TITLE: Another notch in the timeline of life AUTHOR: Rachel Holloway Email address: rachelholloway@yahoo.com ARCHIVE: The Stingers undercover crime archive DISCLAIMER: I have no association with channel 9, Beyond or any other associated with Stingers. I don't own Stingers, or any of its characters. SUMMARY: All our decisions, the good the bad and the ugly are just notches in the timeline of our life. Some we learn from and others we will make again and again, but we always have good friends there to help us through, and make us smile in the worst of times. *********************************************************************** "Hey Pete come here for a sec can you?" Peter Church was actually trying to sneak past Ellen McKenzie's office in the hope of slipping home early. He flopped into the chair in front of her desk and put his feet on the table. "Please make yourself at home" she replied looking up from her computer. "What's up Mac I was hoping to sneak home early today" "Well your only halfway there, you'd have to get past Danni next" "MMmm true story" "Listen what's another word for BUT?" "Ahhh HOWEVER" "Yeah something more classy than that?" "THERE IS A DISTINCT POSSBILITY" "Yeah something more solid than that" "Ahhhh ummmmm, what do I look like the Oxford carry around dictionary? YOU MAY ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER?" "How about, ALSO SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION" "Great fine, night Mac" Church put two feet on the ground and pushed himself out of the chair. "Woh what's the rush...hot date?" "Yeah in this job, if only that were true, you should never base a relationship on lies, but in this job what choice do I have" "Oh come on your creative, there are lots of other relationships that get by based on other things" "So what are you doing that I need to be your dictionary?" Church was swift at changing the subject; it was still like walking on eggshells between the two of them when it came to conversations of this nature. "Annual budget" "Oh Yuk, ok all yours" "Yeah thanks I'll be lucky to leave here tonight" "Well if you do, call me, and I can disclose all the naughty words in my dictionary." "Yeah night Peter" ************************************************************************************************ "How'd you go yesterday afternoon I meant to ask?" Mac was fresh and cheery for someone who had supposedly been up all night. "Well the last time I saw 'The hanger' he was being dangled by Bill Hollister into homicide" Pete informed her. "Ok can I just ask what is with that nickname" "We'll the guy gets around in some pretty expensive Italian suits and from what I've heard if you get on the wrong side of him, you might find yourself being hung out the window of a tall building or over the side of a bridge somewhere." "Nice" "Well you know it'd do a lot for my motivation that's for sure" "Maybe I'll try it some time" Ellen smirked and walked off towards her office. "We'll someone is in a good mood" Angie shrewdly observed. "Yeah it's unusual come budget time she's usually climbing the walls and Church is permanently marked in the bad books" Stone added his expression changing to a big smile. "What Stone" Danni said looking down at her shirt and pants thinking she'd dropped something on the front of her, nope and her face was clear. "She's getting some" he said before casually walking out. "The remaining eyes turned slowly to Peter. "Oh come on, why is it whenever anything happens around here, regardless if it's good or bad people look to me." "Well you have a reputation" Angie added quietly. "What for making trouble, getting in too deep, crossing the line, breaking the rules and sleeping with the boss." "Pretty much" Danni replied. "Wouldn't you guys like to know" he said and walked off, if they were going to point the finger to him he was at least going to take them out for a ride, no use them having all the fun. He could feel the looks of disappointment behind him at his shallow reply. The door to Mac's office was closed but that had never stopped a Peter Church when on a mission. "...........Yeah I'll see you tonight, ok you too bye" Peter caught the last half of the conversation. He assumed last night's position of feet on the desk rolling his head back. "Is there something you wanted to talk about Pete cause I'm kinda busy right now" Mac didn't look up. "Well I was just wondering if you wanted to get a meal down the pub tonight, couple of drinks.........." Peter hoped she'd feed right into his plan. "Afraid I can't, I've already got plans for tonight, how about........" "They were right" Peter cut her off. "Who were right?" Ellen was confused "Stone and Angie and Danni" "Right about what ?" "You're seeing someone" His question was met with an uncomfortable silence, which to anyone is the next best thing to a neon light on the forehead flashing yes, yes, yes and yes. "Damit this