"Right Mel, your on the reception desk and Nate, your on the Custody desk today"

Both PCs groaned in dismay at the idea of spending their shifts confinded behind the wooden counters. Paperwork sounded more appealing.

"But Serge, I'm sure its your turn behind the reception desk! Can't be swapping shifts just because your Inspector now"
Only tiny Mel Ryder would be gutsy enough to question her inspectors orders. Then again he did remember comparing her to Lara Croft on her first day.
"Yes Melanie. However Sergeant Masters and I have been requested up in CID today. So that leaves you on desk duty" he ginned down at her as she cringed at the use of her full name.
"What happened to no full names? All this powers gone to your head!"
Next to her Nate and Leon were chuckling at their lighthearted banter.

"I wouldn't be laughing if I were you PC Taylor. You and Kirsty are out on foot patrol. Try not to catch frostbite"
Smithy's words wiped the grin off his face as he shivered at the the thought of braving the fridgid winds and November frost. It was Mels turn to chuckle lightly at him, atleast she'd be warm inside with an endless supply of coffee.

The door to the briefing room crashed open as Ben raced through, his black tie still in his hand and his shirt untucked.
"Ah PC Gayle. Nice of you to join us. Good night I'm guessing? Area car with Sergeant Stone and tuck your shirt in Ben"
"Yes Serge"

"Right guys, thats it for this morning. You know where I am if you need me. Stay out of trouble, specially you Melanie"
She groaned again as Nate resumed his laughing.
"Thanks Serge" she sighed as she pushed herself out of her chair at the front. The toothy smile she gave him, before heading for the door, betrayed her angry pretense.

With that his PCs begn to drift out of the room and into the corridor. Nate was still goading Mel about her name as he held the door open for her but judging by the smile plastered across her face he didnt think she minded Nate's teasing.
Leon, Kirtsy and Ben followed. Kirsty rolling her eyes at the pair infornt whilst she pulled her blonde hair back into a braid. He could hear Leon questioning Ben about his night. He couldn't be sure but Smithy thought he heard Sally Armstrong's name being mentioned. He hadn't thought she kept intouch with anyone after she transferred out of Sunhill however he couldn't deny how close her and Ben had been, as both colleges and as friends. Especially after Emma had passed away.
He spotted Callum about to leave and called out to him just as his hand touched the shiny metal handle of the door.

"Oi, Callum. Any idea what CID want?"
"Yeah" his voice was rough and the bags under his eyes showed how little he'd slept since his father had died. He raked a hand through his dark hair which was already sticking up in every direction imaginable. "Missing kid. IC1 male, taken his year old daughter from her room last night. The mothers moving to France with the new fella. Roger took the call last night."
"Looks like a long day ahead" Jo spoke as she looked up from the file she'd been pouring over all morning.
"Thanks Callum"

Callum nodded once before turning to leave, joining Ben, who was already holding out Stone's vest and hat to him, out in the corridor. There was no point in asking if he was ok. Smithy knew well enough that Stone would say he was fine and just wanted to get on with the job.

"Right then. After you Jo"

He held open the door as she walked through, still trying to balance the folder of paperwork in her arms.

"Ryan Fitzgerald" she answered to his questioning look "Suspect in a hit and run accident last night. Victim's a young lad, he'll pull through. A broken leg and some cuts and bruises but the family want to prosecute. Callum and Ben should be heading out to St. Hughs once they've left here"
"Looks like the night shift threw up some interesting cases"

Mel was already behind the reception desk when thet made it to the front of the station. The thick smell of coffee wafted towards them from a plastic cup that was balanced precuriously next to a stack of paperwork. She already looked bored sitting there, her head resting in her hand and her dark eyes straing dazily into space. No doubt daydreaming about PC Roberts.
Her eyes snapped to attention as the doors to the station were pushed open, a blast of cold wind dodged around thr form and into the station, making her shiver.
To Mel's obvious disappointment it wasn't a distraut member of the public looking for help but DS Max Carter.

A smug grin etched its way onto his face as he spotted the pair about to pass through the door that led to the CID stairs.

"Wrong way guys. Thats where the real policing is done"

"Oh give it a rest Max" Jo was used to dealing with the arrogant DS, she'd spent too long in CID with him and his sarky comments. He'd always had a certain disdain for uniform officers and had very little time for them unless they were trawling through CCTV for a result he could use to suck up to the DI, who never fell for his childish tricks.
It had only been the other week when Max had been manipulating Kirsty into lying to Callum.
Smithy, on the other hand, had to wonder how anyone put up with him. Surely Manson could transfer him to Barton Street or somewhere further away.

Maybe Antartica?

However he was determined to be a good inspector and not rise to Max's taunts about his oficers. Once again he held the door open for Jo as she smiled a goodbye to Mel who was currently glaring at Max.
They were still ascending the stairs when Max shouted one last taunt.
"DS Moss will be very excited to see you!"

If it wasn't for the image of Gina Gold with her disappointed face on he would have turned round and shown Max exactly why no-one brought that subject up, whether it would have cost him his job or not.
Jo's fingrs curled round his upper arm in a suprising show of strength as she steered him up the last of the steps towards the double doors that led to CID.

"Don't even think of leaving me to deal with Callum!"
The image of Jo trying to reign in Callum with his heavy build and impulsive actions was amusing enough to make him relax.
"Now come on, we uniformed officers have a child to find"

And with that they headed straight for the briefing room at the back of the CID offices where the rest of DI Mansons team had congrigated.

Anxious to find the lost little girl

Not sure whether i'm happy with this first chapter or not :S
Ah well =/ please review :) thankyouuu