Chapter 10: Nervous Excitement.

Max threw a handful of folders down on the table in the hallway, before tossing his coat onto the hook opposite the front door. He sighed as he walked through to the open plan kitchen and lounge, he could hear Lexi pottering around in the kitchen, he had never realised how enjoyable it could be to look forward to returning to domestic bliss. Turning to him wooden spoon in hand Lexi offered him a warm smile, her brow then furrowed with concern.

"What's wrong? You look stressed." She queried

"Nothing, what's for dinner? You know I've told you I don't expect you to put my dinner on the table every night" Max tried to shrug off the questions by wrapping his arms around her slim waist as he spoke.

"I don't have much else to do at home all day, so we are having pasta bake – not very exciting I'm afraid. Now I may not be a detective like you, but I can tell something is wrong – out with it" Lexi demanded.

"Well you know how I was moaning about everything being a nightmare yesterday and Monday because Robert wasn't in the office so there were certain things I couldn't get finished because I needed his signature or whatever?" He began

"Spoken like a true office worker!"

"Hmmm yeah, well today was even worse – he was back, and every time I had to speak to him, he asked about you – constantly. I popped out to get some milk and when I came back he was sat at my desk holding your photo. It makes me mad, I wanted to smack him in the face and tell him to stuff it all!" Max explained grumpily.

"Poor you." Lexi soothed rubbing circles on his back "I didn't know that you had my photo on your desk" She couldn't help but grin slightly.

"Of course I have a photo of my good lady wife on my desk. Proper married couple we are!" He winked at her

"Well just think of it this way – it's Wednesday now, and by the close of play on Friday this will all be over and we can go back to normal and you won't have to go into that ridiculous warehouse anymore." Lexi placated him with reasoning.

"True, although I don't think I want to return my normal life in all respects." He gave her a meaningful look before dipping his head to place a kiss on her lips.

Friday morning dawned; both Max and Lexi woke earlier than their alarms with a nervous excitement and dread filling their stomachs. Lexi stood at the balcony's sliding doors watching the drizzle that fell from the grey sky. Max handed her a mug of steaming coffee, she half grinned to herself.

"Do you think they'd notice if I pinched that coffee maker – I've got used to having decent coffee in the morning!" She jested without turning to look at him. Max made a mental note to purchase a similar coffee maker for Lexi's happiness when the operation was over. His hand went to squeeze her shoulder, Lexi jumped. "Sorry – I don't know why I'm just so on edge this morning. All we have to do is wait for the drugs to arrive and then give the signal for the cavalry to move in and make the arrests. There's just something...oh I don't know – maybe it's the weather!"

"A few hours and it will all be over!" Max assured her, encouraging her to lean back into his chest, which she did so willingly.

Max left for the warehouse at his usual time, not wishing to appear too keen, despite the fact he was perfectly ready to leave half an hour earlier than his routine. His departure left Lexi feeling anxious, although she had no reason to, this was their job, it was the very event they had been working towards for weeks; prioritising it above everything else. Just before lunch the buzzer sounded, she answered it to be told that there was a delivery of flowers for her from Mr Barton, she pushed the button to unlock the secure door smiling to herself at Max's kindness, waiting for the door bell to ring. When it did, Lexi opened it enthusiastically but found there were no flowers waiting for her – only two of Tremaine's men with menacing looks on their ugly faces.

Some time later, Lexi regained consciousness; with dawning horror she realised that her hands and feet were bound and her face was covered with a dark cloth bag. The last thing she remembered was opening the door to be faced with two rather large men and then blackness. Her thoughts flew to Max, if they had discovered that they were undercover police officers then he was in danger; but it just didn't make sense, why kidnap her? Her heart thudded against her ribcage as she heard footsteps approaching in the distance. She could hear voices and a door opening, more footsteps and then what sounded like a laptop being set up. A few moments later, Lexi heard the voice of Robert Tremaine, but it sounded strangely distant, finally she remembered to breath and her brain tried to rationalise the situation. Laptop and distant voices, could Tremaine be on some kind of video link? The voices became louder and the conversation clearer, it was indeed Tremaine.

"Well then Max, you know what you are expected to do; but I have a lot of money and my reputation riding on this so I needed some kind of insurance, I'm sure that you understand."

"Of course – but I can't afford to give you any money, I need the extra income from this Robert you know that" Lexi heard Max's voice reply calmly.

"Indeed – that is why I have another insurance policy – look at this video link."

In Tremaine's office at his main warehouse Max did as he was bid, the bottom dropped out of his stomach as he saw the picture on the screen. He saw the figure of a female tied to a hardback chair with her head covered. He recognised the dark grey long cardigan she was wearing, Lexi had purchased it on Sunday morning, when they had gone to find Max some new shirts. Tremaine barked out some orders and the bag was pulled from her head, she squinted into the new level of light that was inflicted upon her eyes. It was without doubt Lexi. Her blonde hair had started to curl and her forehead was shiny with sweat after being enclosed in the material bag.

"Let her go now!" Max yelled, slamming his fists on the desk in genuine anguish, hearing his voice Lexi focused her gaze onto the screen her eyes pleading with him to help her. Tremaine pressed a button to end the call and smirked at Max.

"Now you know that if you do anything other than what I tell you, your darling wife will be the one who pays for it. I take it we understand each other."

Max had no choice but to go along with everything Tremaine had planned for the shipment in order to ensure Lexi's safety. He also knew that he would have to get a message to his colleagues and inform them of the dire trouble Lexi was in and to hold back on the raid and arrests. He swallowed as he realised that the last time he had felt panic as terrible as this was the moment he had heard the shot ring out and seen Tom, his best friend sinking to the floor, agony on his face. He could not lose another person he cared for.