They made their way to the marketplace to see where the best vantage point was before going inside the police station. Mickey went to a stall to get some drinks and took them back to where Jake had perched himself on a wall.
"He won't come out if he sees us Jake," Mickey commented. "He must have noticed us getting off the ferry yesterday."
"Yeah but that won't mean anything to him if he killed the other DI. Best hope he doesn't go for Alec or any of the others when they try to stop him getting to Rose. I'll take the first watch, come back in two hours and don't go in the police station," Jake warned him.
"Why not?" Mickey asked, drinking his coffee.
"Don't be stupid, Alec hates having a staring contest with you," Jake grinned.
Mickey tried not to be offended. "Thought you meant the killer might see me?"
Mickey got up and Jake shook his head. He sincerely hoped this was all over by tonight because Alec being ill or not, something would erupt between the two men if Mickey were to stay overnight at their villa. It would end with him having to intervene so maybe it would be best if it was all still going on that he stayed again, it was better him seeing Rose and the detective making out at breakfast than Mickey.
Everyone inside the station was trying to get on with their enquiries and Dwayne was busy informing all the other stations that their wanted man was now on the island but they'd be alerted if he left though Alec had already said if the man left, it would be to the mainland somewhere.
Camille was busy keeping track of the man's movements since the two other officers had been sent out by Alec to do random patrols because they were making him nervous. He'd sent them to places Dwayne had pointed out the man would most likely go to arm himself again and possibly get a fake passport to get off the island either with or without Rose as a hostage. Well he hoped the man would take Rose hostage rather than the alternative.
Rose was trying not to think about what might happen once they left the relative safety of the station later on and that the man would just get it over with and make a move. Alec kept glancing over at the woman he was falling in love with and knew he was just as nervous as she was, it wasn't doing his heart condition any good but neither was what they'd attempted last night. When they'd woken up, Rose had been giggling quietly as he'd pressed himself on her, making it obvious only one thing stood in the way of him climbing on top of her properly but he'd been assured they would try to make a compromise that night.
Now he was finding it difficult to not imagine what that may involve as Rose was watching him. She got up to make a drink and took one over to his desk, getting a smile from Camille and a 'hope they do something' look from Dwayne. She perched on the side of his desk as he took the mug of tea.
"This is drivin' me nuts Alec," she told him, sipping on the tea.
Alec put the mug down and took her free hand, leaning down to kiss the back of it and hoping the commissioner wouldn't walk in.
"I know, maybe we should force his hand?" he asked.
"You mean by me going out before home time?" Rose wondered.
"Don't put yourself in danger Rose," Camille tried to warn her friend.
"Why not?" Rose asked as Alec let go of her hand, which had felt reassuring.
"Camille's right Rose, we need to control when he goes for you, he could be anywhere on the island planning his move and if he sees you, he could take us all by surprise. No, we have to make it tonight, we have to make it look like we have let our guard down and give him a chance to go for you."
"What if we're wrong?" Camille asked. Alec looked over at her. "I mean what if he doesn't try to grab her and positions himself to just take a shot at her? Sorry Rose but we have to face reality, he may not waste time capturing you."
"Geez Camille thanks, that makes me feel a lot better," Rose tried to joke.
"No, maybe Camille is right?" Alec mused, seeing the look on Rose's face. "He may be just hiding somewhere around the marketplace waiting for you to go outside."
"Yeah but wouldn't he have tried when I arrived?" Rose asked, trying to keep her cool.
"No because the marketplace was quiet, we would have spotted him once he took a shot at you. By waiting until you leave, the stallholders will be packing away, they will give him the cover he needs. Camille, where does the other path lead to?"
"Just around the back to the church. Do you think Holmes will try to get around there?"
"No, he's a coward and wouldn't want to face three officers," Dwayne joined in. "I mean he shot the inspector because he didn't want to get caught stealing jewellery, he won't go up against the odds of getting away without being caught. I think he will just try and grab her, not shoot her, give himself leverage to get off the island."
"I hope you are right Dwayne," Camille told him. "Do you think he'll time it with a ferry leaving the island and try to take Rose with him?" she asked Alec.
