OH MY GOODNESS! Firstly a huge apology to those who have been reading this! I'm so sorry it has taken me this long to get this chapter up – I blame my subjects (curse you Statistics!!!)
Secondly a biiiiiig biiiiig thank you goes to Novindalf for her wonderful beta'ing of this chapter! Seriously if it weren't for her most of you would be sitting there going, "What the heck?!"
And once again, I'm really sorry for the delay but I hope this makes up for it!
Playground school bell rings again
Rain clouds come to play again
Has no one told you she's not breathing?
Hello?
I'm your mind giving you someone to talk to
Hello?
Hello – Evanescence
"Well, 'cause he's dead, isn't he?"
Gene stood staring at Chris for what seemed like five minutes. Everyone, including Alex, held their breath, seeing how their boss would react. I bet it's something violent, Alex thought.
To everyone's surprise, Gene calmly said, "Alright then," and walked into his office. He then glanced around before shutting the blinds.
The others immediately turned to Alex who held up her hands in mock defeat. "Don't look at me! I didn't do anything!" A few eyes rolled and Alex was sure she heard Ray scoff but thankfully they all went back to what they were doing. Which seemed to be nothing of any importance; Ray was looking at a 'magazine', Chris was trying to make a rubber band ball and the others were smoking or falling asleep. Only Shaz, as usual, was doing any work; dutifully typing away on some report. And the poor girl's only a WPC.
Alex sat down at her desk, picked up out Kyle's file and began to read.
KYLE THOMAS ROBERTS
DATE OF BIRTH: 8/12/60 – DECEASED: 23/09/81
N/B: Roberts was killed during a drugs raid (More information in file)
CONVICTIONS: Twice arrested for possession and once for dealing.
On the twenty third of September 1981, police raided number 21 Gordon Street. This address is known as a notorious hard front for the sale and possession of narcotics by the SEVEN GANG (see file). Several key people (ADAM "TEETH" HARTLY, MATTHEW "RIGBSY" KINGSLY, FRANKLIN "NAILS" JODIN) were incarcerated during the raid. KYLE ROBERTS was also arrested. ROBERTS (known to police as a dealer and a junkie, but not affiliated with the SEVEN GANG), managed to escape custody, causing a standoff between him and police. Eyewitnesses believe ROBERTS was high on cocaine at the time. After making several threats to police, and firing several shots, ROBERTS was eventually shot three times in the chest by PC CHARLIE HAYE. ROBERTS died at the scene.
Kyle Roberts is the younger brother of PC David Roberts. It should be noted the PC Roberts left the force after the shooting of his brother. Although questioned, PC Roberts has no connection to his brother's activities and did not know the whereabouts of his brother during the investigation and subsequent raid of the hard front.
The report went on, but Alex had what she needed. The most important thing she had gleaned from it was that Kyle had an older brother, an ex-cop too. He needed to be questioned; at the very least he could provide them with more information. She was about to go and get him, Gene but decided against it. In the mood he's in, she thought, he could do anything from offer me a glass of whisky to throw the damn bottle at my head.
This thought ultimately got her thinking about Gene and his behaviour towards her the last few days. It was so unbelievably unlike him but so unbelievably like him at the same time. It made her head hurt even trying to figure out why. Just my luck. I meet my match twenty six years in the bloody past! I … She stopped. Now was not the time. It was time to focus on the case and bring a killer to justice. Or a bloody pulp if Gene had his way. Argh! Get out, get out, get out! Quickly glancing back over the file, Alex called Ray and Chris over to her desk.
"This," she said, pointing to a mug shot of Kyle, "is Kyle Roberts. According to his file, he has a brother, who used to be one of us. I want you two to go around to…er…112 West Road and ask him a few questions."
"Right." Ray nodded, marching off.
"Thanks boss…er…ma'am!" Chris said, taking the outstretched file from Alex. He then smiled proudly at Shaz and dashed after Ray. Alex hid a small smile. It was good to know one of them was pleased about getting some responsibility.
Alex shared a knowing glance with Shaz before turning back to the file. Having a sudden thought, she wondered if sending Ray and Chris off to a potential suspect's house was the right thing to do. But they'd managed to catch Billy Dane so they were bound for another triumph. Right?
Alex's eyes fell on a name she hadn't encountered before in this case. The Seven Gang. Kyle's file said the raid was at a known Seven Gang drug house. Could all this have to do with drugs? It was a small link but might be enough to discover what really happened to Hannah. Alex sighed. Nothing made sense in this case. She'd been involved with case like this before but sooner or later the solution would present itself and the bad guy would go to jail. Simple. But not this time. One murder, three cold cases, a dead suspect, an attack and a raid on a hard front ending with a fatality. Throw in one brain dead, time travelling Detective Inspector and you've got a perfect story line for Doctor Who. Or maybe Desperate Housewives depending on the ending.
I hope it ends with the words 'happily ever after', Alex thought jokingly and she went to find the file on the Seven Gang. On second thoughts, she'd ask Shaz. It was better than reading another file anyway; Alex's eyes were beginning to hurt. She rubbed them. I'm tired, that's all.
