Sorry if there are mistakes in this chapter (or any other chapter come to think of it!) I do my own editing.
Alex closed her eyes and silently counted up to five.
She attempted to calm herself down, to return her breathing to a slow regular rhythm. But her heart continued to beat rapidly, beating a bruise into her chest.
She bloody hated guns. Why was it that people insisted on waving them around?
What would happen, she wondered, if she were shot here - in 1981? Would she get home, back to Molly? Or would that be it? Over. Finished.
No. She thought. This is not how it ends!
Alex opened her eyes. She tried not to think about the gun pressing hard against her temple, pushing her head to one side. Or the sweaty hand across her mouth that was making it increasingly difficult to draw breath.
She took a mental step back from the situation, blocking out her fear, allowing her analytical mind to take over:
Jimmy held Alex tightly in front of him, shielding himself with her body. She felt him trembling slightly behind her. He was not comfortable in this situation, Alex realised, he was nervous. She looked up at Gene, hoping he would realise that too. This could all end peacefully if only Gene would act rationally for a change...
His eyes met hers. She was trying to tell him something, but as for what it was he had no idea. Shit Alex, I can't read your bloody mind!
Any trace of fear had been well disguised and all her saw in her eyes now was that deep-set determination he so admired.
He couldn't let anything happen to her, not now. He felt a wave of panic flow through him. A growing sensation of dread. He couldn't lose her - and not just because she was a damn good DI…
"Right." Jimmy's voice shook slightly, "Now I've got your attention: I did not kill Sally, and I will not lie back and let you pin her murder on me. I know your sort – you police, you're all the same. You don't care about the truth, or about people like Sally. It's just about closing cases. Well not me - I care. I cared about Sally 'n' all. So if you won't find who did this, I will." He seemed to be growing in confidence but Alex felt him shuffle backwards, away from Gene, all the same.
"You expect me to believe a word that comes out of your mouth?" Gene roared, "Let me tell you something – 'cause I know your sort too, you're scum. Murdering scum-"
"No!" Jimmy began to turn away, looking for an escape route. And that was when Gene saw his chance, it was a risk but he had to try.
He launched himself at the pair, grabbing hold of the teenagers arm and twisting sharply. Jimmy cried out in pain and dropped the gun, which Gene promptly kicked out of reach. They struggled for a moment longer but it was clear who had the upper hand. Gene Hunt was more than a match for the likes of a scrawny car-park attendant.
Alex had been knocked to the ground by the scuffle, but apart from being slightly dazed, she was unharmed. She got to her feet in time to see Gene snapping on the handcuffs and landing one final punch - just for good measure.
They drove back to the station in silence.
Gene pretended not to see the dark looks Alex was sending his way and instead concentrated on the road. They were heading for another row, he just knew it.
Once at the station, Gene dragged Jimmy from the car and up the steps, ignoring his protests. "Viv, put him in the cells, we'll give him some time to think before his interview." Viv nodded and lead Jimmy away.
As they headed upstairs, Gene glanced across at Alex and saw the hostile look in her eyes yet again. They walked wordlessly through CID to his office.
"Come on then, say it," he said, turning to face her.
Alex wasted no time getting to the point, "What happened back there?"
"You were there, weren't you?"
Alex smiled sarcastically, "You know what I mean. It was purely luck that got us all out of that situation unhurt. What were you thinking?"
"I was looking at you!"
"My point exactly! You should have been looking at the boy with the gun, Gene!"
He scowled, "Well, forgive me for putting the safety of my officers first! I wanted to make sure you were ok! Bugger me Alex, what should I have done?!" He immediately regretted asking.
"Watched Jimmy Elphick more closely, noticed that he was nervous, and talked to him! But no! You had to mouth off! That so bloody typical of you, Gene!"
"You know I can't read people like you do - none of us 'ere can!" He paused, "I saw you with a gun to your 'ead, Bols. That's all I saw." He sat down and looked away, not wanting to see the disgust in her eyes.
Alex felt her lips part in surprise – surely Gene wasn't admitting that he had messed up because she was in danger? She felt her stomach knot uneasily. They'd been closer this last week, but surly his feelings weren't already strong enough to stop him from focusing on the job?
Alex was touched by his words, but confused by what they meant. In her mind the conflicting emotions fought for control. Confusion won.
She heard herself start speaking again, heard the harsh word coming out of her mouth before she had time to stop herself, "What's happening between us is clearly affecting our work. If this is what's going to happen after only a few days, then I think it's best that we don't see each other again."
Gene stood, his eyes narrowed and teeth clenched, "Right, well I'm so glad we got that sorted out! Now - haven't you got work to get on with, Drake?"
"I was just going!" she said, turning towards the door.
He followed her, "Yes! Go!" he yelled, slamming the door behind her.
Alex stomped back to her desk, her cheeks flushed from arguing. Gene watched her darkly from behind his own desk, as Chris shuffled nervously over to her, "Ma'am?"
"What is it, Chris?" she snapped.
"You wanted a list of everyone connected with the warehouses down where the victims body was found? Well, this is it."
Alex sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, "Thank you, Chris," she said softly, even managing to smile back at him. She took the paper he was offering, and scanned the list of names. Nothing stood out. Damn.
Half an hour passed, and Alex was still going through the list Chris had given her. She was so consumed with her work that she didn't notice Gene approching until his shadow darken her desk.
"I'm going to interview Jimmy Elphick-"
"I'm coming too," she cut across him.