"That is a possibility but that would only mean he does not intend letting her go once he reached the mainland. Sorry Rose."
Rose looked at him. "Yeah, I know that's a possibility but Jake and Mickey are out there, he won't get far. He'll probably think if he doesn't see them both around that they're waiting somewhere else for me, he may get careless."
Alec pulled her towards him and whispered in her ear. "I won't let that happen Rose."
Rose leaned forward and put her arms around his neck. "I know Alec."
They heard an 'Hmm' from Camille, reminding them they weren't alone and Dwayne chuckling to himself.
"Back to work?" Camille smiled. "Don't let the commissioner catch you," she reminded them as Rose got up.
"Don't let me catch who Detective Sergeant Bordey?" they heard the commissioner say as he entered, reminding Alec that anyone could walk in and hold a gun at them when they felt like it.
Rose was trying not to look guilty she was standing by Alec's desk for no other reason than him trying to comfort her.
"Good morning Sir," Camille greeted him.
"Good morning team, how are things going?" the commissioner asked as Rose went back to her desk.
"I have the two other officers out looking for the killer Commissioner," Alec told him. "They have been told not to make it obvious though, I don't want Holmes to go into hiding and spring anything on us. Officer Myers, perhaps it will be a good idea to close those back window shutters? We were just discussing if the killer is still armed and if he may make an unexpected move from a distance and aim at Sergeant Tyler."
Rose shuddered at being reminded she was the target.
"Ah, I see Inspector," the commissioner replied, taking off his hat and mopping his brow with a clean handkerchief and wondering why Alec had ordered the wooden shutters at the back to be closed in this heat. He hoped he wasn't going to get a huge bill for the fans working overtime. "Carry on. Detective Inspector, may I have a word – outside?"
Alec figured it was either about Rose's safety or the fact they had just shared an intimate moment and he'd seen them. He got up and followed the commissioner outside.
"How is Sergeant Tyler holding up Alec?" the commissioner asked him.
"Fairly well under the circumstances. We are putting a plan into place to draw out Poole's killer."
"Good, I am pleased to hear that, we don't want this dragging on any longer than need be. Did her friends arrive?"
"Yes Sir, they are out in the marketplace somewhere keeping watch but we are going to give the killer an opportunity later on to go after her."
"Using her as the bait? I trust she agrees with that?" the commissioner wanted to know.
"She knows what it involves but we don't believe the man will try and shoot her, he'll know he'll never get off the island this time if he does," Alec told him.
"Indeed, you still have an alert out at the harbour and the airport?" Alec was asked.
"Yes and if he tries to use her to board a boat or a plane he won't get away. We suspect he'll be trying to get a false passport and a weapon so the other officers are keeping an eye on where he is most likely to get them from but we want him to make his move, then we have him."
"So your officers will let him get what he needs and report back? Why not just have him arrested?" the commissioner wanted to know.
"He could still deny it was him who shot Poole and robbed the jewellery store, this way, it will prove his guilt if he goes for her," Alec explained.
"I see Inspector, a good plan as long as Sergeant Tyler is safe?" the commissioner asked him.
"She will, I guarantee her safety. He will make a grab for her as she goes home, we are going to give him the chance by just the two of us going out, DS Bordey and officer Myers will remain inside but watching from vantage points. The other two officers will be in the marketplace along with her two friends."
"You are taking this very personally Alec, any reason?"
Alec was reluctant to say anything but his superior would find out when Rose asked for some leave.
"She invited me to stay with her when I arrived, we have become good friends."
"Is that all Alec? You will be leaving when this is all over," the commissioner pointed out.
Alec didn't need reminding of that. "I know Sir, we have talked about it but I am still here for as long as it takes."
"There is no policy that officers cannot be involved as long as it does not interfere with your work Alec. Just make sure you both know what you are getting into." With that, the commissioner put his hat back on and patted Alec's shoulder. "Carry on Inspector."
Alec went back inside and stopped in front of Rose's desk.
"I am going out when the other two get back, I want three in at all times. Camille, you are with me, if Holmes sees us changing over, he'll relax a little by tonight."
