The tension in the air was palpable as the office fell into another uneasy silence. Yet again their discussion about the case had ended up in a fully blown, door slamming argument. CID were used to their arguments, but for three days now, they had used the office as their own personal battle grounds against one another and heaven help anyone who was in the line of fire.
Alex could not take it anymore; she flounced to her chair, picked up her jacket and walked straight out of the office before she screamed in frustration. That man made her mad as hell and he knew it. A few minutes later she found herself in the station canteen, a place that she had never actually been, mainly due to Gene's description of the food tasting like 'sheep's bollocks'. If the coffee was anything to go by she would have to confess that he was right.
"Ma'am?" Alex looked up to find Shaz smiling back at her.
"Shaz…what's up?"
"Nothing…I just came to see if you were ok…oh and the Guv wanted me to find you, he wants to see you."
"Does he now…Shaz can I ask you a question?"
"Yes of course, Ma'am," Shaz replied sliding into the seat opposite.
"Why did you want to join the force?"
"Oh I don't know…I guess I wanted a different kinda life - not just to end up being a housewife like my Mum…I wanted to change the world and make a difference."
"Do you think we do…make a difference?"
"I think it's really hard for us girls at the bottom, being trod on and patronised by our superiors and it's a constant struggle to be heard…but you…you make such a difference."
Alex sighed, "I used to think I did. Where I come from I worked so hard to pull myself up through the ranks and to gain the respect of the people I worked with and I think I did, but here I find it so hard to believe that I've made any kind of impact."
"Ma'am since the day you were carried into the office by the Guv you have fought to change things. You have transformed the office from a boy's only club into a place where you have given us girls a voice - boys will always be boys but they listen to you!" Shaz smiled as she added, "But most of all you have changed the Guv!"
Alex lifted her head in surprise "Really? I don't think so. He's still the lard-arsed fascist pig I'm sure he's always been!"
"That may be true - but I didn't mean that," Shaz said, "There is definitely something different about him since you came. There used to be a sadness in his eyes, he was withdrawn, you know? But now you have brought back his spark and I think he's glad that you decided to transfer here and so am I."
"Thanks Shaz! You know I'm so glad you are here." Alex smiled. "Now I best go and see what his highness wants!"
The rest of the office was quiet as Alex tentatively entered Gene's office.
"Bolly…pull up a pew!"
"What is it Gene?"
Gene slid a neat scotch towards her and replied, "Before I tell you…drink this!"
"Why? What's the matter?"
"And just to let you know I have removed all the sharp bloody instruments from me office…"
"Gene?!"
"I've had to let Layton go."
"What?!!"
"Before you get ya very posh knickers in a twist…it wasn't my call…pressure from above…we had no evidence against him for the Chelsea job and as for the Price's well, its circumstantial!"
"Don't give me that Gene…He was responsible for the Prices' death," Alex cried.
"Bolls you know that's not entirely true. The only person that is truly responsible for their deaths is Tim Price and I am sorry for that but-"
"Like hell you are! You hated Caroline Price!" Alex snapped
"The feeling was very mutual as well you know Mrs Sulky Knickers! But she was your friend and well…erm…I know what it is like to lose a mate…what happened to the Prices' was not your fault."
"I knew it was going to happen and I failed to prevent it!" Alex whispered
Gene leaned forward towards his DI and placed his hand gently on top of hers, "Now listen to me Bolly," he began in a hushed tone, "take some advice from the Gene Genie, as I have said before we are police officers, and that's just it we are just police officers, behind the badge and the bravado we are human beings like the rest of the mortals on this coil. With the exception of my very good self we are not super heroes…you are not responsible for the actions of a screwed up lawyer who was hell bent on killing himself."
Gene poured them another drink and continued, "We spend our days trying to do our best to clear the scum off the streets so the rest of the world can sleep soundly in their beds. Coppers live and die by their decisions but, they live with themselves by knowing even if things go wrong their conscience is clear and they did all they could - and you did! Now Bolls you are a damn good officer for a posh tart but…you have to let go of whatever is eating at you about Layton. He is a grade A scum bag bastard and he will get what's coming to him, but you have to let go, cos if you don't they will come with the straight jacket and it won't be in my size!"
The anger and rage that had built up inside of Alex over the last few days had melted away as she saw his softer side and as she leaned closer towards him, she smiled, "It would just cement my reputation as being 'Mrs Fruitcake!"
Gene let out a gentle laugh as his hand now clasped hers, "That's my Bolly." The moment seemed to last forever as they looked at one another because neither one of them wanted to break it, but before either one of them could speak they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Sorry Guv but you better take this call," began Viv "a man has apparently taken a woman hostage and is threatening to shoot her…unless…"
"Unless what?" Gene asked
"They get to see you…Ma'am!"