Now, all he wanted to do was make sure Ashworth hadn't found out where they were, get Claire to back off and look forward to the baby coming along. He had never dreamt that his life could change so dramatically and that he'd have another son or daughter. Tess had lost interest after Daisy though he had no idea how it had all turned so sour, even before she'd met Dave.
He reflected on Ellie's words, that he'd brought the Sandbrook case with him to Broadchurch when he thought they were well clear of it and it wasn't fair on Rose. She'd trusted him after her disastrous relationship with Ashworth and he wasn't about to let her down.
He got up from behind his desk and make his way to the chief's office. He had been taken on by Elaine Jenkinson and wasn't about to fail her either.
"Ah, Alec. How is Rose?" the chief asked him.
He knew by now it would be all over the station.
"She's fine at present but all that is about to change," he replied as he sat down. "I didn't want to alarm anyone but Lee Ashworth, from that case in Sandbrook may have found out I'm hiding Rose here."
The chief didn't look very pleased with the news.
"You came here to hide her from him," she reminded Alec.
"I know and I've tried my best Elaine. We have discussed it, well sort of anyway but she seems to think he gave up a long time ago. We are trying to look for a bigger house and now, Rose won't want our names putting down anywhere. Who knows how he gets his information?"
"I understand Alec, really I do," the chief sympathised with him. "If you stay where you are for now though, it means moving Rose when she won't be in a position to help."
"She was looking forward to decorating the nursery, she had it all planned," he replied, rubbing his hands over his face. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Do you think Ashworth is responsible for killing Danny? It's not his method, surely?" Elaine wanted to now.
Alec wanted to get up and pace the floor but he wasn't in his own office. He didn't think he'd get an invitation.
"Alec, are you trying to tell me the two cases are connected now?" she asked him.
"Yes. I hate the thought of it but so does DS Miller. I'm keeping Mark Latimer overnight to see if anyone comes forward with an alibi," he admitted.
"What's the point Alec?" his chief wondered. "Haven't you now got a suspect?"
"Well, maybe? I'll put out for all officers to be on the lookout for him," Alec replied.
"Then what?" Elaine asked him.
"Hope he's not got an alibi for last Thursday night," he replied. "He used to cheat on Rose, when she was with him, then he turned to her boss, Claire Ripley. DS Miller just said someone called the station, asking for me. I told her to trace it but we think it was Claire."
"Why would she be here and asking for you?" Elaine was getting curious.
"Because I helped her out once. Ashworth was angry with Rose because she wouldn't give in to him so he cheated on her with probably most of his female clients. Then he took up with Claire to spite her and stop them from being best friends," Alec began to explain.
"So he may have gone looking for Claire then discovered you and Rose were here?" Elaine guessed.
"Well that's what we think," he replied. "Maybe Danny got in the way?"
It was Elaine's turn to cover her face.
"What the hell has been unleashed Alec?" she demanded to know as her fist struck the desk. "Now, I have to tell the regional commander and goodness knows who else that the two cases are connected and you're right in the middle of it. I'm sorry Alec but you'll have to step back and let Ellie take the lead from now on."
He'd been half expecting that anyway.
"So, I get to stay on the case? You need me," he replied.
"I know but don't boss Ellie around or I'll take you off it, understand?" she ordered him. "What's your next move?"
"I'm waiting to find out if it was Claire asking for me. If it was, I'll find out what she wants. You can bet she's worried Ashworth is after her but is she also in town?" he wondered.
"She has to be, the question is, did she arrive before or after Danny was killed?" Elaine pondered. "You never said why she'd go to you for help."
"I helped her out back in Sandbrook. Ashworth got her pregnant, another message to Rose that he could do it, if he wanted to. I took her to a clinic to terminate it, she didn't want the baby to turn out like him. Despite that though, we always suspected Claire stole the evidence that Tess lost."
"Really? Well yes, that could explain a few things? Did you ever get any evidence that she did?" Elaine wondered.
"No, then she disappeared. She probably chose this place or somewhere nearby at random and I just ended up here, trying to hide Rose," Alec told her.
"Why is Rose still so afraid of him? Was it because she testified against him?" Elaine asked.
"Mainly but I'm sure there is still something she's not told me," Alec replied. "Ashworth threatened to take her by force if she told anyone what happened that night."
"Good lord, no wonder she was scared," Elaine looked horrified. "You must have been very reassuring for her to go through with it?"
*"It took some doing," Alec agreed. "The thing is though, she only ever knew one side of what happened. She had no idea what went on with Ricky Gillespie and Lisa Newberry. We left before he went on trial, we thought it was the end of it but I was wrong."
"Don't go blaming yourself Alec," Elaine told him. "I'm sure I remember reading that Ashworth had left the country?"
