He was not expecting Rose Tyler to turn up in the town, he had met her quite by chance as he was crossing the footbridge over the river as she was lifting a small case out of the back of her car, opting to leave James's one at home since it always got him recognised and once she checked in, was going back for the other since she was trying to balance her shoulder bag and close the back door.

Alec saw her struggling and walked over. ''Let me help you with that?''

''Thanks. Hey, I know who you are, you're that detective, what are you still doing here?''

''Waiting for the hearing to start. So who are you then?''

''Seriously? Don't you read the newspapers in Broadchurch?''

He reached up and slammed the back door down, a bit too loudly for Rose's liking. ''I don't have time to read newspapers, especially when they write about you, I had enough of them last year. You seem to have me at a disadvantage, who are you then?'' he repeated, noting she had left some luggage in the back of her car but if he waited any longer, his taxi would be pulling in and he'd have to be rude and leave. Who was he kidding? He was always rude but maybe not to young blonde women.

Rose let go of her case handle and held her hand out. ''Rose Tyler, nice to meet you, Alec Hardy. Maybe I'll see you around, I'm going to be staying here for a while, I'm looking for wedding locations but for helping me just now, maybe I can buy you a drink later, I'm staying right here.''

''I'll consider it, I have to go now, my taxi is here.''

''Bye then, I'll be in the bar later.''

Alec was driven off and shook his head, wondering what the famous Rose Tyler was really doing there, looking for wedding venues indeed. Rose thought nothing more of her meeting, she probably wouldn't even see him again and what was she thinking, inviting him for a drink when she was wearing an engagement ring? She might be missing James but saying hello to a detective was her limit. After she settled in, she decided to go sit outside by one of the food vendors and sat at a table by the wall just after five and stared across the water to a blue chalet just at the river's edge.

She was sure Alec Hardy had come from across the bridge earlier, maybe he lived there? If she had been staying in town longer, maybe she would have rented something herself. She turned around and there was Alec, leaning on the corner of the wooden hut, holding a white polystyrene cup. She had never even heard him place his order and he hadn't noticed her looking at his chalet.

''Alec, hi, come and join me?''

He stepped over, telling the stall holder he would be at one of the tables and for them to shout loud. Was he ever going to get rid of this woman?

''I thought the hearing wasn't being held yet?''

''No, I teach at the academy over in Exeter until they see the error of their ways and let me have a desk job but that won't be until after the hearing, why are you so interested?''

''I just am, I thought I would just come down here for a few days, look around the area and see if there was somewhere I could get married. I get tired of reporters following me everywhere, coming down here seemed like a good idea, then I run in to you.''

Alec's order was called so he excused himself for a few minutes. Rose considered leaving but figured she could sneak a few chips from him if he was willing to share. He wasn't as he scowled when she went for one.

''Can't you afford to buy your own? Go ahead, I'm not really supposed to eat that many anyway but they aren't as greasy from here. Aren't you going to ask me why?''

''You've got a heart problem, not fixed yet?''

''Did my doctor send you to spy on me Miss Tyler?''

''It's Rose and no, nothing of the sort, I told you why I'm here, don't you believe me?''

Alec went quiet and Rose continued to help him finish his meal. ''I don't suppose you know how I can rent that chalet over there, the blue one?''

''How would I know, I'm not a rental agency.'' He got up and put his carton in the bin by the side of the stall, then he relented. ''It's booked for a while, by me at least until the hearing is done with and if I survive my operation. I don't think you'd find it a suitable venue for your wedding.''

Rose smiled. ''Never said it would, unless it's bigger on the inside, thanks for the chips Alec.''

''I'll be sure to call you the next time I order some and don't wait for me in the bar, I don't drink any more, I'm not allowed.''

''Is there anything you're allowed to do?''

''Not much, not that I actually enjoy but maybe not for much longer, the operation will go one way or the other. I'll maybe see you around then, I'm out though most afternoons except Friday, I'm told the recruits need one afternoon off from me boring them.''

''I'm sure they will learn from your experience and you could drink something non-alcoholic and keep me company, ward off the locals.''

''What would your fiancé think?''

''He's not here, is he?''

Against his better judgement, by eight thirty, he got tired of watching the small TV, put his overcoat on and crossed the bridge, using the rear entrance of the bar and hotel and looking around for Rose Tyler. Rose was getting tired of waiting and went to the ladies room but coming out, she saw him about to leave, trying to catch up with him.

''Hey, where are you going? I've been waiting for you, come and sit down.''

Rose had been thinking while she had been waiting, Alec Hardy was the perfect decoy, he looked like James, well maybe his beard was a bit much but he may get away with it. If she played this right, she could make everyone believe they were looking for wedding venues then sneak off and book one in Scotland, maybe in a castle or something and the press would be none the wiser.

Her luck was about to be tested as Olly Stevens walked into the bar and spotted Rose talking with the detective. He couldn't believe his eyes, how did he not know Rose Tyler was in town and with the local grumpy detective or was she? Was she trying to sneak her fiancé around in the same town as Hardy? Olly had seen very little of the detective lately and wouldn't be surprised if he'd already left town though he'd have to turn up for the hearing over in Exeter.

Whoever it was, Hardy or that James Smith, Rose Tyler was engrossed in talking to him. Rose was trying to persuade Alec to let her see his chalet.