is like living in a fish bowl, is anything my own and private in my life?" "Well not since they let your brother out and bugged your house" "Oh my...." Slightly mad Ellen pushed back her chair and looked out the window over the operations headquarters. "This is none of yours or anyone else's business" "Yeah it is, I want to meet this bloke" "What so you can give your approval?" "Not just a hat rack after all hey Mac" "Do you have anything worthwhile to contribute of are you just here for info about my sex life to take back to the other?" "Pretty much" "GET OUT" ************************************************************************************************ "Hey look I'm sorry about before" Peter was fiddling with the controls in the combi-van when Mac approached. "Nah it's ok I crossed the line" "So how bout that dinner" "Sure, what happened did you get stood up" "No he had to work late and you'd be well advised to clam up before I take back the invitation. If you're good I might disclose some information to you." "You're going to have me eating out of your hand." "Well we did have bookings for a place a little classier than that." Her reply was met with a small smirk. ************************************************************************************************ Peter was dying for info but he figured it was best not to push it after today's events. "Oh my god look at you squirm you can't wait till I spill the beans can you" Mac laughed as she lifted the glass of wine to her lips. "You've got me" "Ok promise you will wait at least a little while when you get home before you phone the rest of the unit and tell them every little juicy detail." "Hey I'm not going to ring them." And Peter had no plans too, he was going to take them for a ride for as long as he could. "Ok, we'll I don't know if that's true or not, but anyway his name is Geoffrey Connors." "You're kidding the guy from Channel 9, the reporter guy." "Yes" "Score one Mac, hitting the big time, gone one better than the local newspaper journo." "Pete come on." "No I'm serious if this is one of the perks of climbing the ranks then I want your job, I've had my eye on that cute newsreader for a while now." "Peter come on." "Yeah your right I'm sorry I'm really happy for you, he seems like a nice bloke." Peter raised his wineglass as the meals arrived and they sat and ate in silence, somehow the knowledge that she had moved onto much bigger and better things after him had soured something in him. Peter didn't feel that happy for her at all and it looked like the tag of jealous ex had fallen onto him. He looked at her in her Country Road skirt suit and him in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and wondered what it was that had bought them together in the first place. He was from an abusive working class family with little education and a string of failed relationships except for one that was cruelly ripped from him right in front of his eyes. She was from a well-to-do Sydney family, private education, high achiever with only a few relationships, but those while they had ended were for the most part successful. They were from totally opposite sides of the track. Later as they walked home waiting for a cab to pass them they could hail, Ellen grabbed Pete's hand and swung it as they walked. "You were very quiet during the meal" she said looking at him and then stopping. "We'll it's not often I have a meal of such high quality" "I knew it was a bad idea telling you, I knew I shouldn't have, now your uncomfortable, you can't escape the past." "No, no I'm fine really I was just too busy shoveling down the meal. You and me had a clean break, we're both adults and we both remained friends, there's no uncomfortability there." "Pete have you been out with anyone lately?" "Oh look a cab, you get take this one, I'll get the next." It was a quick and not so well done change of the subject. "No let's share and we can continue this conversation" Ellen was going to push the issue. "No way I live too far from you." Peter opened the door and ushered Mac in. "See you tomorrow." He said through the tiny gap in the window. Another cab passed and another and another, Peter continued to walk prolonging the inevitable of opening his door to an empty house. ************************************************************************************************ Three blocks from his house and Church walked even slower, he hadn't had one entire thought on the long walk home, in fact he hadn't so much as looked up around him. The city lights were getting brighter not that he'd really noticed, nor had he noticed the people to his left carrying out a very obvious drug deal in the darkened street. "Hey Mister" one of them called out. "What" he yelled back not really taking any notice, he was more likely to have something bad happen if he just continued walking and didn't answer. "You after some of this stuff" the