Disclaimer not mine.
I know not much happened in the last chapter. I hope this one makes up for that.
Quack Quack.
Alex glanced at Gene as he leant against the doorway. So far it was obvious he was less than impressed with what the doctor was telling them. She smiled politely but silently she agreed with Gene. The doctor was not telling them the truth. She leant forward in the chair as Gene narrowed his eyes.
"So." She started. Her cut glass accent clearly grating on the man in front of her. "Arthur Layton became a patient here in March of last year."
"That's right." Dr Evans smiled as she nodded.
"And he was treated by yourself."
"Yes."
"Look, Doc." Gene butted in as Alex watched the thin man opposite her. "We know 'e was 'ere for a few months. What we wanna know is, how does a man with the diagnosis you gave him end up just walking out of 'ere?"
"I can assure you DCI Hunt. Layton did not just walk out of here as you put it."
"No?" Gene pushed himself away from the wall as Alex stood. She knew him well enough to know what was coming next.
"No."
"Then how the bleedin 'ell did 'e get out of 'ere? Levitation? Walk through the sodding wall? You know what I think." He stepped closer to the doctor as Alex swore under her breath.
"What's that?" The doctor smirked.
"One of your staff 'elped him. He walked out of here alright. Right under your sodding nose!"
"I do not like what you are insinuating."
"And I don't like the fact I have had to tell the parents and partners of five young women that they ain't gonna see their wives and daughters again!" Gene was almost nose to nose with the doctor when Alex rested a hand on his chest. He stepped back as the doctor tried to regain some face.
"Thank you Dr Evans." She turned to face him. "We'll be in touch." She narrowed her eyes at Gene as he turned and marched out of the door.
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"I don't like this." Annie sighed as Sam read the report over her shoulder. "The police in Canberra were keen to get Layton back on UK soil."
"I don't blame them for that."
"No." Annie sighed as the words began to blur on the page in front of her. "But read this." Sam reached over and picked up the paper, focusing on the paragraph his wife had pointed out.
"They didn't think he was mentally ill."
"No."
"So why did he end up in a secure psychiatric unit?" Ray asked as he walked in carrying his mug of tea.
"No idea, but I reckon we better talk to the court. Find out why the Judge wanted him committed for psychiatric evaluation." Sam narrowed his eyes as he read on.
"Sod that." Ray scoffed. "We'd be better off finding him."
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"What was all that about?" Alex stormed ahead of Gene as he raised his eyebrow.
"What are you on about now?"
"In there." She pointed at the front door of the hospital. "You throwing your weight about."
"I was not throwing my weight about." He grabbed her wrist forcing her to turn and look at him. "He was hiding something. You know it and I know it. He 'elped that scumbag avoid prison."
"We dont know that."
"Alex." Gene loosened his grip on her wrist when he saw the familiar look in her eyes. He had got too close. He was scaring her. Again. He dropped her arm as he stepped back.
"Ok, we know it." She conceeded "But we can't prove it. That is the problem."
"RIght." Gene looked at the floor. "You tell me, how are we gonna do that then? The quack in there aint gonna say anything that might incriminate him. Annie 'as already requested the medical records and Shaz and Chris are going over the files we finally got from Vice. None of which tell us what he is gonna do next. Or who is 'elping him."
"No." Alex folded her arms across her chest as Gene's words washed over her. "But I think I know. You're forgetting Gene. I wrote the profile on him. He's still going to be heavily into violence, probably still high on drugs. He was a small time dealer before he went on the run. I think he must still have contacts."
"Ok then."
"Gene." Alex tugged on his arm. "If he does, if he is still on drugs then he is more dangerous than ever. He's killing more often. If he keeps working to this pattern then we are running out of time."
"Spit it out Bolls."
"If we don't catch him in the next twenty four to forty eight hours I think we will have another victim on our hands."
"Christ on a bike." Gene ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair as he held Alex's gaze. He knew she was right but the thought that he was just too slow to stop the monster terrified him.
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"According to this." Annie pulled her denim jacket on as she spoke. "He is a devout catholic."
"How can he be religious with what he has done?" Chris asked as he watched the DS grab her handbag. Sam tried to ring Gene again, getting more and more frustrated as the phone went to answerphone again.
"You'd be surprised." Sam shook his head sadly as Annie almost jogged CID office. Chris raised an eyebrow as Ray shot him a look before running after his colleagues.
"Well?" Shaz raised an eyebrow, mimiking the look of her senior officers.
"You think I should follow them?"
"Yes Chris." Shaz smiled as he ran out after Ray. She couldn't help but smile as she turned back to the case file on her desk. Her smile didn't last long.
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"You really believe that?" Gene gunned the engine of the bright red Audi TT as Alex nodded.
"If he sticks to the pattern." Her hand gripped at the car seat as Gene negotiated the Fenchurch traffic at break neck speed. He glanced in the rear view mirror and swore before swerving the car around the corner to patch of wasteland. "Gene?"
"We're being followed."
"What?" She turned in her seat as Gene did the best handbreak turn of his life. Tears screeched in protest as Alex tried her best not to join in the cacophany. Gene narrowed his eyes.
"Stubborn little sods." He pulled out the radio. "Do me a favour Bolls. Get some back up. I'm supposed to be the one doing the chasing." Before Alex could say another word her head hit the side of the car as Gene lost control, sending the Audi down the embankment into the lake below.
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A/N Who was chasing them? Are they ok? Is Alex going to break up with Gene and can Annie and Molly make them see sense? Please review.
