"Why are you doing this?" Alex demanded, from the back seat of the car. Her arms were bound together with rough rope that dug painfully into the flesh.

"I need the money, and I also need you out of the way"

"But that doesn't explain anything, Evan!" She exclaimed exasperatedly.

The driver physically tightened.

"I suppose you were going to recognise me sooner or later."

"I knew who you were the minute you walked through the door of CID…and I'm sure Gene will have realised it too, by now." Defiance was obvious in her tone of voice.

"Ah…Gene. You know Alex, times are changing and soon there won't be a place left for men like Gene Hunt."

"What?"

"The world is moving on and Hunt will be left behind, along with the other pathetic dregs of society."

"That's not true. We need more people like him in the police department." Alex retorted coolly.

"I don't understand Alex, why do you protect him so? Why do you trust Gene Hunt?"

The little could feel the blazing heat from the flames and the actual force of the explosion from where she stood on the hill. A black-sleeved arm wrapped tightly around her and took her hand, causing her red balloon to fly off into the deep blue sky, which was rapidly turning black with smoke. She squeezed the hand and looked up into the man's face…

Alex didn't know what to say.

After only ten minutes of frantic waving out of a window, Chris had managed to attract the attention of a passer-by, who had unlocked the door for them. Gene had made up a ludicrous story that involved them all ally locking themselves in the department.

"Raymundo, keep gathering evidence. Chris, with me."

As the DCI walked through the corridors with an air of confidence, the DC trotted along in his wake.

"Guv?" Chris asked as they made their way out of the building and towards the red Quattro that stood as if waiting for them.

"Get in." Gene ordered.

They both got into the car and immediately, the engine roared into life. There was a screech as the fiery red Quattro sped along the street and out of sight.

"So, where're we going then, Guv?"

Chris would never admit it, but he was enjoying sitting in the front seat of the Quattro for once. It was always DI Drake in the front and himself and Ray in the backseat. Of course, nobody but the Guv actually drove the car. Well, Drake was the only one who had the guts to even try it, but even then, Chris was puzzled that she had got let off rather lightly by the Guv, as opposed to what his reaction would have been if it were Ray or himself who had driven his precious Quattro. The Guv was very fussy about his car…always had been.

"Caroline Price." Gene replied.

"Right, and we're going there because…?"

Gene glared at his young DC.

"Because…I reckon Caroline Price knows Evan White pretty well. What d'you think, you great plonker?"

The red Quattro sped through the back streets of London with ease. It was a Saturday morning and so there was little traffic on the roads.

Gene knocked on the front door and waited impatiently for it to open. When it did, Caroline Price looked somewhat surprised to see them.

"Detective Chief Inspector Hunt? What brings you here?"

"Mrs Price, my colleague and I would like to speak with you concerning a very urgent matter." Gene said seriously.

Caroline nodded and stepped out of the way to let Gene and Chris into the house. She led them through into the living room.

"Can I offer you two men a drink?" she offered.

Chris nodded eagerly, but his DCI decided for him.

"No thank you Mrs Price. Yesterday morning, somebody shot through my office building at DI Drake and my very good self. Last night, DI Drake's flat was broken into and completely torn to pieces. This morning, an armed nutter barged into my department and took DI Drake hostage."

Caroline stared at him in shock.

"Oh my…is Alex alright?"

Gene looked extremely sombre and Chris pursed his lips.

"At this present time, we are unsure as to her whereabouts…but I will find her."

Just then, a child with dark blond hair walked into the room. She looked at Gene and Chris, obviously very intrigued, and smiled sweetly before turning to her mother. She looked, to Gene, to be about seven or eight years old.

"Mummy?"

Caroline looked at her daughter.

"Not now Alex. Mummy's talking to these policemen at the moment."

"I only want a drink. From out of one of those cans." The little protested.

"No Alex. I'm busy at the…"

"I'll help her." Chris piped up helpfully.