kid had to be 16 at the most. "What is it" Church asked crossing the road, once a cop always a cop and always on duty. "Bit a coke for you" the kid said holding out a foiled wrapper. Church opened the foil and inspected the black powder inside. "Get out, what sort of scam are you running this isn't coke" "Yeah it's black cocaine man, easier to import, doesn't get you busted, those stupid airport dogs think it's sugar cubes and the coast guard thinks you've been burning stuff. Still good shit but." "We'll I know a guy who's interested in getting some of this stuff on his hands, ships it up to Queensland and across to Perth, flogs it off up there, they're pretty gullible they'll pay big prices." "Yeah man, so like how much are you talking about anyway?" "Oh I don't know I'll be talking to him tomorrow, so you got a supplier?" "Yeah, good bloke, I'll tell him your interested, you got a phone number?" "Here" Church handed him his mobile number scrawled across the back of the dinner receipt. "Hey Diago's man, very nice South American food, I'll be seein ya around" and with that he was gone. ************************************************************************************************ "Hey Stone, you still up" Oscar's phone had rung for a total of 20 rings before it was picked up. "Yeah Nah see I fell asleep while watching Die Hard. It's gone 1 am Church" "My place now, you bring the vid, I've got the beer." "What's going on Church?" "You and I are going to dabble in a little black cocaine tomorrow." ************************************************************************************************ "Never again" Stone glared at Church. "You make a contact don't ever wake me from my beauty sleep again." "Come on this is hot stuff." "Yeah but at the moment I feel far from it." "Bit of a sting and meeting a drug importer will get you going." "Oh you really do get off on this stuff don't you." "I can say I do enjoy it." "Geez wake me when you're ready." ************************************************************************************************ "So it's a straight bust are you sure of that?" MacKenzie was, unlike Stone wide-awake. "I introduce Stone as the buyer we do the deal exchange the cash and stuff, we walk away, you move in and take him." "What if he uses a courier?" "He's not going to Mac, he's stupid, he's flogging the stuff on the streets through kids, it's not exactly the most professional operation around." "Ok I can't believe that I let you talk me into these things?" "Oh I can." "Listen Pete about last night." The air had changed significantly. "Hey Mac not now, I've gotta go set up for this sting, later hey?" ************************************************************************************************ "Rise and shine Stoney, any more beauty sleep and you'll turn into a girl." "Here's your ID and for good measure I've enclosed mine." "Gee thanks if anything is likely to cause me to nod of it'll be the character you've invented for yourself." "I think you'll be quite surprised" Peter replied, there was a small sting in Stone's comment. His mobile phone rang and interrupted the conversation. "This will be our contact." He informed Stone who watched on as Pete ummmmmed and ahhhhhed, agreed and disagreed and before hanging up with a big smile on his face. "30 minutes outside Diago's, were on, lets go" said Church as he almost leapt out of the room, today Stone just wanted to go back to sleep. ************************************************************************************************ "Diago's well that's where we were last night?" Mac shrewdly observed. "I know funny coincidence isn't it" "Pete you know better than that there are no coincidences in this game, I don't like it. What if he saw us there last night" "Come on, even if he did, he doesn't know it's me I've never met him before." "Ok but we play it safe, no wire but safe." "It's a deal, let's go!" ************************************************************************************************ "Ugly bugger isn't he." Church said watching the target from across the street. "Well that should make the job easier then." Stone said dryly. "Well someone just graduated from the school of sarcasm" Church was getting annoyed. "Yeah, diploma of no sleep, majoring in too much beer and minoring in bad movies and being too nice to friends." "Yeah right, well let's get this over with." Church put one foot out into the street. Once over the other side and at the café he selected an empty table sitting opposite Stone, when the waitress came round her ordered a café latté like he had been instructed to do. "Nice day isn't it" the voice came from the target at the next table. "Yeah good day for doing business outdoors." Church replied as Stone remained quiet. "Care to talk some business, perhaps I could join you." "Please do." Church replied as the target moved tables. "Michael Romer" the