Disclaimer: 'The Bill' belongs to iTV, Talkback Thames and Freemantle Media

Chapter Thirteen:
Brick In The Wall

That night was their first time at home without Oscar. Elizabeth had wanted them to stay with her, but Millie had been resolute that she wanted to be at home, try and make some normality out of the mess. Max had stayed at work late, trying to find anything he could on Jankowski's associates, but a little after nine DCI Manson had walked into his office and told him that if he didn't go home then Neil would have no hesitation in demoting him back to DS. He'd taken the hint and left, taking a very large pile of paperwork with him. When he arrived home he found the living room and kitchen empty. He dumped his paperwork on the dining table and headed upstairs, calling out for his wife. He found her in Oscar's room, seated on his dark blue single bed and clutching his teddy JoJo Bear to her chest, tears streaming down her face. Max sighed and sat down beside her, pulling her to him. "It'll be alright, we'll get him back." She sobbed into his shoulder and he could feel his shirt getting wet from the tears, but he just clutched her tighter. If he was honest with himself he'd admit he was struggling just as badly as her and the hug was more to remind himself that he hadn't lost everything that mattered to him yet. Just some of it. But he wasn't the type to admit that to himself let alone to others so he just sat quietly, squeezing her shoulder and letting her cry into him. Eventually she quietened and slid from his grasp.

"You," she sniffed. "You were collecting witness statements?" Max gave a small nod. "How did it go?"

Millie clung to JoJo Bear for support, so tight Max wondered that if Oscar did come back would JoJo Bear still be alive?

He mentally smacked himself. Not 'if' but 'when'. When Oscar came home…

"There, uh, there weren't any sightings." She looked away, hugging the bear to herself again. "It's okay Millie, we'll find him."

"Max, I spent all day in contact with boroughs and nicks all over England. No one has seen Jankowski; no one has had him in their district before. We don't have any idea where he'll go, and that's just England covered. He could go to Scotland, Northern Ireland, could leave the country altogether."

"All airports and ports are on high alert. He's not leaving this country."

"Then," Millie failed to hold back a sob, "then he'll just kill Oscar and go into hiding again." Max made to say something but Millie cut him off. "No Max, no don't say it won't happen because we both know Jankowski. He led his own brother to the slaughter, turned on his own nephew, is very prepared to eliminate anyone that gets his in way and have anyone killed so he may succeed. You think the 3-year-old boy of the two people that put him in gaol would be an exception? It won't be Max. He'll use Oscar as far as he can and then dispose of him. He…" Millie failed, the rant dying away in a coughing fit of repressed sobs. She moved away as Max made to hug her. "No, don't, I just… I…" she failed again and, even though the glare directed at him said one thing, she gripped the bed sheet between them so tight that Max couldn't help but grab her again. This time she let him and stayed there for a few moments until a crash downstairs startled them both into movement.

Motioning for Millie to stay where she was, Max descended the stairs slowly, scanning the lower level for any signs of an intruder. The broken front window indicated where the crash came from – something had been thrown through. He found the item on the living room floor. A brick. A brick with a note tied around it with a piece of twine. Slowly untying the twine, Max removed the note and opened it.

'If you're looking for someone try Nikov Polenski, Southport'

Max frowned at the single sentence. Nikov Polenski? The name was clearly Polish, so did that mean a connection to Jankowski? And Southport? What business did Jankowski have up there?

Dropping the brick he quickly recalled it had been thrown, which meant the thrower may still be outside. Dashing to the front door he pulled it open and ran out into the street. It was empty, save for a neighbour watering his front garden, a kid with a tennis ball wandering the park nearby and a dark red sedan turning out of the street. Max went back inside and shut the door behind him, turning to see Millie, JoJo Bear still in grasp, watching him.

"Max, what's going on?"

Max motioned for her to join him in the living room, stepping slowly over the broken glass. "I'm not sure, but we might have just had a lead thrown right into our laps."

The Noble Fight returns next year

A/N: The last chapter for this year… yes, go on, egg my house now. Lol. Will be back next year, mid-January hopefully. Till then I hope to see plenty more Mallie love from you guys so mush, mush, mush! ;)