Rose had got home, she was surprised her mother was out on one of her shopping trips. She'd only called in to get a few CD's to play later, since Alec had said there was wine in the fridge and they could relax without her having to rush around in the morning since he was going to take her to work. She heard the door buzzer and told Sadie she would see who it was, since the other woman was covered in flour.
She was unhappy when she opened it, forgetting to look through the small glass panel, not that you could see much.
"Jack. What do you want?"
"Hello to you too Rose, long time no see huh? Is your mother at home?"
Lucky for Jackie, she wasn't.
"No, she went out, I've no idea when she'll be back. Like I said, what do you want?"
"I heard there was an incident at the local school dance?"
"Bad news travels fast. How did you know about it?" As if she didn't already know.
"I make it my business to know. So are you gonna invite me in?"
Rose shook her head and looked around. "Where's your other half?"
"In the car, why did you want to say hello?"
"No thanks. You should leave, I'm going out soon."
"Maybe I could take you somewhere?"
"No thanks, my boyfriend wouldn't approve."
"Ah, the detective inspector? We've met."
"Then you know what you have to contend with if you don't leave?"
"Why, are you gonna call him just because I decided to pay you a visit?"
"Should I? If you leave now, I won't have to call him, will I?"
"He's getting in my way, teaming up with your father."
"He's not teaming up with him, he's doing his job."
"If you say so. I'm gonna make your father an offer he can't refuse."
"So? What's that to do with me?"
"You'll find out. Been nice seeing you, don't stay away so long next time."
Jack walked off to the car where Ianto was waiting.
"Well, I take it she wasn't in then?" Ianto asked, relieved.
"Never mind, it was Rose I wanted to see, it must be her day off. We can use that to our advantage next week."
"Why wait until next week?"
"Because I have to work on her father, away from her boyfriend, he spoiled things last time, I have to get Tyler on his own for my plan to work. In the meantime, you keep an eye on her, drop me at the arcade then if she's going out, find out where."
"Right boss, then I'll go back and pick you up shall I?"
"No, I'll walk back to Weymouth, what do you think?"
Alec had left the arcade after assuring Pete he could handle Harkness if he went after Rose and he was hoping the man wouldn't risk going after her again and once she got moved, neither Harkness or his goon would know where she was. He went back to the station to tell the chief Rose had agreed to drop the charges against Nigel Carter.
"I'm pleased to hear that Alec," the chief told him, tossing the file on her desk. "You must have some influence with her."
"If you mean by her being my girlfriend, I was not advising her as that. It would be in her best interests if she did not have to testify in court, Carter is a waste of time. Did I tell you I believe Harkness put him up to attacking her?"
"I believe so but he didn't exactly attack her from the statements. If his intention was to send a message to her father, maybe he deliberately delayed to give you time to find her?"
"I doubt that, he was just too slow and I should have realised she would not be gone that long. If he had hurt her in any way, we would not be having this conversation."
"I can understand you want to protect her. Do you think Harkness will try something else?"
"Undoubtedly but I will be ready for him. Now, about these plans Mr Tyler has for the town. I tried to get him to confide in me but even now I am going out with his daughter, he is not willing to trust me. I think I will pay a visit to the council offices after lunch and find out who is on his side."
"Don't go upsetting the councillors Alec, they won't thank you."
"I got Miller to find out how the arcade got extended opening hours, it was very clever the way he did it."
"Care to enlighten me?" Elaine asked, looking up from another file.
"Not at present, my investigations are still ongoing, I will tell you when I have completed them."
"Well don't take too long with them, the schools break up next week and the town will get busy."
"So will the arcade. Surely the town council could provide some alternative entertainment for the kids?"
"They've never bothered before and it's too late now."
"When I was a kid, we found things to do beside spend our pocket-money on arcade games."
"Times have changed Alec, you might have gone out playing football but boys prefer to play with their game consoles or on the arcade games."
"Well, if Tyler plans on going ahead, we'll have even more to worry about though it beats me where he's going to carry out his plans."
"Yes, I was wondering that, I'd heard rumours a while back he was planning something big but wherever it is, it's right under our noses."
"That is what bothers me, why can't I see it?" Alec wondered.
"Maybe we do and don't want to admit it in case we are wrong?"
"You mean maybe one of the car parks? It would make sense he wants to stay close to the harbour."
"It's as good a place as any, it depends how big his plan is."
"As long as it is not the car park near me and my girlfriend is moving down that way."
"Maybe that will put him off then?" Elaine asked.
"I sincerely hope so."
He went back to his office until it was time to go meet Rose, which he was looking forward to and found that now, he'd not be happy at the thought of not meeting for lunch. She had been right, how had this happened so quickly? He managed to avoid his DS but as he was leaving the station, Olly was waiting across the road by the wall.
"Have you seen this week's 'Echo'?" Olly asked Alec as he crossed over.
"Should I have done?"
"I did an article about the dance, since you never gave a statement."
"I told your aunt to do that, did she not take care of it?"
"She issued a statement but it was too late, I had to go to print on Monday night."
"You had better not have mentioned any names."