target introduced himself. "Adrian Bell and my friend Lee McWilliam" "So I spoke with you over the phone then did I." "That was me" Church offered. "This is the interested buyer I told you about Lee McWilliam." "So how much are you after?" Michael asked as the drinks were placed on the table and Romer took the bill. "As much as you've got." Stone left the option open. "Well it's high quality stuff straight from Columbia so I can get you quite a few kilo if you like." "Sounds good to me." Another guy sat down next to Michael joining the group, he shook hands with Michael as he said hi Geoffrey back. Both Stone and Church went on guard, Stone because Geoff was an unknown and Church because he recognised him as Mac's news reporter flame. ************************************************************************************************ "Who is this" Angie said from inside the van parked on the corner. "I have no idea" Danni replied "So Michael if I had have known it was friends and family I would have bought along my brother as well." Church was testing the waters. "Hey no this guy isn't my brother, this is Geoffrey Connors, he's a reporter doing an inside piece on drugs in the city" Michael smiled over at him. "Won't her drop you in it when he's done" Stone asked. "No see that's the thing we have a contract, besides he'd be mad, no one else will talk to him and a story like this will go sky high and boost his career to new heights, right Geoff." Michael looked over at him as he hurriedly scribbled notes in a pad "Well that's great for you but myself I don't want to go back inside again so if it's all the same to you I'll just cut this meeting short and say see ya round sometime." Stone spoke up for the first time. "Hey no cool it man, it's OK your not going to get dumped in it, if you do I loose a customer and I made sure that wouldn't happen." "Chill Lee" Church said to Stone. "So what say we meet again for a little taste test and inspection, say tomorrow 1 o'clock. Buyers only." "Hey now hang on I got you this gig I'm not going to get cut out of it." After all his work Church wasn't about to be left out of the loop. "OK well if you come Geoff here comes too." "Till tomorrow then" Church said standing up. Michael watched them walk back along the street. ************************************************************************************************ "What the hell was that? You know not to trust journo's as far as you can throw them, you invited him along." Stone was fuming mad. "Hey I wasn't about to get cut out OK, this was my gig, besides we're undercover cops, we don't exist, our identities are false." Church was as cool as a cucumber. "Yeah right and when Romer goes down and he finds out we are cops, he'll have another nice story about undercover cops to send him straight to the top." "Well at least he can't write about police incompotencies." Church said over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs to Mac's office. "Tapes from today for you." He said entering her office. "Thanks just put them over there, I'll look at them later." She said distracted. "Actually you should look at them now I think, they're actually quite good." "Not now I'm busy Pete." "Yes now Mac, it's something that could compromise security." ************************************************************************************************ A half an hour later having finished watching the tapes Mac was even more distracted. "What the hell is he doing there, investigating a story ?" "Apparently" Church said apprehensively. "Look I gotta ask stupid questions but does he know you're in undercover?" "No hell no, he thinks I'm in Homicide." "But he does know you're a cop." "Mmmmm listen let's run with it, as far as we know he knows nothing, if it gets to hot we can pull the plug." ************************************************************************************************ "Are you ready for this?" Stone asked Church as they sat waiting for Michael to arrive. "Are you kidding you just told me I live for this!" "We got back-up?" Stone queried. "Mac's in the van it's her call, oh here we go, we're on" both men watched as a car approached slowly, when it pulled out they stepped out, so did the driver. "Hey Geoff, where's Michael?" "He sent me with a message for you, he's busy taking in a shipment, he'll ring you later." "Hang on I didn't think you were working for him I thought you were doing a story." Stone was confused and Church didn't like the direction this was going in at all. "That's right pretty boy." Geoff said pulling a gun and pointing at them both, making them take a step back. "Who hang on there." "Stand-by" Mac radioed from the van as a small layer of sweat formed over her forehead, suddenly she knew nothing about this guy. "Shut-up... your right I don't work for him, I am doing a story, but I also lost a son to drugs and people like are scum, you deserve