A/N: Thank you to my ever amazing Beta reader Rantandrumour!
The story is going to start rolling from here on as it is closing in on the end. Thank you for all the lovely reviews, its nice to know what people thing :)
"Well, I have pink wafers," Gene said, "and I talked to Harper, who is without a doubt one of the most repellent bastards I've had the misfortune to meet."
"That is good, about the wafers I mean," Alex said, sitting in the seat next to him, wondering who exactly he had forced into buying him more. "What did Harper have to say? Anything interesting?"
"It took forever to stop him choking on his own crap and get to the ruddy point."
"Is this part of your build-up, so that I know just how tedious your hour of work has been?"
"Damn right it is. I worked hard," Gene grumbled. He took a long gulp of his teeth-rottingly-sweet tea. "And I expect you to appreciate that."
"Oh believe me, I do," Alex smiled into her cup, bracing the china between her lips.
"Is that sarcasm in your voice?" he asked, the sparkle in his eye giving away his amusement despite this poker-straight expression.
"God forbid," she countered in mock shock.
"Then I'll finish what I was saying."
"Please do."
Gene stretched his legs out and rested one arm on the table. "Did i mention what an irritating scrotum Harper is? I nearly gave him what for when he said I was scum."
"Since surely you were marked by the devil," she said, her smile brightening.
"Oh really? Here's me thinking I showered real well this morning," he said, turning towards her to engage fully in the light flirtation.
"Probably missed some behind your ears."
"Sorry about that, maybe you can give me a hand next time," he replied, his lips pouting as he regarded her with darkened eyes before throwing her a cheeky grin.
"Or maybe Harper could show you where you're going wrong?" Alex laughed as the grin disappeared and he shrank back from her with a shiver of disgust.
"Much rather it was you scrubbing my back, love," He set his gaze on her with a mixture of challenge, want and something infinitely darker, before they became once more guarded. "As I was saying before you offered to soap me up-"
"In your dreams."
"Without a doubt," He took a swig of his now luke warm tea. "Al Removals log books are being brought over by plod. He says he only hires the vans out to people moving furniture, but I ain't convinced. Harper's not one to keep his head low, not when he can smell easy money. This is the part you're not going to like."
"What? What did he say?"
"Nothing. Got a message from the Super, Special Twats have got a stick up their arse about us pulling him in. They've thrown a tantrum and we have had to let him go," he said, the aggravation dominating his whole posture.
"What do Special Branch want with him?"
"He slipped through the net when they pulled in Jone's lot."
"Who?" Alex queried "The big heroin shipment last year," At her look of continuing confusion he sighed with exaggerated desperation, "For Christ's sake woman! Last year. Big ship. Heroin and lots of it. Two of Special Branch shot dead. Ring any bells?"
"Oh right sorry. So the business is just a front?"
"Its what the Special Spastics are saying," At Alex's disapproving look Gene continued with deliberate restraint, "Special Branch want us to hand over the investigation."
"You have to be kidding!" She shot up from her seat, unable to remain still any longer.
"Afraid not," he replied eyes following her.
"We don't have any choice do we?"
"Nope, but I have an idea."
Gene strolled out into the main office, Alex racing ahead of him to collect files and ferrying Shaz along with her.
"Raymondo, fire up the photocopier."
"Guv?" Ray asked looking up from his written assessment on WPC Granger.
"As in today, Sergeant. We need everything copied before the Special Bastards get here. Christopher, if they ask Plod has not got back with Harper's hire logs."
"But they're on Drake's desk."
"Then bloody hide 'em!" Gene growled, his illusion of patience slipping.
"On it, Guv." Chris winked, then screwed his eyes shut and immediately regretting having done so, went to rub at his eyes.
"Christopher!" he banged his fist down on Ray's table, knocking the wobbly contents of his ashtray across the table.
"Sorry, Guv."
"Sometimes I feel like I'm working in a nursery."
Alex pressed the phone to her ear after the second ring, nodding an abrupt and if possible rude dismissal to the officers who had come to collect the case files on Harper and the ongoing investigation into finding her daughter and in a clear voice she stated her rank and name to the caller, her tone filled with warmth and professional politeness. It was the complete opposite of her DCI's "Hunt" which was abruptly to the point and left the person on the end of the line feeling like they had interrupted him at some crucial moment.
She smiled, remembering the faulting stammers of his almost admittance to his usually hidden feelings the night before.
"DI Drake, how can I help?"
"Your daughter is where home used to be."
"Harper? Harper, is that you?" Alex asked in a breathless rush. Her smile was gone, and her professional exterior was wavering somewhat as she held it together.
"I'm anonymous, do you hear? My name stays out of this. You know where to find her."
"Wait, Harp-" At the sound of the conversation being finalised with the connection cutting, Alex silenced herself and quickly put the phone down at the fear of Evan's voice finding a way to call out to her.
With a deep breath, Alex steadied herself while considering her options. She knew instinctively that there was no way in hell she would be able to get out of CID alone, her departure would be too obvious, but neither was she willing to risk half of the station turning up on her doorstep. Alex took another deep breath. She knew what she had to do.
Thanks for reading!
