Chapter 10 - Revelations

Alex entered CID with a sigh; she hated Mondays. She could never seem to get out of bed, Molly was more often than not in a rotten mood and the traffic was always horrendous. She had just sat in a queue for over 30 minutes on the way from Molly's school to work, making her 15 minutes late. Her journey time had doubled all because of some idiot who had thought it would be a good idea to run a red light and cause an accident. She took of her jacket and was just about to sit down when the door to Gene's office opened and the man himself stood there, surveying his kingdom. He was finally back after taking 2 weeks off to deal with 'personal issues'. Lucy had been discharged from hospital last weekend and Gene had remained in Manchester to make sure she was okay and settled into life back at home. Alex had hoped to get in before him this morning and have a quick word with Ray and Chris about making the Guv's return as easy as possible but the traffic had obviously put paid to that idea.

"Nice of yer ter join us DI Drake. My office!" To the rest of his team it probably appeared that he was annoyed with her for being late, but she could see in his eyes that that wasn't the case. She followed him into his office and allowed him to close the door behind her. "Yer late," he commented. He wasn't angry with her; he'd just expected her to be here when he arrived. When she wasn't here panic had risen within him.

"Sorry. I took Molly to school. Traffic was a nightmare," she explained, before asking, "Have you told them yet?" They'd discussed at length over the past week whether or not to tell the team why Gene had been off. Eventually after talking it through with Lucy it was decided that they would tell them the bare minimum; they deserved that at least. They would fill Ray and Chris in a bit more if they felt it necessary.

"Not yet. I were waiting for you."

"Well there's no time like the present," Alex told him, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible.

"'Old up, Bolly! Before we go out there, would yer care to tell me what that is?" Gene pointed to a large pile of folders that was currently taking over Shaz's desk.

"It's paperwork. Mostly reports, some arrest diaries-"

"Yes Drake I can see that. Thanks fer statin' the bleedin' obvious. What I mean is what is it doin' there? Why 'asn't it bin done?"

"Well Shaz went off on maternity leave last week remember? Doctor's orders. And the powers that be haven't yet granted us a replacement."

"Why the 'ell not?" Gene asked abruptly, before sighing, "I'll get on to the Super this afternoon. In the meantime, do yer think you could…" he nodded his head in the direction of the cluttered desk.

"Me? I'm a DI; wouldn't my talents be better used elsewhere?"

"Oh come on Bolly. It'll take Chris and Ray 'alf the day just ter work out which end o' the pen ter use. You could 'ave that lot finished by lunchtime." Alex relented; she had no argument against that. It would take her a lot less time than it would any of the others.

"Okay, but you owe me."

"What kinda payment do yer require?" he asked, a glint in his eye.

"Oh don't worry. I'll be sure to let you know," she replied, teasingly. "Now come on. We've got a job to do." Alex opened the door to the outer chamber and strode towards her desk. Instead of sitting in her chair as she normally would, she perched on the front. Gene followed her out a few minutes later.

"Right you lot, listen up. I've got summat ter say and I ain't plannin' on repeatin' meself." Everyone stopped and all eyes were focussed on Gene. "I wanted ter tell yer why I've bin off." Gene paused; he wasn't sure he could do this. His gaze quickly found Alex's and she gave him a discreet nod of encouragement. He drew strength from the look of complete devotion in her eyes and took a deep breath. "My daughter, Lucy was attacked coming 'ome from a day out in Manchester with friends, and I've bin up there dealin' with it." The members of the department looked at each other in shock; they'd met Lucy a few months before when she'd visited Gene and her bubbly personality had charmed them all.

"She alright Boss?" asked Chris. Having known Lucy from a young age both he and Ray felt a deep affection, and even a hint of responsibility, for her.

"She's gettin' there, but I'm goin' ter be goin' back up ter Manchester most weekends fer the foreseeable future so it'll be Bolly dealin' with anythin' that comes up while I'm not around.

"They got the scumbag Guv?" enquired Ray. His question threw Alex back to the last Thursday evening when she'd received the call from Gene...

***Flashback***

"Mum, it's for you!" Molly had called after she'd answered the phone. Alex wandered over and took the phone her daughter was holding out to her. "It's Gene," Molly had informed her with a smile.

"Hey you," she'd said chirpily, but her face had dropped when she got no response. "Gene?" she'd asked again and heard him take a deep breath.

"They've got 'im Bolls!" he'd said. Being very tired after a long day, she hadn't grasped his meaning at first.

"Got who?" she'd asked.

"The little scrote who attacked Lucy!" he'd told her; venom lacing his voice as he spoke about him.

"They've arrested him?"

"Yes Bolly; this afternoon. Try an' keep up."

"Sorry. Long Day," she'd explained, hating herself for not handling the situation better. "Well? Who is he?"

"Matthew Baker. Went to Luce's college; was in the year above 'er," Gene had told her and then he'd gone on to explain that Matthew asked Lucy out a couple of times but she'd said no because he was a bit of trouble maker. That he'd been out in town that night when he had spotted the group of friends. He'd followed them and, as Lucy bid goodbye to her friends, hid down the alley so he wouldn't be noticed and when Lucy had chosen to cut through the alley because of the rain, he'd taken his chance.

"He's admitted it?" Alex had asked, needing confirmation.

"Yeh. Yer not the only one good at the psycho-twattery yer know. Cartwright's not bad either." Alex had breathed a sigh of relief hearing that the Baker had owned up to what he'd done; thankful that Lucy may not have to go through the trauma of testifying at a trial.

"Does Lucy know?"

"Yeh; she's ain't really said much about it though."

"Give her time Gene; she'll still be processing. It will help in time though; knowing he's in custody, that he can't hurt her anymore." Alex had dreaded the answer to her next question but had known that it had to be asked, "H-have you seen him?"

