A/N: I repeat that all this to do with divorce is made up by me for the purpose of the story. If it happens in real life, it is purely coincidental.
Rose dropped Alec at the station then went back up to the Town Hall. While she was there, Alec was busy trying to find out more about where Jack Marshall had come from and issue his apologies to the man's ex wife. Rose had softened him up somewhat, a far cry from when he had arrived there, just over a week ago. She had fought with him, coming in that first morning when he had been there a few days when she had arrived on the beach and complained to the chief about him then she had moaned about driving him around all day, made her feelings known about him taking her job and now he knew part of the reason.
She had been unhappy to start with and him coming in and taking her job had been the icing on the cake. Well at least he had put that right, she had seemed happy last night, even after the confrontation with her soon to be ex husband. Now he just had to find out exactly how she had been treated and who the other man was who had hurt her. He was certain there was more than she had told him and he would get to the bottom of it.
Rose was waiting her turn behind a couple who apparently needed a divorce more badly than she did. Finally she was called forward and handed her money over to get the form filled in. It was worth the extra to get it rushed through and checked. All Mickey had to do was sign his name, there could be no excuses it was 'complicated'. Pleased with herself and assured the papers would be served to him and putting her contact details as the police station as her preferred address, at least until she got something sorted, she went to the rental agency and gave a month's notice on her house.
The agent, Sally, asked if there was anything wrong with the place, since they had been there over two years. Rose wasn't quite sure what to say.
''No, there's nothing wrong with it, I can't say much else really. I just need to move so I'll be looking for something else, what have you got?''
She looked at a few properties in the window but pretended she didn't like any of them, not sure now what her plans actually were. She was just glad not many people knew of her marriage to Mickey, she had the house in just her name for the sake of getting the allowance paid since she never changed her name when she moved here. What would Alec make of it though? Would he want anything permanent? What if he just wanted her to leave Mickey then not do anything else? Well at least she would be single again, that was one good thing. Why had she ever got talked into it?
He phone rang, it was Alec.
''Aw did you miss me?'' she asked cheerfully, about to get into her car.
''What's taking you so long Tyler? Get your ass back down here or I may have to come and find you. Are you going to meet me at the caravan park?''
''Which one?''
''The one on the harbour, where did you think? I'm not going to the one down the coast, not where that woman lives. Meet me there in ten minutes.''
''Alec, it's not a good idea us both going. People know me around here, what's it gonna look like?''
''That my DS is helping me find alternate accommodation, what else? A nice two double bedroom wide berth caravan should be sufficient, I'll say I'm expecting my teenage daughter to come and stay with me and put you down as a visitor since you'll be picking me up to take me places. Do I have to do all the thinking Tyler?''
''You have it all planned, don't you? You think you're so impressive detective inspector.''
''Maybe I am, you never thought of that Miss cute ass. I'll not tell them you're moving in with me then?''
''Don't you dare, I had enough trouble trying to convince the letting agent I was looking for a new house to rent before the notice was up on this one. I'll meet you in five since you're practically next door to the caravan site. We'll ask for one on the first road and I want a free swimming pass.''
''Don't be cheeky Tyler. Then you'd have to admit you're moving in with me. Do they know you though?''
''They may have seem me around but like I said, not many people actually know I'm married and it won't matter in a few weeks, I paid extra to rush everything through. Will you come with me tonight to get my things? Then we'll go get yours from the hotel. Do you think we'll get a caravan today?''
''Why not? They won't exactly be short of them given the mood down here. I'll pay for it to cover until Monday morning, then personnel can sort it out, it will be cheaper for the weekend than two nights in the hotel. The accountants won't grumble at saving money, I'm getting the full amount paid on the hotel and if you're moving out, that will also save them money, they'll be celebrating.''
Rose was now using her handsfree device to talk while she drove the short distance to the harbour caravan park. She was just pulling in, passing Alec at the entrance and went to park up, only just finding a space.
''I hope you weren't driving and talking at the same time Tyler,'' Alec remarked as she met up with him outside reception.
Rose just made a face at him by poking her tongue out, something Alec thought was kind of cute but she wasn't going to get away with it.
''Grow up Tyler.''
She thought she would get him back later as she followed him into reception. Just her luck the woman cheerfully greeted her with an, ''Oh hello DS Tyler, what can we do for you today?''
Alec stood back. ''Hi, this is DI Hardy, you've probably seen him on TV, he's in charge of finding Danny's murderer. He's looking for a place to stay, there are too many reporters staying at his hotel and this is a perfect place for him to lose them in. Have you got any caravans he can move straight in to, maybe this afternoon? Preferable on the first road to the side of the complex?''
Alec scowled behind her, why was she so clever?
''We'd be only to pleased to help. Would this be on a permanent basis? If so, we can give you a good deal if the Police Authority are paying but we would need a deposit.''
