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

A/N: When I asked for Mallie love at the end of last chapter I never expected so much! I am so far behind on my reading now. So if you're reading this and I haven't reviewed yours yet, I apologize. Will do it soon!

Chapter Fourteen:
Alias

Millie joined him going in early the next morning. Once she'd seen the note she wasn't about to take Max's no for an answer. She spent the whole of the ride to Sun Hill just staring ahead of her like a woman possessed, Max certain he didn't once see her blink, so when they finally reached the backyard and Max parked the car, he had to talk some sense into her.

"This may be a false lead."

Millie's eyes searched his face, confusion etched on hers. "How can you say that? It may be the only real lead we'll get."

Max sighed. When he'd first seen the note he'd been hopeful too, but then reality had kicked in. Seemingly these realities hadn't reached Millie yet. "Mill, how many people who are out to help you throw the leads through the front window of your house?" she made to protest but he stopped her with a finger. "No, look, I know you want to think positive but let's be realistic here. I just don't want you to get too upset when it comes to nothing." Her head hung and he touched her cheek. "Come on, it isn't over yet."

"Yeah…" she trailed off, leaving Max to finished the sentence – 'you don't know that for certain'. She slid from his grasp and started up the back ramp, note clenched in her fist. She'd taken it off him that morning and Max didn't have the strength to fight her to get it back. She hadn't slept much of the night, he knew because he hadn't either, both turning fitfully in worry and anticipation for what they may find the next morning. Who was Polenski and what did he have to do with this? How was Southport involved? Was this lead for real? Would this find them their son?

"PC Brown? I didn't expect you in just yet." A Sergeant Max didn't recognize stood before them at the back door, halfway through leaving the building with a PC in tow. Millie gave a noncommittal reply in the form of a shrug.

Max didn't explain anything to the Sergeant, just leading Millie away, pushing her ahead of him through the doors. The Sergeant didn't question the DI and carried on as if he'd seen nothing at all. Max glanced at Millie. "Are you alright to do this?"

Millie shook her head but before Max could suggest she head home then, she responded with a soft but sure tone. "I have to though. I have to find Oscar." Max nodded slowly, knowing he wouldn't be able to get rid of her now even if he wanted to, and so led her past a stream of pitying, sad and confused faces towards the IBO where Inspector Smith was waiting for them, Max having called Neil Manson earlier that morning to tell them they were coming in with new details. Neil had wanted Max to give them over the phone, but Max wasn't taking anything away from Millie. She didn't need to be told Polenski was a lead – she needed to find that out herself.

He hated what she'd feel though if it turned out to be the opposite.

"PC Brown," Smithy smiled softly at her but she didn't manage a reply, "DI Carter requested you be given the usual access to the PNC files, addresses and even Southport's data base. We contacted them and they've sent us the access codes and details. You're free to go through the files at your leisure over there on computer 3. PC Copeland will be assisting you." A cheery-looking young brunette girl smiled and waved Millie over, but she paused before the Inspector, pulling out a folded-up piece of paper. It was the note from the brick.

"This came through our front window last night." Smithy read it quickly then nodded. "Get it to the CSE, there may still be prints." Her words were almost an order, but her tone was so deflated no one took it that way.

"Of course we will." Smithy glanced at Max who just found interest in his shoelaces. "This is who you're looking for? Polenski?"

Millie gave a soft nod and shuffled towards the computer where PC Jennifer Copeland sat waiting, a sad smile still playing on her lips. Smithy handed the note back to Max and the DI sighed, glancing at it. "You're aware the chances of this being a genuine lead are 100 to 1 right?" Smithy said softly, trying to avoid being heard by Millie.

Max nodded dolefully. "I know, but she needs to be involved or I don't know what she'll do." He gave the piece of paper a shake. "I'll get this to the CSE, see what he says."

"What will happen if it is nothing Max? How do you think she'll feel?"

"I don't really want to think about that right now," Max admitted before turning and walking from the room.

*

Three hours later he did find out just that. Millie and PC Copeland had been through every file of every name on the Southport PNC database and there was no name that even sounded like Polenski. PC Copeland had put in a call to Southport's council offices but they wouldn't have any helpful details for a few more hours at least. If this was a genuine lead then Polenski didn't have a criminal record or anything else that tied him rather obviously to Jankowski.

"I knew this was a waste of time," a teary Millie admitted after Max led her to the canteen on the pretence of tea but really to get her away from Smithy's pity-filled sighs and PC Copeland's wide-eyed optimism that the council may come through. Neither were helping Millie and the woman was becoming more and more distressed each minute she spent in the IBO unable to find anything out.

"I shouldn't've let you come in, you're not ready for this yet." Millie sniffled and stared at the steel blue tabletop. They'd obviously just been washed because they were glaringly clean. "Maybe you should go stay with your mother for a while?"

"Is my helplessness cramping your style Max?" she snapped, suddenly very angry. Max leant back in his chair from surprise alone. "Is that it?"

"No! I just, maybe you need to get away from all this crap, let us find Oscar."

Millie stood quickly. "I'm going home before you say else anything I will be tempted to use on you later." She stormed off, Max turning to watch her go as she barged past a bemused looking PC Copeland who stood in the doorway trying to talk to his wife. Max sighed and waved her over.

"Sir, it's not good news. Inspector Smith gave Southport council the bum rush, told them it was to do with a missing kid." Max nodded. "They don't have anyone in Southport named Polenski. Haven't since the 50s they said. I'm sorry." She made her own hasty escape as Max dropped his head into his hands with a sigh.