'Mummy!'

Molly's voice jolted Alex awake piercing through the smoke filled gloom of CID 1982.

'Molls?' Alex whispered glancing around, as usual her daughter was nowhere to be seen, always out of reach.

'Mum, I miss you, you need to…'

'Bolls!' The delicate tones of Gene Hunt cut in over her daughter, preventing Alex from hearing what Molly had said'.

'What Molly? What do I need to do? Will it help me get back? Molly! I didn't hear you! Mollly!'

Suddenly Molly appeared directly in front of her, looming over her desk, for the first time in months Alex was able to look at her own daughter.

'Molls?'

Molly opened her mouth to speak, but was cut short by Gene, finally losing patience with his sleeping, totally insane but irresistibly beautiful DI, slamming his hands on her desk jolting her awake, this time for real.

'Drake! Finally, while you've been peacefully sleeping at your desk, London's finest scum 'ave been very much awake and up to no good, so get yer boney arse into that ridiculous white leather jacket and outside into the car!'

Infuriated at being woken from a dream that might, just might have given her the answers she had been desperately searching for, Alex flounced up from her seat snatching her jacket from the back of her chair, slamming her way out of CID. 'Get my bony arse into my jacket? That doesn't even make sense Guv, why in Gods name would I put my arse into my jacket?' Gene followed her out muttering darkly about bloody women and their bloody hormones, as Viv rolled his eyes at his two senior officers bickering like children.

Alex studied Gene's side profile as he drove them at the break neck speed he seemed to deem necessary at all times. His jaw was clenched and he oozed annoyance, no doubt from her brief nap at her desk and their following argument.

'So'. She said attempting to break the silence, 'Where are we going?'

'Body been found in a wood by some kids. A messy one at that according to plod, said it wer' like somethin' out of a horror film, so we may actually be in need of a bit of your psychiatry today Bolly. Use your insane ramblings to catch an insane killer, 'ow does that sound?' He looked at her for the first time since she had got in the car and she assumed this meant she was forgiven, for the time being at least.

'Well then', she said as he jerked the car to a sudden halt at the edge of the woods, executing a perfect handbrake turn, tyres screeching in protest. 'We had better go and put my psychology to good use Guv'. Smiling at him in that patronising way that never failed to somehow both infuriate him and turn him on at the same time, as she got out of the Quatro.

'Well?' Gene barked at Ray and Chris who stood at the edge of the woods waiting for him, ever the faithful sidekicks.

'Body's over there Guv', Ray said pointing to a small clearing. 'It's a messy one though.' Alex noticed the slight tremor to Ray's voice, though his face betrayed nothing. Ray Carling was a hard man who had the air of one who had very much seen it all before; if whatever was waiting for them in the clearing was enough to affect him it must something terrible. Chris remained silent, face tinged with green, eyes anxious.

'Right then'. Said Gene, apparently oblivious to his team's discomfort, 'let's get a move on'.

Quickly they made their way to the small clearing, with Ray and Chris lagging behind them, obviously in no hurry to lay eyes on the body again.

'Jesus'. Exclaimed Gene as they reached their destination. Alex stared at the nightmarish scene before them. A young girl, barely sixteen lying on the ground, naked, her body a mess of bruises intermingled with deep cuts and slashes. The cuts were deepest across her breasts.

'Children saw this?' Said Alex, looking away, anywhere but at the body. She was well aware of the edge to her voice and resented it as her apparent show of weakness, a copper unable to look at a murder victim, further proof that women were not cut out for police work. Chris she noted was also looking away, his gaze fixed on a seemingly fascinating tree branch on the ground a few metres away from the body. Ray feeling the need to reassert his image as a hard man was staring determinedly at the body, although his fists were clenched at his sides.

'Two twelve year old girls Bolls, they were playin' 'ide and seek. One of them found this while she wer lookin' fer 'er mate'. Alex looked at Gene then, saw the barely restrained fury in his eyes as he surveyed the scene. Anger was his way of dealing with things.

Twelve years old, the same age as Molly. God, what if she was to see something like this, no, have to get back, have to protect her, keep her away from the bad things. Have to do better. Some mother I was, letting my daughter be held at gun point by a madman, should have kept her away, kept her safe, what was I thinking taking my daughter to a hostage situation. Same as always that nasty little voice in the back of her mind said, you were thinking about the job, putting it before your own daughter again. Tears pricked her eyes and she sniffed loudly. Come on Alex, focus on the case at hand, what clues can you see here? It was no good, all she could see was Molly, staring at her with accusing eyes. Alex felt a solitary tear run down her cheek.

'Come on Bolls, need you at your posh bollocks fruitcake best, need to solve this'. Gene's gruff voice was uncharictaristly soft, as he placed one gloved hand on her arm, grounding her, pulling her out of her reverie, pulling her back to him.

Alex took a deep breath and looked again. Think Alex, is there anything here that might help an investigation, you can do this, look at it objectively, just another case. 'The killer was most likely male, the brutality of the attack, the extensive bruising and cuts to the victim suggests she was killed in a fit of rage. The deeper cuts on the breasts suggest the attack may have been sexually motivated, it's likely she was raped and there is a strong chance he knew the victim before he killed her'.

'Ow the bloody 'ell can you can you know that Drake?' Gene interrupted.

'Look at the way she's lying Guv, so carefully placed, she could almost be sleeping. Whoever did this knew the victim, most likely making this a crime of passion that the killer instantly regretted afterwards. Look at where he chose to leave the body, it's beautiful here Guv, peaceful, an ideal resting place for a beautiful young woman the killer cared about or at least believed he cared about. Or..'

'Or?! Bloody 'ell, you got more that one nonsense theory up yer sleeve Drake?'

'Or', she said ignoring his tirade, 'this is the work of a potential serial killer, who although feels guilt after his acts, causing the careful, almost loving placement of his victims will most likely strike again, he wont be able to stop himself. The attack looks to be one of frenzied desperation, he's out of control.'

'So basically, you 'ave no idea who did this or if he'll strike again.'

Alex took a deep breath and willed herself to keep calm, the man asked for her help then yelled at her when he got it, he really was impossible. 'No, I have more than one theory as to the cause of this girl's death. Once forensics have been over the scene, the coroner has given us his report, we've got an ID on the body and spoken to her family and friends I should be able to form a more definite hypothesis'.

'So what you're saying is that despite all your psychic nonsense we won't actually know anything useful until tomorrow?'

Hating the thought of giving in and admitting he was right, but knowing he was Alex agreed.

'Right then Luigis it is, don't know bout you Bolls but I am dyin' fer a drink.' As usual Alex was.