"Oh goody," Gene muttered as he walked briskly away, not waiting for Alex.
"So 'oo do you think did it then!?" Gene barked.
They had bickered throughout the entire interview, which had, for the most part, been a complete waste of time.
Jimmy Elphick maintained that he hadn't killed Sally. He confirmed that she had been carrying his baby, but insisted that he had not raped her - in fact, he had said that he and Sally had been planning to settle down and start a family. Unfortunately for him, none of his story agreed with Iain Wright's statement, or the statements from Sally's friends.
Alex sighed in frustration, collapsing back into her chair, "I think he did, like you do. But we're missing something, Gene, I know we are!" She sat still for a moment lost in thought, "He's got a temper; we know that from this mornings little adventure..." Gene's eyes darkened slightly, but he made no comment so Alex continued. "He had opportunity too – no alibi for the night Sally died, unless you count waiting for Sally at his flat, which I don't. And most importantly, he's got a motive - assuming he did rape her and she was on her way here to report him. But…"
Alex lent back in her chair, there was something still nagging at the back of her mind, but she couldn't put her finger it. She was sure they knew everything they need too…
Maybe she should talk to Ben again - it would at least get her away from Gene for a while…? Decision made, Alex got to her feet.
"Where are you goin'?"
"Out. There's something I need to follow up."
"Oh no you're not. I need you here."
Alex gave Gene a withering look and continued towards the door.
Gene's fingers tightened around her wrist, "I'm still your superior, Drake, and don't you forget that."
Alex gaped at him, "You what!?"
"You don't go anywhere without my say so."
She pulled her arm free from his grasp, "I'm doing my job, Guv."
They were practically face-to-face, he could feel her breath on his skin and the anger radiating off her. "Sit!" he bellowed. Alex glowered back at him, but did as he ordered.
Gene glared down at her, privately relieved that she had done as he asked. All this agruing between them... It couldn't continue.
He turned on his heel and stormed back into his office; kicking the door closed behind him with such force that everyone was surprised that the glass didn't shatter.
Alex scowled at his retreating back. Damn him for being so impossible, so arrogant and so attractive all at the same time!
Her eyes swept across her cluttered desk, "No time like the present," Alex muttered as she began to sort through the mountain of paper building up on her desk. She came across Sally's planner, which Ben had brought in the night before, and put it safely to one side.
In his office, Gene fought with the urge to kick something, like his desk, hard. How had things gone so sour between them so quickly? This morning hadn't been his finest hour by any stretch of the imagination, but he had hoped Alex might understand. Clearly not.
He was drawn to her like no one he'd ever met, not even his ex-wife, and that scared him - not that he would ever admit as much, even to her. But even if he couldn't have her - he didn't want her to hate him.
This evening, he promised himself, he would make things right between them... somehow.
Alex thumbed thought Sally's planner, scribbling down names and dates when something stood out but mostly just reading. She turned to the page of phone numbers and saw a long list of familiar names, including Ben Parslow and Jimmy Elphick. One number caught her attention, and for a lack of any better ideas, Alex picked up her phone and rang Ben:
"Hello?"
"Ben? Its Alex Drake."
"Oh. Hi."
"How are you?"
"I'm OK. I'm sorry about last night."
"You don't need to be sorry, Ben. I was wondering if you could help me with something?"
"Sure."
"In Sally's planner there's a number with no name attached to it, only the letters: ESS. Does that mean anything to you?"
"That's her Dad's work number, ESS stands for... umm... 'Executive Storage Solutions' – at least, I think that's right."
"That's great Ben, thank you."
"No problem." They hung up.
Alarm bells were ringing in Alex's head as she frantically searched her desk, scattering the recently filed paperwork. Looking for the paper Chris had given her only a few hours before.
Executive Storage Solutions was on the list.
They had owned a warehouse less than six months ago. Iain Wright would have known his way around those warehouses. He would have known how to get in and out without being seen. He would have known that those warehouses were empty – the perfect place to leave a body. At last everything was slotting into place!
Time to pay Iain Wright another visit.
Alex looked across at Gene's office door; he wouldn't want her to go by herself. After there last argument, he might not want her to go at all. But this was her lead, and she intended to follow it. He could shout at her all he wanted later, Alex decided.
Leaning over Chris's desk, she briefly explained where she was going, and to tell Gene only if absolutely necessary, before pulling on her white jacket and disappearing out the door.
"Guv!" Ray called as Gene emerged from his office a little while later, "I've just had the hospital on the phone, they remembered Sally coming in couple of weeks ago. She had pregnancy check up. But that's not what's important - she had someone with 'er. A bloke. Well, from the description they gave I'd say it were Jimmy Elphick."
"So, what are we sayin' here? That he's telling the truth? They really were going to start a family an' live 'appily ever after?"
"I guess so Guv."
"Then why would Iain Wright say he'd raped 'er? Unless-" Gene stopped, realisation dawning on him.
Ray nodded "he killed 'er and wanted us to think it were Jimmy."
"Right Raymondo, I think it's time we went back round to Mr Wright's house and arrested the bastard."
"That's where DI Drake's gone." Chris said, looking up from his desk on the other side of the room.
"What!?"
"She said to tell yer, if you asked, said she'd just realised something and was going to talk to Iain Wright again."
"Alone?!" Gene roared.
"Yeah, Guv." Chris mumbled sheepishly, but Gene barely heard him. He was already half way out the door, pulling on his coat as he went.
Good/Bad? More Gene/Alex to come I promise.
