Hi, guys :) I'm back with new chapter. I hope you'd like it, although it's quite intensive one.

Words can hurt more than your actions

Alexandra Dray was knelling down on the tiles in the kitchen, when some disturbing sound caught her ears. She straightened as far as allowed her ailing back, and began listen if the noise will repeat. Maybe two or three minutes passed away, but still nothing special happened, so she decided to go back to washing the tiles.

But it didn't last long until neighbor's dog began barking loudly like he noticed something and Alexandra decided there will be another time to clean up the kitchen. Leaning on her covered with network of blue veins hands, she stood up unsteadily, leaning with her tight on the cupboard. She flickered a few strands of white hairs from her dark eyes, and looked through the window at her small garden at the back of the house.

But nothing changed there. There were still the same flowerbeds with vegetables and tulips and snowdrops growing along the old, white hurdle. Two pairs of pigeons closed in the spacious cage, were moving nervously their heads at each bark from the dog and seemed to look at Alexandra like they were expecting she'd tell them what was all about.

Her eyes only stopped for a little longer at the old shovel leaning against outhouse. Alexandra Dray was more than sure, that her husband, has left it under the spreading pear and half dig into soil. However now, the shovel was moving from one side to other at each stronger gust of wind, supported only by a pair of broken pots.

Just behind her garden she noticed small black dog with a reddish belly, tied on a heavy chain and jumping around the rail fence, like he was trying to see something hiding down the hill. His yapping bark caused Goosebumps on her body, and dog's eyes fixed at the small river runs down the hill, aroused in her irrational fear.

Alexandra Dray shuffled to the corridor where was hanging the telephone, and she reached for handset. For a moment she kept it pressing to her ear, wondering if indeed there was a reason to bother Jerry. In the end it could be nothing. Her hearing and sight weren't so good as few years ago, so she really could imagine the sound. Yea, it has to be that, she thought and put the handset back. She limped to her narrow, old-fashioned living room, deciding she needs to sit down in her favorite armchair and knit another sweater for Collin. She checked the sideboard placed next to the fireplace covered with many photographs of her family, and tried to find her red worsted. Knit always calming her nerves. Her mind was occupied then by new designs of sweaters, caps and scarves, and there was no time for thinking about something different. If there were some valid reason though, she thought, forgetting about worsted. Her body shivered and mind was bothered by anxiety. Not again, Alex it's only your exuberant imagination, she admonished herself. But still she couldn't get rid of the anxiety she was feeling deep inside her body.

She sighed heavily and with heavy steps she left her warm shelter by the back door. She carefully passed by Jerry's flowerbeds and moved toward the outhouse. The shovel looked the same, if you don't count a dark, dirty streak covering the bottom of the spade, looking like soil. Jerry dug the flowers again, crossed her mind. She left the shovel in a place and opened the small gateway connecting her garden with the neighbor's possession. She moved through the wickets of weeds until she reached the white house with red tiles. The neighbor's dog, Fluke, was closed in the small pen surrounded by high metal fence, where he has his solid kennel and rusted from the rain two bowls. He has to heard her, because he took off his black eyes from the bottom of the hill, and looked straight at her. He start fawning along the fence, waggling his furry tail.

Alexandra was never a big fan of dogs. Throughout her life, there were a herds of stray cats and small parrots located in each room of her small house, but never a dog. But Fluke…There was something about this dog. He somehow enclosed her heart and she just couldn't not like him. Alexandra never supported the closing of animals in cramped cages, and she felt sorry for Fluke watching him sitting all day in his kennel and howling with longing every night. And maybe that was the valid reason why from the last half year she kept visiting her friend on four legs and giving him delicious snacks, when Mr. Goose where outside the house. She slipped her long fingers through the metal rings and smiled softly when the dog climbed over the fence with his forepaws and licked her fingertips for welcome.

'You heard that, too?' She asked him as she opened the wicket and decided to take him for a short walk down the hill. Fluke barked in agreement and waggled his tail, excited. 'Alright, I'm coming! Just wait a minute!' She sighed heavily and followed her friend.

