History?

Kate marched along the corridor after her friend. Alesha was usually so composed and together that her outburst in James' office had shocked her as much as it had worried James. The half empty lobby of the building allowed her to see where her friend was headed.

"Alesha Devlin." Kate paused as she reached her. "How do you do it?"

"What?"

"Go so fast in those heels? I can barely walk in anything other than trainers."

Alesha smiled.

"I just."

"That man is not your father. You have to know that?"

"Do I?"

"So? He could have supplied half your genetics but that doesn't mean that he is a father. A sperm donor. Now coffee? Decaf obvs."

Alesha sighed as the shorter woman linked arms with her. "The lads can wait." Kate decided before marching them off in the direction of the local Costa.

Xxxxxx

"Just walked in? Just like that?" Sam shook his head as Natalie explained what had happened. The detective inspector was horrified at how he thought someone was confessing to a murder when they hadn't even been on the suspect list.

"He did." Natalie sighed. "Says he knew Liam was a royal pain in the rear but he never meant to kill him." She tapped her pen on the desk in front of her. "I've asked Matt and Ron to talk to him. Alesha and James are going to watch in the viewing room."

Sam nodded his head slightly. He liked both crown prosecutors but wasn't convinced the man currently in the cells wasn't wasting everyone's time. The door to the office opened as Joe stuck his head in.

"Joseph."

"Er, James is here."

"Oh ok." Natalie smiled slightly. "Alesha?"

"Dunno." Joe shrugged before disappearing again. Natalie took a deep breath, knowing that although Alesha not being there was unusual there would be a very good reason why she hadn't turned up. Minutes later she was ushering James and Joe into the viewing room as Matt and Ronnie made themselves comfortable.

"Matt told me they went to talk to Liam's father." Joe stated. "I still think Spencer has more to do with this than we know."

"Yeah?" James asked.

Joe nodded as Natalie frowned. She didn't like sudden leaps of faith. If the boy's father was involved then they needed hard evidence. She sighed heavily as she stepped out into the main MIU office.

"James? You ok?"

Her friend nodded. It was clear something had happened to disturb him but he had decided to remain quiet on the issue. She let it drop just as the door swung open.

"Sorry! Sorry!" Alesha bounced into the room. "Parking is a nightmare and Kate, well you know."

"Talked sense? Now the could be a first." James smiled as Alesha rolled her eyes . Natalie paused, glancing at Sam she ushered them out of the office.

"Let's get this show on the road."

Xxxxxxxxxx

Joe ran his hand over his shirt cropped hair. Wearing a parka jacket and trainers he was more aware that he looked more like a crook than a copper but suits didn't always work well when trying to get kids to relax around him. Years in Vice and Child Protection had taught him casual was best. Anything too intimidating and there was a chance you'd lose your star witness. He glanced at the gang of teenagers loitering around the swings. Recognising one of the boys he tugged his hood closer to him.

"Hiya."

"Bugger off copper." The skinny red haired girl narrowed her eyes.

"Clare, don't be like that. He's alright. Not like that stuck up git he was with." A young lad answered.

"Thanks Brad." He smiled slightly. "That git is my senior officer."

"Bad luck."

Joe shrugged his shoulders. The drizzle became heavier until it was almost a full shower. Clare folded her arms as Brad turned to him.

"Whassup?"

"The lad that died. He was murdered. Now before you kick off I ain't asking anyone to grass. I just thought you'd be the ones to know if Liam had enemies." Joe looked at them. "I can't Interview you on your own. I gotta av appropriate adults there; but I want you lot to know, if anything comes to mind. If anything bothers you or you think we should know ring me. Yeah?"

"Ok bruv."

Joe smiled, turned and headed across the park. He knew he had a long way to go before he won the heart and minds of the local teenagers but he had to try.

Xxxxxx

Ronnie sat forward in his chair glaring at the man opposite. The duty lawyer had sat down a moment earlier as Matt read the usual introduction to every interview. Ronnie appraised the man in front of him.

"You killed a teenage lad? A big lad at that?"

"Yeah."

"How?"

"what?"

"Well? How did you kill im? "

"I."

"Cmon Mark. We know you are no angel but taking the blame for a murder you ad nuffin to do with? Why? That's just stupid." Ronnie stared him in the eye. "You're my age. Older. Why get involved? This isn't your thing."

"No comment."

Matt and Ronnie glanced at each other. It seemed Mark was determined to lie to save someone else but the question remained, who? Who was really in control?

Xxxxx