"Don't worry, I didn't but there are a few photos of you and Rose dancing."
"They had better not be close-ups then," he warned the reporter just as Rose came around the corner on the other side and waved. "Now, disappear and if I see any photos of us having lunch there will be trouble."
Olly grinned and waved to Rose then turned to go back towards the town but as Alec and Rose greeted each other, he'd turned around and taken a photo of Rose with her arms around Alec's neck and kissing his cheek. He thought it was a pity she never chose to snog the detective in public.
After lunch, Alec making her smile by wearing his rimless glasses to read the menu, they walked around onto the seafront and sat on the wall.
"You could have got one of those apartments over there," Alec indicated.
"They're tiny and beside, you should see the waves coming over the wall when it's stormy."
"No thanks. That was why I asked about the beach cottage. Rose, I found one of those girls in the river, I can't look at water in a friendly way, well not like as in it coming up the beach to where I am considering living."
"We'll be fine, don't worry. Can't you go in water at all?"
"I managed the other day but that is my limit."
"We could go to the swimming pool one day?"
"I will think about it. I told the chief you were dropping the charges though I did not say I thought Harkness would take care of it."
"Alec, he came around this morning, wanting to see my mum."
"What? You should have called me right away. What did he want?"
"He never said but he knows about us."
"Well he would, since we've been in the paper this morning."
"I hope it was nothing much, my mum will go mad. He left anyway, I never let him in, I bet he went to the arcade."
"I was there earlier, trying to persuade your father to let me in on his plan. I am going up to the town hall later, see what I can find out, if he's put in for permission anywhere, it should have been published in the paper so who is hiding it?"
"Speaking of hiding, we shouldn't hide from the paper Alec, we should let people see we're happy."
"Well maybe I just want to keep you all to myself eh?" he smiled, putting his arm around her. "Are you going shopping?"
"Yeah, I'm off up to the supermarket, I think I'll get a taxi from home. Want anything bringing back?"
"No, just anything that you want. I will be back just after five, all being well. I will call if I am going to be late. I hope you did not put one of those photos you took of me on your phone screen?"
"Guilty. No, just kidding, they're only for me. You got me thinking, about where my dad's planning something."
"The chief and I reckon it is one of the large car parks but since there are three, it could be any of them but I doubt it is the one furthest away. You could be moving close by."
"No, I don't think it's a car park, they're all council owned."
"Exactly, what better way if he has friends on the council?"
Rose was staring at the apartments.
"Alec, look over there."
"Where?" he asked, seeing the apartment blocks. "What are you looking at?"
"Just look," she nodded across the road.
"All I see is apartments but a lot of them look empty. Do they fill up during the summer?"
"I think so, I don't take much notice. I saw some old photos of the esplanade from the 1920's, this part was known as 'Bungalow Town' because of all the shacks and chalets. It gets packed here during summer, especially when there are events on."
"What sort of events? No-one has told me."
Rose smiled and kissed his cheek. It was nice to sit without thinking she was going to be late back to work and Alec could please himself, he could always claim he was making enquiries for one thing or another.
"You think it's quiet? Make the most of it, trust me. There are loads of events coming up, lifeboat day, they play water polo in the harbour, in August there's the carnival up in the town that comes down here, then power boat racing, trips around the harbour and the coastline and not forgetting the fair and the agriculture show."
"Finished?"
"Oh, I forgot the music festivals nearby."
"I expect you attend most of them?" he smiled, squeezing her hand.
"Yeah, most of them. We can go together, you'll get away with attending in an official capacity."
"So I will. So, what are we looking at then?" he asked as she stared across the road.
"Alec, it's in front of us."
"What is?"
"Call yourself a detective? It's staring us in the face. My dad's plans."
"No, are you certain it's not one of the car parks?"
"I'm not sure but it's a great place and at one time, like I said, it was all housing before these apartments were built. I doubt anyone will miss them."
"No, if he builds here, it will get busier, where will people park?"
"Alec, there's a car park on the corner that's free overnight. We can't say anything to my dad, I could be wrong."
"Well I have a bad feeling you are not. I should get back to work, some of us have not got the day off."
No-one was around so he turned and put his finger on her chin, angling his face to kiss her. Rose felt herself melting as their lips touched for a few moments, not nearly long enough for either of them. Rose knew she was falling in love with him.
"Well, if your father plans for something here, it will take some doing. I will see you later then. Do you need money for groceries?"
"Nah, I'm fine. We'll have to talk about the arrangements for the cottage when I get moved."
"Well at least we won't have another arcade on our doorstep."
"Alec, he won't be planning on just an arcade, trust me."
"You mean worse? Maybe a casino?"
"At least."
"It can't happen Rose, this is a quiet relaxing seaside town, he will be turning it into the southern version of Blackpool."
"I'm sure there are casinos down this part of the country?"
"That is what Harkness suspects, that's why he is so interested. Rose, he won't stop if he thinks it will happen. Promise me, if he comes near you again, you will call the station and say I said they have to send someone to you and get them to tell me. Don't stay on your own for too long either, stay where there are people."
"Alec, that's going a bit far."
