John Boulton sat at his desk; Mickey Webb, Duncan Lennox and Danny Glaze were there but no one spoke. They all sat at their own desks not doing a thing.

"When do you think they’ll arrive?" Mickey broke the silence.

"Don’t know," was the only reply he got.

The door to the CID office was pushed open; John was the first person to look up, half inspecting Deakin or Daly to be stood there but instead it was a tall middle-aged man with light ginger hair.

"Right, I’m Detective Inspector Alex Cullen. You are?" He said, not asking any in particular.

"I’m DS John Boulton and this is DCs Duncan Lennox, Danny Glaze and Mickey Webb," John stood up and moved to shake hands with his new DI.

"Okay, the others will be here in a few minutes," Cullen informed them. They all nodded.

John moved to sit back at his desk. He still couldn’t believe it; Don Beech was corrupt and Claire was CIB.

He can remember when Geoff, Deakin and himself were called in for an interview after everything was over. As they stood waiting they talked about what was going to happen, they all agreed that either they would be transferred, demoted or kicked out all together. Chris was first in.

"There’s no shouting, is that good or bad?" Geoff asked John as they stood outside.

"No idea."

Chris stormed out, slamming the door behind him and walking straight past his sergeants. John and Geoff exchanged worried glances. Geoff went in next and John was left alone, trying to guess his fate.

Geoff exit was pretty much the same as Chris’ but stop to wish John luck. John took a deep breath and entered the office to face Guy Mannion.

"Ah, Sergeant Boulton. Come in and sit down," Mannion said without raising his head from paperwork.

John heisted but then moved forward and sat in the chair.

"It has been discussed and its been decided that you should stay on at Sun Hill," Mannion said still looking at his paperwork.

"What?" John was in complete disbelieve.

"There is no reason for you to be transferred or demoted and its been recommended that you should stay." Mannion looked up.

"You what? By who?" John asked.

"It doesn’t matter. That’s all, you can go now." Was his answer.

John found Deakin and Daly in the DI’s office.

"What’s wrong?" Geoff questioned the confused look on the other sergeant’s face.

"I’m staying here," John said quietly. Still not being able to believe it.

"What wrong with that?"

"Nothing, I was excepting…" John started, but got interrupted.

"The same as us?" Deakin asked, "I wouldn’t worry about it, they properly wanted someone with a rank higher then constable."

"More like Claire Stanton’s way of getting rid of her guilt," John said, as he refused the cup of whiskey Deakin offered.

John jump as the sound of the office door opening again brought him back from the past. DS Vik Singh, DS Debbie McAllister, DC Kate Spears and DC Paul Riley, all stood in front of him.

"Right is that everyone?" Cullen asked, he was about to open his mouth again but before he could the sound of John’s mobile interrupted him, John stared at the name on the display screen for a few seconds and then press the cancel button. "Everything alright, John?" Cullen asked.

"Yes, guv." John wasn’t in the mood for a long, boring speech on how him and the new lot were going to help get CID back into shape. He looked around at his new Colleagues; they’re all young, he thought.

"Right, for a while things are going to be tough around here for both the old and the new, so I want you all to help each other out, is that understood? There are going to be people who don’t trust Sun Hill CID so we got to build up their trust." Cullen looked around the office. His eyes settled on John ‘had to watch him, with his record!’ Alex said to himself. He took one more look around the room and then headed to his own office.

"Where are you two going?" Cullen asked as he saw Mickey and John reached for their coats.

"To see a witness," Mickey said.

"What case?"

"It’s a burglary on the Larkmead, it’s the third time its happen. Mr Monroe asked me to look into it." John put on his leather jacket.

"I don’t think so," Cullen replied.

"Guv?"

"Vik, you go with Mickey, John I don‘t want you working on this."

"What!? You can’t take me off the case!" John shouted at his new DI

"I can and I will."

"But, me and Mickey have already started interviewing the victims," John informed him.

"I don’t care, I want ever new officer to be with an old one." Alex was looking at John but was speaking to everyone.

"More like you want us four kept an eye on!" John’s accent became more noticeable.

"Just do as I say and have some respect, as I am your supervising officer," Alex didn’t deny the statement and wasn’t going to raise his voice to the stubborn DS.

"Come on Guv, be fair," Mickey started calmly, "you was on about trust and all that."

"What’s your point, DC Webb?"

"Well most of the victims are old and I don’t think they’ll like having to re-give their statement to a new officer, who they don’t know."

Cullen was about to reply but was interrupted by John’s phone again.

"Look, will you just answer that bloody phone!" Cullen shouted at John, who just pressed the cancel button, the two of them started at each other. "Right then if you won’t go with Vik, Paul can."

"Guv…" Mickey started his protest.

"No, don’t start. Vik, Paul, get down to Inspector Monroe and get the details. And DS Boulton and DC Webb, I’m sure you got some paperwork to do and I don’t want any of you to leave without clearing it with me," Alex said before disappearing into his office and closing the door.