Rose relayed the message to JC that Alec wanted them back, which prompted JP to ask his brother what had been going on between the sergeant and the inspector.
"I don't know JP," his brother tried to tell him as they walked past Catherine's bar. "The only thing I saw was the other night when Dwayne and Camille left them alone and they left early. I think he may be staying with her."
JP laughed, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You think so brother? He had better be more than just staying with her, she's Rose Tyler you know?"
JC already knew that and Dwayne had been late to the party in discovering who she was though he'd not wanted to tell the experienced officer that and had pretended it was news to him. As they entered the station, Alec got up and indicated to Camille he was leaving.
"Time you showed me around DS Bordey," he told her. "None of you are to leave until I get back, understood?"
"Yes chief," Dwayne replied for everyone. "We get it but if there are any calls, one of us will have to leave."
"Well call DS Bordey if you do and we will come back. Any sign of Holmes while you were out?" he asked JC.
"No Sir, only what I told you already. We spoke to several people who might be able to help him and they all deny seeing him since he came back."
"That doesn't mean he's not already been there," Camille pointed out as she put her bag over her shoulder, Alec wondering what it as with women who did that.
"Maybe so but we can't prove that," Dwayne joined in. "I could go and see them, they will talk to me."
"Later" Alec replied, looking at Rose, who wasn't happy he was going out since she'd already lost one boss. "DS Bordey and I will make a few more enquiries, starting at the harbour. Holmes may have been asking various ferry times or who has a boat for hire. He won't risk taking a plane from here, he will go where he thinks no-one will ask any questions."
"Are you sending us down to the harbour again?" JC asked him.
"Not right away, I want you two to be wandering the marketplace when we both leave and if he does manage to grab Sergeant Tyler, DS Bordey will have them hold any ferries or boats that are due to leave. He won't get off the island with or without her."
He leaned down to talk to Rose.
"You be careful out there Alec," Rose told him quietly.
"I won't be on my own, unlike DI Poole," he replied, touching her shoulder and rubbing it with his thumb, getting him a 'hmm' from Camille.
"Relax Rose, I can look after him for you," Camille smiled at her friend. "We can take a walk to the harbour and speak to the harbourmaster if you want Sir?"
Why had he even agreed to come to an island? "No, you can go talk to the harbourmaster, I had enough of being there yesterday."
Camille looked at Rose for an answer as to what it was with him and water, she'd not said anything about how uncomfortable he'd looked yesterday. They were interrupted by Jake checking in with Rose.
"Any sign of him Jake?" Rose asked hopefully.
"Nah, sorry, not seen him the last two hours or so. Mickey's taking over but tell those two uniforms not to pick us up for suspicious behaviour," he joked.
"Alec's been keeping them busy and now they're on protection duty, Alec and Camille are going out."
"Is that wise? The man just killed one officer," Jake asked worriedly.
"He had a reason, he can't have anything against anyone other than me."
Alec was surprised how well she seemed to be coping with it all.
"Mickey's here now, if he doesn't draw any attention, no-one will," Jake laughed.
"Yeah, he would. See you later then?" Rose asked him.
Alec decided to leave his jacket on the back of the chair and put his mobile in his shirt pocket.
"Call me for anything Rose," he told her, wanting to kiss her goodbye.
"Yeah, I will, just you be careful out there."
"As long as I stay away from water, I will be fine," he replied.
Camille was determined she was going to find out what he had against it. After Alec and Camille had left, Rose tried to relax but it didn't help that the others were pretending not to look at her.
"What?" Rose asked as she looked around.
"Nothing Rose, just pretend we're not here," Dwayne grinned.
"Easy for you to say when you stare at me more than the boss does," Rose replied, trying to avoid calling him Alec in front of three junior officers.
As Alec and Camille were walking past Catherine's bar, her mother spotted them and called after Camille.
"How are you settling down Alec?" she asked him, Alec resigning himself to never being able to get them to stop using his first name.
"Fine though it is still too hot," he relied, just to be polite.
"Did you find somewhere to stay?" she continued.