There was no trees around to lean against them and her walking-stick she left in bedroom, so Alexandra Dray had to be very careful if she wanted to reach her destination without any broken bones. She sighed, annoyed with her thoughtless. She was almost in the half way, when she again felt familiar anxiety and she looked around, terrified. She could feel in bones something wasn't alright, but she couldn't precise what.

'Fluke! Fluke!' She called with shaking voice, her eyes trying to localize the dog. Now, she knew what alarmed her. Fluke wasn't barking anymore. 'Fluke!' She tried once again and shivered as in response she got a quiet squeak.

As quickly it was possible she went down, to the same river hidden behind many bushes growing up along the whole stream, and made her way through one of them. The first thing she saw, it was Fluke walking along the river, until his head disappeared in another bush and he start sniffing loudly.

'What you find there this time? Don't tell me it's another bone…' The dog disappeared for a short moment, only to appeared with something in his muffle, making the woman shook her head.

'So that's why you bring me, here? I thought that…ah, never mind.' She waved a hand at Fluke and was ready to go back to home, when something else caught her eye. The dog was just behind her back, in teeth holding the small bone, which has to be the leg of the same hen buried here by Jerry, and some silver piece of cloth. She bended over the animal and gently removed the material from his muffle before took a look at it. Piece of dress?

'Okay, let see what we have, here.' She sighed and knelled down on her knees as she decided to check the bush. She squinted her eyes to might see something in the darkness as she pushed the branches on the sides. She felt her stomach in throat, and heart pounded sharply. She screamed loudly and covered face with hands as she quickly pulled back. It's only bad dream…Nothing happened… She kept repeating in mind. But despite this, she still couldn't get rid of the image of silver, short skirt with sequins and carelessly covered pale, small hand lying in dirty mud. Someone was there. And everything was saying, she was already dead…

Craig was each day more frustrated than day before with John Paul's sudden change of mood. Since the night before, when John Paul came back from work, he didn't say even one word to him, only pretended he hadn't seen him and had more important things to do than say simple goodnight to his boyfriend. He just had enough that. He didn't do nothing wrong to be threaten like that!

'Did I again somehow step on your nerve or you're doing it on purpose for a little fun?' He asked him sharply as he once again passed by him in common room without one look, showing everyone around how hurt he is. 'You're not going to answer me?' He almost bristled at him as blocked his way to the office.

'You think you deserve to get any answer from me?' John Paul retorted, pissing him off totally.

'What the fuck that means?' He asked in harsh whisper, already feeling at himself his colleagues eyes. He knew from beginning he should drag John Paul to his office and then demanding answers from him, but now it was too late for this.

'You know what.'

'No, I don't! Stop using rhymes, only tell me straight what this time bite you today!' He used his the most powerful voice, but John Paul didn't look impressed, only more angry at him. 'You again imagine something in your head?' He snorted.

'I don't like the way you're helping your family to deal with their problems.' He said through the teeth, enough quiet to not be hear by others who although pretend they were working hard, they were giving them a quick glances from time to time.

'What?' He asked confused, staring at him taken-aback. 'John Paul, you don't know my family, so you don't have any clue about the way I'm helping them.' He said slowly, anger seeping through his words.

'It's enough for me to see how you're organizing the life of your brother, and the way you're talking with your mother or Steph by phone.'

'This slimy idiot already complained at me, eh?' He turned around to shot a dead glare to his stepbrother leaning against the cupboards as he pretend he was chatting with Fred. 'He never knows when to shut up.'

'He didn't complain only asked me for advice, because he wasn't sure if his brother wants his happiness or only stubbornly trying to satisfy his mother's ego!' He snapped.

'My mum doesn't do nothing wrong! She's right that Darren needs to stay with Hannah and take care about their child.' He said firmly, eyeing him up unfriendly. 'He's just a coward.'

'He doesn't love her, and I have a feeling, your mother wants this wedding only because of the prestige and that Hannah's mother is her good friend.'

'What prestige?' He yelled angrily and pushed John Paul in the corner of room as he noticed everyone's eyes, or eye, were fixed at them with curious.

