Everything was finally beginning to come together and everyone apart from Susan Wright and Nigel Carter were present at the hospital. Few of them were harmed but it was Mark Latimer who actually stood to lose everything. His pregnant wife and teenage daughter were both fighting for their lives in separate wards. What pained him most was that he wasn't allowed in to see either of them and the police had arrived to question him. They were hinting at suspicions he knew more than he was letting on about how the casualties had come to harm. It was infuriating him beyond belief that he was being quizzed about these things. The guilt of Beth's accident was playing on his mind but where Chloe was concerned he had no idea and was still trying to piece it altogether himself.
Alex had yet to be reunited with Ellie but he was relieved to have discovered she was well and that also Tom seemed to be making a full recovery. What he hadn't yet heard was all the news surrounding the Latimer's. He was tied up in phone calls trying to convince the superintendent that it was Nigel Carter they needed to track and locate. He definitely held key information not only to the disappearance of Miller but also to the death of Danny Latimer. Of this information Alec was certain. He was practically yelling to get his point across when the call came to an abrupt end. The Super had heard enough, she wasn't convinced at all and had yelled something back in a distorted angry voice before terminating the conversation. Annoyed Alec acted out, punching the nearest wall and then flinching at the pain because he had hit with more impact than he had intended to. Speaking to Miller was his only hope, maybe she could convince the Super that there was something more.
Sat by her son's bedside Ellie was feeling tearful. She had done all that was necessary, letting her sister know she was alright and cheekily asking if she could have Fred for another night. Time was all distorted to Ellie, day feeling like night and vice versa, she just wanted everything to be returned too normal. Alec barging in certainly disturbed her and somewhat ruined the tranquillity of the peace in Tom's room. He wasn't badly injured just suffering from the effects of the chloroform he had been drugged with. The doctor's had told his mother that due to the amount of the substance he had inhaled recovery could take longer than normal. It had come to fruition that Nigel had been careless and therefore had overdosed her son with a dangerous level of the toxin. Ellie a normally very forgiving person vowed not to be in this case, Nigel could not, should not and would not be forgiven if her precious little boy didn't pull through this.
"How is he?" asked Alec politely. He was eager to know but he was more eager to find out what Ellie might know that could be of some help.
She had teary eyes as she turned and looked up to him to repeat what the doctors had told her. She choked on the words, not quite able to come to terms with them when saying them properly out loud for the first time. Alec instantly sympathised, typical once he had become a fan of someone. This is why he usually kept his distance; in their field there was little room or time for emotional attachment. He had trained himself to pull away from it but where Ellie was concerned he now valued her as a friend. In an act very out of character he swooped down and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She appreciated the sentiment but it just worsened her tears. She looked back to her son and felt useless; there was nothing she could do.
"What information did you get Miller?" Alec asked.
Ellie smiled, typical Alec she thought always sticking to a bit of normality, even given the situation. She wasn't mad though she quite appreciated it.
"Not a lot" she declared sadly. She couldn't tell him any more than he already knew but she too suspected that Nigel Carter was somehow involved in the murder of Danny Latimer. She didn't confirm her suspicions though to Alec, she didn't need to because he already knew. Looking at her in a quizzical way he almost demanded that she admit what she was thinking but she couldn't bring herself too.
"You know I can't help thinking…it could have been Tom next" she stated sadly as she looked back to her son again and reached for his hand. It was then that she felt Alec's sympathetic hand squeeze her shoulder. It made her look back round and to him. After a moment of silence she was ready to say what she hadn't wanted to only minutes before. Swallowing the hard, dry lump that had formed in her throat she felt her eyes well up all over again. "I think Nigel knows something"
"Yes!" Cheered Alec loudly as though he was watching a football game and his team had just scored.
"Tell this to the Super Miller, she will believe you. I need this case re-opened with us on it if we are going to prove what we know" he sparked enthusiastically but truth be told Ellie wasn't ready for this. He seemed so excited though, like he had a tiny bit more hope, yet she wanted nothing more than to dash it. Her son had to come first but being the kind person she was, Ellie was sure that compromise could be made.