"Shaz?"
The 'lobotomized Essex girl' looked up from her typewriter. "Ma'am?"
"What do you know about the Seven Gang?"
Shaz's face contorted as if she was thinking hard. "Are they that drug gang that had a shoot out with police last year?"
Alex was impressed. Was there no end to this girl's knowledge? "Yeah they are. Do you know anything else about them?"
Again her face contorted. "I think there was some inquiry about a PC involvement but that was never proven. They dropped off the radar after the raid and a couple of the leaders were arrested. They say the remaining four merged with a few smaller gangs but we've never heard of anything since then." Shaz looked down at her shoes. "I wrote part of the report see."
Alex smiled. "Thanks Shaz you've been a great help." And she meant it. But she'd find the file anyway.
Shaz blushed. "Oh thanks Ma'am."
Gene sat in his office, swilling whisky. He thought about delving into the bottle – just one more – but decided not. He would get rip-roaring drunk later. But not now. God, he thought bitterly, what the bloody 'ell is this? Goin' soft is what you are! Gene had amazed everyone, himself included, by not exploding earlier. Even he couldn't explain it. It's this blimmin' case, he decided. It had no clues, no leads, and even Gene's top snouts knew nothing. It reminded Gene of the murder of Charlie Witham. Then that got him thinking about Sam. And before he knew it, Gene was heading for the bottom of the whisky bottle.
Trying to occupy himself, Gene tried to see what everyone else was doing through the one broken blind in his office. This way, he decided, if anyone was slacking, he could burst out and yell at them, leaving them wondering how on earth he knew.
Scanning the office his eyes fell on Alex. She had her head buried in another file. Well, at least one of 'em is doin' somethin' useful. Then, unfortunately for Gene – or fortunately depending on how you saw it – Alex looked straight at him, right through the broken blind. As if she'd known all along he'd been watching her. Caught off guard, Gene flailed around for a few seconds, trying to find something to occupy himself with. Alex, sensing Gene's discomfort at being caught, smiled. A true, honest to god, Alex smile. Before Gene actually registered what happened, she had turned back the file.
Bugger, he thought, trying to ignore how much his stomach was flipping around, was that a smile? He was so wrapped up in convincing himself he hadn't seen anything, he realised that he'd missed the tumbler and poured the whisky straight onto his pant crotch. Shit.
When Chris and Ray finally returned from interviewing David Roberts, they had surprisingly little to report. It seemed he lived a quiet life after he'd left the force; he had no convictions and he kept to himself. When Ray had tried to bring up the subject of Kyle, David had blatantly refused to answer any questions about his brother, Grace or Hannah.
"He did say Ma'am," Chris said, noting the look of disappointment on Alex's face, "that he knew his brother had nothing to do with Hannah's murder or any of the other three."
Alex's face lit up. "How did he know that his brother may have been a suspect in this case?" She had remembered Mr. Johnston and his Freudian slip that had led to his arrest.
Ray looked at her with a look that clearly said 'DUH' "Well because we told 'im didn't we."
Damn, Alex thought, I thought we might have had something there.
"Now can we go 'ome?" Ray was continuing. "I've got a date with this hot blonde. She's got a great pai…"
Alex quickly threw up her hands. "Yes thanks Ray, I'd rather not know."
Ray, looking dejected, skulked back to his desk and began telling his bored colleagues about his hot date; at least they looked more enthusiastic than Alex had. Chris was perching on the end of Shaz's desk, trying to persuade her to go to dinner with him later that week. No bloody progress whatsoever! We are getting nowhere!
Alex blew air out of her cheeks in frustration. She stomped back to her desk and unconsciously started tapping out a rhythm with her pen.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
"Ma'am?" Shaz's face loomed into view, scaring Alex.
"Oh god! Shaz! Yes! What can I do for you?"
"Well you see Ma'am, I was wondering if you and…"
Luckily for Alex, Gene chose that exact moment to come out of his office and told everyone to bugger off to Luigi's – in no uncertain terms. Alex quickly made her apologise to Shaz, grabbed her coat and scarpered. She was pretty sure she knew what Shaz was going to say, but decided she didn't want to hear it. If Alex heard one more thing about her and Gene, she was going to scream. Despite her best protests, she knew most people in CID thought they were at it already. But we're not. And we never will be. At least, I think so.
God it was hot. Or was it just her? Fanning her face, Alex stepped out into the cool air. Oooh that's better. She needed to clear her mind. Not really knowing where she was going, Alex began to walk. After about five minutes of auto-pilot walking, she bumped into someone and they both went flying.
"Oh god! I'm so sorry!"Alex was mortified. She stood up and held out her hand to the person she'd knocked over.
"That's quite alright," said a familiar voice. "No harm done."
"Evan?"
"Alex?"
"I'm sorry! I wasn't watching and I…"
"It's okay Alex, really." Evan glanced at his watch. "I'd love to stay and chat but I must be going; I just popped out to get Alex some cough medicine." He held up a paper bag.