to rot in hell. And when I've gathered all my info, the story will be on the front page of every paper in this country and of course you will see it from the inside of a gaol cell." "Jesus" Stone said quietly. "He can't save you now asshole, but there's one thing that can, five million dollars..............." "What" Mac squeaked "On delivery here tonight and you become a confidential source, otherwise I use your names over and over again, and if Michael pays I only use your names." "What are you going to do with 5 million dollars?" Church said calmly. "Build my own media empire and spread the correct messages?" "Using extorted money?" Stone questioned. "You got any better ideas smart arse?.............................. I didn't think so, see you gentlemen here tonight." As a quietly as he came he went again. ************************************************************************************************ "It's too dangerous I'm pulling you out" Mac followed Peter into her office. "Come on we can bust this guy bit time, it'd be a huge boost for the unit if we got this one, you know the commissioner is breathing down our necks that's why you had so much trouble with the budget the other night." "Where am I supposed to get 5 million from? Are you thinking straight?" "You don't need the 5 mill, we'll get Stone out there now to feel him out, get together, get the gear and get this guy for extortion." "You've got till 5pm and then I'm pulling the operation which I should pull now." "Thanks Mac" ************************************************************************************************ "Wait here, I see him." Church and Stone were out trying to flush out Romer. Stone was only to happy to remain in the car and close his eyes for a moment. He didn't even open them when he heard the passenger door open and close again. "No luck" Stone said with his eyes still closed. "No luck with what" the voice asked. Stone turned to be faced with a hot, sweaty and panicked Michael Romer. "Hey what's wrong with you?" Stone asked genuinely surprised. "Can we talk man, it's that journo, he wants money from me, more money that I have, I'm just the middle man." Romer explained "Jesus you too." Stone replied as Church got into the backseat "Where are we going." Romer asked as Stone started the car. "Somewhere, where we can talk and figure out how to beat this bastard. "You really want this deal bad don't you?" "I got a lot of people in Queensland riding on it" in the rearview mirror Stone looked over at Church. "I've lost the signal" Angie said from inside the van "What sort of game is Church playing at." Mac said throwing down her headset. "All units keep in touch, advise we've lost signal." She said into the radio. "Let's move Danni." She yelled. "Back on line." Angie said happily, "they're headed for Hotham Park." "Let's move Danni" Mac repeated. "What are we going to do" Romer was in full blown panic attack. "It's ok we'll take care of it." Church soothed. "Jeez for a middle man you drop your bundle quick" Stone observed. "That's cause I'm not the bloody middle man, I'm just a go between." Romer said breathing hard and almost crying. "What?" Mac cried from the van "We wanted to meet with the boss, the importer, not his mail man, message boy." Stone was getting mad. "Who is he, where is he?" Church grabbed Romer by the scruff of his shirt. "Now or we hand you over to the cops, and believe me at the moment that's not a better option than having that other dirt bag hand you over cause he's going to take you down for everything, and we're going to leave our name out and any association we had with you." "OK" Romer was practically in a heap on the ground as Church let go of him. "You've already met him, his name is Geoffrey Connors." Inside the combi Mac felt like someone had struck her down, this was going way past a day when you wish you could melt through the floor or stick your head in the sand, already she was starting to think about possible repercussions if anyone ever found out. "Great so what's all this 5 million shit then?" Stone was mad, he hated being mucked around. "He's new, but rich, but he doesn't know the scene real well, thinks if he gets tough, he'll make a name for himself." "Yeah a name for having the least customers." Church remarked "So does he really want money for you?" Oscar asked ? "He thinks I owe him, he got me this job, lifted my profile." "How much does he want?" Church added. "1 million, like I have that money" Romer said frustratingly "Here's what you do mate, and we're only telling you this cause you came clean with us." Stone started. "Keep your mobile on and book into a motel, we'll get in touch when it's safe." Church finished. ************************************************************************************************ "Not now Peter I'm having a small personal crisis here." Mac was pacing the room rubbing her face and making