

'Not that I want to burst your bubble, mother,' Gail said, 'but Kramer might kick us off the force before you get a chance.'

'Oh, I don't think Kramer will be troubling us anymore.' Elaine let that bit of information drop and then leaned back with a smirk, waiting for Gail's reaction. Frankie laughed like she was in the know. Gail narrowed her eyes.

'She wasn't working for Chou was she?' No matter how obnoxious Kramer was, Gail couldn't picture her cozying up to the gang boss. Kramer wore her rectitude like a badge of honor. She was the kind of person who followed the rules just so she could pull up people for even the most minor infraction. Gail imagined Kramer spent her waking hours alert for opportunities to take the high moral ground. Probably dreamt about it too.

'No,' Elaine kept smirking.

Gail scowled. She was too exhausted for this.

'You finally gave in and shot her, mother?'

Elaine chuckled. It was a sound she rarely made, and for this reason it sounded odd to Gail. Her scowl deepened but Elaine was undeterred.

'No, but you could say Kramer shot herself in the foot.' Elaine chuckled again, tickled by her own joke.

'Definitely a self-inflicted wound,' Frankie agreed which made Elaine chortle, actually chortle to the point where she stifled a snort.

'This evening Kramer,' Elaine said after she'd recovered somewhat, 'Kramer was suspended from duty pending an investigation into her conduct.'

'Her conduct?' Gail screwed up her face again, still not understanding.

If Elaine had looked pleased with herself just a moment ago, now she was positively triumphant. Later when Gail saw the video she understood her mother's reaction. When Gail had walked out of that last interview with Kramer at IA, Matt Kennedy hadn't turned off the camera or microphone. Kramer proceeded to have something of a meltdown. She vowed to bring down the Peck family and the slut doctor sleeping with Gail, whose supposed dedication was as fake as her peroxided hair. When Matt Kennedy tried to reason with her, Kramer became more voluble and insistent to the point that he actually wondered whether she was having a psychotic attack.

'You're under their spell,' Kramer had accused, poking her finger into Matt's chest. Matt had recoiled at the look in her eye—unbalanced and full of loathing.

'Slut doctor,' Gail wrinkled her nose, 'I've never heard you called that, Holly.'

'That's your take out from this?' Holly's lips quirked.

Now that Gail had been bought up to speed, it was clear Elaine was impatient to leave.

'I'm to give a media conference in one hour,' she said as Frankie stood to let her out of the booth, 'but first I want to pop in on Melody and Steve.'

'So grandmother Elaine,' Gail couldn't resist saying.

Elaine stiffened slightly. 'That does make me sound far too old.' She gave a little laugh. 'The baby will have to call me something else.'

'Superintendent,' Gail suggested, trying to look as though she was being helpful.

'Surely after this it will be Staff Superintendent,' Holly said, managing to pull off a show of sincerity with more success than Gail. She even kept smiling when Gail surreptitiously poked her in the side.

'Well,' Elaine looked chuffed.'I don't want to get ahead of myself but there is already talk. But I must go.' She had only taken two steps, when she turned back again. 'Gail, don't slouch. And wipe the scowl off your face.'

'Yes mother,' Gail flashed Elaine one of her big fake smiles.

Elaine knew it too. She made a hrumff sound but left without saying anymore, walking briskly to the exit, pausing only to pay the check. The three women watched her departure, and once she was out the door, they let out a collective sigh of relief. Gail felt her shoulders relax.

'I am all of five apparently,' she said, but without rancour, because it had been ever thus, and she couldn't imagine Elaine changing anytime soon. Her therapist would probably see that as progress, even though she wanted Gail to be honest with Elaine about how she made her feel. Perhaps if Leslie could meet her mother, she'd realise what a crazy assed plan that was.

'Geez I pity that baby,' Frankie said.

'It's the progeny of the golden boy,' Gail said, 'plus with Melody on the force it has double police pedigree so it will have an easy ride.'

Holly squeezed her hand.

'Oh man,' Frankie said sympathetically.

'No, no it's okay,' Gail protested, holding up her hands. 'It lets me off the hook. Any kids Holly and I have will be spared

'Surely Steve isn't still the golden boy,' Frankie said.

'Oh yep.'

'Need a ride home?' Frankie asked, clearly deciding a change in conversation WA's warranted.

'Wait how'd you get here?' Gail turned to Holly.

'Alannah drove but she had to work.'

'I hope she's not performing any life saving surgeries given she probably didn't sleep last night.'

Frankie rolled her eyes.

'We both managed a couple of hours, but Alannah's just doing consultations. That said, you know many on-call surgical residents regularly get as little as four hours sleep a night.'

'That doesn't mean they should operate.'

'True,' Holly conceded, 'one recent study showed that surgeons who slept less than six hours on the previous on-call night shift had an 83 per cent increased risk of postoperative complications when working the following day.'

'Why are you telling me this,' Gail practically whined. 'I hate hospitals enough already.'

Holly just smiled and kissed Gail's cheek. 'Good thing I went into forensics.'

'Yep' Gail popped the p'. She was smiling goofily now, quite lost in Holly and in fact oblivious to anyone around them, including Frankie. 'Wouldn't want to make out with you in a hospital.'