'Not only you have your sources. I talked with people at the station and I know Hannah's parents are rich.' He explained, giving him knowingly look. 'It's not about Darren and Hannah, but about Ashworth's. That's why your mum insisting at this wedding so stubbornly. Just ask her.'

'That's ridiculous!' He almost bristled at him.

'And I wouldn't be surprised if you don't want me to meet your mother, because you know she'd approval our relationship, because I'm too poor to be with you.'

'He's just playing with your mind!' Craig tightened his fists. 'I'm sure I already know who's your source...Darren!'

'No, he didn't say anything about your mother.' He disagreed and tensed as he noticed Darren coming over them with concern look on his face. 'I just don't see any other explanation why she's pushing Darren into this marriage, although he's not even her biological son! What Jack is saying about the all situation?'

'No one asked him.' Craig shrugged and quickly regret it as he noticed triumphal smile on his boyfriend's face. 'He's just passive about everything, that's all. Just like Darren.'

'Okay, what's going on, here?' Darren chimed in as he stood in the safe distance from his stepbrother and watched both men intently. 'I heard you, saying my name.'

'It's not always about you, you know.' Craig snapped at him, wanting him to disappear.

'And who says that.' John Paul snorted, not afraid of heavy glare he got from his lover.

'You know everyone are watching you both and wonder what's going on there? Is it about work?' Darren tried to guess to soothe the situation, but his action seemed to only add fuel to the fire.

'No, it's about your fucking marriage.' Craig replied, shaking with anger. 'Okay, I can understand you might have second thought and be afraid Hannah isn't the one for you, but now it's a bit too late for this and you should take it is a man and marry her. But I don't understand why the fuck you're saying such a bullshits about my mum!'

'I didn't say nothing about Frankie!' He disagreed quickly. 'We even didn't mention her!'

'Yea, right. So from who he'd take such information, eh? You're such ungrateful jerk, Darren!' He yelled and was a step from punch him on the face. 'My mum took your father and you from the fucking street, and now, you're paying for her kindness by making a cow of her.'

'Craig, he didn't say anything about your mother...'

'You all were living in my father's house, so about what street you're talking?' His eyes narrowed. 'I've never said a bad word about Frankie, although she deserves to hear few words of truth because of the way she's threatening my dad! He can't say even one word in that house!'

'Bullshits!'

'Oy, stop you two, right now.' John Paul chimed in quietly, noticing the whole conversation was going in the wrong direction. Everyone were openly watching them now, surprise and confuse written over their faces.

'You know what, Darren? I don't feel any respect for you. You can't appreciate what you have and ruining everything what you touch.'

'Shame you didn't say straight what you think about me years ago, only keep it for yourself. You're such a liar.' Darren snapped at him, losing his all heart to his stepbrother.

'Your father and you used my mother to open this fucking pub! Everyone knew you were broken.'

'Craig, calm down, before you say something more!' John Paul snapped at him.

'Frankie could do it by her own if she has a little oil in her head and could work! She's just sitting every day in front of TV and playing queen in Hollyoaks, when my dad is working hard to keep the flat!' Darren yelled flustered.

'I've never liked you. You were such a wimp years ago, and it looks like you still are…'

'Yea, cause you were better…'

'Craig and Darren stop it, right now!'

'Your whole family isn't worth even one penny!'

'If we're so bad, why you're so interested in my personal life, eh?' He snapped back, hurt.

'I probably get used to help you get out off your problems! But it'll end if you break up with Hannah. She'd be the one I'd be comforting, not you.' He pointed a finger at him.

'Craig, you hate her!' John Paul reminded him, surprised. 'You never said even one good word about her.'

'It doesn't mean I hate her.' He protested. 'We just didn't go along sometimes.'

'I'm sure it was more than sometimes.' John Paul corrected him. 'Now, cut this off. Darren go back to your work.' He ordered.

'And you stay away from me and Hannah. She can take care about herself on her own.' Darren said firmly and was ready to walk away, when Craig grabbed him for arm.

'You're such a selfish twat!' Craig barked at him.

'And who says that?' Darren fired back, barely stopping himself from shove him back. 'Just think how easier life we'd have here, if you show some compassion sometimes.'

