Chapter Three - You're Nicked

Alex Drake woke up early that morning, 5am to be precise. She smiled to herself, remembering her last words to Gene before she'd feigned a headache and gone off to bed. He hadn't known where to put himself. She lay in bed wondering what he'd been thinking after she'd said that…

…"Toffee nosed bloody airport!!"

Chris jumped as Gene slammed the phone down.

"What's up there 'guv?" asked Chris, trying not to laugh.

"Some people down here don't even know what the meanin' of the word 'polite' is. Sometimes I wish I were back up North, 'yokels down here got a bloody nerve!" snarled Gene, lighting a cigarette. Truth was, he still had a face on him like thunder because of what Drake had said to him last night. Deep down he knew he had feelings, but let them show and he didn't feel like "DCI Gene Hunt the Manc Lion", and no way was he going to end up like Chris Skelton all loved up with Shaz. It made his skin crawl.

"So, when are we goin down airport then to nail Vesseron?" queried Ray, "Cause Chris 'ere can't wait" he added, trying not to laugh. Ray had half expected his partner in crime to turn up wearing armbands thinking it was a free for all, but he knew he'd grown past his younger days, and was proud of what he'd become.

Gene Hunt sighed and put his cigarette into the ashtray on his desk.

"Airport won't let us near, not like this anyway. Don't want us 'causing a bother to the general public'" he said, putting on his best posh accent to quote the person he'd just spoken to on the phone.

"I have the answer to that" came Alex Drake's uppity toned voice as she entered CID clad with a large brown box in her hand.

"Oh, very good DI Drake. What's yer answer then? Walk in dressed as Dave and Brenda ready for their hol's. I'll be joinin em at this rate". Gene's sarcastic remark was rewarded by a glare from Drake.

"Certainly not" she replied. She opened her box up and threw a hat at Gene.

"You must be joking?" exclaimed Gene, as he eyed up the hat. Drake threw a black suit jacket at him, the cuffs on each arm distinctly detailed with four stripes. Gene snarled again, whilst Ray and Chris sniggered. Alex then pulled out another outfit, her disguise. She held it against herself.

"Now you're talking boss!" said Ray, "No one'll suspect a thing, get yerself some nice dark shades, perfect! Nothin wrong wiv a nice pilot meetin his missus after work now!"

"Oi! Mouth!" retorted Gene.

"Well then, we ready? I've spoken to uniform, they know where they're to standby, and we'll brief these two on the way" announced Alex, "Of course, we'll need to change first. Go ahead Gene, can't wait to see you looking all smart in that uniform. I always loved a man in uniform" Alex was loving this, she knew Gene hated every minute, but if she played her cards right and they got Vesseron in one take, Gene wouldn't be complaining when the praise came in.