"Oh that would be brilliant. Thank you DC Skelton." Caroline smiled.

Chris stood up with an acknowledging nod from Gene, and let Caroline's young daughter lead him into the kitchen by the sleeve of his leather jacket.

"Now, Mrs Price." Gene reverted her attention back to him. "I wonder if you could shed any light on this situation?"

Caroline Price frowned.

"And how may I do that, Mister Hunt?"

"Well, all of the evidence and every bone in my body is pointing towards and suggesting that this has something to do with your very good mate, Evan White?"

Caroline looked taken aback and genuinely shocked.

"Evan? I hardly believe that. Why would Evan do such a terrible thing?"

Gene scowled.

"That's precisely why I'm here." He said. "Do you know anything that can help us with finding Bol-…DI Drake?"

"No…no." Caroline stuttered hesitantly, biting her lip.

Gene peered curiously at her. She was hiding something.

"What?"

"It's just that Evan told me that he'd be working this morning. At the office." She paused. "But come to think of it, I saw him in his car driving in completely the opposite direction."

Gene nodded, pondering.

Chris stood at the kitchen counter and poured the drink from the can into the plastic cup. The young child was hovering by his elbow, watching him.

"Mummy doesn't let me pour it myself." She told Chris.

Chris held up the can.

"She doesn't want you to hurt yourself. The edge of the can is very sharp, you know. You could cut your finger." Chris said seriously.

Little Alex nodded, resigned. She looked up at the DC with her big green eyes.

"Why are you and the other policeman here?" she asked him.

Chris passed over the the cup and leant on the work surface, as Alex carefully climbed up onto one of the kitchen stools.

"We are investigating a crime and your mummy might be able to help us solve it."

"Are you going to catch the criminal?"

"Well, yes…we hope so."

Alex took a sip of her drink and frowned.

"That other man…the one with the big coat. He didn't look very happy. He frowns a lot." She stated.

"Yes, I suppose he does. You see, the thing is…we think he really likes one of the policewomen where we work, and this woman has gone missing."

The child nodded knowingly.

"So he is worried about her."

Chris chuckled.

"If you want to find the criminal, then you have to investigate who it might be or…or who you think it is. Because the person might be someone that the policewoman knows. The person might not like the woman and that's why they took her." Alex finished, nodded and took another sip of drink.

Chris blinked. "Wow, aren't you clever ? You would make an excellent policewoman, you would!"

Alex smiled, satisfied.

"That's what my teacher said. I do want to be a policewoman when I grow up."

"Well you better work very hard at school then and do all of your homework."

"I always do!" Alex protested, but smirking slightly.

Chris laughed along with the child .

"Come and see my dolls!" Alex said suddenly, putting her cup down and tugging on Chris' sleeve.

"Thank you very much for your time, Mrs Price." Gene said, standing up to leave.

"Please could you let me know if you have any news on Alex?"

Gene grunted in reply, as Chris and Alex came down the stairs. Both Gene and Caroline stared suspiciously at the young man.

"She…err, wanted to show me her dolls." He explained, his cheeks flushing red.

"Thank you again." Gene nodded at Caroline and both he and Chris stepped out of the front door. Alex waved cheerily as they walked down the path, away from the house.

"I hope you find the policewoman!" she called after them.

Chris turned to look at Alex and waved back.

"We will!" he told her.

As Gene and Chris got into the Quattro once again, Gene turned to his DC.

"Making friends then Chris?" he teased.

"She's a smart …she wants to be a policewoman." Chris said.

Gene nodded and the edges of his mouth turned upwards slightly. Chris swallowed and continued.

"Well, that was a complete waste of time, eh Guv?"

"Quite the contrary, Christopher." Scolded Gene. "Caroline Price was not involved in this. She saw Evan White driving in the opposite direction to where he works this morning."

"You believe her?"

"When you've been in the police force as long as I have, you get to recognise liars. She's not a liar."