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

"Come in," Monroe shouted from inside him office. He’d only been at work for an hour and was already wishing to be at home. For the first 30 minutes of his shift he had to listen to the new, Superintendent Tom Chandler, ramble on to the relief and making them promises.

He looked up from his work to see Riley and Singh walk in.

"What can I do for you, gentlemen?" Monroe asked.

"We were told to ask you about the burglary on the Larkmead," Vik explained.

"Hang on, I asked John Boulton to deal with that, he has already started inquires."

"DI Cullen decided it would be best for us take the case," Paul chipped in with a slight smile, which he quickly removed when he saw Monroe rise an eyebrow at him.

"Did he now?" Andrew sighed. John Boulton wasn’t his favourite officer at Sun Hill but he was a good copper and would prefer someone he knows on the case but it wasn’t his choice and had no opinion but to giving the two new detectives the information.

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

Duncan, Danny and Mickey all sat talking to Debbie and Kate. Mickey looked over to his sergeant, who was just staring into space.

"Do you think he’s ok?" Mickey quietly asked the others.

"I don’t know, he’s had a hard time lately with Beech being his best mate and Claire being CIB." Duncan also showed concern for John.

The three DCs all know the only reason John was still at Sun Hill was because they had asked him to, wanting someone with a higher rank to help them to fight their corner. They begged him for over 3 hours not to request a transfer while they were down the pub with the old CID after everyone had, had their interviews.

"So have anyone of you met the new super?" Debbie asked, interrupting their conversation. They all shook their heads.

"John, have you?" She shouted over to her fellow sergeant, "John? John?" She repeated when he never answered.

"Huh? Oh no I haven’t. Don’t really care either." He picked up his pen and began to write.

"He’s thinks his god gift to the world. He has already made loads of promises to uniform," Debbie continued, not bothered by John’s odd behaviour.

John heard her last comment. He didn’t get on with Brownlow at all but he got the feeling that he would hate Chandler more then him. John thought back to the beginning of the week, everything had be great, he and Claire were back together and even though he was working on a tough case he know that him mates would be there to lead a hand, even Don. Now, he found out about what Claire was really doing at Sun Hill and hadn’t seen her in days, even though she had be calling him every 5 minutes. Most of his mates were gone and Don had been using him. The new DI has it in for him and properly Mickey because of him.

John stood up and reached for his jacket.

"Sarge, where you going?" Mickey asked.

"Out," John replied and was out of the office before anyone could comment.

"Is he always like this?" Kate wondered.

"Leave him alone," Debbie defined him. Mickey and Duncan exchanged glances, ‘why was Debbie so concerned.’

As John walked down the station’s corridor he heard Monroe calling his name. He felt like carrying on walking, he didn’t want to talk anyone at the moment in time. The only reason he did stop was because he didn’t want any more of his supervising officers making a complete against him.

"What can I do for you, Sir?" He asked when Andrew had caught up with him.

"What’s going on? I thought you and Mickey were dealing with those burglary?"

"Yeah so did I," John said quietly, "DI Cullen didn’t want he on the case and when Mickey protested he was took off the case as well."

"Why did he take you off the case?" Monroe questioned.

"Doesn’t trust me, sir."

"Come on, John. How’d you know that, he’s only be here 5 minutes?"

"Well, I was Don Beech’s best mate, wasn’t I? I must have been involved and then there must have been a reason why Claire with me," John said sarcastically.

"No one thinks that."

"I would if it was someone else." Andrew gave a slight laugh at the DS’s honesty but before he could say anything John had walked off.

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

"Alex, any problems?" Meadows asked when he arrived.

"Yes, sir, there is actually. John Boulton gone out." Alex said calmly.

"And that’s a problem?" Meadows didn’t have a clue what Alex was talking about.

"Yes, I gave him a direct order not to leave without telling me first."

"Come on, he’s a DS, he not going to want to report to you every time he wants to go out," Jack was slightly amused by the thought of it.

"Well, he has to get used to it then, doesn’t he?" Cullen scowled.

"I’ll give you a piece of advice. John Boulton is an excellent copper and we are lucky to have him but he is also stubborn and if you make him ask permission to go out then he is going to make your life a Sun Hill hell," Jack informed him, knowing his DS well.

"Well, I’m not going to let some DS bully me!" Cullen said DS as if it was a dirty word.

"You have also got to remember that John has been at Sun Hill for about 5 years and is not happy by the fact his boss and friends are being replaced by people he doesn’t know."

"That isn’t my fault though," Alex said in defence.

"Yeah, but if Chris Deakin left by choice then it would have been more likely one of the DSs here would have taken his place," Jack was trying to explain to the DI but got the feeling he wasn’t making any sense.

"Alright, I’ll have a word with him," Cullen sulky agreed.

Meadows smiled and left the DI in peace. He walked straight into the office and noticed Mickey being the only officer there.

"Mickey, where is everyone?" Meadows frowned.

"Duncan and Danny are showing DS McAllister and Kate Spears around. DS Singh and DC Riley are on the Larkmead burglaries," Mickey looked up from his paperwork.

"Hang on, I thought you and John were on that case."

