OBSESSION Part 2

THREE MONTHS LATER...JANUARY 2001

At Edmonton Police station DS Mark Ray was at his desk filing a report when he looked up to see Claire Stanton walk into the office. DS Lee Spence sat down with his coffee and smiled across to him, "So you like her...?"

Mark pulled a face at him, "What? Stanton? You think I'm some kind of numpty? I might be in danger of being investigated by CIB if I was to share the sheets with her mate"

Lee nodded as they both observed Claire as she made herself a coffee and sat down at her desk, "To be far I think she regrets her little dalliance with CIB, rumour has it she was dispensed with as soon as she had no value"

Mark chuckled and sat back in his seat, "I heard a rumour that you used to have the hots for her back in the day"

Lee nodded as he worked through his latest case load, "I did...in fact I'm hoping to rekindle something..."

"What? With the ice maiden? I wish you luck"

Lee stood and smirked at him as he made for Claire's desk, "Watch and learn..."

Claire looked up at Lee as he approached, "Hi Lee...I'm too busy to talk"

He tried to hide his disappointment but tilted his head still in hope, "what about later, a drink...for old times sake? You said you would when you joined the team"

Claire sighed and looked at him, "Okay...I'll go for a drink with you...call me where and when"

Lee turned back to Mark at his desk and smirked. "You jammy bastard"

XXX

Claire stepped off the bus and saw Lee waiting for her at the terminus. He waved at her and grinned that stupid smile of his.

"I thought you weren't gonna make it"

Claire tapped him on the shoulder with a smile, "Errrre you! I always keep my word, and you're a good excuse for me to escape my mothers nagging!"

Lee leaned in to give her a peck on the cheek and she managed to swerve him and head off along the pavement, "Well come on then you...You gonna be buying this pint for me or what..."

Lee shook his head, he was smiling at her again, his blue eyes hidden behind his shades, "If you're lucky girl...play your cards right and I might just do that"

XXX

The pub was a dump like many around this neck of the woods of London. Claire nursed her pint and let her legs dangle from the high barstool. Lee turned and licked his lips, his shades were now over his head so she could see his eyes.

"So...this is a first...us drinking in a boozer round here on our own..."

Claire glanced at him as she sipped her drink, "I wouldn't get used to it"

"Ohh? Why not? Oh come on Claire...we have a right laugh me and you, don't we...I though we could you know, rekindle things...I see the way you glance over at me in the office""

Claire watched as his hand landed over hers on the dark wood bar-top. She managed to wriggle it away, " Oh that was years ago...You KNOW how it is..."

Lee rolled his eyes, " Oh him...come on Claire...isn't it time you called time on all that...I know it must be really hard but..."

Claire shook her head at him, "You don't understand...we were going to get married... it's not that cut and dry...he needs me"

Lee held onto her eye contact, "didn't he bugger off back to Liverpool to get away from you?"

Claire looked to the floor, her mind in a rush of a twirl, "it's just trust issues, that's all...I mean how would you feel if you discovered an undercover CIB officer was sleeping in your bed?"

He brushed his hand over her cheek and she moved her hand and grabbed it, her eyes looked so conflicted, so confused because in some tiny way, was his words the truth...or was she just questioning herself now, "true...but he did run away from you...that must tell you something"

She slipped off the stool, "it just tells me he needs reassuring...I just need to get him to trust me again..."

He stopped her, "that's going to be difficult if he's in Liverpool""

Claire was one step ahead of him, "that's why I put in for a transfer"

Lee knew that it was like flogging a dead horse to bed her, You're obsessed!"

Claire made to leave, "I love him...I just need to make him realise that he still loves me"

XXX

In the street outside, Claire grabbed her mobile out of her blazer pocket and scrolled down to John Boulton' number and pressed call.

The number was unobtainable.

She was frustrated, "Oh come on John! You kidding me! You've changed your number..."

XXX

Back at the office Claire strolled in thinking of a way how to get hold of John's new number. As he was about to sit at her desk, DI Selby Came out of him office beaconing her, "Claire...could I have a word please"

Claire frowned at him, "Gov?"

She closed the door and sat down. DI Selby smiled at her and opened a folder in front of him, "I have some good news for you"

"Yes?"

DI Selby raised his eyebrows at her, "Looks like you will be one of our friends in the north...that transfer has gone through...congratulations"

Claire was beaming like a Cheshire cat, "I got it? Fantastic"

"You pleased?"

"Oh yes...very"

DI Selby stood up, "Well...I'm sure the team in there will miss you"

Claire stood up and nodded to the office" That lot? Miss me? I doubt it, I've only been here 2 months...and anyway, I won't be missing them"

She opened the door and strolled out with a big fat smile plastered on her face that didn't go unnoticed by Lee who approached DI Selby.

"So...you told her then?"

Selby shook his head, "Yes...she says she won't miss anybody here...isn't she popular?"

"Claire used to be a copper you could trust"

Selby could detect he wasn't finished, "not now?"

Lee went back to his desk because his phone was ringing, "She's become a fucking liability...that MET will be better off without her"

XXX

At home, Claire was pouring herself a glass of wine in the kitchen. Her Mother came in, "Claire...you still haven't moved your stuff out of the conservatory"

"It's aright Mum...I won't be staying, I'm getting a place of my own again", announced Claire.

Her Mum was pleased. Claire really hadn't been herself of late, "Ohh good...a step in the right direction...somewhere close by?"

Claire downed her wine and poured herself another glass, "No...further afield"

"Ohhh south of the river?"

Claire chuckled, "No...Liverpool"

Her mum was dumbstruck.

"I'm moving up north Mum...and don't worry about me...I have a friend there...and I'm sure he's going to be very pleased to see me"

XXX