This chapter is dedicated to PrincessHarri29 and b-o-l-l-y24 for their loyalty. Thanks ladies.

Chapter Five

We exited the car simultaneously. A few steps forward and then my legs start to feel heavy, "Oh shit! Not again."

"Gerry?" Sandra is the first one to turn in my direction, she links her arm in mine and tries to keep me steady, maybe it was just the touch of someone but the feeling dissipated as quickly as it surfaced.

"I'm." I wave my free arm in the air, "I'm fine." Sandra makes a move to remove her arm and I catch it. If the situation was different, I'm sure she would have expelled some very explicit language, but not this time. I needed comfort and was grateful that she was there to give it to me.

Feeling just a bit ashamed I lower my head, I take a quick glance and Jack and Brian seem perfectly content with my behavior. "Fuck," I say through clenched teeth. I hate behaving this way, Jesus Christ I'm a grown man and I need a woman to help me walk a few feet to the house, I raise my head and stare at the door before me. "A murderer, he did it, I know he did. He stared at me," I state plainly. "And smiled, he…." I straighten my back, looking confident. "He reached for me and got a hold of my arm, I kicked him." A faint smile crosses my face, "I didn't realize that I could reach that high but I did and he went down like a rock."

"Did he say anything?" back to her copper voice.

I rub my forehead in the hopes that a long ago memory would surface, "All I remember him asking was, why was I there?" I step away from my friends and release Sandra's arm from mine. A few more steps and I was knocking on the door. The seconds that pass seem more like hours; I fiddle with my tie, then stuff my hands in my pockets. The door finally opens and if 75-year ole Harold Campbell looked 95, this bloke looked 105. "Jesus Christ," I say at the sight.

"No, I'm Justin Gibson, can I help you?"

"Damn straight you can, I'm Gerry Standing and these," I turn to my associates who have remained a few feet behind. "We're from UCOS." The frown on his face, gave me the clue that he didn't know what UCOS was. "Unsolved crimes unit," I catch his gaze looking past me, he was looking at Sandra. I snap my finger in his face, "That is Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman." He turns his attention back toward me, "Yes coppers, all of us," well we used to be.

"We are investigating the murder of Scott Campbell." Sandra says as she shows her shield.

"You remember Scott," I say as I poke him in the chest, all I could feel were bones. "You were there." Yes, he looked shocked, "You know how I know?" He could only shake his head, "Because I was there." He made a motion to close the door but he was unable because my hand had a tight grip on it. I have to admit that it felt good to feel young next to this man.

"Get off my property," he manages to say.

"We will," Sandra interjects, "When we get what we've come for."

I watch Justin intently as he tries to stand erect but the cracking sound that emitted from his tired old bones, made him unable. Justin releases his hold of the door and takes a step back, leaving the door open. We follow him inside walking single file into the run down haven he calls home; I lead the way followed by Sandra, Jack and from the rear Brian.

If the outside of the house looked dilapidated the inside looked like a big wind went through one day and he just left it that way. A casual look at a newspaper that lies on a table, I read the date, September 18, 1962.

"So many years ago," Justin says breaking the silence in the air. "He had been to that area before," he shakes his arthritis ridden index finger in the air, "I know it."

"Your money was hidden there? The money you stole." Jack says sternly. I watch him as he glances at the only chair in the room. The grimacing look on his face tells me, that for a moment he had it in his mind to sit in that chair, that food stained, ripped chair. "You actually think that," he shakes his head, "That little boy stole some of your money."

"Somebody did." He lowers his head aware that he has just admitted that yes, the money was there and yes he had seen the boy that day. Keeping his head down he says, "Two sacks where missing, I'll bet that he took them." Justin raises his head and four sets of eyes are on him, each one with a scour on their face. "I grabbed him and he started to struggle and scream." Justin takes the seat that Jack grimaced at, "I had to stop his screaming and before I knew it, he wasn't screaming or struggling any more."

***************

"Good work," was the only thing Strickland could say to us for solving this 50-year-old murder.

Did he just wink at me? I shake my head, nah, I think. Christ I hope not.