Alec knew she'd done her homework on him before she took him on.
"He was supposed to have, he must have been under the radar. I should go check on what DS Miller has found out."
Elaine couldn't figure out why he didn't call Ellie by her first name.
"Still so formal with her Alec?" she decided to tease him.
"I learned my lesson with my ex wife," Alec admitted.
"Talking of wives, when are you going to marry your pregnant girlfriend?" she asked as he got up to leave.
"We're happy enough, for now," he replied. "She knows it took some time, getting the divorce, I expect she does not want to rush things."
Elaine nodded to him in agreement and let him go check on what Ellie had found out. He waited in his office for her to join him.
"The call was from an unregistered number," she told him as she sat down.
"Then it has to be her. She wouldn't put her name on a contract, would she?" Alec asked her.
"Good thinking, Einstein," Ellie joked back at him.
He only let her get away with things occasionally and that was the second one in a day.
"The chief is putting you in charge," he admitted.
"I know, she just called me. How do you want to play this?" she asked him.
Sometimes she wondered if she only put up with him because of Rose.
"You will have to be seen as if I have told you to handle the press, other than that, nothing is going to change," he replied.
"Typical," Ellie sounded annoyed. "It's a good thing this is mainly about Rose. From what I know of Ashworth, I don't blame her for getting worried."
"Well, it's up to me to keep her safe Miller," Alec replied.
"Hey, I can keep her safe as well," Ellie objected to being left out.
"Yes, I know but you have your family to protect. If it is Ashworth, he will do anything not to get caught. Go home Miller, it's been a long day."
"You said Rose would tell me why she's hiding," Ellie reminded him.
"It can wait. I have to go home and tell her we will have to delay moving. I dare not have our names on any more agents' waiting lists."
"Can't say I blame you. You could look at private rented houses though," she suggested.
"I will consider it," Alec replied. "We will have to let Mark Latimer go in the morning, if we do, have someone keep an eye on him."
"I have a better idea," Ellie grinned. "Let him out now and have someone follow him."
"He will probably only go home Miller," Alec replied wearily.
"Maybe not? He may go to the person he was with that night. Think about it, it makes sense."
"You know the family Miller," Alec reminded her. "Is he capable of cheating on his wife?"
"I hate to think about it," Ellie replied. "It's like thinking Joe's capable of either killing Danny or cheating on me. What's this murder done to people?"
"I don't know Miller. Okay, let him go and see what happens, have someone follow him," Alec relented.
They were interrupted by Alec's desk phone ringing.
"What?" he asked the caller. "We will be down directly."
"What is it?" Ellie dared asked.
"Becca Fisher is downstairs asking for us," he replied, going for his jacket.
"I forgot about her," Ellie smiled. "I expect it's the only time she can get away?"
"Why is she here?" Alec looked puzzled.
"You've forgotten," Ellie laughed.
Alec wasn't going to admit it. Ellie saw through him though.
"The drugs offence?" she asked him.
"That can wait," he told her.
"I'll go give her a caution shall I?" she offered. "It's only a minor offence and I don't want to have to bring in Chloe."
"You go ahead then, I have to check on Rose," Alec insisted.
"Well I'll have to get someone to follow Mark first. I hate having to spy on my friends," Ellie replied.
"Don't we all Miller?" Alec asked her.
Ellie shook her head and went over to one of the new intake of officers they'd received. When she'd outlined what she wanted, she went down to see Becca.
"Sorry Becca," Ellie apologised as she led the hotel owner to an empty interview room.
Becca just showed Ellie her phone.
"I don't know who sent me this," Becca shoved the screen in Ellie's face. "Is this what the police do here these days?"
"What?" Ellie was surprised and tried to read the message which said 'I know where you were that night – tell the police'.
"Well who else did it come from?" Becca wanted to know. "The number was blocked."
"We don't do things that way," Ellie tried to assure her, though she wasn't that sure about her boss. "Well, where were you then?"
Becca took her phone back but Ellie wanted to hold onto it.
"We need to hold onto this Becca, to see who sent the message," Ellie reached in the desk drawer for an evidence bag.
"Well I hope you don't take long," Becca huffed. "If it wasn't the police? It's kind of creepy then."
"To the point Becca?" Ellie urged her. "It's been a long day and I don't want my boss complaining about me asking for overtime."
"Fine. You really want to know where I was? I was with Mark Latimer. Satisfied?"
Becca folded her arms and sat back on the chair.
"What?" Ellie fumbled for her phone. "Wait there."
Becca looked less pleased than when she'd come in.
"Hardy, get yourself into interview room two," Ellie told him.
"Stop playing games Miller, I'm just going home. I have a lot to tell Rose," Alec replied as he got into his car.
"Then it has to wait. Becca just gave Mark Latimer an alibi," Ellie almost laughed.
