Disclaimer not mine.

Drive.

Carole looked over the busy nightclub as she sipped her drink. The place was definately not the sort of place she would choose to frequent and she was glad there was no way she would have to go there twice. She got to her feet as she saw the mark approach. Smiling slightly she knew she had to get this right. It wasn't just the job that depended on it. So did Ash's life.

"Hello." She smiled as Dean held out his hand.

"I believe you and I can do some business." Dean ran his eyes over her body as Carole raised an eyebrow.

"You know what chuck?" Carole held his gaze and fought the urge to be sick. "I think we can."

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"She's in." Danny nodded towards the window where Carole was sat. Sean scoffed and shook his head.

"You don't know much about our Carole do you?"

"She's a brassy bird with shit taste in men." Danny snapped as Sean laughed.

"No. She's a bloody brilliant grifter, a trained actress and the best thing ever to happen to Eddie. And her taste in men aint that bad, if she knocked you back."

"Shut up." Sean laughed while Danny sulked in the driver's seat. He shook his head and carried on watching for any sign Carole needded back up. They had possibly lost Ash on this job there was no way he was going to risk losing anyone else.

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"Mickey." Emma sat in the passenger seat while Mickey drove towards the warehouse they knew Dean used to bring his drugs and other illegal trade into the country. Mickey kept his eyes on the road, hoping against hope that he was right. That Ash was with Rachel at the warehouse.

"Emma." He smiled slightly,, knowing the blonde woman was watching him. She had barely taken her eyes off him since they had got into the car. He knew she was as scared as he was.

"What if?"

"Look, we've been over the plan. If they plan to do anything they have to get rid of Ash. The most likely place to do that is the warehouse. Now Nikki has the address."

"Never thought I'd see the day Mickey Bricks would trust a copper." Emma smiled slightly.

"She is a good girl." Mickey sighed. "I told you. Ash has known her since she was a baby. Her mum was a grifter and her dad a copper. The only reason she was allowed to become a copper was her mum didn't get arrested. If the powers that be knew she was Carole's cousin."

"DCI Nikki Paige is Carole's cousin?" Emma almost shouted.

"Yeah."

"Bloody Hell. She kept that quiet."

"She's a grifter." Mickey smiled. "You'd keep it quiet if you had a copper in the family."

"Suppose." Emma smiled back. She turned and glanced out of the window as they reached the industrial estate where the warehouse was. The sky darkened. Emma just hoped the weather wasn't an omen for what was to come.

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"Bleedin 'ell Rach." Ash winced while Rachel pulled on the rope tying his hand together. "I never knew you were in the Guides."

"Got thrown out."

"Now that does not surprise me." Ash huffed as the rope was pulled tighter.

"Thought you knew." Rachel smiled slightly. "Anyway, I reckon you'll be ok here."

"Ok?"

"Well, before you are moved on."

"What are you doing?"

"Ash, the only reason you are not dead is because of our history." She stepped away from him, happy with her handiwork.

"So?"

"So, it's time you were moved on. Ash, you and Mickey are prized comodities. Well, Albert more than anything."

"He's old. Leave im alone."

"Oh, you are so nice." Rachel mocked. "To be that concerned about old Albert. If it were Stacie would you be so bothered."

"Oh just bugger off." Ash narrowed his eyes.

"My Ashley." Rachel ran a hand along his face. "My gentle giant."

"No." Ash glared at her. "You see that's one thing I aint never been."

"Gentle?"

"No, yours."

He had half expected the slap but the sting had surprised him. Rachel was in this up to her neck and he had long since forgotten any notion of trying to help her get out of it.

#################

Eddie picked up the mobile and dialled the familiar number while Sean started the engine. He knew he would have to get the car out of sight before Dean left the club. Stacie could be seen pulling her car out into traffic as Sean did the same. It was time to get to the warehouse and just hope Carole could handle herself.

~~~~~~~#

"Right." Carole placed her glass back on the table. "Let me get this straight."

"Go on." Dean stared at her cleavage. Carole knew that if she wasn't acting she would reach across the table and smack some sense into him. She smiled sweetly instead.

"You pay me the princely sum of £250,000 and I give you my contacts in France and Sweeden."

"Not just that, Jenna."

"No." Carole agreed. "Not just that. You want to take over my import business. And to be honest, I will be glad to be rid."

"Yeah"

"The merchandise is getting me down. I'm too old for this game. It's for a youngster like you."

"You aren't old."

"Older than you." Carole smiled. "Anyway, part of my stock is this." She held out the picture Danny had put together. "Can you shift this? "

"This?" Dean stared at the picture. "Thats."

"Van Gough's missing masterpiece. The Ark."

"Yeah."

"Can you shift it?"

"You know it's worth more than a billion?"

"is it?" Carole sighed. She wanted to laugh, this man was supposedly an art expert yet he had no clue Van Gough had never done such a painting. Smirking she leant forward to give him a better view of her cleavage.

"Yeah."

"So, we have a deal?"

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A/N more soon. Please review.