"Yes, I am staying with someone," he replied, not wanting to give too much away but his DS had probably already told her, if she'd not seen them go off together.
Once they had excused themselves, they made their way down past where the robbery had taken place, Alec not entirely happy they had taken that route then back around towards the harbour. A ferry was tied up and Camille left him and approached the ferry captain. As she looked back whilst talking, she could see her temporary boss wasn't doing so well in close proximity to the water.
They went inside the harbourmaster's office and Alec decided they may as well put the precautions into play, Camille explaining that if the police were to ring, no boat was to leave the island. The man agreed.
"Is this to do with the robbery the other day?" he asked. "Your two officers were down here earlier, talking to boat owners. It didn't do much good when the man got off the island before."
Alec thought that was because no-one knew what had happened.
"We are not asking you to apprehend the man, just find an excuse not to let any boats leave, we will do the rest," Alec told him.
They made their way back to the station, both on the lookout for Billy Holmes but he was in his hotel room planning his next move. He knew he couldn't kill Rose Tyler, he wouldn't be safe anywhere since she was the stepdaughter of one of the most influential men in the country and he had just discovered Pete Tyler was the director of an organisation known as Torchwood. There would be agents scouring the world for him so holding her hostage to leave was his best option.
He had the gun he'd paid over the odds for along with his fake passport so he would force her into the car he'd seen her get out of that morning, make her drive the short distance to the harbour and hijack a speedboat. He'd had no chance to arrange a getaway this time, those two nosy officers had been hanging around talking to boat owners so he'd have to risk someone being on board a fast boat so that the police couldn't chase him.
The only thing bothering him was he couldn't take the hostage with him because he'd seen what looked like Poole's replacement and the blonde get out of her car and they'd looked very friendly, to say he'd only been on the island a few days – unless they'd known each other before. So now, along with everyone else, he was waiting for them finishing work and hoped just the two of them would emerge from the safety of the police station.
He'd been careful to stay out of their way while he'd been out so hopefully, they would think he was planning on waiting a little longer. Twenty minutes before Rose was meant to leave, Alec was pacing the floor of the small police station. Dwayne was trying to look at Alec and his screen at the same time, JC and JP were out but Camille had called them to tell them to start walking back towards the marketplace but to only stay at a safe distance so as not to spook their suspect.
Alec gave up and put his jacket on after switching his monitor off with five minutes to go. Camille was eyeing him.
"Not leaving early are you Sir?" she had to ask as Rose tidied her desk.
"By the time he's finished fussing, it will be five," Rose grinned.
"I am not fussin'" Alec insisted, crossing to her desk.
"Hmm, not much," Rose teased him.
"Right, Rose and I will make our way to her car," Alec told her as she got up. "Camille, check with the other two and make sure they are out of sight then you and Officer Myers keep watch out of the windows but don't let yourselves be seen. Rose, call your friends, tell them we are coming out."
Camille called JC as Rose called Jake.
"Yeah, I'm already facing the marketplace, Mickey's sat just at the edge, stuffing his face as usual," Jake told her.
Alec held his hand out for the phone.
"Just stay where you are if he goes for her, let him get her in the car first," Alec told him.
"He's not getting away with her," Jake insisted.
"I know that but we can add kidnapping to the charges if he gets her in and makes her prepare to drive off. Did you talk to that stallholder?" he asked.
Rose looked at him to explain.
"I will tell you later," Alec said to her.
"Yeah, he's gonna wait until he sees Rose reverse the car then he'll pull his stall out and block the way. It cost me twenty dollars but it'll be worth it."
"Good, I'm sure you can afford it in your job," Alec told him.
Jake laughed. "Mickey's gonna watch and as soon as Holmes makes his move and occupied with getting Rose in the car, he'll get closer, same as me."
"Right, we are coming out now, stay alert Jake," Alec continued as Rose came out of the rest room.
"Ready when you are Alec," Rose told him, putting her handbag on her shoulder.
Alec took her hand to lead her out as Camille sent a message to JC. "Then let us hope this works."
Rose hoped it would but then Alec would be going home without her and she would have to stay for the trial and a replacement because somehow, she didn't think either of them would be back.