It took a moment for Hardy to register what was written in plain black letters on the paper. Or maybe it didn't. Maybe he was just thinking. He did that sort of thing, Ellie had noticed; when he thought – when he was really concentrating – his light brown eyes would glaze over and he would remain completely still until he had come up with a half decent solution.
"Hardy?" Ellie asked.
This seemed to wake him up from his ongoing trance.
"Mhhm," is all he said in response. Then, "I want everyone here to get up as much information about Miss Andrew's background. Where she lived, her friends, her family, her medical history, phone records. Everything you can scrape up."
There was a bit of silence.
"Now!" Hardy snapped causing what seemed to be a panic between the forensics team. With that Hardy walked back to the car. "Miller!" he called.
Ellie rolled her eyes. She was tired of some of his half-arse attitude. Wanker.
She hopped in the front seat as Hardy slammed his door shut. In response, Ellie gently pulled her door closed. Hardy realized what she was getting at and rolled his eyes.
"You know, you could really try to be a bit more polite, you wanker," Ellie said, fastening her seatbelt. "'specially this early. Geez. I don't even think the early bird's up yet."
Hardy continued his usual scowl of anguish and misery.
"Oh, do lighten up, will you?" Ellie asked.
"Just drive, Miller," he said, sipping the last of his – now cold – tea.
"Oi, what's got you in a bunch?" Though, she could hardly blame him. After seeing what they just saw – well damn, she was actually putting an effort into feeling as bubbly as she was.
There was no response, as usual. He never responded ever. Well, that's not entirely true.
For the last week or so, he had seemed to be in a satisfactory mood. Maybe even happy. Content, even, which was very seldom to see in the grumpy old knob. Ellie had almost thought he had opened up a little more, going outside his comfort zone when it came to social events. Last week he actually went to the pub with her and the rest of the team. It was on a Friday and they had finished up their last case of the week which put a rotten old sod in jail.
Hardy had seemed pleased with this success, but he had still declined the original offer to grab a drink with her. That is, he had declined until he got a text. She had no clue what it was about, but the detective, like normal, gave a brooding glare at his phone, and grunted a 'yes'. On any other day, Ellie would have asked about the message – or assumed message – he had received, but she was already pushing it. Didn't want to scare him away right after an undesired 'yes'.
And after a grueling hour and a half, she had convinced Hardy to get something to drink. Something to calm his tense body. Some forty minutes later, the alcohol had sunk in and the both of them were properly drunk – well Ellie was properly drunk. Hardy was maybe a bit tipsy, but he seemed to have a good alcohol tolerance. He offered to drive Ellie home that night, so the grumpy knob that was Alec Hardy drove back, just as he promised.
The last thing Ellie could remember that night was passing by what seemed like a bending light pole. She must have passed out on the drive home, because the next thing she knew was the feeling of cool sheets and an overwhelming scent of bacon. She had found Hardy in the kitchen that next morning with no other than Fred, her four year old. He was up in his booster chair smiling and laughing. What was amusing was Hardy was smiling AND laughing.
"Uwncwle Alec!" the toddler said, raising his hands about. "More egggses pwease."
HA! She knew the knob wasn't just some cold hearted grumpy asshole all the time. She had caught the old sod red-handed, making a kind breakfast and feeding her child WHILE LAUGHING.
"Aye, wee lad," he said, his Scottish accent amplified in the morning. He must have noticed Ellie standing at the entry way because he popped open the microwave and set out a small plate of eggs, bacon and toast, setting it out on the table.
He didn't say anything, but Ellie could see him slowly returning to his shell of irritable and grouchy ways. Though he had lightened up, and the sun casting over his lanky frame made the man seem warmer. Kinder. For the next week, up until now, he had seemed much more pleasant to be around all day.
She didn't understand why all of a sudden, he had gone back to being all depresso. She really hadn't ordered a depresso this morning, nor was she feeling up to putting up with it. So, leaning over to the passenger side of the car, she popped open the glove compartment and pulled out a small set of CDs.
"Oi, wotch it!" Hardy said, raising up his empty cup.
"Shut up you wanker," Ellie frowned. "There's nothing even left in that cup of yours."
Hardy continued to frown and grumble, closing the compartment.
Ellie popped in an old CD and drove off.
Tonight, I'm gonna have myself a real good time,
I feel alive and the world I'll turn inside out, ye-ah
And floating around in ecstasy
So don't stop me now don't stop me
'Cause I'm having a good time, having a good time –
"Agh!" Hardy groaned. "Reeaaally? Out of all the songs in this stupid pack, you chose Queen?"
Ellie gave a dramatic gasp. "Oh, come on Hardy! Queen is the best!"
He only shook his head. And deep inside, Ellie could just imagine him just saying that to be stoic and whatnot, but really knowing every verse to the song.
Hardy reached for the radio settings, but Ellie swatted at his hand.
"Oi, wotch where you're going!" Hardy said. "Keep your hands on the steering wheel!"
"Well then you just shut your mouth and deal with the song I chose!" Ellie said.
"I didn't even say anything else."
"Yeah, well you were thinking."
Hardy grumbled, sighing. "I don't know if you've noticed at all, but there was just a murder that happened, and a gruesome one at that."
"Yes, I know," Ellie responded, this time with all seriousness. "That's why we have to keep what little positivity we have – er at least what I have. The last time a murder happened, it nearly destroyed me – it nearly destroyed us – no. It nearly destroyed the whole town. So just bloody shut the hell up and let me think of something other than murder and murderers."
Hardy remained silent, but it was a different sort of silence. It wasn't fair, because she was so used to having no reaction, she could tell the difference between Hardy's silent responses. And this time, this time it was a respectful silence. He knew that the two of them had been through a lot, and he knew the gutting feeling of all the stress that could be piled on top of them during investigations like these. His silence was out of pure respect, and Ellie couldn't be thankful enough for that.
She didn't deserve Alec Hardy sometimes; but of course, she would never admit that outloud.
If you wanna have a good time (wooh)
Just give me a call (alright)
Don't stop me now ('cause I'm having a good time, yeah, yeah)
Don't stop me now (yes, I'm having a good tme)
I don't want to stop at all.
La da da da daah
Da da da haa
Ha da da ha ha haaa
Ha da daa ha da da aaa
Ooh ooh ooh.
By the time the song had ended, Ellie let the track run out and by the time that happened, the sun was shining it's morning rays and the two were back at the Wessex Police station.