"DI Cullen thought DS Singh and Paul would be better." Mickey stretched in his chair.

"You’ve already started inquiries haven’t you?" Meadows was confused.

"Yes, Guv. Sergeant Boulton is pleased."

"I bet he isn’t. Where is he?" Meadows wished that he came in early instead of waiting until everyone had settled in.

"I don’t know, Guv. He had a argument with the DI and walked out," Mickey informed him.

"Ok, thanks Mickey," Meadows heading for the door and stop when he saw the new DS McAllister and DC Spears coming back with their tour guides.

"Hey, Guv. This is DS Debbie McAllister and DC Kate Spears. Guys this is DCI Jack Meadows," Duncan introduced everyone.

"Hi, nice to meet you both," Jack said, shaking hands with both of them, "Have any of you seen John Boulton on your travels?"

"Umm he was talking to Mr Monroe earlier but then he went out," Danny said as he pour out four mugs of coffee.

"Right thanks," Meadows said as he heading out of the office.

He walked down the corridor towards Andrew’s office. He looked at his watch and realised he was 10 minutes late for his meeting with Chandler but he didn’t care, he needed to sort John out first. He knocked on Andrew’s door and entered.

"Andrew, I heard you was specking to John. Do you know where he’s gone?" Jack asked, but worried by the fact he had interrupted the conversation the inspector was having with Derek Conway.

"No, Sir. To be honest, Guv, I don’t think he’s ok. He seems to think everyone believes he was involved."

"Ok, thanks, Andrew," Jack sighed.

"Aren’t you meant to be in with Chandler?" Derek asked.

"Yeah, gotta sort this out first," Jack said before exiting the office.

"So do you think John was involved?" Derek asked is Inspector.

"To be honest, Sir, I think John Boulton is less unlikely to be involved."

"Shame here," Derek agreed.

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

Meadows looked to the door when someone knocked.

"Yes?" He called out to them.

"Jack, I thought we had a meeting an hour ago?" Chandler entered.

"Sorry, Sir. Some came up," Jack explained.

"Anything I can do to help?" Chandler asked.

"No, its ok," Jack said quietly, "do you want to that meeting now then, sir?"

"No, I can’t now, I got to go to a meeting with area. I’ll talk to you later," Chandler add smoothly.

Jack sighed at the door that had just be closed. Everything is a mess. He’s got a new CID with four of his officers before. His new super was a smooth talking bloke who only cared about himself and his career. To top it all off he couldn’t get hold of one of his sergeants.

He picked up is phone and rang John again. Expecting his phone to be turned off, Jack was surprised when he heard it ring.

"Boulton."

"John? Where are you?" Meadows asked. Just then Jack’s office door opened.

"I’m here," John said with a smile. Meadows grinned back and shook his head as he put that phone down.

"Where you been?" Meadows watched John move and lean against the filing cabernet.

"I got a call from Geoff Daly, Guv. He needed someone to drop of some of his paperwork and I needed to get out of the office so I went."

"You could have told someone. Right, now what’s going on with you and the DI?" Jack asked, sitting up in his chair.

"Miss understanding, Guv. I’m going to talk to him in a minute."

"Ok then," Jack nodded, surprised slightly at John’s new attitude, "come I want a word with everyone as well."

Jack and John walked into the general office together. Jack saw two men stood drinking coffee, who he presumed was Vik Singh and Paul Riley.

"Afternoon, Guv. I’m Vik and this is Paul," Vik introduced them when he realised no one else were going to.

"Ok. How did you get on at the Larkmead?" Jack asked and looked concerned when both detectives hung there heads slightly, "what?"

"Two of them wouldn’t let us through the front door, demanding to see John and frightening to drop the case. The third one wouldn’t believe who we were," Vik admitted.

Before Jack could reply, Cullen’s door was swung open.

"John, a word, please," He said.

"No that can wait. John, Mickey get down to the Larkmead, now and sort out this mess," Jack told them.

"Hang on, the Larkmead case is Vik’s and Paul’s," Cullen interrupted.

"Not no more. You can’t just take people off a case and put to new face on it. They’ve made a right mess. One is scared out of her wits and the other two is frightening to drop their statements. Now I suggest that you don’t carry on arguing about this," Meadows had, had enough for one day.

Alex stared at him before returning to his office and slamming the door.

"I want a report as soon as you get back," Jack said coolly to John.

"Guv."

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

John sat in the pub with the others at the end of their first week as a team. He managed to sort things out with the DI and now got on quite well with him but he much prefers Chris. He was called into Chandler office and got shout out for disrespect for Cullen but John made things worst by opening his mouth and arguing back. So John isn’t best liked by the super but he couldn’t care less, the feeling is mutual.

He doesn’t mind Kate or Paul but he misses Kerry Holmes, which he never thought he would ever say. He hasn’t had chance to get to know Vik but he seems alright. Then there’s Debbie McAllister, who has asked him twice and much to the amusement to the rest of the office, he turned her down. He’s still not over Claire.

All in all the new CID aren’t as bad as he first thought but still their not a patch on the old one!

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