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Trial?

"Tracey Evans" Ronnie pushed his glasses further up his nose as he watched his boss cross the CID office towards him. The usual hustle and bustle of the main office didn't seem to exist. The whole team were more subdued than normal. He didn't like it.

"What about her Ron?" Natalie folded her arms across her chest.

"Seems it wasn't our Morris she was living with. Well not officially anyway." He paused as Natalie raised an eyebrow. Angie joined them and sat in the seat where Matt would normally be.

"Go on" Natalie prompted.

"Well, after I sent our Mattie boy 'ome I went round there, spoke to 'er neighbour. Seems Tracey was Donovan's girlfriend. She's got form too" He handed Natalie a file.

"Petty theft, soliciting, possession of a class A drug with intent to supply" Natalie sighed as she read out the list. "I won't be introducing her to my son, that's for certain. What has this got to do with anything? I mean Donovan was out on licence. There's a fair chance he met the girl and then shacked up with her. I mean it happens" She watched as Ronnie looked decidedly pleased with himself.

"It does Ma'am, but what might be of interest to us is that she works for the local florist on the High Street." He watched as Angie and Natalie exchanged glances.

"What are you waiting for? Get this Tracey in the interview room. I'll get James over here to listen in." She returned to her office and picked up the phone as Angie grabbed her jacket.

"And where do you think you are going?" He turned to the young DS.

"Ron, you are not doing this without me. Matt is still on the sick and it isn't just your daughter her boyfriend's mate terrified is it?" She raised her eyebrows before storming past him. Ronnie shook his head and picked up his coat. He really hoped that his hunch turned out to have some mileage behind it.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Alesha was exhausted. She forced the key Matt had given her in to the door as she heard the radio blare out from the kitchen. The pre-trial hearing had been unsettling and she was glad she wasn't going home to an empty flat. Smoky walked up to her and began circling her ankles as she tried not to trip up over the cat.

"Hey" She scolded the cat who just purred. Alesha's heart melted a little as she bent down to stroke the cat. He had been a rescue cat from the local RSPCA shelter, rescued at a time when she felt she needed rescuing herself. Happy that he had been given the appropriate attention the grey moggie made his way to the kitchen where Matt was cooking dinner.

"Hello Delia" Alesha bit her lip at the sight of her boyfriend trying to cook with only one working arm. His right shoulder was still heavily bandaged.

"Oh that's nice" He smiled at her "I slave away in this kitchen and that's the thanks I get!" Alesha laughed as he tried to look offended. The smile in his eyes betrayed how he was really feeling. Alesha shrugged her coat off and draped it over the chair as he walked over to her.

"Beans on toast do not count as slaving away Matt Devlin and you know it" She smiled as he raised his eyebrows.

"It does when you're so high on painkillers you open the wrong tin by mistake" His good arm snaked around her waist, pulling her to him.

"What did you open?" She closed her eyes as he began drawing imaginary circles on the small of her back.

"Don't laugh"

"I wont laugh" Alesha tried to suppress a giggle.

"Well, you nearly had sweet corn on toast" He pulled a face as Alesha smiled more. "You said you wouldn't laugh" He pouted as Alesha closed the gap.

"Sorry, let me make it up to you" She kissed him as suddenly all thoughts of tea, sweet corn or otherwise was long forgotten.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You Tracey Evans?" Ronnie walked in to the small flower shop as a blonde woman wearing large hoop earrings served an elderly man. She ignored Ronnie and Angie until Angie finally has enough and pulls her ID badge out of her pocket.

"Tracey Evans?" Angie snapped. Ronnie raised his eyebrows. It had been a long time since he had seen Angie loose her temper with anyone. She rarely raised her voice, never mind snapped at people. The elderly man paid for his bouquet and left as the woman turned to them.

"What you want to know for?" Her cockney accent loud in the now silent shop.

"Because, luv we are the police" Ronnie stepped forward.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah so are you Tracey Evans or not?" he asked.

"Yeah"

"Right, Angie luv do you mind if I do the honours?" He watched as his younger colleague shook her head slightly and smiled.

"Be my guest" Angie answered

"Tracey Louise Evans I am placing you under arrest for intimidation of witnesses and perverting the course of justice. You have the right to remain silent, if however you fail to say anything you may later rely on in Court.." Ronnie started as Angie cuffed her.

"This is ridiculous! Police brutality is what this is! My Karl told me about you thugs!" Tracey screamed as Angie calmly and quietly led her to the car.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

James sat in the observation room at the police station with Natalie and George as they watched the skinny blonde woman ignore Ronnie and Angie. Angie huffed as she folded her arms. Natalie smiled, she knew that she was missing Matt, working with Ronnie could be difficult. But she was determined that he wouldn't be back on duty until the trial was over. She had to know he was fit for duty. She glanced at James as he stared intently at the small monitor.

"We have a case then yeah?" She watched as James' eyes never left the screen.

"Yeah" He answered "We'd have a stronger case if she confesses to sending the card and flowers."

"Witness intimidation? Yeah that makes it seem like Donovan and Morris have a grudge against up" Natalie could see his reasoning. From watching the monitors she could also see that Ronnie was beginning to loose his temper. She watched as her Detective Sergeant stood and walked to the door. The tension in the room was palpable as Ronnie could be seen to loosen his tie. He leant against the wall as Angie folded her hands on the table.

"You see Tracey luv. I really aint that bothered about a few poxy flowers and a manky card. Bad taste yeah but not the end of the world." He paused as Angie frowned. She wasn't following him but she knew if Matt had been there he would have got what was happening immediately.

"Why am I 'ere then?" She folded her arms. Ronnie smiled.

"Oh so you did send them. Right Tracey" He walked back to his chair and sat down "You better drop all this no comment nonsense and start telling us the truth because trust me while I don't really give a toss about a few manky flowers sent by some sick little girlfriend of Karl Donovan my DI does. So unless you want to go to court again I suggest you tell us what happened between Donovan, Morris and you because right now I'm thinking you aint the brains in that little operation" Ronnie folded his arms as Tracey opened and closed her mouth.

"It's ok" Angie smiled "Take your time"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Told you 'e was good" Natalie smiled as George and James both nodded. They had seen everything in the Interview Room. George clapped his hands and stood up.

"Charge her with perverting the course of justice and harassment. We'll put her in the stand" George was out the door as Natalie stood up. She closed her eyes for a moment and smiled. They were finally going to trial. Soon the whole Morris debacle would be over. Soon.

author's note. Please review.