Chapter 4: The Move
As arranged Max arrived to pick Lexi up at half past eleven, she had finished packing with barely moments to spare and was exhausted having managed only three hours sleep the night before. She was busy putting food from her fridge into a carrier bag to take with her when he strolled unceremoniously into her kitchen to announce that he had put all of her stuff into the car.
"It was touch and go – it was the massive box of books that looked like it wasn't going to fit. But it's all in now. What's happening to Furry McFurry here?" Max asked crouching down to fuss the cat that had once again appeared at his side.
"Smithy's coming to pick her up later, shame really I'd pay good money to watch him trying to get her into the pet carrier" Lexi grinned mischievously. "Right I think that's everything now. Shall we get going?" They drove over to Crosby Wharf passed in awkward silence, neither of them could think of anything to say, and Lexi's headache was reappearing with a vengeance due to her lack of sleep. Max unlocked the front door to their suave second floor apartment and allowed Lexi to enter first, she wondered around, mouth slightly open.
"Wow!" She uttered "This place is amazing", most of the furnishings and general household items had been unpacked, although where they came from Lexi had no idea, she did know that they all looked very expensive. Max was out on the balcony, looking out at the view when Lexi joined him frowning.
"Are we about to have our first argument as a married couple" He tried to joke, but he had a feeling he knew what was about to crop up.
"There's only one bedroom" Lexi stated, Max nodded, he had been right.
"About that" Max searched for the right words "There's only one bedroom" he failed miserably.
"It may have escaped your notice Max, but we aren't actually married and neither do we know each other very well. Are you telling me that everyone expects us to just share a bed and not bat an eyelid?"
"I think in the rush it just got overlooked. Plus even if we had two bedrooms, we'd probably still be asked to share – it has to look real and we might have to entertain Tremaine here and the DI said he wouldn't put it past him to check up on us." Max explained ushering her back inside and closing the door so they couldn't be overheard.
"I suppose it should have occurred to me. We'll just have to get on with it." She rubbed her hands over her face wearily.
"You ok?" Max inquired
"Just a bit of a headache, which side of the bed do you want then?" Lexi tried to lighten the mood
"I'm not fussed, I'll make you a cup of tea, how do you take it?"
"Milk, no sugar. And I really hope you don't snore!" Lexi grinned as he sniggered.
The first night in the apartment was decidedly strange, even stranger than the wedding experience the day before, the two police officers climbed into their shared bed and stayed as far apart from each other as possible, attempting to avoid any embarrassment. Lexi slept surprisingly well, Max hadn't snored but he was a heavy breather. She was the first up the next morning and was still attempting to discover where everything was in the kitchen when the intercom system buzzed to announce Stevie's arrival. Lexi opened the apartment's door to let her in, and took one of the bags she was carrying off her.
"Good morning Mrs Barton, where's the delightful Mr Barton?" She chirped, sitting on one of the stools at the breakfast bar.
"Still fast asleep, the kettle's just boiled can I get you a drink?"
"Coffee please, black – one sugar. Well here is a special delivery, all the photos, some framed for you, so you can put them straight up or on the fridge or whatever. The wedding ones look really good. Oh and before I forget, the DI gave me some money for the flowers, but the florist was in serious debt to me, so Jo and I thought it was better to spend it on this for you instead – we figured that you might need it now you're living with detective grumpy!" Stevie handed over a large shopping bag, which housed a bottle carrier containing three bottles of red wine and three bottles of white wine.
"Wow thank you, and don't worry – our little secret, I'm not sure the DI would approve" Lexi winked at her.
"So how's it going?"
"Odd." Lexi began sitting on the stool opposite the tiny detective, as the bedroom door opened and Max appeared, tying his dressing gown.
"Morning Stevie, what are you doing here?"
"Delivering the photos, and some contraband!" Max threw her a confused look "Wine! Me and Jo thought that your wife might need it to get through the evenings with you!" Lexi wasn't sure how Max would react to such a blatant jibe at his expense, but he merely laughed and nodded his agreement.
"Something tells me that Lexi is going to be horribly bored all day stuck at home with nothing to do, and then to top it all of off she'll be stuck at home with me in the evenings" Max admitted.
"Aha – well the Superintendent also sent these over" She handed two credit card sized passes over "Full, although temporary, membership to the gym and health club on Mill Lane. Very exclusive, plus it will give you something to do"
"Nice!" Lexi grinned, she had looked at the facilities online when it had first opened, but the membership was more than a little pricey "I suppose it fits our cover as well"
"And we can't use the gym at work for the moment" Max added.
"Hmmm, and we wouldn't want you getting flabby now would we Sarge', all the ladies down in uniform would be most disappointed!" Stevie pouted in his direction.
"Not to mention some of the men..." Lexi joined the teasing
"Right that's it if you two are going to gang up on me, I'm leaving. I'm off for a shower."
"How do you feel about tomorrow?" Lexi queried as she got into bed that evening.
"Fine" Max replied
"Really? I'd be full of nerves" She sat against the pillows and looked at him, he stopped reading the magazine in his hand and returned her look
"Well, I am a little bit apprehensive, but that's probably because there's so much riding on this operation. Do you want me to turn the light off?" Max had decided that the conversation about starting his job at the warehouse in the morning was over, Lexi shook her head
"It doesn't matter if I sleep in tomorrow – I'm a kept woman now remember."