"Alex, you don't have to worry any more. I don't think we'll be seeing much of DCI Hunt any more, now that he's been suspended." Evan smiled at her.

Alex pulled away sharply.

"Look, Evan…I've already arranged with Caroline Price for Gene to come back to CID." She told him bluntly.

Evan frowned at her, a bemused expression clear.

"Um, I don't understand Alex. One minute you're telling me that Hunt is behaving inappropriately with suspects and should be removed from office, and the next, you are giving him his job back?"

Alex sighed and turned away to look into the living room of the flat. She bit her lip before looking back at Evan.

"I know, but I think it's best, I really do. He…he doesn't do things conventionally, I'll give you that, but he does get things done. He's brilliant at his job." Alex swallowed nervously. "Don't tell him I said that."

Evan nodded and the pair of them stood in silence for a while before he spoke again.

"Rough day?"

"You could say that."

"If you need to talk…"

Alex interrupted him.

"Evan, I appreciate you coming over, I really do, but I'm tired. It's been a long day and I have work tomorrow."

"Ah, okay then. Well, I'll be off. See you around?"

He walked over to the door, pulled it open and stepped out into the corridor.

"Yeah"

Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt sat alone at a small table opposite the bar. He had a raging headache and drinking half a bottle of Luigi's red wine probably wasn't the wisest thing to do. Gene loosened his tie a little further and yawned. It had been such a long day. He knew exactly where his team were…he always knew. Chris would be at the hospital visiting Shaz, Ray would have somehow found himself a date and Alex…well, Bolly would be up in her flat with that Evan bloke. And here he was; sitting alone nursing a headache with a bottle of house red. The bar was deserted. Only Luigi was there, tidying up behind the counter. He looked up at Gene.

"Senior Hunt, why you drink alone once again? It is late."

Gene groaned and kneaded his head with the palms of his hands.

"Luigi, don't start."

"I am only saying. You seem to be here by your own a lot. Are you okay?" Luigi smiled sympathetically.

"Oh, I'm just brilliant." Gene said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

Before Luigi could reply, footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. Evan White walked through the bar, his coat slung over one shoulder. He nodded politely at Luigi and didn't seem to notice that Gene was there. When Luigi was sure that Evan had left the building he turned back to Gene.

"Ah, that is him. The tall handsome young man who the lovely lady brought here for dinner one time."

The Detective Chief Inspector scowled.

"How many times do I have to tell you…DI Drake is of no interest to me, Luigi!"

Gene set down his glass, stood up and strode out of the bar.

Luigi sighed. "Must be love, senior Hunt."

The digital alarm clock bleeped annoyingly beside Alex's bed. She sat bolt upright, breathing heavily. She felt as though she'd been falling. Falling endlessly, never hitting the bottom. She had been flailing, watching the ominous face of the white clown above her as she fell. She was shivering and a bucket of cold water chucked over her couldn't have made her any colder. Calming herself down, she looked at the clock next to her. Alex gasped…it was just gone nine o'clock and she was due at CID half an hour ago. The DCI would not be happy with her, Alex thought as she jumped quickly out of the bed and hurried around the flat, finding some clothes to wear.

It was ten minutes later that Alex walked into CID. Nothing productive seemed to be happening. Ray and Chris were sat at opposite ends of the room, throwing paper aeroplanes to each other. Chris looked up when she walked in.

"Oh, the Guv wanted to see you when you arrived." He told her distractedly, ducking from an aeroplane that Ray had just launched in his direction.

"Right. Thanks Chris."

But her thanks fell on deaf ears as Chris proceeded to throw another two pieces of paper back at Ray.

Alex made her way up the room, towards DCI Hunt's office. Usually, she would have just barged in without knocking but today she gave a polite tap on his door, just above the sign that read 'The Manc Lion'.

"Yeah?" Hunt's rough voice met her ears and she entered his office.

He was sitting at his desk, leaning back with his snakeskin boots propped up on the desk. His long black overcoat was draped over a filing cabinet in the corner.

"Drake" He said when he saw her. "You're late."

"Yes, I know. I was…" But Gene did not seem interested in hearing Alex's excuse.

"I had Caroline Price on the phone to me this morning, telling me that I have my job back. They've cancelled the suspension." He told his DI.

Alex put on a guise of mock surprise.

"Oh, well that's…good news. Very nice of her."

"Yes, it would seem so. So, apologies and all that, but it looks like you can't have my job after all." He scowled.

"Oh no you don't! Don't turn this around on me Hunt! I was only doing what's best for this CID!" Alex fumed. Only five minutes at the office and not surprisingly, she was already in an argument with her DCI. Gene swung his legs down from the desk and stood up, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Excuse me Drake, but I think that deciding what is best for this CID is my job, don't you think?"

Alex didn't reply at first. She walked round to stand in front of the window opposite the door.

"I actually wanted to apologise, Gene." She sighed. "I made a mis-…"

But Alex never got to finish her sentence. Suddenly, the deafening sound of gunfire filled the room and bullets sprayed through the window. Alex ducked instinctively and lay flat on the floor.

"Bolly…"