Sam, thanks for reading and for feeding me!! And blueheelersgurl, sorry for the mixup with this story and for losing your comments, I'm not the most technically minded of people and something happened so I lost the story and had to repost. To everyone else, I hope you're enjoying this.
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3
Seven hundred and twenty nine days, twenty-three hours and thirty four minutes and seven seconds.
"I want to see the Detective. No, Milly, not an ordinary plod, I want to see a Detective. You're worth more than an ordinary plod" came a forceful voice as the door to the station was flung open. "Right, you. Where's the Detective?" Christophe De Vandoorn believed himself to be an imposing young man, to be afforded the best in life and nothing less. His long suffering girlfriend, Milly West was beginning to tire of this, but then again the fortune that Christophe stood to inherit on his thirty-fifth birthday was a rather compelling reason to stay.
Tom Croydon stood and watched Christophe play the pompous prat, something he had perfected over time. He had a family home in Mount Thomas, a family home that was now more of a hobby farm as most of the family had left the area and put down roots elsewhere. Kay De Vandoorn had wanted to sell the farm when her husband had died three years ago, but her wilful son had put an end to that idea, demanding that he inherit it as it was a good little tax dodge – at least that was the story Tom had heard, and he was pretty sure that it was mostly true. Kay had been a quiet woman, dominated by her husband and son, but a well-liked member of the community nonetheless. Tom smiled as he remembered Kay's rather excellent cooking skills; her vanilla slice had been a particular favourite of his.
"Croydon! Wake up man! I want to see the Detective." Christophe yelped, leaning over the desk, his spittle showering Tom's shirt. Stepping back in distaste, Tom opened his mouth to tell Christophe that PJ was unavailable. He may be here in body, but his mind was elsewhere – especially today. The sound of a door opening to his right made him glance over, and Tom was surprised to see PJ emerge.
"Send him in, Boss. I – just send him in"
Tom moved over to the hatch, his nerves grating slightly as he saw that Christophe had already raised it and was making his way through, Milly following behind him. Seating himself in front of PJ's desk, Christophe waited impatiently as Tom pulled a chair over for Milly. PJ watched with impassive blue eyes, wanting to get this over and done with, so that he could get back to thinking about Maggie. His gaze was once again drawn to her photo, the one taken when she wasn't expecting it, capturing her mid-laugh, her eyes sparkling with happiness and pure joy. It sat on his desk, a painful and perfect reminder of her, of what he had once held in his heart, and what had been ripped from his soul. With a shake of his head, PJ dragged himself back to the present.