small groaning sounds. "Yeah well I thought you might like a friend." "A one way ticket out of here wouldn't be too bad." Mac replied. "Humour in a dark time, it can't be that bad." Church smiled. "You just need a hug." He said pulling her into his arms. "No don't Pete." She said pushing away from him. "What's wrong?" he asked confused. "It's all so familiar so nice and I'm afraid in the state I'm in that my crisis may change to a world war and leave myself even more open and vulnerable." Mac confessed "Would that be such a bad thing?" Church was a little hurt. "I don't know, but I know that now IS NOT a good time, I'm sorry Pete." "That's me to a T, wrong place, wrong time." He replied dejected "I'm sorry. It's just everyone is going to know now and it'll get around and I've just been promoted and I'm young to be running a unit like this and........." "Stop" Peter said with a big grin on his face. "It's ok" "How can you say that?" Mac replied "Because the only ones who know about your relationship are you, Geoff and me." "Oh come on Pete you said it yourself the rest of the unit figured it out for themselves." Mac felt like a sinking sub. "Yeah figured it out for themselves that it was me you were seeing" Pete said quietly. "Tell me your not kidding." Mac's mood lifted ever so slightly. "I'm not and boy was I having fun with it, why do you think I didn't tell them?" "Peter Church you are so bad." "I know, but what are we going to do about this soon to be ex of yours?" "Let's feed right into his little reporter games." "Have we got enough on Romer to put him away?" Church asked as he set up his wire. "No, so your going to go collect him and take him to our reporter friend. ************************************************************************************************ "Come on Romer, let's go Church said banging on his door. "Yeah I'll just put on a shirt." he yelled from behind the door. "We'll wait in the car." Stone added, he had no time for this idiot. "Try not to drop your bundle this time ah." Stone said from the front street as they approached the agreed west Melbourne location. He was met with silence, but as Stone turned Romer's expression told him he had heard him. Church parked the car in the middle of the old factory that was littered with the remains of a once production sewing outfit which was long gone now. "Be cool Romer, here he comes." Church said watching the dark late model Ford joined them in the middle. Stone and Church hopped out, Romer slowly behind them using them as cover when he layed eyes on the bulge under Connor's jacket. "Come with the money have you boys?" he said with a sarcastic smirk. "We've come with a deal." Stone informed him. "Well that's all well and good, but I don't do deals, I'm not a fucking Police negotiator." Connor's temper rose again. "Yeh your not kidding." Danni said from inside the van. "Ahh but we think you'll like this one." Church jumped in. "We heard through the grape vine you were new to the game and we knew you wouldn't try to extort us if we gave you an offer too good to be true." "It'd want to be bloody good then." Connor's gun had been removed from it's holster. "Mac he's armed." Angie said inside the van. "Stand by and wait for my signal all units." She said into the radio. "Well we thought, we've got some good contacts up, you could use some pros in the business and we'd help you along the way as well as a regular purchase from you to keep the wheels greasing up in Queensland and over in Perth." "Are you crazy, you want to be my hand holders?" the gun drew lever at Church. "The money now." "Look Connors, we don't have that kind of cash, and sure you can dump us in it. But we're just going to dump you right in it back. Let's face it we go to gaol and the public is happy, another drug dealer behind bars where they belong. But you go down, and the media gets a hold of it and you're on the front page for the next 6 weeks. Story like that would defiantly increase ratings and circulation. Ironic that a reporter is the lead story, busted for drugs don't you think?" Stone grew in confidence as his plan went on and Connor's seemed to become more accustomed to the previous idea. "So what say we take poor Mr Romer here and give him a better job, let's face it he got us in contact with you, and that's good for you. How bout your right hand man say?" "So you'll be a guaranteed purchaser?" Connor's needed on more piece of encouragement. "As long as I'm still standing here I will be. Why wouldn't I, it's low risk and a lot of money coming my way." "OK we can do it, but I'm still in charge ok, I've got the contacts." "However you want to play it" Church added and Connor's nodded in agreement. "So you got some gear for us now?" Stone pushed. "In the back." Connor's said pointing to the boot. "Well let's see it then." Church replied walking over. Geoffrey Connors opened the boot and extracted two