"No. Not fer want o' tryin' though. But Annie wouldn't let me. See she's got this annoyin' 'abit of doin' things 'by the book'; a bit like a couple of other coppers I could mention." Alex had smiled at Gene's comment and the reference to Sam, and she'd made a mental note to thank Annie for not letting Gene anywhere near Baker; God knows what state he would've been in and what damage would have been done to Lucy's case if Gene'd got his hands on him.

"It wouldn't do any good Gene; beating him to within an inch of his life."

"It'd make me feel better!"

"Maybe, but the enjoyment would only be fleeting. I know you're going to hate me for saying this, but Annie did the right thing."

"Hmm," she'd heard him murmur in a non-committal way before changing the subject completely, "So what's been 'appenin' in the office then Bolls?"

***End Flashback***

Alex was brought back to the present by the sounds of Gene's voice, answering Ray's question,

"Yes Raymundo. Annie took great pleasure in arrestin' 'im; she's got a right hook that could rival Lady Bolls over there. An' Phyllis gave 'im just the welcome 'e deserved; made sure she found the perfect cell fer 'im." Ray and Chris winced at the thought; Phyllis was a formidable woman "Any more questions?" barked Gene, "No? Right then, back ter work." Gene turned on his heel and returned to his office, shutting the door behind him.

CID returned to its usual flurry of activity, with everyone getting on with their workloads. All that is except Alex, Ray and Chris. Alex just stared at Gene's door, desperately wanting to march in there and comfort him but knowing that that wouldn't be what he wanted; he had to maintain his tough bravado with the rest of the team. Ray and Chris looked at each other and then at their DI. Realisation dawned as they took in the expression on her face.

"You knew didn't yer?" Ray asked, getting Alex's attention. She nodded grimly. "Why didn't yer tell us?"

"Ge- The Guv asked me not to say anything."

"Why? At least then we'd have known what were goin' on!" Ray replied.

"What I don't get," added Chris, "is why the Guv need's to go back up there every weekend just for a simple muggin'." Ray nodded in agreement and they both looked at Alex expectantly; waiting for an explanation.

"It's a little bit more complicated than that." She took one more glance at Gene's closed door and realising that he was probably in no mood to elaborate on the events of the past few weeks turned to her confused colleagues and lowered her voice, "Let's go somewhere else and I'll explain."

Once Alex had filled Ray and Chris in on the more repellent aspects of Lucy's situation and they'd both threatened to "kill the bastard" she sent them out on a job; hoping that it would prove to be a suitable distraction and they would calm down. She wandered slowly back up to CID and knocked lightly on Gene's door before entering.

"When yer knock, yer supposed to wait ter be invited in." There was no malice in his words, but he wasn't teasing either; his voice was void of all emotion.

"I'll bear that in mind," she lied. "I've sent Ray and Chris out to re-visit the crime scene." Gene looked up at her questioningly. It was a simple drugs bust and they had the scumbags in custody; there was no particular need to go back there and he knew it. "I wanted to give them some time to calm down," explained Alex, "I had to tell them the full story and they didn't take it too well." Gene opened his mouth to respond but Alex, fearing he was going to rebuke her for her actions, cut him off. "I'm sorry but I didn't have much choice. They knew there was something you weren't saying and that I knew what it was. It was either that or have them come in here and confront you about it themselves."

"I...er...good job Bolly." He didn't need to say thank you; the relieved smile on his face said it all. He hadn't particularly wanted to tell them; it took him all his time to talk to Alex about it. "Right then, fill me in properly on this current case. Where we up to?"

Over the next few days things in CID gradually got back to normal. Nothing more was said in the department about Lucy or her attack, although Ray and Chris had been a bit more sensitive around Gene. Gene himself had perked up as well; Lucy was still progressing well and his departure didn't seem to have had a negative effect; she was coping as well as you'd expect. She had dropped out of college however, something which didn't particularly please Gene but she felt she couldn't cope with her studies at the moment and he knew she'd go back when she felt able.

Thursday evening came and Gene shipped everyone off to Luigi's to get the drinks in, leaving the office empty apart from him and Alex. She was finishing off the last bit of a report and he'd offered to wait and then walk over with her. Gene had petitioned the Super for a temporary replacement for Shaz, but had been told that there was little chance of it happening. With the recession, every department was having to tighten their belts. Alex wasn't best pleased about this and was determined that she was not going to be stuck with all the reports from now until Shaz returned; she'd even gone so far as devising a rota!

"Nearly done," Alex informed Gene, "you go and get your coat and keys while I just finish off." Gene did as he was told, entering his office and gathering his belongings.

"Finished," she called, pulling the last piece of paper from the typewriter.

"Come on then Bolls, let's get outta here!" he called from his office pulling his coat of the hook, "The sooner we get to Luigi's the sooner we can leave." He was so busy talking that he didn't hear the double doors to CID open and continued on oblivious. "I spotted a nice bottle of single malt in yer kitchen this morning, and I believe there was also mention of you an' me gettin' an early night," he added suggestively.

"Gene…" Alex called from the outer office. He simply rolled his eyes; she was always nagging. She'd been mithering him since Tuesday about 'going public' about their relationship and this morning he'd finally given in and promised they could talk about it that night.

"I know, I know; we need to talk about 'ow ter tell the rabble about us."

"I…um…I don't think that will be necessary," stammered Alex.

"What the bloody 'ell are yer on about woman?" he asked as he walked back into the outer office, "Yer the one who's been goin' on abo-" Gene stopped dead in his tracks as he saw Ray and Chris stood there; Ray smirking and Chris just looking confused.

Ha ha! Am I cruel to leave it there?