'And how better it'd be if you got this bullet straight into your fucking head!' He yelled into his face, without thinking. The anger just prevailed over his reasoning. 'I'm sure everyone would breath with relief if they don't have to deal with you anymore.'

'Craig…' John Paul said speechless, moving his eyes from Craig's red face to Darren's swollen up eyes. 'Take it back and apologize!' He ordered, but Craig stayed quiet and watched his brother with challenge.

'Thanks, Craig.' Darren said quietly and without look back marched away from the common room, feeling at himself his colleagues horrified stares.

'I don't believe you said that.' John Paul shook his head. 'To your own brother.'

'He's not my brother.' He bristled.

'It's not always about the same blood, Craig. He is a part of your family, since his father married your mother!' He lost his all patience to him. 'He never said anything to hurt you and always try to be on your side, and that's the way you're paying him back?'

'Cut this crap about family things, okay? I'm tired of it!' He said through the teeth. 'You know nothing about that. Darren is my business.'

'We think about being together, Craig, so it is my business.' He snapped, hurt. 'I'm going to be…'

'Oh, just shut up! I'm tired of your babbling and hearing shits about my family! Maybe before you start interfering into mine, you'd firstly focus on yours!'

'What you mean?' Anger written over his face.

'Jackie is a frequent guest in jail, Michaela would be able to sell herself off only to get some new, spicy news and Mercy, well, I wouldn't be surprised if I see her around some corner at night…' He understood his mistake when he felt the hard slap on the face with such s force, he fall down on his four letters, and looked up on his boyfriend with horror. It's not like he expected that.

'You think you're so smart and great, Craig, you can offend anyone you want?' He felt the first pangs of guilt as he noticed tears rolling down John Paul's cheeks. 'Well, the truth is you're just selfish bastard and you don't deserve any pity. You don't know what means to have family.'

'I do…' He said quietly and with wince of pain he pressed his hand to lips. He felt the warmness on his fingertips and metallic taste of blood in mouth.

'No, you don't.' John Paul snapped and with tears ran out of the room.

'Fuck!' Craig mumbled and hid face in hands, like he was hoping he'd disappear.

'Okay, so what's happened, here? Why Darren looked like someone slapped him on the face and John Paul almost broke your nose, before ran out in tears?' He heard Bridget's voice above himself, but he didn't dare to look at her or let alone talk with her. 'Craig?'

'That was a harsh one.' Charlie commented somewhere. 'Do you need the aid kit?'

'Just leave, the fuck, me alone!' He yelled and suddenly pulled himself into feet. 'Go back you to your fucking job! I'm sure you have a lot of things to do!'

'Okay, take it, easy. We just wanted to check if you're alright.' Bridget shook her head and gave him a heavy glare. 'Do whatever you want Craig, but behaving like that, you won't have any friends here.' She warned him, before she nodded at others to give them a sign to go back to their jobs.

'There's nothing to watch!' He yelled as two young constables watched him with horror.

'You have all face in blood, Craig. Better take care about it, before you show up everyone.' Charlie advised. 'Do you want me to help you?'

'I can do that on my own.' He muttered and made his way toward the corridor. He felt like a shit.

'We've got a call, boys. Mrs. Alexandra Dray from Clearwater reported she has found a body of young person hided in bushes, along the river.' Bridget announced as she put the handset back and looked toward Charlie and William occupying the nearest desk and eating biscuits, brought by younger man.

'From where?' Charlie asked with full mouth and frowned.

'It's a new settlement of cottages on the outskirts of town.' She explained with a sigh. 'We've got a signal it can be a young girl. The victim has small hands.' She added in the same time as Darren joined them.

'You think it's Aja Behari?' William asked, looking at her unsurely.

'Maybe.' She shrugged. 'Everything's possible. We'd know for sure when we go down.'

'I'll go.' Darren immediately offered and fished for his jacket.

'Well, I don't think it's a good idea…' Charlie said slowly, searching for support in Bridget.

'Why not?' He frowned, moving his eyes from one face to other. 'Well?'

'After your argue with Craig today, we're not sure…'

'He doesn't has nothing to do with the case.' He snapped, irate. 'I have my job to do, and I'm sure Craig would be appreciate if I won't stay around.'

