Chapter One

"Daddy!"

Her father smiled widely. He caught her as she threw herself into his torso. With one swing, he had her placed on his hip. She giggled childishly and hugged him tightly around his neck, happy he was back. He was late by an hour or so, but she didn't care because she thought her Daddy's job was important. Besides, she liked playing in 'Eddie's Bar'. Uncle Eddie taught her how to play games and he would hide and seek with her.

"How are you Rosie?" Her Daddy asked.

"I'm good. I played with Uncle Eddie." She told him gleefully.

"More like she kept hiding my drinks from me…" Uncle Eddie muttered darkly.

She turned red in embarrassment and hid her face in her Daddy's neck, although she couldn't resist giggling as she remembered the fun she had.

"Sounds fun Rosie." Her Daddy laughed, "Now why don't you go get those picture's you told me about - the ones to give to Mickey and Albert?"

Her eyes brightened instantly in memory and she struggled in her father's grip. He let her go, laughing to himself at her enthusiasm, and watched she rushed to her rucksack. She rummaged around for a moment before she turned around, holding a collection of paper close to her chest. "Everyone has to sit down," she announced loudly.

Sharing an amused look, the four adults complied by sliding into a booth with Rosie positioned in the middle so she could see everyone. Her eyebrows furrowed together in concentration as she tried to read the words she had written herself (with some help from her school teacher). She announced their names and slid the pictures across the table. She beamed proudly at them as her work was admired.

"Brilliant my dear - Did you draw it all yourself Rosie?"

She nodded furiously. "Mrs. Parson helped me with my words but everything else is mine…do you like it?"

Her Daddy reached over and hugged her tightly, kissing the crown of her head. "It's perfect Rosie."

"Beautiful Babygirl."

"I'll hang it up behind the bar. Promise."

She beamed brightly up at them, completely innocent and naïve of the world around her and how much this meant to the adults who worked in a world consumed by greed and corruption.

Rosalind Morgan was waiting for them at the bar, cradling a glass of rum and coke in the palm of her hands. She sipped the drink softly. Her legs slid against each other as she shifted in her seat, leaning against the counter leisurely. Her eyes scanned the old place with contentment – it had been so long since she'd last been here. She'd missed this place as much as she missed the people that resided within. She was glad to be back. She just wished she could speed up the long awaited reunion process.

Sighing and tilting her head backwards, Rosalind ran a hand through the mass of unruly curls that she had inherited from her mother. Laughter drew her attention to the door leading down into the bar.

They were here.

Nervously, she shifted in her seat and glanced at Eddie. The man caught her gaze and smiled encouragingly. She returned the smile awkwardly, wringing her hands together – something she often did to calm her nerves.

With wide eyes, Rosalind watched as the voices became louder, clearer, and the dark shadows became corporeal beings; becoming familiar faces. Two faces she didn't recognise, young, but the other three she had vivid memories of, although they had aged dramatically from the last time she saw them. But, she mused, so had she.

The laughter littered to a stop, leaving only a shocked silence behind to filter the room. She smiled weakly at them and waved her hand, half heartedly.

"Hey..."

"...Rosie? Is that you, really?"

"Yeah Dad...it's me..."

Rosalind soon found herself pulled into a tight embrace; a familiar hug that she had missed all the time she had been forced to stay away. She clung to the flaps on his open coat and blinked back the tears of happiness.

Ash pulled away from his daughter and looked at her properly. "Jesus Rosie, you look so grown-up..."

Rosalind gave him a watery smile. "So I should Dad. I turned 21 this year."

"Has it really been eleven years?"

"Yeah...it has..."

"Hey Babygirl." Mickey's voice, happiness clear, broke into the small reunion. Rosalind's eyes brightened when she saw the conman's smiling face and, however reluctantly, Ash released the young woman so she could hug her old companions.

"Uncle Mickey!" she cried, laughing, "You're still taller than I remember."

"So are you." Mickey laughed, "I'm glad you're back."

