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Chapter Eight
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Put on your red shoes and dance the blues
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Gene hadn't banked on feeling so bad. If there was one thing that the Gene Genie prided himself on it was seeing things through to the bitter end. With Alex he had ducked out long before the finish line was even in sight. It didn't help that everyone in CID, with the exception of maybe Ray, seemed to hold him totally to blame for Alex leaving so abruptly.
'Come for a drink Guv' Ray said, at the end of what seemed the longest day since Gene and his dissimilar deputies had arrived in London.
Gene sat morosely at the bar in Luigi's, wishing he was a fly on the wall in the flat above; needing in some torturous way to know that Bolly felt as terrible as he did.
'Maybe the next one'll be safe.' Ray tried placatingly, 'Y'know- Betty Turpin/HMS Ark Royal safe.'
Gene knocked back Luigi's finest single malt and nodded. He grabbed his coat.
'I'm going home.'
Ray was disappointed, he had hoped that Gene would return to his usual self now Alex was out of the picture, instead he had raged until he had blown himself out like an angry storm and was now quiet, sad even. 'You want me to come with?'
Gene looked at Ray, 'Of course I bloody don't.'
'Where's he off to?' Chris asked as he came to the bar to get more drinks and watched Gene hurry out.
'Home' Ray drew deeply on his fag.
'Has he got one?' Chris laughed.
'Of course he's bloody got one.' Ray replied,' It's just a case of him remembering where it is.'
'Serves him right.' Chris said, 'You don't mess a woman like Drake about.'
'Who said he messed her about?' Ray said crossly, 'I reckon it was the other way round. Bloody cow crushed him. Just like Shaz will crush you one day.'
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Alex was in bed. Next door in the sitting room the television talked to itself. She had watched it for hours, wondering if something would happen, a message from home, but after a while she crawled off to her bed, leaving it on for company. She fell asleep thinking of Gene, not Molly, but it was Molly she dreamed of. Molly coming home from school each day to a birthday cake that got mouldier and mouldier, the icing splattered with candle wax.
'I will come back' Alex told her, 'Don't give up on me.'
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In 2008 the nurse who had been so sure she heard Alex speak had told Evan, so Evan kept an almost constant vigil beside her bed. He wasn't sure if he wanted her to wake up because if she did he'd have to look her in the eye, and he couldn't see how he was going to manage it. The surgeon had explained just how unlikely it was that Alex would have spoken, due to the deterioration of her brain functions, and Evan despised himself for the guilty relief he felt.
As he studied her there seemed to be absolutely no indication that things were improving. After a few days Evan decided the nurse had been mistaken, but he kept up his vigil. Molly joined him when she wasn't at school and sat at her mother's bedside with heartbreaking hope.. Evan could barely look her in the eye either.
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'A word, Gene' Henderson said, when he met him in the corridor.
Gene stopped walking and looked at him.
'She's transferred- World's End.' Henderson said.
'Bloody hell, a bit drastic.' Gene replied.
'Chelsea' the Super said. 'They'll look after her there- the DCI -Branson, he's a forward thinking sort of chap. He jumped at her.'
'He better not jump on her.' Gene seethed.
'It's not your problem anymore.' Henderson reminded him.
'No' Gene agreed, 'Thanks for telling me. Has she….er… moved? Out of the flat?'
Henderson nodded. 'It's for the best.'
Gene felt ice seep into the pit of his stomach. He left the Super and hurried to his office. As he slumped behind his desk he stared at the double doors of the incident room, imagining Alex walking through them; he hadn't realised just how much her arrival every morning had set the mood for his day, and now he was left with Ray and Chris and their idiotic antics and Shaz squealing her head off every five minutes. He sighed deeply and wished he could have a glass of scotch but it had only just gone eight o'clock in the morning, too early even for him. To distract himself he grabbed the Daily Mirror- a five year old girl had been reunited with her parents after being missing for several days, because she was from Manchester the story took his interest. The little girl had been dumped from a stolen car and left to wander in a remote area several miles away from home, Farringfield Green.
Gene felt a nasty jolt as he read the name. Farringfield Green, why did the name seem as if it should mean something to him?
Ray appeared at his office door, 'Guv? I think we may have a lead on Cain and Abel, apparently Cain visited a pawn brokers in White Chapel yesterday evening.'
Gene chucked down the Mirror and stood up, 'Come on then, Raymondo, what are we waiting for?'
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'I'm David Branson.' her new DCI was tall, with dark wiry hair, large brown eyes and a broken nose.
Alex giggled nervously, 'Really? Not Richard then?'
'DCI David Branson.' the man said, humourlessly.
Alex remembered her manners and held out her hand, 'DI Drake. Bol…. er…Alex.'
