Waiting

Matt sat opposite Ronnie at the small Formica table in the hospital canteen. It worried him to see Ronnie so closed off. Placing the cup of tea in front of his friend he waited. Ronnie stared at the dark liquid.

"You know e pleaded guilty to murdering Liam? Not Alice though." Matt paused as Ronnie nodded. "Same MO."

"Yeah." Ronnie looked up at the younger man. "Which means."

"Either he's guilty of both murders." Matt frowned. "Or."

"E knows who killed Alice- and thought about framing them for Liam's death." Ronnie added. Matt sipped his coffee.

"Or we have two killers." Matt paused. "Bloody Hell. Wish Wes was still ere. You pair would have worked this out in an hour!"

Ronnie smiled slightly at the mention of his old friend. Wes had been like a brother to him. He missed him tremendously and still blamed himself for the other man's murder. He looked Matt in the eyes.

"Now, you listen to me Son. Wes was a diamond. You know that and me and im went back along way. Hendon actually. But you are just a good a copper as e was; if not better. So, you think Wes would have been faster? Got results? Maybe. But it ain't about time. It's about getting the right bloke. And for me, I don't care if the killer isn't caught for a day or twenty years. As long as we get the right person." Ronnie spoke calmly. Matt nodded. He knew he was right but he also knew that during his little speech he hadn't looked at his watch once. Ronnie sighed heavily.

"I know. Just nice to be reminded now and again."

"Good boy." Ronnie sighed as he looked around the canteen feeling every one of his fifty seven years.

Xxxxxxxx

"Any news?" Joe jogged into the office in time to see Kate and Angie talking quietly. "On the Guv?"

"Not yet." Kate replied. "Alesha will let us know as soon as she heard anything. Matt and Ronnie are at the hospital."

"Right." Joe nodded. His grey hoodie and jeans making him look like the least likely copper in the place. "The case?"

"Remanded in custody until the trial date. Judge said she's gonna announce that on Monday." Kate replied as Angie handed Joe a hot mug of coffee.

"Right. Ok. Thanks." Joe smiled at his friend. "No date until Monday. Good."

"Why?" Angie glanced as Sam walked in the office. Sam raised an eyebrow.

"DI Casey, you might want to hear this." Kate ushered him over. Sam frowned as he crossed the room to them. Joe sighed.

"Ok." Joe held up his hands. "Think I'm mad if you want."

"Ok, I do." Angie watched as he rolled his eyes.

"Spencer killed Liam. He did not kill Alice. I think Liam did. Spencer found out and went nuts. That's why there isn't forensic to tie him to Alice's death."

"Flawed theory." Kate smiled. "There would have been similarities between his DNA and Liam's. They would have worked it out."

Joe nodded as Kate spoke. "What if there isn't shared DNA? What if Liam wasn't Spencer's biological son?"

The room fell silent for a moment as Kate ran a hand through her hair. Nodding she turned to Sam.

"Now that's a possibility."

"We can't get a Warrant for DNA testing. This is the Met. Not Jeremy Kyle!" Sam shook his head.

"No." Angie sat at her desk but I can do some searching. Liam was arrested aged 14 and 15. His birth certificate would have been wanted by the court as he was under age." Angie began tapping the computer keyboard as Sam looked over her shoulder. Biting her lip she pulled up Liam's juvenile record. "Mother's name- as expected, place of birth, All there but no name for his dad."

"Oh." Sam frowned.

"I'd say we have a new line of enquiry." Kate said. "Or rather you do. I'm off. Charlotte has a health visitor appointment. Keep me informed, yeah?" She waved as she headed out of the office. Part of her hoped Joe was wrong; Liam had only been a teenager when Alice had been killed but she had to admit it was a valid line of interest if they could the truth in time.

Xxxxxxxx

The nurse smiled as Natalie opened her eyes. The lights in the Recovery Room so harsh that she wanted to close them straight away. She felt groggy, a dull ache in her lower abdomen made her want to curl up.

"Hello." The recovery nurse smiled. "It's all finished. We'll get you to the ward in a little while."

Natalie sighed. Her throat was sore but she didn't want to seem rude so she tried to smile.

"Do you have any pain?"

"Not really." Natalie whispered.

"Not really means yes in my book." The nurse busied herself getting suitable pain killers. "I'll give you an injection. It's morphine." Natalie felt her eyes close as she felt the medicine take effect. She hoped the doctors had got the cancer out of her body but in that moment she was too tired to care.

Xxxxxxx