This is a longer chapter so I hope you enjoy it! Thankyou for reading if you've made it to here. I am planning to post a chapter a day if all goes to plan as I'm on uni break for two more weeks yay. So please keep reading! Reviews are really appreciated, suggestions, criticisms, comments whatever. Anything to let me know your interested in seeing what happens next :) Anyways here it is!

Chapter 6

... Mirror, Mirror ...

Tom was joined by Mathew as he was walking to biology class. "You reckon you will be able to control your impulses at this school", he joked with a confused looking Tom. "Your English teacher at your last school, wouldn't want a repeat if you know what I mean,"

"Ohh of course not," Tom assured him finally catching on. As they walked into the classroom Tommy realised why Mathew was all of a sudden bringing this up. The teacher standing at the front of the room was beautiful. All she was doing was flipping through the pages of her textbook but Tommy couldn't take his eyes of her. He had always had a thing for teachers. But he had learned to curb his feeling's early on after he realised mixing work with pleasure always ended badly.

"Because I think we could have a good thing here, you and me", Mathew said trying to direct Tommys' attention away from Miss Sanderson. It seemed to work as he turned his attention back to Mathew resigning to the fact she was way out of his league anyway.

"Yer I was meaning to ask you about our plans for later this evening, is it still going ahead as planned?"

"Yep, relax McQuaid, I've got the meeting place and everything. Oh also you know I was thinking maybe we could catch a movie after or something? If you're free I mean?" Hanson tried to hide his surprise at the kids offer. Mathew was nothing like Tommy Mcquaid, a low life with an apparent drug problem and failing grades to match. Mathew on the other hand got good grades, had a group of good friends and came from a good family. And as far as Tom could see he seemed to try and keep his normal life separate from business. So Tom thought it a bit out of character of him to try and befriend him.

"I'd love to but maybe another time? I promised I'd help my brother our with something tonight,"

"Oh ok another time." he looked slightly disappointed but the rejection of his offer didn't seem to put him off. The pair continued to talk throughout the rest of the class. They talked about loads of things. About movies they both loved, who the hottest girl in school was much to Hanson's displeasure and even Mathews plans for the future. As corny as it sounded Mathew told him he wanted to make a 'real difference whether it in the world or just to one person'. But Hanson truly believed him. Tom let his guard down and despite his best judgement he talked as if he was himself. As they got to talking about their fathers the officer couldn't help but feel this kid was one of the few people who really understood how Tom felt. Understood how it was really hard to move on from such a random and senseless killing.

He found himself really enjoying Mathews company. He thought that in another world they would have been good friends. They had more in common than he and Penhall did, which wasn't that much of a surprise considering how much of an odd couple the partners were. "Why do you do this man" he spat out before he even realised what he was going to ask. "You're a good kid, from a good family," he paused as he realised how much his words reminded him of how people used to talk about him when he got into trouble at school about his temper. "I'm sorry man, it just doesn't make any sense?" he added after registering the look of pain on Mathews features. A look that revealed to Tom that Mathew cared about what others and in particular what Tom thought about him a lot more than he initially let on.

"I don't know I just needed the money, you know? Since dad died it's been really tough. I just need to save enough for college and then I'm out," Hanson surveyed Matts face only to be surprised by the longing and regret he saw in his eyes. "I would have thought you would be that last person to give me a hard time about this anyway Mcquaid,"

"Oh I was curious," he answered trying to laugh off the question realising how out of character it was. "Also It's important to always know your partners motives,"

"Oh, well in that case how about you tell me why do you do this?"

"Why not?" he returned in a dangerous but playful tone.

As the bell rang Hanson's' mind immediately returned to the case. His feelings about what he was going to have to do making him feel sick. Once again he had succeeded in getting a kid to trust and confide in him, knowing it was only a matter of time before he would break that trust and ruin the kid's life as he knew it.

He was getting real good at doing that. As he drove home that day he allowed himself to feel like the low life he knew he was. It felt good in a way like he was in a small way able to punish himself for the shit he was pulling yet again. He knew the pain he felt wasn't even close to the pain he had caused over the years but at least it was something. Because he was sick of telling himself the lame excuse that it was just part of his job. He just didn't think that was a good enough reason.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was 6 o'clock when they arrived at their destination. They had been following the directions given to them on a piece of paper that looked like it had been torn from an old scrapbook. It lead them to an empty car park that used to belong to a fast food restaurant that had closed down long ago. Probably due to the McDonalds that had been built a couple of blocks away. 'Man I could go for some fries right now' Tom thought desperately realising that his liquid dinner was not nearly filling enough as his stomach threatened to give him away.