David clutched her hand for a couple of seconds too long and Alex didn't like it very much. She removed her hand from his politely and looked up. Her heart sank as she realised he was eying up her breasts.
Branson gave her a pleasant smile, 'Fantastic to have you on board Alex.' he said, 'I'll show you to your office.'
'Office?' Alex asked.
He led her into the incident room and to a door with her name on it. He opened the door and held it so she could step through. Alex peered inside; there was a desk with a phone, a filing cabinet and a white board, 'Feel free to make it your own' David said, 'I'll leave you to settle in for a few minutes, then maybe you could join us as we plan the day. Meet the team.'
He left Alex feeling completely alienated. World's End was obviously so different from Fenchurch East, and she had a feeling she wasn't going to like it.
A few days later she knew without doubt she absolutely hated it. Branson was as forward thinking as she had been told he was and consulted her on everything, asking her to sit in on every interview and psychoanalyze each suspect, but then he expected an in depth report, and an in- depth discussion of the contents of her report. Alex should have been in seventh heaven but actually found she was bored beyond belief and spent much of the time in her office dreaming of Gene and wondering how things were going at Fenchurch.
By Friday evening she was worn down and frazzled; up to her neck in superfluous paperwork, and she hated the four walls of her office because they just served to isolate her from the rest of CID. She grabbed her white leather jacket and walked out of the cell - like room, wondering what the World's Enders would do if she yelled, 'Come on then, you lot, it's Friday, let's get pissed.'
David Branson was having an intense conversation at the door of his office with his DS, Alan Parker; he looked up and as he saw Alex, his frown was quickly replaced by a false smile. 'Ah, Alex, can I have a word?'
Alex pulled on her jacket as she walked across the incident room, plastering on a smile as false as David's. 'So, what happens now?'
David shrugged, 'It's the weekend, time to recharge your batteries.'
'Where do you go to get a drink around here?' Alex asked.
David couldn't hide his disapproval, 'We don't socialise much to be honest, I always find it best to keep the two strands separate. Work and social life- they don't really mix well.'
'You don't have a watering hole?' Alex said. He was looking at her as if she was suggesting they practice satanic arts, she couldn't believe he was a police officer.
'But what do you do?' she asked desperately, 'How do you fill the weekend?'
He addressed her breasts again, for all his new man forward thinking ways he seemed unduly fascinated by them, 'I usually play golf with the Super.' he thought for a bit, 'Look, as you're new and probably finding it all a little strange, maybe you and I could have a spot of supper…'
'I don't think so.' Alex replied quickly, 'It's very kind of you but I've got lots to sort out in my flat, haven't unpacked yet, maybe I'll just go home.'
David whipped out his wallet and passed her a card. 'My home number.' he said, winking, 'If the weekend does get too lonely give me a ring.'
Alex took the card and put it in her jacket pocket. Was he hitting on her? He didn't seem to be, his tone was almost officious, like he was doing her a massive favour. She wondered if she could think of anything duller than spending time with him if it wasn't drinking time. Maybe David Branson pissed would be bearable, but she doubted she'd ever get to find out.
As she turned to go he said, 'Oh Alex, that jacket- it's a bit-casual- for a DI.'
'Sir?' she uttered incredulously.
'Sort of gives the wrong impression.' he said quietly.
'My previous DCI liked it.' she replied.
'Your previous DCI liked a lot of things so I've heard, none of them really suitable if you want to be taken seriously, though eh?' David winked at her again and his eyes dropped to her chest -again.
Alex wanted to hit him- talk about the sublime to the ridiculous- for the thousandth time she wished she was back at Fenchurch, at least when Gene ogled her breasts he didn't hide behind a pious shield of hypocritical respectability, he was absolutely and completely open about it. She nodded, 'Okay, I'll try and find something more… suitable.' she said meekly.
'Have a good weekend.' he said.
'And you.' she turned and sashayed away from him, wishing she could turn back to see if he was gazing at her arse, she imagined turning and giving him the finger, and wished she had the courage, 'Oh god Gene I miss you!' she groaned.
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Gene was so pissed he couldn't see straight. He sat determinedly drinking himself into oblivion. Ray, Chris, Shaz and even Viv weren't far behind him.
Luigi was in despair at their raucousness. 'Is a restaurant- keep down' he begged.
'Always look on the bright side of life!' sang Viv and Chris, as Ray conducted and beer flew everywhere.
'Life's a bit of shit, when you look at it.' Shaz trilled.
'Please' Luigi wailed, as more customers refused dessert and left hurriedly. He followed them to the stairs as if trailing them would somehow make them change their minds. 'Oh thank you Mama!' he cried, as Alex appeared.
'Hello Luigi' she said warmly.