"Bring the Super to me here and I'll try" she offered. With that Alec couldn't have disappeared any quicker.
Nigel was exhausted and figured he must have been driving now for over an hour. He pulled up on the roadside and cut the engine off as he began to chuckle. He found it hysterical that he had managed to run himself out of town when all this time he had been trying to drive his mother away to keep his secret a secret. Now it had nothing to do with her at all and he had dug this compromising hole for himself. It was a shame he thought that his run in with Detective Hardy was so unproductive. Eventually his hysterical laughter turned into heaving sobs as he broke down in realisation that now all he could do was run. His plans to dispose of those who suspected him had been scuppered and so going home was not an option.
Hours had passed and the Super still hadn't come to visit Ellie Miller but on the plus side Tom was starting to come around. It filled her with relief that he was waking up but the doctors had warned her his state and condition would remain unknown until he had fully gained consciousness and they could start running tests. With just that little bit of hope though Ellie was feeling more positive. She didn't want to leave Tom's side but she was more than eager to tell Detective Hardy the good news. The next nurse that came in found herself collared by Ellie and asked to find Alec so that he could return inside. As her son's eyes opened for the first time she was all heart and mother and then when he spoke a hint of detective started to shine through.
After questioning Tom Ellie had learned how he'd come to be in Nigel's van, where they had gone and what had happened to him before he had been dragged inside to her upon that cliff. What Tom was concealing were the fears he had about Susan and what he had seen the night before when he had snuck out of the B & B. He didn't want to tell her because he was frightened of the stranger and her dog now despite having been so friendly upon first meeting. He gave a weak little cough and closed his eyes again. The doctors proud that he was well and able to relive past events told Ellie there would be no permanent damage to her son's health and for that she was grateful. Sat back in silence it was Alec who broke it, having finally returned with the superintendent. They all crowded into the little room and as Tom rested Ellie told them all that he had told her and confirmed her own suspicions also.
From what she had heard Elaine couldn't deny there was sufficient evidence and witnesses to convict Nigel, but not in connection to Danny Latimer. In the case of kidnapping and cause of bodily harm where Tom, Chloe and Ellie were concerned he was to be tracked down and arrested. This excited both Ellie and Alec, it was a step closer to the concealed truth. It was just a shame given the circumstances it had had to happen this way. An instant search was started to locate Nigel and it was spread around the bordering counties in case he had managed to get out of town, which was highly likely. Now all they could do was wait again and pray he hadn't travelled too far.
Sat alone Nigel was now vividly reliving the events from the night of Danny Latimer's death. He and his estranged mother were the only two who knew the real truth behind what had happened that fateful night. It had been a relief for him the day Joe Miller had confessed taking all responsibility for the murder only because he thought that had been the end of it. But in hindsight now he should have known that the past wouldn't leave him and would one day return to haunt him. Now he couldn't shake the images and vivid reconstructions he was imaging. Danny Latimer's death was still accidental but Nigel had convinced himself that the young boy had bought it upon himself.
When Danny had woken on the beach he had gasped for breath, his temporary loss of oxygen having left him desperate to regulate and return to normal. He had sat up almost like a body possessed and stared out to the ocean as he had done this and come to terms with the realisation of what had happened. He had looked all around confused by what had happened and how he had come to be on the beach only to discover he was alone. Struggling in the sand he stood himself up and stumbled along finding keeping his footing steady in such a dizzy state difficult. He had wandered along the beach, away from the town rather than towards it as he knew he could take the short cut home by walking along the bay. This was where he would find himself in trouble. Having not realised and abandoning his skateboard at the original scene, Danny made his way around the cliffs. This was when he noticed the shadow of two people standing huddled and smoking. He approached with caution but hoped they could help him get home.