'Fine, but I'm going with you.' Bridget said and glanced at the youngest man. 'You too, Willy.'

'But I…Okay, I'm going.' He gave up after her one, short look at him. 'Why Charlie isn't going with us?' He pointed at other man with petulant look.

'I already have a job to do, thanks for your thought.' He replied sarcastically and grabbed the pack with biscuits. 'You wouldn't mind if they stay with me, would you?' He grinned.

'To let you eat them all?'

'Well, they've been made for it, haven't they?' William mumbled something under his breath and jumped off from the desk, before followed Darren.

'Old married couple.' Bridget muttered and with a roll of her eyes left grinning Charlie with his chocolate biscuits.

Craig was cleaning his face off the blood, when he heard some muffled sound coming out from one of the cabins. He turned off the tap and wiped himself with a handkerchief before he made his way toward the end of the room. He gently knocked on the door and hold his breath when no more sounds came to his ears.

'John Paul…' He called softly and knocked once again, but in response he only got a quiet sob. 'Please, open the door. I'm really sorry for everything I said to you. I know I shouldn't say anything about your family, but you know me, when I'm angry.'

'It's not a good excuse for what you said.' John Paul replied quietly, his voice filled with anger and sadness.

'I know, but I really didn't mean what I said and surely didn't want to hurt you.' He gently pressed his hand at the door. 'Just please, open the door and talk with me.'

'If I open the door it wouldn't change anything.' He retorted and Craig could felt he pressed his body at the other side of the door.

'I know, and I'm really sorry. I don't know why I said it…I was so angry at you.'

'So you wanted to hurt me.'

'No…Well, not at all.' He admitted quietly. 'Would you forgive me? Please, I swear it's the last time I'd say something like that to you.'

'Why you think I'd believe you?'

'It's not like I'd like to be humiliate in front of my subordinates and end with broken lip once again.' John Paul smiled slightly as Craig's warm voice rang behind the door and he was sure he was smiling now at him. 'I'm terribly sorry.'

'You should say that to Darren.'

'It's not like I didn't say any truth.' He tried to argue, but bite down on his tongue as he recalled himself what he was doing here and what task he had. 'I'll talk with him later, okay? I didn't mean this part with him being dead.'

'So why you said that?' He snorted. 'It was disgusting the way you acted.'

'I know and like I said I'm sorry for that…Forgive me, John Paul.'

'So, you're not going to make a hell of me punching you on the face?' He cocked his eyebrow.

'Well, I guess I deserved it…'

'Yea, you deserved.' He agreed and smiled slightly. 'Treat is as a punishment.'

'The punishment would be if you leave me right now…And although I know you have rights to do it right now, I'm begging you to not do it.' He felt tears gathering in eyes. 'I love you, John Paul. And same fact I didn't shout at you or punch back for what you did in common room, mean how much I changed for you…' There was a short pause and almost inaudible sob, but John Paul heard it. He gently pushed the door open and walked out with still puffy red eyes and smiled softly as he noticed few tears falling down from Craig's eyes. 'I'm just so tired of everything and don't think straight. I didn't mean to hurt anyone.'

'I know. Sometimes you're just turning into crazy Mr. Hyde, and no one can stop you…But I wish I'd be able to do it one day for you and others Sake.' He said quietly and pulled his boyfriend into tight hug.

'So, it means you're not leaving me?' He asked with hope.

'Maybe I'm making the biggest mistake of my life, but I'm not going to leave you.' He whispered and with a soft smile kissed him tenderly on the cheek. 'Stupidly I fall in love with the most annoying man on the whole world.'

'I love you too.' He muttered and pulled slightly back. 'So am I forgiven?'

'If you apologize Darren, I'd think about that.' He retorted and planted a small kiss on his lips. 'And promise me, you wouldn't dare to say anything like that to him again.'

'I swear I won't do that. I don't know from where I took such idea.' He shook his head.

