Chapter 7

Alex had been awoken in the early hours of the morning with a banging headache and a twisted knot in her stomach. Rolling out of bed, popping a few pills to ease the pain, she returned to the sofa in her living room. The night before was like old times when her and Gene would sit and talk over a bottle of wine, and members of CID popping in and out. She could talk to him for hours yet not learn one more new fact about him in that time. Did he know he was like that, or has he been a police officer that long that he knows better than to trust people? She sighed and turned her head towards the slightly reddish tinge coming from the window. Alex reached behind her and picked up a notepad, in which she had been jotting notes down since she had woke up a few days ago. She thought back to last night and wrote down two words which seemed to be coming up more and more over the last few days. Sam Tyler. Then underneath it, Gene's World?

CID was bursting at its seams when Alex entered it earlier than usual. Around 6 youths were sitting on the steps outside, each with a cigarette in their hands and a stupid smile painted on their faces. A few shouted abuse at Alex as she entered the building but she just ruffled her hair and didn't look back. Viv was sitting behind the desk, chatting to a young PC, and nodded in her direction as she walked on to CID. Shaz appeared from one of the doorways and turned when she noticed Alex.

'Morning Shaz', Alex said with a smile.

'Ma'am ,Guv wants to see you now, he's in interview room 3'

'What about?' Alex questioned.

'I'm not too sure Ma'am, he didn't say.'

'Okay, thanks Shaz'

Alex smiled and turned towards the interview rooms, her heels echoing down the eerily empty corridor. There was a distinctive smell in the air, heavy and enclosing. Alex stopped looked around to see nothing. Darkness. She raised her hand to her eyes, rubbing her eyes with her fingertips and moving it down to her mouth in disbelief. Now she was on top of a building. Concrete dominated the skyline, glass and steel. The sky was grey and a breeze was building up, her clothes were brushing against her skin and she raised her hands in front of her. They were leaner and shorter than her own. She was taller, and heavier. There was no hair around her face or any make up clogging up her pores. Alex tried to move her hands but could not. She tried to open her mouth or shake her head. She could not. It was as if she was just a spectator in this body. She felt a smile spread across her face and a thought of a young lady, with short brown hair and a soft face, braking into laughter, pop into her, no their, head. And she lifted one foot. Then the other. And she ran. The wind whipped at her body as gravity rushed to meet her and pull her to earth and the lady was the only thing in her head. Laughter escaped from her mouth as the ground rushing to meet her dissolved into darkness and the laughter stopped, and the young woman left her mind.

Gene was only awoken by the sound of fire engines across the street. Stretching his arms and yawning her flipped his pillow over and glanced at the clock on the wall. 5.55. Great. He stood up, pulling on some trousers and walked over to the window by his bed. His curtains were old and tatty and needed changing, but for the amount of time spent in this flat it was hardly worth it. He pulled them back, and he was met by the sight of several police outside and a fire engine. No doubt arson again. The third time this month on a local politician who no one really liked, and it seems someone really hates. He pulled the curtains closed and walked into the bathroom opposite the bedroom. His hair was getting duller and thinner, his eyes were losing the sparkle that won him the ladies and the body had long gone. He needed a woman. He would never admit it, but he knew it. He was married to the job and that was all that mattered to him at the moment. He needed to go back to Manchester, but the memories would no doubt be far too strong, like rubbing lemon zest into his unhealed wounds. Chris and Ray were here, but they had changed and adapted to London. What was keeping him here? He knew the answer, but he had done nothing about it. He didn't want to risk losing her forever. He finished getting ready and pulled on his jacket and tie and left his flat. Did he go for it and risk losing it all? Or did he leave it as it was? He closed his door and turned towards the street. Except it wasn't a street. Bricks enclosed the space around him in a circular enclosure and lead towards a light, a railway track disappearing into it. He didn't feel himself. He felt lighter and shorter. He could hear voices and shouts and screams which seemed to wrench his heart apart. He closed his eyes and walked towards the light. He had no control over his actions. This was not him, but merely him in some else's body. The shouts got louder, as did the gunshots. Tears rolled from his eyes but he had the feeling it was the right thing to do. The leave the team-as he called them- and return to 'home'. And the light blinded him and the screams faded and blackness returned.

A smile broke out on the man's face. He had to admire Summer's determination, but he had got attached to Alex. He was obsessed. This man was not however, he saw himself as a guide to Alex. To help her 'see' the truth about Hunt and Tyler. He had piles of paperwork, newspapers, pictures and even objects which helped him build up the picture of the group of people brought together in CID. Get Alex spooked, but not scared, she needed to trust him but an element of fear was needed to get her to want to understand. Alex loves a puzzle, a clue. She needs to keep her mind active and involved. He needs to keep her on her toes. He needs to get her worried. He needs to get to Shaz first.