'So what do we do now?'

Hardy shook his head. 'I don't know.'

Ellie and Hardy were sitting at the small table with two steaming mugs tea between them. They had just finished breakfast and Fred was playing silently in the corner while Tom had disappeared into the bedroom.

'I wish I could just go to work.' Ellie sighed. 'Figure out who did this.'

'I know.' he said softly.

'But I can't.' She grimaced. 'Even if I wasn't on leave they wouldn't let me work a case concerning my family. Conflict of interest and all that.'

He remained silent, swirling the tea around in his mug and staring thoughtlessly at the patterns. It was true. What did she want him to say?

His mind started drifting, jumping from memory to memory, retracing his steps from the last weeks, like he had been doing the past days. It just didn't add up. The case was closed as soon as Joe had signed his confession. All that rested was paperwork. In a few weeks the trial would follow, but in this case it should be a mere formality. Around that time anyone who was involved would have figured out Joe would be on trial. There really was no need to disclose this information in the paper.

It couldn't be a coincidence that Oliver had gone missing at almost the exact same moment either. And then there was the inexplicable return of his old friend. He felt a pang in his chest as he remembered the blank look Davis had given him, void of any sign of recognition.

Something nudged his arm and he found Millers soft eyes on him.

'Are you gonna tell me about that nightmare?'

'No.' He shook his head and braced himself for what was inevitably gonna be the next question.

'Was it about that detective?'

'I don't want to talk about it.'

'I've never seen you so scared, you know.' She continued, staring at him intently. 'Scared me shitless to see you like that.'

'Stop it, Miller.' He set down his mug, patterns dissolving, and glared at her. She was unimpressed by this characteristic behaviour and pressed on.

'No, you stop it. Tell me what's going on.'

'Not now.'

'Then promise you'll tell me later.'

'I can't.'

That answer seemed to have flipped a switch in her and she sat back, crossing her arms. 'Why?' she inquired. 'Why can't you tell me?'

Where her voice had lowered, Hardy's voice rose in defensive anger. 'Because it's none of your business!'

'You can't expect me to talk to you and shut me out when it gets difficult.'

'This is different.' he protested, but the argument sounded weak even to himself.

'How is this different?' she shouted back.

'Why can't you just let it go?'

'Because I care for you, you idiot!'

'Mum!' Tom suddenly appeared from the other room. 'Be quiet!'

Hardy wanted to say something, but the glare Tom sent him resembled his mother's so much that he swallowed his words. For now.

'I think I heard knocking.' Tom looked at his mother. 'Someone's at the door.'

Now that the shouting had ceased, they could indeed hear muffled noises coming from the hallway followed by a rapid knocking.

'Ellie Miller?' A familiar voice shouted. 'Broadchurch Police, please open the door!'

Ellie raised her eyebrows and glanced at Hardy. He shrugged, not sure what was going on.

'I repeat, open the door!' The knocking resumed, more persistent this time.

'Mum?' Tom eyed his mother anxiously. 'What's going on?'

Ellie shook her head. 'I don't know.'

'Well, don't just stand there.' Alec snapped. 'Open the bloody door!'

No sooner had she unlocked the door or two uniformed officers entered the room. Without barely a look at Ellie they strode across the living area and addressed the former DI.

'Alec Hardy, we need you to come with us-' The man coughed awkwardly as the man in question raised an eyebrow expectantly and started over. 'I mean, sir, we are here to take you to the station.'

'What for?' He asked grumpily. 'My desk not clean enough?'

The second man responded. 'Jenkinson wants to talk to you about the leaked information.'

'Tell her I'll drop by.' He waved towards the door. 'She could've just called me.'

The officer laughed nervously. 'I'm afraid she insists that you come with us right now.'

'Oh?' Hardy's eyebrows disappeared in his hairline. 'Are you here to arrest me?'

'Only if it's necessary.'

Ellie had viewed the exchange with growing disbelief. 'You think Hardy leaked the information?'

'I'm sorry Ellie, you know we can't disclose information about an ongoing investigation.' The first man said. 'But Jenkinson will want to see you as well, I'm sure she will call you today.'

'Can't I come with you then?' she suggested. 'I still need to clean my desk. I can do that while waiting.'

'No.' Came the answer from behind her. Hardy had made his way around the room to pick up his coat and was putting on his shoes.

What do you mean no?' Ellie scoffed. 'You're not telling me what I can do.'

'I mean no as in absolutely not.' He finished tying his shoelaces and shot her a dark look. 'You're tired, you have your children to take care of. You're not spending time waiting at the police station,.'

Ellie crossed her arms and looked down upon him indignantly. 'What's the matter with you?'

He shrugged and put on his coat refusing to answer. Then he briskly walked past Ellie and gestured towards the door. 'Gentlemen, shall we?'

The officers greeted Ellie and walked out of the room. Hardy moved to follow them when he felt a hand on his arm. He shrugged it off and stalked towards the door. It took him three long steps before he changed his mind and turned around, sighing deeply.

'Miller, I know you've been up all night. You need to get some sleep.' He said softly. 'You don't want to be at the station right now.'

'But what about you?' she asked worriedly. 'Do you want to be there after last night?'

''ll be fine, really. It's just Jenkinson.' he tried to reassure her, but it didn't sound as convincing as he'd like. 'Besides, I don't have a choice.'

'Not really, no.' she agreed.

He turned again to resume his way after the officers. 'Oh and Miller?'

'What?'

'I'll call you when they're done.'

She nodded once and then he was gone.