Disclaimer not mine

Breakthrough?

Alex was furious. She couldn't believe how long she had been travelling in the boot of whatever car it was and was seriously beginning to doubt she was in Fenchurch anymore. She knew she wasn't as physically strong as most of her team but there was no way she was going to wait around to be rescued. Swearing profusely she began kicking the boot lid again as the car lurched to the left. It was then she realised Gene had been right about the boot. The heel came off in her attack on the boot, causing her to think of her husband at home. It was then the tears fell.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Ray was glad to be back at the station. He hated hospitals. He'd dated a medical bird once and that hadn't ended well, reinforcing his belief that hospitals were not the place to stay longer than absolutely necessary. He smirked as he remembered Sam asking him about it. He had no idea how Sam had known he'd gone out with a nurse seeing as he was in a coma recovering from his car accident at the time. He smiled to himself as he read the white board in front of him.

"Look at this" Ray pointed to the board. He knew they were missing something but he didn't know what. He rubbed his eye and winced as he remembered the dressing.

"Told the Guv that uniform are looking for Keats' car" Sharon passed him the mug of tea she had made. Ray grunted.

"Bloody uniform" He shook his head "Thanks Shaz luv"

"Don't let Viv or Phyllis hear you say that" She smiled as she sipped her own tea. The Squad room seemed eerily quiet without the rest of the team there. She sighed sadly.

"What have I missed? Shaz c'mon. Sam and Annie have had their knickers in a twist since I got back from the 'ospital. Chris is like a wet weekend in Skeggy and Phyllis is panicking like mad. Something happened. There is something that connects the Hughes brothers, your abduction, Keats and the boss" He faced her as Sharon nodded.

"I dunno but I think you are right"

"What is it Sam is always saying? The devil is in the detail" He stepped closer to the board glaring at the picture of Keats. He knew if the man was actually in the room with him now he'd want to kill him.

"Ma'am is always saying everything is significant" Sharon sighed. She really wanted Keats stopped. It occurred to her that she no longer cared about the time she had been kidnapped. It didn't matter so much now. Molly and Ruby needed their mum back and she was determined to help that happen.

"Shaz luv never ever tell her I said this will ya?" He smiled as her eyes widened.

"What?"

"The pair of them and their psychobollocks just may be right" She shook her head as Phyllis walked in the office.

"Where's the Guv?"

"Why?"

"Green Ford Focus just picked up on CCTV. Park Lane. Man driving it matches Hughes' description but it is registered to Laughing Boy" Phyllis narrowed her eyes as she spoke.

"Oh God" Shaz closed her eyes

"Right. Phyllis you stay with the kids. Evan may also be on Keats' hit list. Shaz you stay 'ere" Ray took charge. No one else would be able to. He took a deep breath and headed to the Squad Room door.

"And where are you going might I ask?" Phyllis stared at the DS as he shrugged.

"Someone 'as to tell the Guv. Shaz, try and get 'old of Viv and Chris. See where the 'ell they are and tell em to get over to Park Lane. I want Hughes picked up if nothing else" He slammed the door open as Phyllis turned back to see the young DC was already on the phone.

Chris drove towards the Bail Hostel Keats was supposed to be living in. Viv sat next to him in the small car as they headed away from Fenchurch East. Both had a bad feeling about the whole situation. Chris was relieved Ray was back in almost one piece but he had a funny feeling Alex wasn't going to be so lucky. He couldn't help but picture Molly's face when Ray had taken her and Gene to the hospital following Alex's shooting. He never wanted to see any child look that void of emotion again. It had been as if the little girl had been turned off emotionally, as if hearing the gunshot that had put her mother in a coma had destroyed part of her. There was no way Chris was going to let that happen again. Both men remained silent until Chris could stand it no longer.

"If Keats has got the Boss, what then?"

"We get her back. Try to stop Gene murdering Keats and get the case to court" Viv sighed.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Annie closed her eyes as she read another report. There had to be something that linked Keats to the Hughes brothers. There just had to be. She hated being stuck in the office but knew that the only she could help at six months pregnant was to stay in the records room and try to find something that would help her friend.

"Hang on Alex" She sighed "There has to be something in here somewhere"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sam glanced at his old friend as they walked across the wasteland outside St Anne's Roman Catholic Church. It was the last place the green ford focus had been seen on CCTV. Sam knew Gene was on the verge of committing murder, everything about his body language screamed how angry he was.

"What did Grainger say?" He snapped.

"CCTV footage puts the car here ten minutes ago. It's been abandoned by the looks of it" Sam hated waste ground. He hated lonely places where a car could hit you; leave you unconscious so that you wouldn't be found for hours. In fact in the snow he hated just about everything to do with wasteland behind Churches. He glanced up at the old Roman Catholic Church and silently said a prayer for his friend. He knew Alex was a tough lady but she had been tough for so long he knew there was a point where she would break. He just hoped they found her before she got to that point.

"That would be that focus" Gene nodded to the shell of the burnt out car. "Ok Ethel, what now?" He squinted in the winter sun as he turned to Sam.

"Shit"

"Not right now. Right now I'd like to find me wife!" Gene stormed off as Sam radioed in to the station that the car they had all been looking for was burnt out. He closed his eyes as he realised he had to check the shell of a car for any human remains. He felt sick at the thought of it before walking off towards the wreck. He knew Alex could be dead by now but it was the last thing he wanted to say in front of Annie or Gene. He knew they suspected it but would never dare mention it for fear of tempting fate.

"Please no" He whispered as he brought his hand up to his mouth.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Gene stormed away from Sam. He couldn't deal with the sympathetic looks and what he saw as the general incompetence of his team at that moment. He was furious with Alex for going off on her own. She knew better than anyone how dangerous Keats could be. She knew that Keats had a thing for her, that he was dangerous enough to do her some real damage yet she had walked in to danger. He wanted to throttle her. Closing his eyes he dismissed the thought. He wanted to hold her and tell her he loved her but as time went on it looked like he would never get a chance. He wandered in to the old graveyard at the back of the church and found himself staring at one of the ancient gravestones.

"Martha Louise Evans b.1876 d. 1956. Wife of Archibald Daffydd Evans .1866 d.1950" He read out loud. "Same age gap as me and my Bolly. Bet you had a more peaceful life than me an er" He shook his head. "God where is she? That should be us, grow old and die peacefully. Buried in the same grave. An I should be the first to go an all, old git like me" He shook his head as tears filled his eyes. "I aint burying you Bolls. Not now, you aint even 40 yet. I aint saying goodbye, not now" He turned as he sensed someone behind him.

"Is that so?" Keats smirked as he stood behind him.

"Where is she you ponce?" Gene stayed rooted to the spot. He had seen Sam walk in to the church yard. He was three foot behind Keats.

"Safe" Keats smirked "Away from you"

"If you have touched her" Gene took a step forward.

"You'll do nothing. All talk you" Keats smirked.

"If you've touched her, there'll be nothing left for them to bury you sick little" Keats carried on smirking until he felt Sam's hands on his shoulders. "Games' over" Sam almost barked the words. He felt sick at the thought of his friend spending any time with the man in front of him. Keats fell silent as Gene stepped right up to him. He knew Gene was going to hit him. He just didn't know when or how hard.

"I'm going to ask you again. Where is DI Alex Hunt?" He looked down his nose at the shorter man.

"I"

"Answer him" Sam wanted to punch the man himself. It was then the frigid winter air was ripped open by the sound of a woman screaming.

"Alex" Gene abandoned all thoughts of Keats and ran towards the rear of the church.

A/n thanks again for the reviews. Is it Alex screaming? Did Keats mean for Gene to find him? More soon x