Only human
"Whoever killed Jimmy tried to get me today. Matty just got in the way." Ronnie addressed the tiles on the waiting room floor as Natalie sat down next to him. She sighed sadly, knowing that Ronnie had a way of taking the blame for just about anything that went wrong for her and the team. She knew he had always been close to Matt, taking the young detective under his wing when he had reached them on a fast-track scholarship. The pair had been like an old married couple ever since.
"You don't know that." She spoke calmly.
"Jimmy Valentine was my partner. E never would have crossed paths with him if it weren't for me."
"Stop this." Natalie spoke firmly. "Its doing nothing to help matters. Kate is on the way with Alesha."
"I really think this is something to do with something me and Jimmy worked on back in the day." He turned to her. "He was murdered and then I was shot at. Ok, Matthew was the one that got hit but they were aiming for me. Call Sam, have him dig up any old cases I worked on with that scumbag."
"Okay." Natalie spoke quietly.
"Its not fair. That lad has a baby on the way. A toddler son. A wife who loves the bones of him. How many times has e ended up in hospital because of the job?" Ronnie shook his head. "Any more holes in him he wont be able to 'ave a drink. It'll come out of the holes."
Natalie rolled her eyes. She knew he was trying to lighten the mood but there was nothing that would do that. "He'll be ok. He will." She paused. "Twice. Including today, Matt has been shot twice. Stabbed once. He's survived. You know that. Remember all that business with Kaden? He pushed Alesha out of the way."
"Should have guessed there was more going on with those two then." Ronnie smiled slightly as the two younger women headed towards them.
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"Joe." Sam looked up as the new boy walked towards him. "Any news?"
"Nah." Joe shook his head. "I left the Guv with Ronnie. Matt was with the doctors I think. They didn't say much while I was there." He sat at his desk, sighing heavily. "She said Matt had been shot before."
"Yeah." Angie nodded. "Ages ago. It was awful."
"This ain't much better." Sam frowned. "Why target two police officers in the police station? I know it wasn't directly inside but it was in our car park. Angie, get June's statement. See what she saw." He watched as the DC nodded. "She's known Ronnie for years, was here when Valentine was. If, and I am only saying if, there is a chance she may see the link we haven't."
Angie brought her mug to her lips as she thought about Sam's trail of thought.
"Yeah, June has been a copper at least twenty years. Was here when the unit was set up." Angie paused. "Jimmy Valentine went to prison for murder. He shot a drug dealer halfway through an undercover op. His partner of the time, Anna she knew what was going on. Tried to stop Matt from getting too close. Then he tried to blame it all on Ronnie. I could pull the case files they worked on. See if there is any link between them?"
"Good idea." Joe nodded. "It can't be a coincidence."
"No." Sam agreed. "That's true. I don't believe in such things. Not when it comes to murder anyway." He paused before heading into the inner office Natalie had abandoned earlier. The ringing phone caught his attention as Joe and Angie both silently prayed they'd see their friend back in the office again.
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"Hi." Kate sat next to Natalie as Ronnie stood and hugged Alesha. The A&E waiting area was almost full to capacity. A baby cried as a young man drunkedly yelled at a young nurse. Natalie narrowed her eyes at the skin head before heading over to him for 'a quiet word'. He instantly shut up, earning Natalie a grateful look from the triage nurse as he called the next patient in.
"What happened?" Alesha stated rather than asked. "We didn't answer because we were in court." She rested her hand on her baby bump as she sat down.
"I'm sorry Luv." Ronnie held her hand as he spoke. His voice near to tears. "I dunno for certain but I think this all dates back to Valentine."
"What?" Kate frowned.
"Jimmy Valentine. He was murdered yesterday. Shot."
"I worked that case with James." Alesha spoke quietly. "I remember you on the stand. You didn't want to give evidence. Thought it was protecting Liz."
"I didn't see why her marriage should end because of me. I trusted my colleagues, you lot at the CPS to get the right verdict. Worked out in the end." Ronnie paused. He wasn't proud of his affair, both he and Liz had been married. He knew the truth coming out in court had led to her divorce. The only good thing about the relationship was the birth of his daughter Chloe. He hung his head. "We stopped one of the biggest drug dealers this side of London. Jimmy went to prison. All we know is, he was released on good behaviour. Now he's dead."
"And Matt could be." Alesha's voice was almost cold. Ronnie shook his head.
"No, he's a fighter. Our Matt."
"Yeah." Alesha slipped her hand out of his. "Yes, he is but a bullet is still a bullet and Matt is only human after all."
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