"Is it? He has tried to get to you twice already, maybe a third time. Rose, I am moving in with you on Saturday, I am not leaving you on your own."
"Fine but that's not the only reason you're moving in, is it?"
"No. I hate all those steps," he grinned, kissing her again.
They kissed goodbye and he watched until she walked through the side gate of her house, Rose waving. Now he had to go tell his chief he thought he had a reason Harkness was going after her but he couldn't tell his chief their theory. He should go and confront her father but they could be completely wrong but what if they weren't?
After Jack and Ianto had left Rose, Jack disappointed Jackie hadn't been there for his plan to work, they went down to the arcade as Alec had just left. Mickey had seen them outside and he knew he should go warn Pete but surely he'd seen them on CCTV? Tony was in the change desk because Mavis was having the morning off and he couldn't wait to get out so when he saw Jack walking towards him, he felt like he was on display.
"Hey Tony, enjoying yourself?" Ianto laughed.
"Stay out here Ianto, I need to talk to Tyler on my own, no interruptions today, got it?" Jack told him. "Don't go wandering off yet, I might need you."
"Yes Jack, got it. Don't go calling your sister's boyfriend Tony," Ianto told him as Jack knocked on the office door.
"I wasn't going to."
"We just came from your house, your mum was out."
"It's her shopping day, dad goes mad when he gets home."
Pete knew who it was when he heard a knock on the door. "What do you want Harkness?"
"You're the second Tyler who's asked me that today."
"Were you bothering my wife again?"
"No, she was out but I had a pleasant chat with Rose, she looks more beautiful every time I see her."
"You stay away from her, she's spoken for."
"Yeah, I already know. Nice photos of them both in the paper."
"What photos?"
"Of the dance, them getting all smoochy. I'd go get a copy if I were you. There were no names about that scuffle outside but I'm guessing it was what Rose was involved in?"
"You know it was and I told you to stay away from my house."
"Relax, Rose never even let me in."
"Well you stay away from her and the house. What did you come here for?"
"Some negotiations without being interrupted. You've been planning something for a long time now, when's it gonna happen?"
"Like I would tell you? You're wasting your time Harkness, you won't find out."
"I could if I went to the council, see who's helping you."
"Like anyone's going to admit that," Pete scoffed, wishing for some interruption but Ianto would be preventing Mickey coming in.
"Well, maybe if I ask around, go to the planning department and see what they have on file or are they hiding it?"
Pete remained silent.
"Oh, well if I ask about planning permission for an arcade, they'll have to admit someone else has already applied. I will find out Tyler. You have until Monday to think it over, then I want an answer. Let me in on your plan 50/50 and you talk to Rose about ditching Hardy. That way if he gets dumped, he'll stay away and hopefully get a quick transfer out of town."
"Rose won't do that, they're moving in somewhere together at the weekend."
"Where's that then?"
"Where you won't find her Harkness and I'm not encouraging her to dump him either."
"You listen to me Tyler, I can ruin everything for you if I wanted to but whatever you have planned must be big to have taken all this time. Tell me where you're planning it for."
"No chance, now get out before I do call Hardy."
"Weren't you lucky you never had to pay him? Oh, I get it, you told Rose to make a play for him so you'd save some money, right?"
"No, she didn't need any persuasion, trust me. Besides, I was away when he started work here, you should know, having me go down the Weymouth."
"You went there because of me?" Jack asked, pointing back at himself.
"Your little game's up Harkness, I won't be going off every time there's some minor incident down there, I know you're behind it."
"Who came up with that theory, Hardy? It won't have been you."
"I worked it out when you went after my wife."
"You leave her alone too much, what can I say?"
"Well I won't be from now on and Rose is settled with Hardy, you won't turn her against him."
"We'll see, won't we? I'll leave for now but I'll be back on Monday and I want your answer, I've given you more chances than I was going to, well than Ianto wanted to."
"I know about your plan to get to me before, that man who landed in the hospital."
"Don't know anything about it."
"Yeah, sure you don't. Now get out, you make the place look untidy."
"Think of a way to get Hardy out of the picture before I do."
"Is that a threat?'
"No but he's on your side and I don't like that. Work on Rose, turn her against him, tell her what you like or I will. I can dig up a few things from his not so brilliant past, trust me. Once he's out of the picture, we can begin more delicate negotiations."
"What do you mean by that?"
"One thing at a time, business before pleasure."
Jack got out, dragging Ianto away from the machines.
"You were supposed to stop Smith getting in the office."
"I was."
"Playing the machines? Take the car and go park down below the Tyler house, tell me if she meets Hardy at lunchtime."
"Where are you going?"
"Drop me at the council office first, I want to see if Tyler has actually submitted any plans."
So Ianto dropped Jack at the town hall and had gone to park where Jack had suggested, seeing Rose walk past and Hardy walk across the road to talk to the annoying reporter. Then he'd seen them greet each other and disappear around the corner. They had just walked past him forty five minutes later and were sat on the wall talking. Rose had then walked off and Hardy had gone back to the station and he realised his time was up when Jack called to be picked up. He hoped Jack had found what he wanted.