"It's good to be back," she assured, moving away so she could hug the man who had acted as her grandfather for her childhood, "Albie! All your hair is white now!"

"Thank you for reminding me," Albert said dryly, as they shared a hug, "It's good to hear your voice again."

Emma and Sean stood to the side, feeling awkward as they watched the exchange with no idea what was happening, or who this girl was. How come she had never been mentioned before? The brother and sister shared a look, silently deciding whether or not they should say anything. In the end, it was Emma who spoke up.

"Ah, um, hello?" she cleared her throat, drawing the attention of the room, "Care to explain?"

"Emma, Sean, this is Rosalind Morgan, my daughter." Ash introduced, "Rosie, this is Emma and Sean Kennedy..."

Rosalind smiled at the siblings, holding out her hand. "Hey, it's nice to meet you."

"You too," Emma smiled accepting the hand.

Sean took her hand, raising it to his lips to press a kiss to the back. She looked surprised. He wriggled his eyebrows and she had to hide a laugh behind her hand. "It's a pleasure." he smiled charmingly, although it did falter when he saw the fixer's deathly glare aimed in his direction.

"So why are you guys having a reunion now?" Emma asked curiously, as they slide into one of the booths Eddie had offered to them.

Rosalind tilted her head to the right as she thought of a way to explain the situation. "My Mum and Dad never really got along..."

Mickey snorted into his drink.

"An understatement my dear," Albert scolded teasingly.

Rosalind sighed in defeat. "Okay, my parents hated each other. It still amazes me that they even got together in the first place. As soon as my Mum married my Step-dad, she moved us to America so fast we left vapour trails. I haven't seen my Dad – or this lot – in eleven years. I decided it was high time for a family reunion, so I asked my Step-dad to pay for a flight over and lo and behold, here I am."

"How long are you planning on staying?" Albert questioned.

"I don't know yet." She grinned widely up at them, "How long you want me to stay?"

Ash gave her a one armed hug. "For as long as you want sweetheart."

Her smile widened as she leant into the touch, pausing for a moment before her face became serious; "There is another reason why I came back…"

"What is it?"

The smile softened. "I have a mark for you."

Mickey arched one eyebrow. "A mark, huh?"

Rosalind hummed and sipped her drink.

"Who?" Sean leant forward in his seat, hands clasped together in anticipation.

"His name is James Cern. He's the Financial Manager of 'Carnal and Change'." Rosalind explained.

Eddie rested their drinks on the table. "I've heard of that company. Isn't it owned by that, ah reclusive billionaire - the one that just bought that poker franchise?"

"Victor Von Ratsen, yeah," Rosalind confirmed, "Now, Mr. Cern is in control of the money that goes in and out of the company, for every department in London. He's obsessed with the stuff. He'd do anything to make a profit…"

"That's not really a good enough reason to con the man." Mickey started.

"My friend used to work for him, as his secretary." Rosalind interrupted, "Apparently, he's a very hands on boss." She wrinkled her nose at the thought, "She told me a lot about him in her emails to me so I checked him out. He's been accused of sexual harassment, fraud and theft more times than I can count, but each time a case has been filed, it gets brushed aside and forgotten. James Cern is an arsehole – a worthy mark if they had standards."

"Exactly the kind of man I hate." Emma commented.

"Which friend is this?" Ash wondered.

"Abigail Munroe – remember? She used to go to my primary school. Mum thought she'd be a good influence on me." She scoffed and shook her head as if it all were a joke, "I want to get back at him – for her – and…I want you to help me…"

"You want our help?"

"Please." Rosalind clasped her hands together and gave the group an over exaggerated look, her eyes wide as she blinked away fake tears. It was a look she had perfected as a child. She hoped it could still work on them.

Albert laughed. "You are far too old for that look to work anymore my dear, but I do believe you are right about this Mr. Cern. A vote?"

Eddie sighed. "I'll go get the coasters…"