'Me either.' John Paul replied quietly and looked deeply into his dark eyes before gently touched his bruises lip. 'You're still bleeding. I'll go for something and be right back for two minutes.' He added and walked out of the restroom, wondering if he really did the right thing…

'Who we have here?' Darren asked causally as they walked down the hill and stopped just above two men stretching out a body bag on the ground.

'Young, white woman in her early twenties.' Danny replied and scratched his bald head. ' Judging by the clothes on her and cards of clubs in her pocket, she probably was a prostitute.'

'Do we know her name?' Bridget asked and moved lower so she could take a look at the crime scene and a body. 'Was she living there?'

'We didn't find any documents, and no one here knows her. But to be sure you have to use your magic skills.' He replied ironically and hid his gloves into bag. 'When you finish watching the body, let me know, so I'd take it to mortuary and say something more.'

'Do we know the cause of death?' Darren frowned his eyebrows as he took a look at very young woman lying on the ground with carelessly spread legs and hands at strange ankles, and with wide opened mouth and eyes. There was red line of lipstick acrossed her blue lips and right cheek to the same ear, and silver heart resting on her breasts, on a thin chain. He also noticed two holes on her red top and dark bruises on her alabaster neck.

'Probably strangled, but to be sure I need to examine her.'

'Strangled?' William frowned and looked at pathologist with disbelief. 'She has two holes in the chest like she has been shot. Shouldn't it be the cause of death?'

'But there's no blood.' Darren noted, before Danny could reply. 'It looks like she has been shot after she was already dead.'

'That's right.' Pathologist nodded his head. 'I wonder if I get any more surprises like this one…Maybe it turned out she has been killed in other way?' He said enthusiastically.

'That's sick!' William stated. 'Why someone would like to shot to someone who's already dead?'

'You're not alone on that.' Bridget said and shook her head. 'Like we didn't have enough work to do, we got another case.'

'Is there anything else you noticed on the body?' Darren suddenly asked as he looked around bushes and river with lip between his teeth, until he looked up at the nearest houses.

'Three fingers are missing.' He sighed heavily. 'It looks like murderer take it with himself, cause we didnt find them.'

'As a trophy?' William suddenly felt sick and turned with his back, couldn't look anymore at the body. 'What a freak…'

'It'd mean it was the job of the serial killer.' She noticed and nervously looked at Darren. 'You understand what that means?'

'That we'd have to find Aja Behari and her family's killer, deal with Russian Mafia, and find a serial killer.' Darren replied without emotions.

'Still someone could set everything up to fool us. It can be the job of unsatisfied client.'

'Maybe…' He shrugged not convinced and moved aside so officers could take the body. 'It's still early days to say anything.'

'Is there anything what catch your attention?' She asked quietly as she moved toward him, so no one could hear them.

'I just have this feeling, it's only beginning. I don't know why, but…' He scratched his head.

'You were watching the crime scene very carefully. Why?'

'It kind of remind me of something, but…The place is wrong.' He replied quietly and fished for cigarette. 'Anyway, it doesn't matter.'

'If you say so.' She shrugged and looked up. 'I think we'd be going. We have a lot of people to investigate.'

'Yea, sure…' He muttered and looked around before said loudly. 'Can I talk with woman who found the body?'

'She's still in shock. I saw ambulance taking her out.' Some officer replied. 'I guess we don't get anything from her till tomorrow.'

'Just great.' Bridget scowled. 'She's probably the only witness we have.'

'Well, we can't do nothing about that, can we?' Darren shrugged and pointed at the hill. 'Come on, Bridget. I want to end here before the midnight.'

'Not only you. I promised Tony I'd be earlier today and we'll go to the cinema and then grab a dinner.' She sighed. 'I don't want to disappoint him. Recently I spend with him so little time.'

'If we take Willy, we can do everything during three hours, and then you're free.' He smirked and they both start climbing back.

'And what plans for the evening you have?' She smiled slightly and playfully nudged him into ribs.

'Hannah prepared something. A surprise, I think.' He shrugged.

'Oh, that's…hmm…nice.'

'Yea, it is.' He muttered and for the last time looked above his shoulder at the crime scene, feeling a strange knob in his stomach. There was something disturbing about this place, but he didn't has any clue yet, what was that.