4

Natalie knew the meeting with the DCIs and Chief Superintendents were a necessary part of her job. Didn't mean she had to like them. Sighing as she headed towards the coffee machine she knew that Joy would no doubt be working on the PM while Sam tried to organise the team. A man had died. They were the MIU, they would investigate and they would bring the case to court. It was what they did. She reminded herself, she didn't have to sympathise with the dead man. She just had to lead her team in their investigation. Not for the first time she mentally counted down how long she had left before she would be retiring.

"DCI Chandler." She rolled her eyes as she fed loose change into the coffee machine.

"Giles."

"How the devil are you, old girl?"

Natalie stabbed the button for 'cafe late' on the machine in front of her.

"Giles, what can I do for you?" She mentally counted to ten, knowing the head of CID was bound to have something to gloat about.

"Oh, it was more what I can do for you."

"I don't think so." She took her drink, relishing the heat through the thin plastic. One eyebrow raised she appraised the man in the ill fitting suit. "CID keeping you busy?"

"Ah yes. Always a case on. However, our suspects tend not to get themselves murdered on the day they head to court."

She nodded once. "Now, isn't that fortunate." She stated rather than asked. "Maybe, just maybe that's because your case load doesn't quite involve chasing the low life's my team deal with."

He chuckled, one hand on his tie. "Now, if you and your little team are having difficulty I am sure my team would only be too happy to help."

Natalie narrowed her eyes, pulling herself up to her full height she sat the drink down on the small table next to the drink machine.

"Giles, my team is fully staffed. And more than capable of managing this case. AND ANY OTHER CASE that is assigned to us. May I remind you we have one of the highest conviction rates in the Force. My team, a bespoke forensic analyst, four DS' , a DI and myself have put more criminals in prison than you have had mistresses. Oh, while I remember how is your wife?" Natalie glared as his jaw hung open. "Solve your own caseload and leave mine to me. There's a good chap." Natalie narrowed her eyes before walking away. The sooner she was back with Angie and her boys the happier she would be.

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Alesha looked at the photos and charts laid out over her desk as James ran a hand over his face.

"We had a solid case."

"All that work." James shook his head. "I mean, really. We put everything into this. The man's background. We had all his movements, all the evidence to put him away. You interviewed all the background witnesses. I."

"I probably spoke to the killer." Alesha slumped down in her chair. "James, I think I spoke to Lawson's killer."

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