"Danny" exclaimed Dean as he came into view. Nigel hadn't yet noticed him, but Dean's announcement caused him to jump round and face his mate's son. He gave a smile and Danny smiled also. He stood awkwardly not knowing what to say to the man and the teenager he usually hung out with because he wasn't quite sure why they were there. He innocently confided in them that he didn't know what had happened, especially when Nigel started to question why he was out so late after he hadn't met up with them earlier. Not wanting to tell about his secret relationship with Mr Miller Danny made up and excuse about having been walking on the beach and that he had been coming to meet them when he must have blacked out of something. Both of the guys bought the story. Turning their back they instructed Danny to wait just a minute and then they would get him safely home. Waiting patiently Danny tried not to get involved but he couldn't help overhearing his sister's name mentioned and witnessing the exchange of what was a white powdery substance in a small plastic bag.
Gasping loudly he knew what was happening and went to run when Nigel suddenly grabbed him as he shouted to Dean to disappear. Doing as he was instructed Dean ran, not looking back once and filled with panic. Nigel's hands tightened around the boy's neck, in the exact same place where Joe's had earlier. With considerably more force Nigel strangled Danny until this time he had crushed the windpipe completely. The little boy went limp and Nigel dropped him back to the sand having shocked himself by what he had done. At least it was a result of one thing, Danny could never blab about the drugs. Suddenly finding himself panicked Nigel scooped the body up and ran back round onto the beach where there was more sand and the tide wasn't so high. He had listened to Danny when he had said he'd just woken up round there and figured that by returning him to the original crime scene it would take him out of the picture.
It took him a while and he hoped no one was suspiciously watching him as he searched but he almost tripped over Danny's skateboard as it blocked his path. It provided him with the exact location and he could see partly the indent where Danny's body had originally left. It was just what he had been looking for. Carefully he placed the boy back down, positioning him so that it looked as though he hadn't moved. Quite proud of himself he stood up and clapped the sand off of his hands when a coughing came from over his shoulder. Flying round Nigel glared back to see Susan Wright. Smoking she slowly approached her son and looked down.
"Looks accidental, doesn't it?" Nigel asked her. Susan nodded.
It certainly did but wasn't believable. She reached down dropping her fag butt and swiping up the skateboard. Now that looked better and would certainly baffle the cops. Convincing anybody that Danny had skated off the cliff edge was impossible but with no real evidence they would only deem the circumstances of death, as unknown and the case would fizzle out. After that they both left, heading in their separate directions, Nigel with his guilt and Susan with the skateboard they both hoped none of this would be traced back to them. Covering up and helping Nigel was something Susan felt she owed him but she prayed this wouldn't backfire on them.
It was a bit of a manhunt tracking down Nigel Carter but eventually he was pulled heading north on the motorway. A police car that had just happened to overhear the details of the van only minutes before he had passed them had seen him. It was certainly a turn up for the books because they had been thinking it would take days if not longer to locate someone who had already had so many hours to make headway. They chased after him with lights flashing for a mile or so before they finally managed to get him trapped using the back up called and having forced him off the road had finally after a struggle managed to get him cuffed and into the back of the police van.
Now sat in the cold confines of a cell all Nigel could do was wait to be called for his interview. What he was unaware of was that whilst he was sat torturing himself with the panic he felt, Susan Wright had be called in and was currently being pressed for information following the fresh clues Ellie and Alec had managed to convince the force were important. She wasn't saying much but her body language said more than her words ever would. She knew something and she wasn't ever going to reveal just what it was. Acting only on suspicion though meant they could do nothing to hold her or place her under arrest. What they needed was going to have to come from Nigel himself, a confession.
Alec given the circumstances shouldn't have been but was granted the approval to conduct Nigel's interrogation and filled with a mix of anxious and excited emotions he couldn't wait to get started. With Ellie he was prepping the interview room and the tension between them became very heated and tense as they discussed what could potentially come of all this when they found themselves just inches apart and silence fell. In that one heated moment they both had a sparkle in their eyes and knew exactly what was about to happen between them. Their chemistry was just on fire, unbelievable and unstoppable and in a passionate moment beyond both their control their lips touched. It was just for a second before their arrestee was thrust through the doorway. Quickly pulling away from each other they awkwardly exchanged a glance and then Alec took a seat opposite the chair, which was to be occupied by Nigel Carter as Ellie was escorted by one of the officers. Now the real challenge begun it was up to Alec to try and draw from this mysterious man the truth and he prayed it would pay off.