Chaos Theory

Matt looked across the room as the weedy man glared at them. It was clear Spencer had a healthy distrust of the police. Matt could see there was no way the man across the room from him was going to willingly tell them anything. Ronnie frowned.

"I wanna see my boy." Spencer growled. His whole body radiated anger. The veins in his neck threatened to pop out.

"I'm sorry." Ronnie remained calm. "That's not possible."

"You said. You said e's dead. That a body was found."

"Yes." Matt agreed.

"It's definitely Liam. I'm sorry there's no doubt about that. He was in the water a while. It's not advisable for you to see him. He doesn't look like your boy. Not now."

Spencer stopped pacing the room, turning only his head towards him he narrowed his eyes.

"As Shell seen im?"

"No." Matt replied.

"Drowned. Nah not my lad."

"Spencer." Ronnie began. "Liam didn't drown."

"You just said e was dragged out the Thames."

"He was. Only we now know he didn't drown. His neck had been broken. He was already dead when he went into the water." Ronnie kept a close eye on the man as he spoke. The shock seemed to hit him all at once. He sat on the battered sofa as he absorbed Ronnie's words.

"Is neck!"

"Yeah." Ronnie nodded. He disliked the man next to him but he sympathised. "The pathologist confirmed it. He was murdered."

Spencer nodded. Matt and Ronnie exchanged glances as the bereaved father seemed to absorb the information.

"Before you went to prison the girl you were dating died in a similar way." Matt spoke quietly. Spencer exploded. On his feet in a second he lunged for Matt.

"What you saying? What the fuck are you saying boy?!" He stopped as Ronnie stepped between them. "i ad nothing to do with it. Your lot knew that."

"I know that." Ronnie said. "You and Michelle have divorced yeah? Is there anyone that would have a grudge against you? Liam? Your ex, Alice Morris?"

"I never laid a hand on Alice. I loved her."

"But you do have a history of violence? That police officer?"

"One off" Spencer stepped back. Neither Matt nor Ronnie believed him. He seemed to deflate in front of them. "Why touch my lad though! He was a cheeky brat but no harm really?"

"I dunno." Ronnie answered honestly. "But we will find out."

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Joe walked back into the police station feeling more annoyed than he could remember. The lad Liam had bought alcohol for was less than happy to talk to them - mainly due to Sam's attitude towards him.

"Like you never had a drink before you turned eighteen."

"Not the point." Sam snapped as they headed up the stairs.

"No the point is, because you acted like a sanctimonious plank none of Liam's friends will talk to us." Joe snapped. "You have to earn kid's trust. You don't do that by terrifying them."

Sam turned to talk to him but Joe shook his head as he walked past him to get into the office.

"Leave it." Natalie stared at the pair of them. "The kids aren't involved anyway. Sam. My office. A word please"

Sam felt his shoulders sag, already on a warning he knew that Natalie could easily demote him, or worse.

Xxxxxx

Kate folded her arms as she looked at the files laid out on James' desk. Alesha sat in the chair next to her; the ever growing baby bump making her feel uncomfortable when she stood for too long.

"Have they arrested anyone?" Jake asked as he walked into the office. Juggling four take out coffees he watched as his wife shook her head.

"No, but honestly. Who would want to kill a nineteen year old lad? Even a toe rag. He's not been alive long enough to get enemies that bad." Kate took the coffee. "I saw the news on telly. His murder was the second story after that American Election."

"Vultures." James shook his head. "Scaremongering and picking over the bones."

Alesha rolled her eyes. Over the years she had become used to James ranting about media intrusion into investigations. She felt the opposite - that media coverage could help. It was a point they agreed to disagree on.

"Anyway." Jake raised his eyebrow as Alesha took her drink from its cardboard holder. "Before you ask, it's decaf."

"Decaf is not proper coffee." She pulled a face.

"No, but until Lottie's playmate arrives in five months time it's the closest thing to it you are getting." Kate smiled. "I had to put up with it. Now you can."

"But."

"No butts. Your Martha's a doctor. She told me it's bad for you when you're pregnant so I'm listening to her." Kate smiled. Jake shrugged. Alesha narrowed her eyes, knowing that her cousin was right. She still wanted coffee though.

"The Andrews case?" James snapped their attention back to the file on his desk. "Jake, you take the lead."

The dark haired man frowned. He wasn't used to James conceding cases to him. He picked up the file; reading the first paragraph he knew why.

"Fine. I'll file my name with Kate's in Chambers." Alesha was about to protest when Jake handed her the file. "Second chapter."

"Oh." She rested her hand on her baby bump as the words sickened her. "That's. that's sick."

"Which is why we are taking it and not you." Kate explained. "He's going to prison for a very long time. If we don't get Judge Sparrow that is. What is it with that woman?"

"She's a ball breaker." James replied.

"She's an anti-feminist, spiteful old dinosaur! No I take that back. Dinosaurs had bigger brains than that infernal crone." Kate read the file as James and Alesha exchanged glances. A phone ringing caught their attention. Alesha answered it.

"Natalie? Ok. Yeah." She sat down. James took the phone from her hand.

"It's James. Natalie? Are you still there?" He paused before reaching for his car keys. "Ok, yeah. Not a problem. We're on our way." He ended the call as Alesha looked up. "We're meeting Natalie at the station."

"No."

"Alesha."

"Turn it over to Kate and Jake. I'm not going over there. Im not even sure I'm ethically supposed to!"

"What? Why? Ronnie and Matt have made an arrest. We go, listen to the interview and go from there."

"I know the damn routine!"

"Then?"

"The man they arrested. He should be in prison. Makes Merrick look like a Saint." She paused as three sets of eyes focused on her. James was beginning to worry more than he was angry.

"You know this Mark Thomas?"

"Yeah." Alesha paused. "Lived on my estate when we were kids. It was him that had a fling with my mother about thirty two years ago. About the same time as she did with my dad."

"Alesha."

"Exactly." Alesha stated. "He has a criminal record longer than your arm. Burglary, ABH, sexual assault, arson. Father of the year material." She got her jacket; heading out of the office as Kate hurried to follow her.

Xxxx