"You think anything will change now that Scott's family knows the truth about what happened?" Jack asks as Strickland leaves the room.

"One would hope, but maybe it is too late," Sandra answers then pats my arm gently, "Not for you."

"Thanks you lot for helping me," I say softly.

"Anything to help a friend," Jack says as he pours himself a cup of coffee. Lifting the pot he asks, "Coffee? Sandra, Gerry, Brian."

"Cheers, Jack," Sandra says as she walks across the room toward him, "Thanks."

"No thanks mate." I answer as I take the seat behind my desk.

"We know who killed Scott but..." Brian pauses waiting for us to look at him; we do as we always do. "What happened to some of the money?"

"Oh Brian," Sandra says with agitation in her voice.

After some papers are filled out, detailing our investigation Sandra and I find each other alone in the room.

"I don't know exactly how to thank you Sandra." The kiss I give her on her soft cheek, makes her face turn a slight shade of red. I step back and smile at the sight. There is a way to make Sandra Pullman blush; she looks like a young girl.

"It was my pleasure; I don't like seeing my friends in pain."

"Friend? You think of me as one of your friends?"

"Yes," her hand caresses my arm, "Don't you? Think of me…." She drops her arms then turns her head away somewhat embarrassed at her show of affection for me.

"Sandra," shit Gerry take you big foot out of your mouth, I think as I gaze upon her sad expression. "Sandra," this time I take a gentle hold of her upper arm, "That was a stupid thing to ask, and yes I do think of you as one of my friends." I pull her closer, her lips. I never noticed those lips, looking so soft and luscious. I needed and wanted to taste them. As I lean my head down to kiss them the door opens. Sandra and I take a quick step apart from one another, Brian, I think as I clench my teeth,

"Are we going to the pub or not? Jack is waiting for us in the car."

"Stupid ass," Sandra whispers, so only my ears will hear. "Yes, yes." She says as she reaches behind me to grab her jacket.

"He may be that Sandra, but what would we do without him?"

At first, she looked as if she wanted to retaliate but she slipped her arm into the sleeve of her jacket, "Come on Gerry."

Brian closes the door behind him as he leaves the room, "Should I apologize to you for that, ah….you know."

"No," she turns to me and flashes a smile that makes her eyes sparkle.

My, she is a beautiful woman.

Her soft hand finds her way to my cheek, caressing it gently. "You are a pain in the ass sometimes but…." She leans forward and kisses my cheek. "Let's not do anything; we shouldn't do anything that we won't be able to take back."

One thing that Sandra Pullman is not….reckless, I had to agree, I nod my head.

I keep pace with her and open each door that takes us to the garage. Once again the question is asked, "Who's driving, Brian home?"

Jack volunteers, Sandra, and I glance quickly and secretly at one another, did Jack and Brian notice? I think….Nah. I know what crossed my mind; we would have a chance to be alone for a short time. Was she thinking the same? I nod my head to convince myself that yes she was thinking the same.

Jack and Brian pile into Jack's car and Sandra and I enter our own cars. Sandra leads the way and I follow directly behind, Jack and Brian following up the read.

I click on the radio and a song from 1972 begins to play. "To be 22 again and," I light a cigarette. "Know what I know now."

I sing along with the tune as I always do when I drive. Looking ahead all I can see is the back of her head. "Is it possible for us to have a relationship outside of work?" I crush the cigarette into the ashtray. "It would be fun to find out that's for sure." I hit a button on the radio searching for another song to sing. "Fun, Sandra would want more than just fun…." I find another great song. "So would I."

We arrive at the pub and we all find a place to park side by side. I remain in the car for a moment staring, maybe unconsciously at my friends. I nod my head, "Friends." I have had many friends throughout my lifetime, but none as special as these folks.

"Gerry," she calls my name as only she knows how. "Come on."

….That is all….

….Hope you enjoyed….

….Later….The Mominator….

I went back and forth on how to end this. The tension is there and maybe in the next story they will let it out. Many thanks for reading this fic about the Brit show written by a Yank.

Fell in love with this show over the summer, with the aid of You tube and it's airing every Friday night on TV, I have become addicted to it.

Anyone know if there is going to be another season?