Alec stepped forward. ''I'll pay until Monday, then someone will contact you. I need a two double bedroom one, I plan on having my teenage daughter join me and I need a pass so DS Tyler can come and go without having to show her badge if she's keeping an eye on my daughter for me if I'm working.''
''Of course, that's no problem. If you come back after four, I'll have one of our best extra-wide new models for you at no extra cost, what's your daughter's name?''
''Daisy but I'm not sure when she'll be joining me. Don't worry about DS Tyler coming and going or seeing her car there, we keep getting told about working late at the station.''
The woman smiled. ''I'm sure we have something off the first road, I'll make a note there may be a car there but if I put her name down, there won't be a problem.''
Alec got his bank card out and paid the weekend rate, making sure he got a receipt Rose noted and smiled to herself. At least they hadn't been asked any questions and she doubted any of the staff there knew Mickey, unless they got their cars repaired where he worked and she sincerely doubted they went there, she didn't even get hers done there, even with discount.
Alec decided to go wait in the seating area of the caravan park and get a drink while Rose took her car back to the underground car park. He had a pot of tea and two cups waiting plus some sandwiches when she got back, not realising it was past noon. The news of Jack Marshall's demise hit the town hard and just made the press even worse. Alec was glad he was out of the hotel.
It was after five before he came out of his office. ''Come on Tyler, you can move me into my new place then you can have the weekend off. You don't have to put up with me again until Monday, unless you want some overtime?''
She saw others looking over at them. Why was this so difficult? She would be glad when they could drop the pretence or were they really fooling anyone?
''I don't think so Sir.''
She couldn't think of anything witty to say. She just wanted to get her things and get out. That was going to be easier said than done.
''Why don't you drop me at the hotel then come and pick me up?'' Alec suggested.
''I thought you were coming with me?''
''After last night? No thanks, did you see the way he glared at me?''
''Alec, he stares at everyone like that. Please, come with me? Just say you're helping me then I'll come and help you.''
''OK then but I may have to arrest him if he annoys me.''
They had just got in after Alec had collected the keys from the caravan park earlier, getting a map of the park and where the caravan was and Rose was putting some stuff from the living room into some cardboard boxes she stopped off at the supermarket for, getting essentials like tea and milk and other bits and pieces they thought they would need overnight. Alec was sitting on the sofa as Rose busied herself, after she got him to stop snogging her before Mickey really did catch them.
She hadn't realised the divorce papers would go through so quickly as she had given Mickey's place of work. That was what you got for paying extra. He had been so stunned when just before five, his boss had called him from underneath a blue mini and a man in a suit handed him a brown envelope with the court seal and stamp on it and told him he'd been served divorce papers. His boss had patted him on the back and told him ''Hard luck'' mate, never quite believing the stunning and petite blonde detective sergeant was actually his wife. Now she wasn't, not any longer.
She had meant what she had said and he thought she had been joking. Well he wasn't giving up without a fight and persuading her to forget about him signing. That was until he got home to find her boss sat looking quite at home on his sofa but Mickey never was one for putting two and two together and actually coming up with the right answer.
Rose was in the kitchen as Mickey opened the living room door.
''Wot you doing here?''
''Oh, it's Rickey, isn't it?''
Mickey shook his head. ''No, it's Mickey and answer my question.''
''You only think it's Mickey and I'm the one that asks the questions around here, in case you forgot.''
''Huh? Rose? Wot's your boss doing here? I thought you made him dinner last night?''
Then he saw the empty boxes and the one that was filled with photos of Rose and her mother and other things that were personal to her. She came out with some of her favourite snacks and other goodies in a carrier bag, the most important being her jar of hot chocolate and a can of whipped cream.
''Wot's going on Rose? This guy just waltzes into the garage with this.'' He waved the papers in front of her, looking at Alec, who was trying to stay out of it.
''I told you. I'm not mucking about Mickey, you said you'd sign, you have four weeks to get out so don't say I'm not playing fair. I'm off upstairs to get my clothes and stuff from the bathroom. If I forget anything, I'll come back. Alec, would you pack that laptop into the bag for me with the charger? Thanks. Oh and that radio's mine too, shove that in as well will you?''
Alec got up and Mickey looked at him.
''Hold on, why are you calling him Alec?''
''Don't be so daft Mickey, we work together but don't expect me to call him 'Sir' out of hours.''
Mickey shook his head, disbelievingly, Alec raised his eyebrows and did what she had asked. Rose ran up the stairs before she lost the courage to go through with it and let Mickey talk her into staying. That had been her problem all along, him and her mother telling her she was doing the right think by marrying only the second man she had been out with, if you could call Jimmy Stone a man. She dreaded telling Alec the real truth about that, he would go ballistic.
