Present Day

"He'd broken in to her flat according to DCI Davidson," Derek Wheeler said, remembering what the SIO of MIT had told him.

Steve nodded. "Don't know how. There was no evidence of any forced entry. Made his presence known in Kate's bedroom. Her underwear drawer was open and the contents left all over the room,".

"Had he taken anything?" Derek asked, recalling the profile of the attacker had suggested a fetish with underwear.

"All her underwear that was waiting to be washed," Steve replied. God knew what the pervert had wanted with those items. "Anyway we called the station that Kate had reported the stalker to and they sent someone over. They were fucking useless if you want my opinion. Took a few pictures of the scene. Thought it a good idea that Kate move out for a bit,". Steve continued. "I helped her pack and we went back to mine," he finished.

"Anything strange happen whilst Kate was with you?".

"No," Steve said. "She was enjoying it. She told me she was sleeping better at mine because she could relax knowing he didn't know where she was," he continued, when a thought occurred to him, "although...," he tailed off as he tried to remember the incident.

"Although?" Derek prompted Steve, keen to know what the DI had recalled.

"The first day Kate was with me was Saturday. We went shopping," he explained. "Kate wanted a whole lot of new underwear. She refused to wear anything her stalker had touched, even if it had been washed. I didn't blame her to be honest,".

James raised his eyebrows at that comment. He had never been underwear shopping with any of his partners at work before.

Steve saw James' expression and tried clarifying what actually happened. "I sat in a chair and entertained myself on my phone whilst Kate did her shopping. I just wanted to keep an eye on her and I think it gave her confidence to have someone she trusted nearby,". Derek nodded in agreement with Steve. "Earned a few brownie points by offering to carry the bags," he added with a little smile. Derek also smiled. How many times had he been shopping with his wife and had to cart around the bags? "Anyway we went for a coffee when she was done. We decided to sit at a table outside. Kate said she felt as if someone was watching her,".

"Did you see anyone?" James asked.

Steve shook his head. "I scanned the area but couldn't see anyone watching us. Kate did as well and got the same result. Her feeling didn't last long. She quickly felt he had gone. Maybe he saw us looking around?".

"That was everything?".

"Yes," Steve confirmed. "During the week she was at MIT. She drove herself there and back. She didn't notice anyone following her. There was one day she said she thought someone had been in my flat but she put it down to paranoia when we searched the place and couldn't find any evidence of an intruder. And as I've said, she felt relaxed at mine,".

"OK," said Derek, drawing the conversation to a close. "I think that's all for now. We might need to have a look in your flat if that's ok?" he asked Steve.

"Of course," he agreed.

"I'm going to see if there's any CCTV of Kate near your place on Sunday afternoon. Try to figure out her movements,".

"You think this man was in my flat?" Steve asked.

Derek shrugged his shoulders. "It's a possibility," he said before getting to his feet. James followed suit. "We'll keep you updated," he told Steve.

"Thanks," he replied. "Can I see Kate?" Steve asked. He wasn't looking forward to seeing her so badly beaten but it was something he had to do.

"Of course," Derek replied. "I'll give your name to the guard," he said.

"Thank you," Steve said gratefully.

"So what do you think?" Derek asked once he and James were making their way back to VCU. James was driving.

"About DI Arnott?" James asked.

"I was talking about the case so far," Derek clarified, "but you have concerns about DI Arnott?". James nodded. "In what way?" Derek asked. The man had seemed ok to him. Just very upset his friend had been attacked.

"His 'friendship' with DI Fleming," James replied. His pronunciation of the word friendship meaning that was the problem.

"What about it?".

"Just seems too perfect if you ask me," James answered.

"You never formed a close relationship with any of your partners at work?" Derek asked, getting the feeling his DI hadn't been close to anyone at all either at work or privately. He came across as someone more concerned about his career that having a personal life.

"Not close enough to go underwear shopping with," James pointed out. Derek realised James had a point about that particular matter but he had his own theory about that and wasn't too worried about it.

"And it's quite convenient that he just happened to run in to her on the very same day that her stalker broke in to her flat," James continued. "Perfect opportunity to persuade her to move in with him,".

"You think DI Arnott is the stalker?" Derek asked a little surprised.

"I'm not ruling it out yet. Might do a bit of digging in to his history," James said.

"I think you're wasting your time," Derek said, "but ok,".

The next two days were very busy for VCU as they tried to piece everything together.

Working with the profiler from the case MIT were working on they were sure they were after the same person. The worrying thing being that he appeared to be escalating his violence and VCU wanted to catch the perpetrator before he had chance to find a new victim and strike again.

There was close contact with the forensic investigators as well. DNA results were still awaited but that didn't mean they were idle. A forensic dentist did think there was a bite mark on Kate's breast from which they had a good idea of his imprint. If they caught anyone for the crime, they would easily be able to test if it was a match. The forensic team investigating the crime scene in Kate's flat weren't so lucky. They had drawn a blank so far on any other DNA evidence apart from Kate's.

The only thing they had found was a small bit of white material on her front door. The team however were not sure if this was important or not as it looked like it had come from a forensic suit and a team member had probably caught it as they went about their work. They were currently looking at all the suits worn at the scene to determine who's suit it had come from.

James was busy at his computer as Derek called it a night on the second day of the investigation. "I'm going to be late in tomorrow," Derek informed him. "I cracked a crown on holiday and it's started to give me some gyp. Dentist wants to take a look," he told his next in command. "You're in charge until then,".

"Thanks, Guv," James said. "Hope it's ok,".

"So do I. I'm not sure my bank balance will be happy if it's not," he joked. "What you doing here this late anyway?".

"Looking up info on DI Arnott," James replied.

"And?" Derek asked, still thinking James was wasting his time.

"Some interesting things have made themselves known," James said.

"Such as?".

"Did you know he was suspended from duty following alleged sexual intercourse with a target whilst undercover?" James asked, hoping he might finally persuade his boss he was right to be suspicious about Steve.

"No, I didn't," Derek admitted.

"And he's been arrested for murder before,".

"What?!" Derek asked, as he looked over James' shoulder at his computer screen. Maybe James was right about this DI after all. "But was released without charge," he said, pointing to the relevant text on the screen, greatly relieved to not have missed something so damning.

"No smoke without fire," James retorted.

"I'll leave you to it," Derek said. "Don't stay too long," he advised.

"I won't," James agreed and true to his word, fifteen minutes after Derek had left the office, he was following the same path to the car park.

The next morning arrived and James strolled in to VCU, relishing the opportunity to lead the team while the Guv'nor was at the dentist.

If he could crack the case or make an important break through, promotion was bound to follow. Not that he didn't like Derek and VCU, but he was desperate to be the SIO of a squad.

"Sir!" shouted DS Howard who was technically second in command to James with Derek away. Her excitement caught James' attention. "Forensics phoned. Sally's on her way up. They've found something," she said excitedly.

"Great!" James acknowledged. This was what he wanted. It wasn't long before the lead FI had made it to VCU and James took her and DS Howard in to Derek's office for a private briefing.

"What have you found?" He asked.

"We have a match for the semen sample," Sally replied.

James looked expectantly at the FI. They were about to have a major breakthrough in the case.

"We got a match quickly because he's on our system," Sally said. "It's a police officer. A DI Steven Arnott,".