This is my first fanfic so any feedback will be greatly appreciated. All characters belong to Ann Cleeves and ITV.
Partly based on "The Habit of Silence" A short story by Ann Cleeves which gives some background info about Vera.
It was late and Vera was driving home in Hectors old land Rover after a particularly stressful day. She saw the pub on the corner and didn't fancy going home to an empty house just yet so decided to drop in for a quick drink.
Even though it was almost 10pm, the small pub was very crowded and after ordering a large whisky at the bar, she had to fight her way through the crowd to find a free table in the corner. She sat down and took a large gulp of her drink then felt herself start to relax.
"Is anyone sitting here?"
She looked up to see a man in his early fifties wearing a smart black suit standing next to the empty chair at the other side of the round table.
"No pet."
"Mind if I join you? Everywhere else is taken."
"No, that's fine." She shrugged
He put his pint down on the table and took a seat. Vera wasn't sure whether she should say something. She wasn't very good at small talk at the best of times and she only wanted a quick drink to help her unwind. She took another gulp of her drink and was already starting to regret letting this man sit down when he spoke.
"I'm Peter." He said, offering her his hand.
"Vera" She replied shaking it.
"So Vera, Why are you out drinking this late at night?"
She wasn't sure that it was any of his business and she could ask him the same thing, but she decided to try and be polite.
"Just popped in on my way home from work"
"At this time? What do you do?"
"I'm in the police pet, I'm a detective inspector" he raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Bet you weren't expecting that" she said with a chuckle.
Usually when she turned up on people's doorsteps, they took one look at her and guessed she was selling something. She had long since got used to people's reactions when she told them what she did.
"No, from the look of you I thought you were a farmer's wife or something like that. That will teach me." He said.
"What do you do then? From the look of you I'd say you sit on your arse all day behind a desk."
He wasn't offended by Vera's comment, more amused. He smiled and said
"Close, I'm an estate agent. I've just finished a call overseas about a house I'm selling for someone in Italy"
"Ohhh very nice" she responded
"Pretty boring at times actually. Anyway, I though you senior police officers all stayed in the office and discussed crime statistics and budgets."
"Nahh, Not me pet, I like to be out there, in the thick of it" She said and finished the last mouthful of her drink.
"Fancy another?" He said pointing to her empty glass.
She was temped. It occurred to her this was probably the first time in her life she had sat down for a drink with a man that had nothing to do with her work. She had actually started to enjoy his company.
"No, it's late and I'd better get home and get some sleep. The bloody cockerel will have me up at dawn"
"Thought you didn't have a farm?" he said as she stood up and put her coat on
"I don't, It's the bloody hippies from next door. Moved in six months ago and brought a load of noisy animals that keep me awake all night with them!"
"Well it was nice to meet you Vera"
"Nice to meet you too." She said, then turned and walked towards the door of the pub. Just before she went through the door, she turned and waved at Peter who smiled back. It was times like this that made her wish she had more friends.
Outside in the car park, she tried to guess which car was his. It was probably one of the big posh ones parked at the opposite end of the car park. Vera's car was parked at the end of the row nearest the road, no one dared park next to her mud splashed, and dented old Land Rover. As She climbed in to the drivers seat she thought sadly that someone as neat and tidy as Peter couldn't possibly want to get to know her. She started the engine and drove home.