Hey everyone!  Well considering I am the other co-moderator with Suz,
I
thought I should start to play my part and send a little fic the way
of
the list.  

Note: This fic is set halfway through season three.  Mac's brother has
yet to reappear.  And of course the finale didn't happen.

To Rhi- as always 


She sat dejectedly at her desk, contemplating the long night ahead.
Sometimes she cursed Rocca for thrusting her into this position.  She
felt so out of her depth at times.  Her place was in the field,
manifesting herself into people's lives and solving those difficult
cases.  Really, she missed the thrill of being someone else, losing
herself in another for a common good. Her job was her only real
stability.  Her brother Michael was imprisoned on rape charges, her
parents were more absorbed in their own high society lives to care
what
she thought or did.  That only really left undercover with no strong
personal relationships outside the unit.  Her previous relationship if
you could even called it that, faltered before it even started.  The
job
and its repercussions obstructed its path.  At the time she didn't
really mind however, as time progressed, she began to regret the
decision she made.

Signing the last report for the day, she turned her attention to the
material in large mania folder sitting in the top right hand corner of
her desk.  She had yet another meeting with homicide early the
following
morning.  She had to brief herself in order to be briefed by them so
she
could in turn brief her own unit.  It seemed like a never-ending
circle.  Flicking the folder open, she began to peruse the
information.
It seemed pretty formulaic police reports, surveillance photographs e
al.  It seemed this was a case with a twist. Several undercover units
had already tackled this one.  It seemed in each of the five murders,
there was a new suspect which a strong motive and no alibi.  Yet no
one
could find any evidence to link the suspects to the murders.  On face
value, it appeared to be a series of one offs- different kinds of
people, different cities, at different times.  Yet it seemed they were
ireverally linked.  The victims were connected to each other in
obscure
ways.  The first two were put down to coincidence by the homicide team
in Adelaide.  The third in Queensland, the fourth in Sydney and the
latest case in Melbourne.  A network that seemed impossible to crack.
Especially since the killer seemed to stick to his own methodical
pattern.  Her cup of coffee now sat cold as her eyes turned to her
watch.  1:32am.  She contemplated staying to read the remainder of the
enormous file.	Weighing up her options, she slowly closed the file
and
moved to lock it safely in the filing cabinet.

Police headquarters buzzed with activity as remainder of arrests were
processed from the night before.  Flicking the elevator button to
select
the appropriate floor, Mac looked down to make sure she looked
respectable.  This was the first “real” case she had been assigned to
as
the officer in charge of the unit.  The elevator doors flung open as
Bill Holster emerged into view.   “Ellen” he pronounced, bowing his
head
slightly in acknowledgement of her presence.  “Bill” she replied,
smiling slightly at her superior.  He always felt like her superior
well
in fact they were equals, colleagues.  Perhaps it was because of his
wealth of experience or her youthfulness and gender.  Both slightly
looking towards the ground, searching for a neutral topic of
conversation.  The sound of the evaluator doors opening broke the
eerie
silence and he ushered her through to a closed door.  Unsure of what
to
do, she knocked twice before stepping back to give Holster a perplexed
look.	The door flung open to unveil the chief commissioner of
police.
Feeling extremely vulnerable and nervous, Mac shook his outstretched
hand and took a seat in front of his large jarrah desk.  She had
expectations of a meeting with homicide but not the big brass.
Returning from her thoughts, Bill was now seated next to her in the
large leather chair with her superior behind the desk.  Both were
extremely somber, immediately wanting to take charge of the case and
get
down to business.  Collecting herself and establishing a confident
front, Ellen broke the mode and got straight down to business.
“I’ve done some extensive reading on this case.  It seems very high
profile within police ranks, yet there has been no media coverage what
so ever.  Since it encompasses so many states over such a space of
time,
I was just surprised that I had never heard about it” Ellen stated,
projecting a confident persona.

“ We’ve tried to keep it that way” Police Commissioner Peter Ryan
began.  “Thought any media attention would compromise our
investigations.  And any in NSW thought that by refraining from media
attention, the killings would be further apart.  That really didn’t
eventuate.”

“So what has undercover go to do with it?” Holster asked, wanting this
unit to get into the thick of things.  The force was supposed to work
together and they did, yet he wanted the glory for solving this one.
Plus the added perks and recognition that came along too.

“I assume you are assuming to the complete stuff up of the Queensland
unit?” Ryan questioned as Mac eyeballed the floor.

Holster nodded in response.  Ellen lifted her head in gauge any
reaction
from Ryan.  He looked at her sternly before returning this attention
to
Bill.

“They tried that in NSW and it got nowhere Bill.  We are running out
of
time and if the press get wind of this, we will have a media circus on
our hands.  We have had enough balls ups already.  Direct action needs
to be taken and I believe an undercover operation is our best option.
So Ellen, what plan of action have you been formulating?”

He looked to Ellen and she knew this was it.  In order to impress
Peter
and retain the investigation, she had to think quickly on her feet and
project her opinions confidently.

“I think it is important to place two of members undercover.  It will
provide two targets rather than one.  Otherwise we could be completely
off the track and have lost valuable time.” Both men slightly nod and
she takes this as a signal to continue.  “Plus it will increase
security
for both members of my team.  From what I have seen of the evidence
file, the work of this guy isn’t pretty.  Could be extremely useful,
as
I am use there are going to be situations in the investigation where
complete surveillance cannot be always guaranteed.  The only obstacle
is
I am going to need some time to step up covers from my operatives.  As
the file infers, all the five victims have somehow been linked,
whether
it be closely or distantly to one another.  Therefore both my
operatives
are going to have to be given covers which are connected to each of
the
victims.  I am assuming we have the complete co-operation of the
families?”

“Yes” Ryan solemnly replied, impressed by the directness and
efficiency
of the female Detective Senior Sargent.  “I will give you 48 hours to
have your operatives in place.”

Ellen took this as their cue to leave.  “Thank you sir” she replied,
before collecting her briefcase and departing.	Holster however, did
not
follow her lead.

“Yes Bill” Ryan asked as his head lifted from his desk, noticing the
presence of Holster.

“Ahh nothing sir” he stated, before following Ellen out the door.