7

"What?" Gerry looked at the others. Sandra rolled her eyes. "Are you bleedin on about?"

Steve and Ted smirked slightly. Sasha bit her lip. "We have a lead. Well, a potential lead." She shrugged. "Don't look at me! It was Ted and Dan chasing forensics." She watched as Ted smiled happily.

"Science is a wonderful thing." He beamed. "Don't matter ow old you are, hoe long ago it was or ow clever you think you are science will always find the truth. Eventually."

"Is that so?" Gerry stated.

"Oh yes." Ted laughed as Sandra headed into the office to answer the phone.

Xxxxxxxx

2hours later

The airport was hectic when Sandra and Gerry arrived . The rain had abated slightly but Sandra's mood was still as dark as the clouds in the sky. Neither of them were particularly looking forward to going to Australia.

"What time we off?" Gerry asked as Sandra eyed up the airport bar.

"10pm. It's the first flight Strickland could get us on."

"Oh right. It'll be ok. We've worked away from London before." Gerry tried to lighten the mood as Sandra raised an eyebrow.

"It's a 24 hour journey. We will be in the air for hours. Then we stop in Singapore. It's going to be a nightmare." She hugged as Gerry realised there was more bothering her than the actual destination. "I mean it's not exactly a couple of hours driving down the M4 is it?"

"Well, no." Gerry ushered her away from the check in desk.

"I should be staying in London. What is Strickland thinking? I'm the senior officer. I should be in London. Sasha should be on this trip."

Gerry folded his arms, clearly annoyed.

"Why? Is it the thought of Er running UCOS or spending so long wiv me?" He watched as she narrowed her eyes.

"Don't start."

"Already av. This bloke has information on those murders. May even be the killer."

"Yeah' Sandra agreed. "But there is an extradition agreement between Australia and the UK. It is actually possible for him to be brought back here." She sighed. "All that time in the air."

Gerry leant forward, glad that they had found a quiet place to sit. "Sandra?"

"What?"

"You really Don't want to go. Do you?"

"No." She ran a hand through her hair. "I don't."

"Are you scared of flying?" He asked as she shot him a death glare.

"No."

"Then what?"

"I."

"Come on Sandra! You know everything that scares me. No need to worry. I'll be there with you."

"Oh and that's supposed to be reassuring? Thanks." She scoffed. He took her hand.

"Yes, because I'd die before I let anything happen to you." He answered honestly. Sandra bit her lip. "You know that."

"Yeah. I do." She replied honestly as their flight was announced. Gerry stood up, waiting for a moment before offering his hand.

"Right then, tell you what. I'll not let go of your hand until we are safely in the air. I'll not tell the others about this phobia."

"Ok." She ignored his hand as she stood. "Why?"

"Because you're my mate and I don't like seeing you worried and you know enough about me that you've never said to no one." Sandra took his hand.

"Ok. Gold Coast, here we come."

Xxxxxxxxxx

Sasha sat staring at the murder board Jack and Dan had so painstakingly put together. She knew this was probably the most controversial case she had ever been involved with. Something just didn't feel right.

"Penny for them?" Strickland sat next to her.

"Not worth that much."

"Sasha."

"Those girls. Same age as my oldest. Rob, it's. Those girls have waited so long for someone to work out what happened."

Strickland sighed. "You feel the initial investigation let them down?"

"No." Sasha rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm worried we will."

Xxxxx