Twenty minutes later, Rose was cramming the last of her clothes into the smallest case, there was only one left that was Mickey's plus a holdall, not that he had many decent clothes, then rushed into the bathroom. She would have to come back once Mickey moved out and clear the bedding and other stuff, that's if she actually wanted it but if she was getting another place, she wasn't going to buy more than she needed. She called downstairs when she was ready.
''Alec, can you help me with the cases please?''
Alec got up, hoping they weren't heavy but this was Rose, he shouldn't expect any less. He grabbed his chance to throw Mickey off the scent.
''Make yourself useful and go help her.''
All he got was another ''Huh?''
Mickey went off. Rose was at the top of the stairs, waiting hopefully for Alec then thinking maybe it would be Mickey after all. They hadn't even been to the caravan yet, it could be totally unsuitable but it was too late now. If the worst happened, they could stay at his hotel tonight and sort it out tomorrow.
Mickey looked at her and took the heaviest case, checking to see if her boss had followed him.
''So. You're really leaving then?''
''Bit of a stupid question even for you Mickey. I've rented a caravan down the coast until the notice on this is up. Leave your key in the kitchen and lock the door by the latch behind you when you leave. There's no point in dragging things out Mickey, it's time to move on.''
''For you maybe but what about me?''
''You should have thought about that. It's no use, it's never gonna work and you know it and you're not gonna talk me into staying. I should never have listened in the first place, I've done quite well under my own name thanks. Do you want to get yourself a divorce lawyer?''
''Nope, how can I afford one? Do I need one?''
''I don't know, do you? Where were you that night Mickey? Did you really come home when you said?''
''Why should I answer you? You've made your mind up already that I wasn't here. Ask Joe Miller.''
''We did, he said he left you and went home and that's what made my boss suspicious. If you two are giving each other alibis, I'm not getting caught up in it thanks. Do you realise what position you put me in? Did you even think about it?''
''I'm not giving him an alibi, we were all together, with Nige.''
''Not according to his mum but I'm not arguing with you. You can send the signed papers back to the court, mine's already filed. I expect you out of here before the lease is up and before the divorce is signed off and finalised.''
''Where am I supposed to go?''
''Anywhere Mickey, you can go back to London, I'm sure you'll get plenty of sympathy, especially from my mother who thinks we were made for each other. Do you mind? I'm kinda in a hurry.''
''Ok, but I'm still thinking about the actual signing.''
''You said if I let you stay for now, you'd sign.''
''That was before.''
''Before what?''
''Before you came around with your boss, stopping me from talking to you.''
''Just take the cases down Mickey, there's nothing to talk about whether my boss is here or not. We were both miserable Mickey, just face it, it's over. Just sign, don't drag this out. If you don't sign, I'll just get a lawyer, I know plenty who help out at the station who will take me on. You're just delaying the inevitable, to have a reconciliation takes two, it's not one sided.''
''Would you still be going ahead if Danny hadn't died?''
''Yes I would, eventually, it's just speeded things up. That holiday was the worst I've ever been on, it was a nightmare and you know it. Did you enjoy it?''
Alec was now getting worried. He could hear voices but couldn't tell what they were saying. He thought he'd best just keep out of it though until he heard Rose calling his name.
''Alec, can you please tell Mickey to bring my cases down? He's refusing.''
''No I'm not, I'm just saying, can't we work this out?''
''What part don't you get Mickey? Do you want me to draw pictures. It's over, finished, caput, finito.''
''You heard her Smith so just man up to it and bring down her cases. Don't make me come up there.''
''Keep out of this Hardy, this is between me and Rose.''
''Not any more Smith, it's over, did you not hear what she said?''
''It's ok Alec. Mickey, get out of the way, I'll take them down myself, I have things to do, Alec, can you take that off Mickey please?''
That did the trick as Mickey picked the large case and dragged it down the stairs. Alec nudged past him and went to get the other one, not betraying Rose's look at him.
''Allow me Rose?''
He really shouldn't but it seemed fairly light and Rose followed him back down. Mickey was standing by the front door, Rose's boxes were stacked there and Alec wondered if she would get it all in the car, since they still had to go get his stuff.
''Really Mickey, just grow up, you can't detain two Police officers.''
Alec shook his head and put the case he was carrying on its end and pulled up the handle to wheel it out.
''If you're going to stand there Smith, I'm going to have to move you.''
Mickey moved and Rose opened the door, they got the last of the boxes in the back plus Rose's smaller case and put the big one on the back seat. Just as she turned around to get in the driver's seat, Mickey grabbed her arm.
''Don't go Rose, I'll make it up to you, get a better job, we can even go back to London if you want?''
Rose moved his arm. ''Get off me Mickey, just sign the papers and have done with it.''
Alec was about to get back out of the car, illness or not, he wasn't going to let Mickey persuade Rose to stay.
TBC