Alec reached to switch the car engine off, making the transport officer look in his direction.
"Why didn't she tell us earlier?" he wanted to know. "I'll let Rose know I'm going to be late then?"
"She'll understand," Ellie assured him. "Not like my youngest son."
"I needed to talk to her," Alec reminded his DS as he remote-locked his car and headed up the few steps.
"I know," Ellie sympathised with her boss having to tell her friend that her ex-boyfriend may have come to town and killed again – to get Hardy's attention.
She knew it wasn't going to be easy on either of them with the prospect of having to deal with it. Now though, at least they could rule out Mark Latimer. She opened the door and called the officer just outside.
"Get the desk sergeant to pull back surveillance on Mark Latimer," she told the young man.
"Yes Ma'am but I'm not supposed to leave the interview room," he insisted. "DI Hardy's orders that all interview rooms are to be guarded."
"Well call the front desk," Ellie snapped as she pointed to the phone on the wall a few metres away.
She went back inside, shaking her head. Alec was rushing back to find out what Becca Fisher had to say about Mark Latimer. Ellie was sitting stone-faced as both she and Becca waited for Alec.
"I'm not a bad person," Becca broke the silence.
"You took drugs from a fifteen year old girl," Ellie reminded her.
"I know but it was for some big spenders from London," Becca tried to defend herself. "I was trying to impress them so they'd come back."
"If they had gone back and told their friends you could get them drugs, you would have found yourself an easy target. What the hell were you thinking Becca?" Ellie wanted to know.
Becca put her head in her hands as she leaned on the table. She had been worried someone had found out about her and Mark since she'd got the text earlier. She could only think that if it wasn't from the police, it had to be Chloe, trying to blackmail her into giving her father an alibi.
That had got her thinking that Mark would be the prime suspect in his son's death so despite the threat, she had to get him out.
"Is Mark locked up?" Becca wanted to know.
"He's been released on police bail," Ellie admitted.
"I had to leave one of the staff in charge to come down here," Becca replied. "That text must have come from Chloe."
Ellie was about to reply when Alec entered.
"This had better be good," he told both of them as he sat next to Ellie.
"Becca has some information," Ellie snapped at him.
"Well, let's have it, then we can all go home," Alec replied dryly.
"If Mark's a suspect, then you can clear him. He was with me until after two the next morning," Becca told Alec.
"Was he now?" Alec only half believed. "Doing what?"
"Do I have to draw you a picture?" Becca asked sarcastically. "Having sex, what else?"
Ellie had to restrain herself from bursting out laughing.
"Really?" Alec asked, trying to do the same.
"I know. Worst decision of my life," Becca replied.
"Well, I suppose he's no longer a person of interest," Alec turned to Ellie. "Call off the surveillance."
"I already have," Ellie sounded smug at beating him to it.
"What about that drugs offence?" Becca asked hopefully as she noticed the recording equipment wasn't turned on.
Ellie noticed and switched it on.
"Can you repeat that last statement?" Ellie asked, getting one of Alec's looks.
"I was with Mark Latimer on the night of Danny's death," Becca repeated. "We met at the cliff-top car park and went off in my car and I dropped him back early the next morning. We had sex, in my car."
"Write it down," Alec insisted as he went into the desk drawer and got a statement sheet and a pen out.
"Can I have my phone back?" Becca dared ask.
Alec nodded and Ellie got it out of the evidence bag. He switched off the recording equipment, meaning to have words with his DS.
"We will leave the drugs offence for now, I might just forget about it. You would have saved a lot of time if you had come forward before," he told Becca.
"I didn't know he'd been arrested," Becca insisted. "Do you have to tell Beth?"
"That's up to him," Alec replied. "Finish up here," he told Ellie as he got up.
He went back to his car and drove the short distance home. He didn't want to worry Rose any more than he had to be but she had to be told Claire may be in town.
"How could she know Alec?" Rose asked him after they'd kissed.
"I'll have someone on it tomorrow love," he promised her. "It may not have been her."
"Well, if whoever it was asked for ya?" Rose reminded him. "Could it have been that nosy reporter?"
"I don't think so sweetheart. Let me finish making dinner eh?" he offered.
"You look tired Alec, I can manage," Rose insisted.
"Come and sit down Rose. We just found out that Claire may already be in town."
"What? As if Lee being here's not bad enough? Why do ya think she's here?" Rose wanted to know. "She's not still looking for Lee, is she?"
"I doubt that love," Alec smiled. "Rose, you have to be prepared for both of them being in town. Ellie and I think Ashworth was responsible for killing Danny."
He guided Rose to a chair as he reached out to steady her.
"Tell me you're both wrong?" she managed to ask him.
"I'm sorry Rose, I wish we were."