''I could take that the wrong way Miss Tyler, why do you want to see it? It's a mess anyway, I have case files all over the place.''

''Maybe I could help you tidy them up? Look, I think I'm gonna be bored so maybe I could help? Are you going over that case you just solved?''

''That and the one I failed on before I came here and the files are confidential, I can't let anyone just see them.''

''I'm not anyone, you know who my stepfather is, before all this, I used to work with him and not at Vitex, if you get my drift. I only left when I started following James around the country on filming location. Maybe a fresh pair of eyes would help see what you missed?''

''I'm leaving it until after this hearing then I may go back to it or not, you won't be here then, I hope.''

He took a sip of his non-alcoholic lager and placed the bottle on the table, he had ended up buying the drinks despite her asking him to join her. He spied the local reporter standing at the bar and tried to ignore him, with a bit of luck Stevens would think he was the woman's fiancé and leave him alone. Maybe that would be worse though, he'd have to be seen out with the blonde. He had already half decided if she had some ulterior motive for inviting him out, he would play along, he was always being told he needed a social life and since she was engaged, what harm was there in keeping her company?

At the very least it would ensure he knew where she was plus he wouldn't be expected to make any kind of move on her and it would get him out once in a while. She would be gone in a week anyway, long before the hearing and he could be seen with worse women, Claire Ripley for starters. He knew he'd have to go check up on her sooner or later and check Ashworth hadn't sneaked back in the country without him knowing.

He hadn't checked in with his contact lately and he'd not been informed of anything, he had no reason to believe the man had already located where he was living. Rose was asking him a question.

''Alec, are you ok? You look miles away, I thought I was the one who stared into space all the time. Is something wrong?''

Alec shook his head. ''No, apart from me sitting here having a drink with you, where is your fiancé anyway? Why isn't he with you?''

''He's filming over in Las Vegas, I wasn't allowed to go with him, he won't be back for almost three weeks so before I go hunting for wedding venues, I'm taking a well-earned break.''

''Great, does that mean I'm stuck with you in this town for three weeks?''

Rose smiled. ''Who says you're stuck with me?''

''You know where I work and where I live, should I be worried about you?''

''You think I'm gonna follow you around? You are sadly mistaken Mister. If you don't want my help with your case fine, I'll stay well away from you. Thanks for the drink.''

She put her glass down and picked up her purse but he took her arm. ''You still owe me a drink but maybe I'll pass, if you insist on leaving so early. You wanted to see my chalet, I'm not teaching tomorrow, come over, I'll be in.''

''I'll think about it and I owe you a drink. I'm just a bit tired, sorry, I'm not usually so touchy. I'd best say goodnight then, maybe I'll see you tomorrow?''

''Meet me in the harbour café at one, I'll buy you some chips.''

Rose giggled and got up, leaning back down to kiss his cheek. Maybe he would play along after all, that or run a mile, if his bad heart let him. Alec watched her go, seeing Stevens turn on his barstool though what the reporter was doing sitting at the bar, he could only imagine he was waiting for her to leave. Alec glared at him, daring him to follow but Olly just sat there sipping from a bottle. Olly knew now it was actually the detective, for one, the man had not followed her and two, no-one glared the way Hardy did, it was an art form.

Olly couldn't decide if there was a story or not yet but why was she sitting with the detective and more importantly, where was her fiancé? The next morning, Rose went for a walk on the beach, kicking herself for taking the huff last night but he had started it, being so grouchy. How was it even possible another Doctor look-alike existed on this world? When she had met James, she had instantly taken a liking to him without any hesitation because she figured she was owed since she was torn away from the man she had loved and this was her compensation but Alec Hardy? He looked like James when he was growing his beard, something she had loved about him because it didn't remind her of the man she had left behind.

She found the harbour café at the end of a row of apartments and since she was early, just ordered a pot of tea and two cups. Alec was deciding whether to go meet her or not, being seen out with her twice may not be such a good idea after all, what would her fiancé say? Now Stevens had noticed and it could get very complicated. Rose was debating whether to ask Alec outright if he would agree to accompany her around town for the weekend and by Monday, the word would have got around that he was actually James and that was where they were getting married, leaving her to safely book a Scottish venue without it leaking into the gossip columns.

She was beginning to wish they could just go off somewhere on their own with her family and get married quietly. The first few years of being the Vitex heiress had been bad enough but when she had fallen for James, she had been singled out to be followed by the press hoping they would get to him. There were times when she wished he wasn't so extrovert and kept to himself but he loved showing her off at awards ceremonies, opening nights of plays he wasn't even in and his film premières. What she would give to be a nineteen year old girl working in a shop and living on their old estate back on their old world.

Rose was certain the detective was only curious to see if she was just as famous without her fiancé as she was with him but since he hadn't yet arrived, she thought he'd changed his mind but the door opened and in he walked, looking around for her.

''Nice of you to join me, you're late.''

Alec raised his eyebrows. ''I hadn't decided if I was going to give up my afternoon off or not. I suppose this place is one up from eating at the catering stalls, at least I can't see my chalet from here.''

Rose smiled and took the cup that was upside down on the saucer and poured some tea for him, she could see where he lived.

TBC