"Oh. Is she alright?" Alex was surprised. She couldn't remember when she was sick after her parents had died. Just a sad, little girl, not fully comprehending the situation at hand. When was I sick? I should remember! Why can't I remember?
"Just the flu I think. But I'll tell her you said hi. That'll make her feel better." Evan smiled, and then glanced back at his watch. "Sorry I've really got to go."
"Right. Well goodbye Evan." Alex said, and then shivered. Now it had gone cold. Time to head to Luigi's, she thought.
Thankfully it was warmer in the small trattoria, and Alex sat down at her usual table.
"Where 'ave you been, Sulky Knickers?" Gene asked, pouring her a large glass of wine, which she accepted gratefully.
"Out," she replied curtly. Then regretted it. She didn't mean to snap at Gene; she was just really hungry all of a sudden.
"Oh, sorry then." Gene actually looked hurt.
"I mean…sorry. I'm so hungry."
"Thought you'd be, considering 'ow much you didn't eat today. So I ordered you pineapple rings and sea scallops," Gene said smugly.
"Oh thank you!" Alex replied happily.
"Calm down yer dozy tart - the food's not that good!"
"I know but I'm…" Alex didn't get to finish, as Luigi put her food down in front of her.
"Bon appétito," he said, winking at Gene, then turned and left. Gene glanced at Alex to see if she'd noticed, but she was too busy eating. He didn't think he'd seen Alex eat this much for a long time. Ever, in fact.
"Slow down Bolly, or you'll choke," he warned.
"Can't," she replied, her face full of food. "So hungry."
Gene raised an eyebrow but said nothing. If Alex suddenly choked he would more than gladly volunteer to give her the Heimlich.
Beep
Beep
Beep
Beep
Alex stopped, fork halfway to her mouth. Where is that sound coming from? She listened closely but couldn't hear it again. Satisfied it wasn't anything important, she went back to eating.
Beep
Beep
Beep
Beep.
"Ahh!" Alex almost threw her fork onto the table. "Where is that bloody beeping noise coming from?!"
Gene looked at her. Was she joking? "Bolls, there is nothing beeping."
Alex held up her hand to shush him. "No there is! Listen!"
"Bolly…"
Realisation dawned on Alex. "It's coming from my flat!" She got up and looked at Gene. "Stay here."
Before Gene could reply, she had gone.
"Bloody women," he mumbled, wondering how many puppies he'd kicked in his past life to end up with a DI as crazy as Alex.
Before Alex even made it into her flat, she knew something was wrong. She remembered turning off all the lights before she left, but now a bright light could be seen under the door. What the…?! Slowly, Alex turned the key and opened her door. She could see nothing but the bright light and the repetitive beeping noise.
Beep
Beep
Beep
Beep
Of course! It's my heartbeat! Alex could have kicked herself for being so stupid! How could she have forgotten the phone call from earlier? Putting a hand up to shield the blinding light, she walked forward.
"Not quite the tunnel of light I was hoping for," she joked.
"Mum!" Through the light, Alex could faintly hear Molly's voice.
"Molly?" Alex walked further into the light until she was completely swallowed up by it.
"Mum!"
"Molly?!"
Beep
Beepbeep
Beepbeepbeep
Beepbeepbeepbeep
The beeps got faster and faster until they became just a loud buzzing in the air, like static on television.
Then, silence.
Was that it? she thought. Just another warped hallucination that told her that somehow, somewhere, she was still hooked up to machinery in a hospital in 2008. Still fighting.
A sudden voice blared out into the void. "We've successfully removed her feeding tube Mr. White. Ready to switch off when you are."
Alex lost it. "No! Please! Evan! You can't!" There was no way she was going to stay here. She wanted to leave this place, forget all about Gene Hunt.
"Alright," came another voice, this time it was Evan, sounding sad and tired. "Can we say goodbye?"
The doctor must have nodded because suddenly Alex heard Molly. "Oh mum... I-I... I really don't know what to say. I'd always hoped you'd wake up but I know that you're in a better place now."
Alex could have laughed if she wasn't crying so hard.
Molly, or rather, Molly's voice, continued, "Well I know you know that I love you so I'm going to give you this."
Alex felt something cool and smooth in her right hand.
"No…" Alex whispered, tears streaming down her face, "Not now. Please. Don't go."
Evan's voice came through the light. "Alex," he coughed, "I…I hoped this day would never come. You know that I love you and you've been like my own daughter to me. I will take care of Molly. You have my word."
You'd better, Alex thought. But even the revelation she'd discovered about her parents and Evan still couldn't dampen the feelings of sorrow, sadness and anguish Alex was feeling. She'd miss them both so much.
"Right." It was the doctor's voice again. "It's time."
"No!" Alex screamed. "Please no!" She couldn't breathe. Choking and coughing, she fell to the floor and listened to her own heart stop.
Beep
Beeep
Beeeep
Beeeeep
That was it. Flat line.
The end.
Alex collapsed onto the floor, sobbing.
Then everything went black.
*Shields away from readers* I'm sorry to leave it at another cliffhanger!
I will try update in the next week but I've got an 'Educating Rita' script to learn (I'm Rita xD)
-VerdeTerra