The little Italian looked on the verge of a nervous breakdown, 'Signorina Drake, they out of control.'
As Alex looked over to the corner Gene looked up, his head started to drop down but he did a speedy double take and looked up again with desperate hope. 'Well, you bring me a bottle of house wine and a jug of black coffee for the Guv and I'll see what I can do.' she told Luigi, who rushed off to the bar.
As she crossed the trattoria she could feels the waves of disapproval from Ray, who stood in front of Gene protectively, Shaz rushed up and hugged Alex so tightly Alex lost her breath and was almost knocked out from the alcohol fumes emanating from her.
'Well, well, the wanderer returns' Ray said, squaring up to her, 'Funny how these jumped up tarts always reckon the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, and then they find it isn't and…'
'Ray?' Alex said.
He tried to focus on her, 'What?'
'Shut up and get out of the way.' she pushed him lightly and it was enough to make him lose his balance; he found himself sitting on a chair.
Luigi arrived with the wine and a glass. Alex poured herself a drink and looked at Gene, 'Mind if I join you?'
He nodded, pulling out a chair for her and crushing out his cigarette.
Alex sat down and took a long slurp of wine, 'Oh that's better!' she smiled.
Gene waved his hand at the others, 'Piss off you lot.'
'Storing up trouble for yourself.' Ray muttered.
'When I wan your advice I'll as for it.' Gene slurred.
'You're taking advantage!' Ray told Alex, 'He's not in his right mind, and that's your fault too.'
'Go' Gene said, still waving Ray away with his hands.
When they were finally alone, she moved even nearer to him, 'I can't do this Gene, it's not working. I miss you too much.' Luigi arrived with the coffee and Alex poured a cup for Gene, 'Drink this, how much alcohol have you downed tonight?'
'Not enough, not nearly enough' he sighed tiredly, 'Bol…Bolls….you can't be here, you have to go. Please go.'
'Look, listen….' she began.
'Make up your bloody mind.' he groaned. 'Can't manage both at this moment in time.'
'If I came back- and we just….cooled things off. If we were just friends. What would be the worst thing that could happen?' she gabbled.
'You talk such bollocks.' he said, rubbing his bloodshot eyes and clamping his hand under his chin and his elbow on the table. 'Shit wud 'appen-big shit.'
'I can't be here, in this world, without you.' she wailed.
His hand slid from under his chin and his head jerked up, 'You daft woman, thas the whole bloddy…bliddy… bloody point- to get you out of this world.'
'More coffee' Alex said, trying to force it down him, 'Please Gene, you need to think clearly, shall we go outside?'
'Pack it in wi the temptation' Gene said, sipping coffee and grimacing.
'I'll ask Luigi if he has the key to my flat.' Alex said, 'I'm not going back to World's End Gene, you can't force me.'
'You can't come back here.' Gene said, lighting up another cigarette and turning the palest shade of green. He stood up quickly, 'Need the bog'
Luigi appeared from nowhere and guided to Gene towards the Men's in what appeared to be a race against time. When they re-emerged Gene began climbing the staircase.
Alex flew after him, 'Where are you going? You can't drive!'
He wiped his mouth, 'Go away, please.'
'Let me get to the key to the flat, you can clean up in there, brush your teeth, we can talk.' she reached for him. 'Look Gene-I know you love me, I love you too, we'll have to find another way to sort this out.'
'Alex!' he looked remarkably sober suddenly, 'there isn't another way. Don't you understand? We can't have each other. People need you and people need me and it just so happens that those people are thirty years apart.'
'I can't be here without you' she whimpered, exhausted suddenly.
They reached the Quattro and leaned against it side by side.
'You can.' Gene said, 'Bloody hell, you'll be alright, modern girl like you, thought you'd be in your wotsit at World's End.'
'Element? So did I' admitted Alex, 'It's boring as hell if you must know.'
Gene laughed, 'Pretty damned boring then. Fire and brimstone?'
'He gawps at my tits.' Alex said, 'David Branson-he's all politically correct and pretending he's a modern man but he keeps talking to my chest.'
'Bastard!' Gene said, 'Can't fault his taste though. Want me to have a word?'
'No- it won't be necessary. I'm not going back.' Alex said, moving closer to Gene.
'Don't come too close, I've purged.' he said.
'How much have you had to drink? You're never sick.' she asked.
'Too much I guess. I feel better now though, just need to clean up a bit.' he replied.
'We're both a long way from home aren't we?' Alex said, gazing longingly at her old flat.
Gene nodded and looked around furtively. When he was sure no-one was watching them he took out the keys to the Quattro and held them out to Alex, 'Fancy driving me?'
'Where?' she gulped.
'The place I live.' he said.
'Do I get invited in?' she asked.
He looked around again, 'Yes.'
