Chapter Nine
Alex and Gene entered the club, flashing their badges at a disinterested girl tidying up behind the bar. The room was deserted and dimly lit, bar the stage, where a spotlight illuminated a shiny steel pole.
"You should 'ave one of those in your flat, Bolly," said Gene.
Alex rolled her eyes, "can you be serious for one minute this is a murder investigation in case you'd forgotten."
"Alright woman, nagging like a bloody wife already, come on, out the back," he said steering her towards a side door. Alex glared at him.
"I meant the office, you randy tart," he responded with a hint of amusement.
It was equally deserted, but raised voices echoed down the hallway from inside the office, followed by a crash. The door burst open and a young man came hurtling down the hall, his head down, hugging his stomach with one arm. He barged past Alex, catching her eye as he went. She recognised those eyes immediately; it was Burns, a look of fear on his face, evidently in pain.
Gene hollered after him, but he kept going, looking back only briefly as he made his way out through a fire exit. Realising who it was Gene made to pursue him, Alex stopped him.
"He's on bail, Guv, leave him, we're here to speak to Rainer."
Scowling, he agreed grudgingly and continued on toward the room Burns had come from. Two voices could still be heard inside, a woman screeching in a foreign language, Eastern European by the sound of it, followed by a man with a broad cockney accent commanding her to shut up, before another thud, suggesting he had struck the woman.
Gene flung open the door and strode in, followed by Alex. The girl was cowering down covering her face with her hands.
"Can I help you?" he spat arrogantly, curling his lip at the affront of the intruders, it was Rainer.
Alex scanned him. He was not unattractive to look at, tall, slim, slicked back dark hair. A thin scar trailed the outside of his eye. Those cold, piercing, grey eyes made Alex feel uneasy. He was dressed like a typical city boy, blue and white striped shirt with white collar and cuffs, red braces and tie, all part of that aspiration and need to be a somebody.
"DCI Hunt," he said showing his warrant card, "I sincerely hope so sunshine."
Gene looked down at the girl and back up at Rainer with disgust. Rainer gave an unspoken signal for her to leave and she scurried out obediently without a word. Alex watched her; she was as sorry a sight as Burns.
"The body of Jimmy Wilkes was found this morning, affectionately known as Jimmy the Magpie. You killed him." Gene said in a matter of fact manner.
"Don't know him; sorry you've wasted my time, now run along like a good copper," he was smug and arrogant, his disdain for the law evident in his words and manner.
"But you do know Andy Burns, I've just seen him leaving your office," Alex said moving forward as she saw Gene's temper begin to flare.
"Who might you be darling?" he said stepping into Alex's personal space.
"DI Drake," she said determinedly, looking searchingly into those cold eyes.
"Well DI Drake, if you ever fancy a career change, I could use a girl like you, high class, there'd be plenty pay good money for your services," he leant around her, "not bad from the back either."
Alex recoiled in disgust as Gene dragged him away from her slamming him up to the wall. Rainer was pinned now, despite his height almost lifted clean off the ground. For a second Alex saw that same rage in him she had seen after the mugging, a need to defend her.
"Big mistake," Rainer hissed.
"You've upset my DI, that upsets me, now say sorry to the lady," he raised his knee up to inflict the most damage. Rainer groaned, but no apology was forthcoming.
"Not only did yer murder Jimmy the Magpie, you are responsible for 'alf the vice in this city and I don't like it. Now say sorry to the lady, like a good bastard," Gene said as he raised his knee again. This time he managed a hoarsely forced out 'sorry' and Hunt released his grip, eyeballing him as he left.
Out in the corridor the girl leant back with one foot flat to the wall behind her. She took a slow draw on her cigarette and exhaled through her nose. Her dark hair was lank, her skin deathly white. Her eyes were dark and empty, fixed on the opposite wall. She was dressed in a shabby fur coat and a short skirt that showed pale bruised legs, desperately thin like the rest of her. Gene stopped and looked at her. She wasn't much older than Sarah, but her lifestyle had clearly taken its toll on her.
"You know love, you and yer shitty little rent boy mate should really 'ave a good think about the company you keep," Gene looked her up and down, horrified at the sight of such a young girl in such a terrible state.
"Andy, he not bad man," her accent was strong. "He," she said as her head jerked sharply toward Rainer's office, "he is bad man."
"Who are yer?" Gene questioned.
"I am no one, I am nothing," she exhaled again, the blank expressionless eyes still fixed on the wall.
"Which is it no one or nothing?" an impatient Gene questioned, "and since when did Toms get all deep and philosophical?"
"Ania," her stare finally broke as she turned her head. Her lip was swollen and fading bruises stained her pale flesh.
"So why didn't you leg it like your little friend?"
"Nowhere to run," she shrugged.
Alex looked at the girl with concern, "we can help, you know," she offered.