briefcases full of black powder. He slit one open and Stone put a little from his finger on his tongue. "Hey Romer you were right it does seem like you've been burning stuff." Stone joked. "So how much." Church got back down to business. "This lot for you, 100 G's, as an introductory price." Connors informed them. "Ok. hey what say we make Mr Romer over here your financial manager." Stone said passing him a wad of cash. "Deal." Connor's said handing over the cases. "So the same amount next time then?" Stone requested. Mac went to call the units in to take out the sting. "Wait Mac, Stone's about to get them for more." Danni told her. "Sure, for you 150 G's." Connor quoted. "Hang on the price just went up." Stone got his back up. "What can I say rising costs and wages, Romer here just got a rise." Connor told them. "We're not getting ripped off, we'll go elsewhere." Church added for good measure. "So your going back on your deal are you?" Connors got the gun out again and pointed at them. "What is this some sort of loyalty shit, we just did you the best deal of your life and I'm going to be a regular guaranteed customer." Stone was fuming, where was the back-up, why hadn't they broken this charade up yet? "Problem with that?" Connor's pointed the gun at his head. "Maybe you don't want to live to see your next deal?" "That's it." Mac was getting edgy. "All units move in." ************************************************************************************************ Police cars screamed into the area sirens blazing. Cops got out of the car and drew their guns from behind the safety of their doors. Connor’s still held up the gun turning round in circles realising he was trapped. Screams of put down the gun echoed through the factory bouncing off the rusted walls. At this point Connor's started to fall apart, the room started to spin and the voice blended all into one. He still had the gun pointed at Church and Stone but was wavering. Then he spotted Mac creeping closer towards him. "Ohhhh man, your kidding." he said shaking her head and looking straight at her. "Put down the gun Geoffrey" she said in a calm cold heartless voice. "Well this is just nice isn't it, arrested by his new girlfriend, all over the papers, career down the toilet." Connor's sounded bitter. "Give it up Geoffrey." she repeated. "And the ironic thing is that you'll probably get a promotion out of this." he snarled at her. Suddenly Mac could feel that demotion coming on. "I won't hesitate to shoot you if you endanger the lives of all these people." she informed him. "Who's going to shoot me if I shoot you first." the gun moved onto Mac and he stepped closer. "Infact I don't think I'd mind silencing you because you know a little more than I feel comfortable with." the safety came off the gun. "I don't know anything Geoff, put down the gun" Mac was getting edgy. "Infact it'd probably be seen on compassionate grounds if I were to shoot you." his eyes were bloodshot and he was sweating profusely. "Not with all these witnesses." she counter attacked. "Maybe not, but I might be able to salvage some sort of a life without having it splashed all over the women's magazines, a tell all, reporter gone bad with Ellen MacKenzie." his hand was shaking and he slightly squeezed the trigger. "I don't think I'll be doing that." she almost whispered. "You see I think you will." the trigger squeezed a little more and bang, the sound filled the room and once again echoed off the walls. A body slumped to the floor and a gun went back into the holster. ************************************************************************************************ "Close enough for you." Church put his arm around Mac, she was shaking slightly. "A little too close for comfort." she replied. "So what now?" Church asked "Sit on my hands and wait for the repercussions of this whole thing and get used to a new title." she sighed. "Ohh look I don't think they'll come down too hard on you, you busted an importing ring, exposed a famous Melbourne figure and stopped some drugs coming onto the street and all while supposedly being in Homicide. "Yeah I hope your right" she came back. "Of course I'm write, have I been wrong this week?" Church joked. "No, hey you've had a good week, but I have some bad news for you to end the week." "What's that?" Church was confused. "We're not going out anymore." Mac informed him. "We're not going out?" Church queried "Yeah, tell the others it is over." "Phew, 2 in one week, you have been busy." Church was good natured about it. "So what about him." Church said looking at the ambulance. "Another notch on the timeline of life, and another entry into the failure basket which is by now overflowing." "Oh you'll get there Mac, you'll find someone. You have great taste" Church sympathsised. "I have great taste really how do you figure that?" she questioned. "Well you went out with and dumped me !!!"