Hope

Ronnie took the mug of tea from the young woman's hand. He recognised her from Lucy's school. It was clear the youngster was no older than fourteen or fifteen years old.

"Thanks luv."

"You're Lucy Brooks dad." She perched on the edge of the sofa next to her mother.

"Yes." Ronnie nodded. "That's right. You know her?"

"Year 8. Nice kid."

"She is. Takes after her mum. Thank God."

Sophie smiled slightly as her mother stared into space. She rested a hand on her mother's arm.

"That's what we always said about our Liam. Takes after Dad."

"Michelle. Where's Peter? Where's your ex husband?"

"I." She shrugged as she looked at Matt. Sophie took a breath.

"My father is not on the scene. We know he's out of prison but he isn't welcome here. Is he Mum?" She turned to Ronnie. "He's a violent man. Liam worships, sorry worshipped him. Peter is out looking for him. I can call him. Tell him to come back?"

"Please luv." Matt smiled as she got to her feet. Michelle frowned.

"DS Brooks. Devlin, you are sure this is my boy? My Liam?"

"Yes." Ronnie spoke calmly. "Yes we are."

"Who did this?" Her voice hardened. Anger lacing her words. "He got in the odd spot of bother but never hurt anyone. Why would anyone want to hurt him?"

"That's what we intend to find out." Matt answered her. Michelle nodded.

"Thank you. For finding him. For telling me what you know." She touched the silver cross at her neck. "My boy. My poor boy."

"Will you be alright?" Matt heard his voice ask. Michelle shook her head.

"Do you have children? DS Devlin?"

"Yes. A boy and a baby on the way." She smiled. "If God forbid anyone hurt them would you be alright? I'll never be alright again. Part of my soul is gone. You don't outlive your kids. It's the wrong order of things."

Ronnie nodded. He agreed with the woman in front of him. Sophie returned quietly sitting next to her mother.

"Peter said he's going to find Dad and then come home. I told him I'd look after you." Michelle squeezed her hand.

"You said your father isn't around." Ronnie started. The teenager nodded.

"He's not. Pete knows where he lives. He said that he should know that Liam is dead." The venom in her voice seemed wrong for such a young girl. Matt nodded. Part of him wondered what the man had done to instil such hate in his daughter.

"We'll leave you in peace."

Ronnie got to his feet as Matt did the same. Michelle folded her arms around her torso as Sophie ushered them to the door. The teenager looked on the verge of tears as they stood in the doorway.

"As soon as we know anymore."

"I know."

"Sophie? When did you last see your father?" Ronnie asked. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Last week. He wanted to come back. Liam went mad. Proper mental. Said he weren't to show up again. Spencer Jones is trouble. Bad news. It took all the strength my Mum had to get us away from him and now he wanted to come back? Nah."

"Ok luv." Ronnie smiled slightly. "Look after your mother. If he turns up call us. Any time. Yeah?"

"Why?"

"I think we should have a chat wiv im. That's all." Ronnie nodded before walking away. Matt flashed his best charm smile before following his friend.

...

Natalie sat in her office staring at photographs from the crime scene. It seemed absurd that a young man could die in such a way. She glared at the post Mortum photo showing Liam laying on the mortician's slab. Her heart went out to the grieving mother; knowing the woman had to be finding breathing hard when she knew someone had harmed her child.

"What?"

She didn't look up as Angie walked into the office.

"Matt called. Him and Ron are headed over to the CPS. They're going to check out the conditions for Spencer Jones ' release." She explained. Natalie nodded.

"Good behaviour." She looked up. "Ang, didn't Spencer Jones have something to do with your ex?"

"Er, yeah."

Angie looked away.

"Look, Angie. If this is too close to home."

"It's not Guv. Honest. I just want to put this scum in prison. Im fine."

Natalie nodded once more.

"Ok. But no one is going to say anything if you want to be taken off the care."

Angle smiled slightly.

"I know. Thanks."

She paused as Sam stuck his head around the door.

"Joe has an address for the kid that Liam bought booze for. Neil Biggins. Aged 16."

"You make sure there's a responsible adult there. No silly buggers." Natalie watched as he feigned innocence. "I mean it."

"Yes Guv." Sam tugged on his tie, looking like an overgrown schoolboy. Natalie shook her head as he left, wondering just what young Liam had been involved with.

Xxxxxxx

"James." Matt and Ronnie walked into the CPS building carrying take away coffees. "Was the lead prosecutor on the Spencer Jones case." Ronnie explained.

"When was this?"

"Five years ago. You were in hospital at the time."

"Oh. Ok." Matt smiled as he saw Kate and Alesha walk towards him. He blushed, realising his stomach still flipped a little when he saw his wife walk towards him. He had always liked her; from the moment she had joined the CPS but even after three years of marriage and everything they had been through he could still be struck dumb when she suddenly appeared.

"Ladies." Ronnie smiled. "Looking for James."

"His office." Kate smiled, noticing the way Matt still looked at Alesha. She hoped Jake still looked at her the same way after three years of marriage. Ronnie nodded.

"Can I have a word?" Kate slipped between the couple before leaving pair in the corridor. "It's Jake's birthday at the end of the month and I want to do something special."

"Ow old is he?"

"Forty." She smiled. "He'll kill me for telling you. Anyway surprise party. At the White Hart on the 30th. Ok? I was just telling Alesha."

"I'll keep stchum." He smiled as James appeared.

"More party planning?"

"Keep your voice down!" Kate hissed before leaving the room. Ronnie shook his head, he adored Kathryn Barker; the whole team did but he had a feeling Jake wasn't going to have the surprise she was hoping for.

"James."

"Spencer was jailed for producing one of the biggest cannabis farms the country had seen. Also for GBH. He beat PC Sharyn Davies to a pulp. Left her for dead."

"I remember the case, James. How did he get out on good behaviour?"

James sighed. His whole frame tense as he thought of the weedy man. He had learned that appearances were deceptive. "I have no idea. Maybe prison worked? Maybe he was successfully rehabilitated to come back into society."

"And I'm the Queen of Sheba."

James smirked.

"You think he's the link? That his son was murdered by one of his enemies. Bit Shakespearian, isn't it?"

Ronnie shrugged.

"Is it? You're the clever one, James. You tell me."

"If I was a police officer, like you I'd talk to him."

Ronnie nodded. "Yeah, I think I will." He paused as his mobile began ringing. "Joy! Light of my life." Frowning he listened as the pathologist spoke. "Thanks for letting me know. Yeah, yeah. I'll speak to them. Cheers." He ended the call.

"What?" Matt and Alesha joined them in the office.

"Joy said the lad didn't drown. He hit the water after he was killed."

"So? Someone dumped him in the River." Alesha frowned. "Why?"

"Dunno luv." Ronnie answered. "Cause of death is a fractured spine. At C2. Someone broke the kid's neck."

"Shit. That takes some force." Matt shook his head. "Someone seriously disliked Liam."

Ronnie nodded.

"Or his Dad."

"Three months before Spencer went to prison his girlfriend was found dead with similar injuries. She'd threatened to go to the police with what she knew about the drug production." James explained. "Police couldn't pin it on him, they've tried."

"Time we spoke to Liam's dad." Matt sighed; thinking of the teenage girl they had met earlier. Alesha sighed as she watched both police officers leave the room.

Xxxx