The girl snorted and once more fixed her gaze on the opposite wall. Gene set off down the corridor. Alex paused, hopeful she could somehow get through to the girl, help her out of this situation. In the meantime Rainer had clearly recovered and appeared at the door.
"Don't pay you to talk," he snapped and the girl reluctantly turned and headed back in the direction of the office. Rainer grinned menacingly at Alex as she turned to follow Gene.
Gene sat silently, gripping the steering wheel. Alex climbed in to the car beside him. He looked at her expectantly. She gave him a confused look.
"Isn't this the part where you rant at me for roughin' up the suspect?" Hunt said anticipating her usual speech about his temper.
Alex considered for a moment. She had wondered how recent events might alter their working relationship, felt almost touched that he had leapt to her defence like that, and felt protective over her. It went against the grain, surprised her that her fierce independence and desire to be treated as an equal was so easily shaken by Gene Hunt. She would normally have challenged him, knowing it was a waste of time, but doing it anyway to prove a point, provoke a reaction.
"It would be a waste of breath if I did, besides it was pretty restrained...for you."
Gene nodded and examined his watch, "drink?" he asked mindful of her earlier suggestion. He was asking her for far more than that.
"Nagging wife?" she questioned playfully.
Gene smiled. One of those smiles that made her stomach twist into knots, "if the cap fits, Bolly?" he said as the engine roared into life and the car pulled away.
She could only laugh and secretly wonder just how serious his intentions were. The morning after conversation had been somewhat awkward and brief. Just enjoy it for now, stop thinking about everything, just this once. She was imploring herself to just put one foot in front of the other instead of leaping ahead of herself and jumping to conclusions. She'd made enough of an idiot doing that for one week.
As the Quattro pulled up at the flat, the rest of CID was piling into Luigi's. Alex and Gene looked at each other, the thorny subject of publicising their relationship, if there was indeed going to be one, was an issue that would, at some point need to be discussed. Perhaps now wasn't the time. There was nothing to tell. The moment's silence seemed much longer, neither keen to be first. It was Alex who spoke.
"They've all seen us, we should go in."
"If yer don't want me goin' upstairs you only 'ave to say," his manner uncomfortable, he didn't look at her.
Alex was taken aback by his insecurity. She expected him to be the one to insist on secrecy, it didn't seem to bother him in reality.
"No...I do...I really want you to," she reached out and put her hand on his knee. Gene stiffened in his seat and swallowed, his fingers brushed hers, the slightest of touches, but enough to conjure the memory of the previous night. Their eyes met, just that look dried her throat a little. Alex Drake modern woman was de-evolving before her very own eyes and she didn't even seem to mind.
"Just a bit, well obvious, I didn't think you'd want them to know...yet," her last word almost a question.
Gene nodded, "right then, quick drink, you go, I'll follow."
He watched her climb of the car and blew out the air from his lungs, "might not just be the drink that's quick," he whispered to himself as he followed Alex in to Luigi's.
Gene took up his usual seat in the corner, depositing a pint in front of Ray. A Gene Hunt apology. Alex made a conscious effort to chat to the others, but was evidently preoccupied; her gaze darting in Gene's direction as they silently flirted across the room. She finally emptied her glass.
"Right," she announced so that everyone would hear, "I am in urgent need of my bed," in perhaps an overly exaggerated manner, stretching and faking a yawn for effect and to disguise the smirk that fought at the corner of her mouth. It suddenly occurred to her it was ridiculously early to be going to bed, at least alone. Gene avoided looking at her as the others said goodnight, albeit with raised eye brows. As she stood up to leave, she stopped in her tracks.
Rainer blocked her path, flanked by two other steely eyed men, both heavy set, their necks disappearing into wide shoulders.
"Hunt," he snarled with aggressive intent.
Gene rose to his feet, quickly followed by Ray, then Chris, a domino effect rippled around the table as they all responded, ready to rally to his defence. Davey Rainer and his two henchmen didn't move.
"I'm not staying, no need to buy me a drink, just thought I'd give you an opportunity to apologise, you know you if you weren't filth I could use a man like you in my enterprises, nothing that requires too much thinking. We are alike, you and I, get things done any means necessary. As I said, there's work for you and your lady friend," he said leering in Alex's direction.
"I'm nothing like you. Glad to see yer feelin' better Davey, which one of yer boyfriends kissed yer balls better?" Hunt retorted nodding in the direction of the two bodyguards, Ray and the others guffawing in support.
Rainer balled his fists and gritted his teeth, "so be it, Hunt, I've been a generous man, so far. You'll be sorry. Come on Gents; let's leave the pigs to their swill, besides, things to do," his cold eyes boring into Alex, his grin evil. He turned laughing as he left.
She looked at Gene, "just words, Guv, he's got something to prove, we'll get him, the right way." He sat back down and the others followed suit. Slowly the noise level crept up and Alex slipped out up the stairs to the flat.