They were sitting in Tom's mustang as another car approached. Hanson took note of the numberplate as he waited for directions about what to do from Mathew. Eventually they got out of the car as they were being approached by a man wearing a worn jacket, he had ratty brown hair and a face that looked as it had seen too many cold nights. He had one hand in his jacket pocket clutching what Hanson guessed was a gun. Instantly the officer recognised him as a classic example of a middle man who had probably got into the business through being a user himself. He would be an easily replaceable link in the chain and probably had no real standing in the business. Hanson also knew that these facts made him dangerous, as there would be little consequences for him if he lost his temper and wasted two irritating kids. He knew he would have to play it carefully. He moved his focus from the gun to the perps face, searching for any signs that he was ready to use it. However all the officer saw was a cocky grin that looked delighted for some fresh meat to scare, " Matty boy, you brought a friend,"

"Yer, he just transferred in and I thought he might be useful, he was a major dealer at his old school,"

"Your dealing skills ain't gunna be of much use to me boy" the man said now turning to Hanson. "Selling in schools is small time, were looking at the bigger picture,"

"And what might this bigger picture entail," the officer interrupted, trying to pry for information under the pretence of acting as a kid with an attitude problem.

"Not so fast there buddy, we've only just met and already you want to know all the intimate details of my business," he remarked sarcastically.

"Oh ok then, should I buy you a drink first?"

"Don't get smart with me," He said getting close enough that Hanson could now smell that the man obviously had little regard for personal hygiene. It took all his will power not to recoil as he knew it would be taken as a sign that he was intimidated.

"All you need to know is that a business man, like myself is just in it for the money, I plan on an early retirement. So if you boys play your cards right I might let you in on some more action." He said smirking at his own inflated sense of self-importance. Hanson had seen guys like these hundreds of times before, guys that had tried to sell him this same bullshit story. He knew he needed to push a little harder. He ignored Mathews warning glances and continued his attack.

"You know what, I think you're full of it, I think you're only telling us this to keep us happy, so we continue to do your dirty work hoping that one day you will throw us a some scraps. Meanwhile you just sit on your arse and get rich!" he spat,

"Listen here pretty boy, what makes you think its ok for you to come here on your first deal with me and tell me how to run my business?"

"What business man, I don't see nothin'," he retorted, hoping he sounded just the right amount of stupid.

"That's because you're nothing, you two are just idiots at the bottom of the food chain."

"And that's where you want us to stay, isn't that right?" At this the man started laughing, Mathew looked completely bewildered, but Tom knew they had won.

"Look, I'm so sorry, he really don't he doesn't mean any disrespect," Mathew interrupts trying to ease the tension.

"Oh but I do," Tom corrects him.

"You remind me of myself when I was your age, what's your name again, Tommy? Bright eyes already tainted with vices and I wonder if you have any blood on your hands yet boy?" Hanson didn't reply he just stared coldly back at the man in front of him. Mathew turned to Tom scared, as he seemed to finally occur to him the gravity of the fact that this boy he was getting close to, and was doing business with had seen the inside of a jail cell, had killed someone. He felt nervous and suddenly untrusting. He had forgotten this frightening detail days ago, their conversations had just seemed to flow so naturally. Something didn't seem to fit about Tommy Mcquaid. How could this boy who had talked so hatefully towards the man who killed his father, about any man who could so such a thing in such an emotionally and socially intelligent way, have himself murdered someone. It just didn't make sense. Mathew however dismissed his concerns deciding he had more pressing issues to worry about.

"I've got to respect any one brave enough to challenge me even if you are just a pretty boy."

There was the magic line. Tom had been playing on the fact that this guy would have a massively inflated ego. He knew that if he stroked it by making him think he was important enough in Tom's eyes to challenge he would bite. It paid off. Tom looked at Mathew, who seemed shocked, nervous and invigorated all at the same time. Mathew put his arm around Toms shoulder and lead him backwards towards their car.

"I'm up for it if you are Tom, I mean the quicker I can raise the cash I need the better. I like this guy's philosophy on early retirement if you know what I'm getting at?" He whispered and Tom nodded. As they turned back around he replied, "Yeah sure we're up for something more serious,"

"Good to hear it. In that case I'll be in touch regarding your payment and what we talked about tonight. If all goes to plan that is, and I expect it will go to plan because I don't think I need to remind you what will happen if it doesn't" he said threateningly as he pulled his gun out and aimed it as the two boys head one after the other mimicking him firing it each time. As real at the situation was Hanson could help but feel the need to laugh, this whole scene had reminded him way too much off a really bad day time cop drama.

With that the drugs were given to Mathew, both the boys quickly got back into the car and drove to the second location written down on the torn piece of paper. Once they arrived at what seemed to be another abandoned car park, they hid the coke in a tire as they were directed in the note and left. Presumable so the next person in line could pick it up anonymously.