'Too much information. You want that ride or not?' Frankie jangled her keys loudly enough to bring Gail out of her trance. 'Wait, you'd prefer to make out in the morgue rather than a hospital. I should have guessed. Eww, you two make out in the morgue.'

'Are you driving us home or what,' Gail replied sweetly.

They had been in the car for little more than five minutes when Gail bought up the proposal.

'So did Alannah say yes?' she asked.

Frankie swivelled her head to the backseat where Holly was sitting and then quickly back to road. 'Um, I guess you guys saw that.' It sounded like she was hedging.

'And,' Gail prompted.

'Gail,' Holly said from the back seat, 'maybe not now.'

'Oh,' Gail turned to look at Holly who shook her head warningly. Of course, Alannah would have discussed the proposal with Holly last night. Shit. This didn't sound good.

'You were right, Peck,' Frankie said.

'I was.'

'Way too soon apparently,' Frankie shrugged as if it didn't matter.

'But not out of the question,' Gail asked.

'Apparently I lack proportionality.' Frankie didn't answer Gail's question. The hurt was rolling off her in waves

Frankie looked so despondent that Gail wanted to say there was still a chance but what if that wasn't true. She was conscious though of Holly's silence. Surely if there was hope or if Frankie had misread Alannah's reaction, Holly would have said something.

'So,' Gail started.

'So turns out that wasn't the kind of commitment Alannah had in mind when said she wanted me to commit.' Now Frankie sounded bitter. 'But it's probably for the best. No offence but I don't think I'm cut out for a life of monogamy.'

'Shit,' Gail said. 'I'm sorry.'

'You tried to warn me Peck.'

'Frankie,' Holly said. 'Alannah isn't breaking up with you. She just doesn't want to rush things.'

Frankie laughed mirthlessly. 'Yeah, well I'm breaking up with her and you know what that means?'

Gail shook her head.

'I'm back on the market, so look out ladies.'

Gail grimaced. She kinda hated this side of Frankie. Full of swagger and insufferably arrogant. It was like she flicked a switch and turned off any feelings. But it wasn't really Frankie. It was just a way of being that had become so habitual that Frankie resumed it at even the merest hint of rejection. Damn and Gail had thought Frankie had made some progress with Alannah.

Frankie dropped them off outside the entrance to Alannah's apartment. She couldn't be persuaded to come up. Holly looked at her sadly and leant across from the backseat to put a hand on her shoulder. Gail could tell it took all Frankie's willpower not to flinch. After all, she'd been that person once.

'Don't give up on this, Frankie. Talk to Alannah,' Holly said but Frankie was already looking away and out toward the street, ready to take off.

'I gotta go,' Frankie shrugged off Holly's hand.

Once on the sidewalk, Gail swivelled and stuck her head back in the car. 'Sleep on it okay. Don't do anything rash.'

Frankie kept staring ahead and her grip tightened on the steering wheel. 'You don't have to look out for me, Peck.'

'Thing is I do,' Gail replied.

'Your loss,' Frankie sneered, still looking fixedly at the road. She pulled away from the curb as soon as Gail shut the car door.

'She's in a world of pain,' Holly observed.

'And Alannah?'

'Thinks they need to work on their relationship.'

'Oh. She does realise she fell in love with an emotional cripple.'

'Yeah,' Holly sighed, 'and that's part of the problem.'

Once upstairs, Gail showered first. 'Gotta wash the hospital germs off,' she told Holly. They slept until the afternoon. When Gail woke, it was to find Holly sitting up in bed and smiling at her. She had the distinct impression Holly had been regarding her like this for some time.

'Hey, you should have woken we me up,' Gail said, struggling to sit up. She leant against the headboard, alongside Holly so their shoulders were touching.

'You looked so peaceful, I couldn't,'

'I love you,' Gail said. She was still getting used to how easy it was to say this to Holly, and more than that, how often she found herself saying it.

Holly smiled crookedly and moved across to kiss her. Just a sweet, simple kiss and for the first time in a very longtime Gail felt completely content. Contented and loved. She let herself lean into the feeling, banishing the irritating little voice warning her against complacency. 'Don't get too comfortable', it whispered fiercely, malevolently, 'nothing good ever lasts'.

Gail and her therapist had spoken about this—the fear that happiness was transient, and that Gail's natural state, or at least the one she was conditioned to, was characterised by pessimism and distrust. 'Fuck off', she told the voice. 'This is different. This is Holly.'

'You okay,' Holly asked, drawing Gail into her arms.

'With you, always,' Gail said. 'Hey, let's go away. A holiday.'

'Sounds like a plan.' Holly kissed the top of Gail's head.

They stayed like that for a while, holding one another and not speaking until they heard Alannah arrive home and begin clattering around in the kitchen.

'I guess we'd better go talk to Alannah about Frankie,' Gail said, because that's what friends did, didn't they? She was getting better at this. It surprised her how that too was pleasing. Maybe it was easier to like other people when you liked yourself.

That was the problem when she first met Holly—she couldn't trust that anyone could love her when she believed herself unloveable. Gail felt Holly's arms tighten around her and squeeze just lightly. Then they got up and dressed and went down to Alannah.

...

Oh, do I have a holiday adventure in store for these two. Before that though, I'm going to update Love in the time of corona.

Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think.