A/N Apologies again for the delay in updating. Work has been manic! I also had a slight case of writer's block on the last part of this chapter. Please let me know if you think it works.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. I really do appreciate it!

Thanks so much again to genesgeni* from Luigi's for reading the fic for me She does a fantastic job!

I don't own Ashes to Ashes-I'm just borrowing the characters for a while.

Left alone in his cell, again, Gene did not know what to think or even feel. He was relieved, even happy, that Alex was awake and not going to die because of something he'd done. As he'd been forced to admit, these emotions stemmed from more than just the hope, if not certainty, that Alex could get him out of here.

Gene was more concerned about what Bolly might be thinking about him than he would ever admit to out loud. Most people believed that the Manc Lion didn't give a toss what anyone thought about him. Most people would usually be right! Bolly was different though. What she thought did matter to Gene. Especially now. Did she remember what had happened at St Dunstan's? Did she know that he hadn't intended to shoot her? Would she ever be able to forgive him for not trusting her? What should he do if…when…he got out of here? Should he go to the hospital? Would Bolly want to see him? What if she didn't? Christ on a bike! He really was going soft! Gene had to stop thinking like this. Or preferably stop thinking at all!

xxx

"DS Carling!" Viv called out to Ray, as he entered the station. Ray stopped in his tracks and went to see what the desk sergeant wanted. Viv was talking to a middle aged woman.

"This is Mrs Ferguson. She saw the Police 5 reconstruction. She thinks she witnessed what happened to DI Drake."

"Alright, love?" asked Ray "Come this way."

Ray was very pleased a witness had come forward. He had no doubt that Drake would state that the shooting had been an accident, but it couldn't hurt to have the testimony of someone who wasn't part of the team. After all, Collins wasn't going to release the Guv until he was forced to. DCI Collins had been furious about the reconstruction and had made his feelings on the subject very clear, but could do nothing, as the new Super, Featherstone, had been all in favour of it.

Collins happened to be in the corridor outside the interview room, as Ray and Chris approached with Mrs Ferguson.

"Who's this, Carling?" Collins asked.

"This is Mrs Ferguson, sir", Ray's use of the last word was very slightly sarcastic. "We think she was a witness to what happened to DI Drake."

To Ray and Chris' surprise, Collins did not say anything. They had both anticipated more shouting and swearing. The DCI, though, just walked off. However, Ray noticed that, for one brief second, Collins went even more pale than usual.

Mrs Ferguson was soon settled in the interview room, with a cup of tea and a plate of biscuits. The importance of this particular witness was clear; Shaz had brought out the Garibaldis and Pink Wafers especially. Mrs Ferguson began to recount what she'd seen.

"I was cleanin' one of the upstairs offices in Pharoah & Graham…"

"The television production company, that's just moved to King Douglas Lane?" asked Chris, consulting his notes. "We spoke to the security guard there and 'e said there was no-one else in the building. Everyone was going to start work this week."

"John? What does 'e know?!" Mrs Ferguson was scornful. " 'e's asleep most of the time!"

"Go on." Ray prompted.

"Just after I'd finished 'ooverin', I 'eard a loud bang….Sounded like a car backfirin' or somethin' like that…. Anyway I went to the window to 'ave a look. I saw a man was lyin' on the ground and another man - 'e was tall with fair 'air - 'ad a gun in 'is hand. It looked like a programme off the TV. You know? 'ill Street Blues. Somethin' like that. I thought they was actin'. I was just about to get back to me cleanin', when I 'eard two more bangs. Then I saw a woman like what Shaw Taylor told us about. You know? Blonde. Black jacket."

Ray and Chris nodded. Jenette had been placed at the scene. This was looking good for the Guv!

"She 'ad a gun. Anyway, she grabbed the woman with dark 'air. The one in the white jacket. The man with fair 'air pointed a gun at the woman in black. I couldn't 'ear what they said. They fired their guns, and the woman in the black leather jacket ran off. Then the woman with dark 'air fell to the ground…." Mrs Ferguson paused. "Think that's it…Does it 'elp?"

"Yes, thanks very much. Very 'elpful." Chris assured her and escorted her from the room.

Ray's face remained impassive, but inside he felt as though he'd scored the winning goal for Manchester City. He was Denis Law! Mrs Ferguson's statement, combined with what Ray hoped Drake was going to say, should be more than enough to get the Guv off. Ray didn't think he'd want to be in Collins' shoes when Gene got out of his cell!

xxx

Gene opened the double doors to CID with as much of a flourish as possible. As he entered the large room, everyone in it got to their feet and Gene received a standing ovation. Acknowledging their congratulations, Gene made his way to his own office. He had something very important to do.

DCI Collins was packing his belongings into a box as Gene entered the office.

"Hunt." Collins barely looked up as he packed up the last items.

"Collins." Gene was equally terse. He was trying very hard to resist the temptation to punch Collins. If Ray hadn't found that witness and Bolly hadn't stated that the shooting was an accident, then Gene could have been locked up for a very long time. As it was, four days in a cell had seemed like forever.

"I'll be going, then." Collins picked up his box.

"I think there's something you should see first." Gene closed the blinds and removed the bank statement from the inside pocket of his suit jacket, placing it on the desk between them. Collins glanced at it, did a huge double take and went deathly white and then bright red.

"Wh-where did you get that?" Collins stuttered.

"Doesn't matter. All you need to know is that I 'ave proof that you are a bent bastard!" Gene was beginning to enjoy this.

"Ah! Even if that were true, that evidence wouldn't stand up in court." Collins sounded a little more confident.

"It doesn't 'ave to. Just remember two things. One." Gene jabbed the desk with his forefinger "I'll be watching you. If you so much as put a toenail out of place… And two," Gene's finger made contact with the desk again. "Bad things 'appen to corrupt coppers. Mac committed suicide 'cause 'e couldn't live with what 'e'd done and Carnegie got 'imself Quattroed! You wouldn't want anything like that to 'appen to you, now, would you?"

Gene realised that his little pep talk had served its purpose, when Collins' exit from his office would have impressed Roadrunner!

Sitting at his desk with his first cigarette and single malt in days, Gene surveyed his kingdom. Although It was good to be back, there was something missing. He glanced over at Bolly's empty desk. Gene knew what he had to do now.

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