Disclaimer I still don't own New Tricks.

Drinks and Confessions.

Sandra sat at the table as Gerry walked towards the bar. She had to admit she was exhausted. However much she tried to distance herself from the case she couldn't do it. Even a mountain of paper work hadn't been enough to drag her mind away from what had happened to her. She shook her head, even sleep offered no escape. Everytime she closed her eyes she was back there. She was back there with McCarthy breathing down her neck as Lincoln laughed. She still didn't really know how she had got out of the situation but she was glad she had.

"Guv?" Gerry sat down as she snapped back to the present.

"Oh thanks." She picked up the white wine in front of her.

"You alright?"

"Don't start that again." She smiled as Gerry picked up his pint.

"Alright, but it is a bit wierd innit?"

"Wierd?" Sandra repeated. "How do you mean wierd?"

"Yeah I mean. We know this woman. We worked in the same building as her since UCOS was put together and now she tried to 'av you killed?"

"I know." Sandra stared in to the glass. "I thought we were going to have lunch. Not just stay here and get drunk. Is there any reason for you to be keeping me out of the office this afternoon?" She raised an eyebrow as Gerry shrugged.

"We needed to get something to eat."

"Gerry." She stared pointedly at him.

"Oh alright." Gerry sighed. "Look, Jack said he and Emily have arrested Morris. I just thought it might be a good idea if we made ourselves scarse for a bit."

"You thought wrong." Sandra stood up and marched towards the door as Gerry threw his paper napkin on the table and huffed as he followed her through the door.

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Jack walked through the corridors of the police station wondering if they really did have the evidence they needed. He knew Eleanor Lincoln was more than willing to move the blame away from herself but he had no idea if Pete Mccarthy would do the same. As he reached the UCOS office he couldn't help but think back to the time when he ran CID. He knew he was the most senior and probably the most qualified of all the men on the team but even in his days as the Chief Superindendant he had known Sandra would go far. Sally had been a different matter all together. She had never been a team player. Always competative but spiteful too. The two traits he hated to see in any copper. He walked over to the kettle in the corner of the office as Brian walked in.

"Well?"

"Thanks Jack. No sugar. I'm on a health kick. My Esther.."

"I wasn't asking about that Brian." Jack sighed as he pulled another mug from the cupboard.

"Oh right." Brian sat down and booted up his laptop. "I could ask you the same question. Now you know I don't listen to rumours but the general feeling is that Sally Morris has been arrested."

"Is it." Jack sighed.

"So you heard too?" Sandra stated as she barged in the office.

Jack glanced at her before looking towards Gerry. Sandra looked as angry as Hell and for one moment Jack couldn't work out why. It was only when he looked at her properly that he could see a glimpse of the frightened fourteen year old he had met decades earlier.

"Emily formally arrested her during the interview." Jack stated.

"On what evidence?"

"Sandra. The woman paid two people to abduct you and have you killed." Jack watched as the other two men fell silent.

"I know." Sandra almost barked. "But knowing and making it stick in court are two different things."

"Yes." Gerry answered as Jack looked over to him. "But we know she was visiting both Lincoln and McCarthy in prison."

"Not illegal."

"Unethical though, for a serving copper." Brian joined the conversation.

"So?" Sandra leant against the desk as Scampi raised his head. He gave up on any idea of being taken for a walk and settled back down behind the filing cabinet.

"So, when I talked to Lincoln she said that she was paid alot of money. I mean I'm talking enough to pay off a mortgage." Brian watched as Sandra nodded.

"And where did Sandra get that type of money?" Sandra watched as Pushkar walked in.

"Ma'am."

"Pushkar, I am not the bloody Queen. Now this better be good." She pointed at him as he nodded.

"Oh it is."

"Out with it then son." Brian prompted him.

"I just checked Morris' bank records. She inherited alot of money but the rest she had 'acquired' by bank loans. She paid the money into McCarthy's account." Pushkar folded his arms. "So, I had a chat with him. Clarky and I were there for ages but he was quite proud of himself. Confessed to it all. Named Sally as the woman who put him and his girlfriend up to it."

"But this was after Sally was charged." Sandra watched as Pushkar shrugged. Gerry couldn't help but smile. It seemed Emily was more like him than she thought.

"Concurrently I like to think."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"At the same time." Brian filled in as Sandra narrowed her eyes.

"I know what it means Brian!" Sandra almost shouted.

The rain bounced off the tarmac and the body work of the cars as Sandra looked out over the car park. She had sent everyone home a while ago. Brian had been keen to get back to Esther as Mark was coming over. She smiled slightly, knowing how exited he was at the thought of becomming a grandfather. Jack had given Clarky a lift home so now she was left with the rain for company. And Gerry, she reminded herself. He was still there.

"Why are you still here anyway?" She turned as she watched him put his jacket on.

"Had to speak to Emily. It's Paula's birthday next week. The big 30! God I'm old." He laughed.

"Yeah you are." Sandra smiled.

"Enough of that. Thank you." He returned the smile. "Do you want this lift or not?"

"Well seeing as up until ten minutes ago my house was a crime scene and my car is still parked outside it then yeah I do."

"Come on then."

"I am Gerry! Oh this is typical. We close a case and you can't wait to get to the pub." Sandra walked through the office to grab her bag.

"That's. That's."

"True?" Sandra laughed as Gerry rolled his eyes.

"Come on." He held the door open for her to follow him.

"Gerry?"

"Yeah." He paused.

"Thanks." She slipped past him and walked away. All Gerry could do was wait and see what happened when they got to her house. He had a feeling it was the calm before the storm.

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A/N Just the epilogue left.