The Deal

Tapping her fingers on the rim of the ceramic mug she had in her grasp she wondered how she managed to get into this state. She was hoping and praying at Peter wouldn't be a suspect in this murder and as soon as that forensic report came in all her worries would dissipate into nothingness. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. She sighed in annoyance and pinched the bridge of her nose at what this report said and soon enough Carla and Alex found their way to Coronation Street and they were knocking on the door of number one.

"Is Peter Barlow here?" Alex questions showing who he presumed was his father the badge he had, Peter appears from the lounge "Mr Barlow we'd like to ask you some questions down at the station"

"Why?" he questions looking between Carla and Alex "What's happened?"

"We will tell you more at the station, if you don't cooperate then we will have to arrest you"

"Dad?" Simon appears from the stairs, Carla bites her lip "What's happening?"

"Mr Barlow you'll need to come with us" Alex persists looking at Carla who was just staring Peter down but he doesn't question her weird behaviour knowing she liked to do the intimidation tactics

"It'll be ok Si" Peter assures him as he leaves with the officers, he gets in the car and Carla sits in the driver's seat looking at Peter through the rear-view mirror, she starts the car and drives off...

There was an awful wait, they didnt know why as all it was were questions that needed to be answered to piece together the events of the night Leanne was murdered. Carla was sitting in the room staring him down refusing to give anything away and it was weird as it seemed like some sort of weird power trip between the two of them and communication using brainwaves and hypnosis. Soon enough the questions started and that led to a lot of awkwardness.

"So why am I here then?" Peter questions leaning back against the seat, Carla leans forward and narrows her eyes

"Your DNA was found at the scene of the crime from the forensics report that was taken, specifically on Mrs Battersby's body" Carla informs him, Peter rolls his eyes "Do you have anything to say?"

"No comment," he says narrowing his eyes at Carla who nods slowly

"You won't be doing yourself any favours if you go down that route Mr Barlow" Carla informs him looking down at her papers "Can you provide any explanation of how your DNA was on Miss Battersby's clothing and body?"

"No comment" he glares at Carla, she narrows her eyes

"We understand that you and Miss Battersby have history, could you tell us any more about that?" Alex questions as Carla leans back in her seat

"I've told you all you need to know about our history" Peter points out rubbing his forehead

"We understand that you've been inside before"

"For a crime I didn't commit" he retorts with a scoff, Carla just bites her lip

"Mr Barlow, we understand you loved Leanne once, by you ignoring our previous questions you're not helping us find her killer"

"Maybe ask Nick Tilsley" Peter snarls, Alex narrows his eyes "He's a right one he is"

"May you elaborate?"

"Brain injury, violent outbursts, anger issues maybe it's him you should be asking" Peter responds pinching the bridge of his nose knowing it wasn't him

"We will make the appropriate enquiries" Alex confirms as Carla sighs and shakes her head

"Can you take us through what you were doing the night of the murder and what you were doing?"

"For god's sakes" Peter mutters clearly irritated by their probing "I'm alcoholic, I can't remember, I was out drinking absolutely smashed, I don't know where either!"

"You can't remember" Alex nods slowly "Yet your DNA was found on Miss Battersby's clothing"

"I don't know what you want me to say? Do you want a confession because you're not getting one and thats because I didn't kill my son's mother"

"We'll terminate the interview here" Alex states as Carla bites her lip again "DCI Connor can I have a word?"

"Sure" she flashes him a smile and gets up to leave the room looking back at Peter and smiling sympathetically "What is it?"

"You're not exactly helping me here"

"It's good experience for you" she shrugs, Alex huffs in annoyance "You're doing well, you shouldn't complain"

"Whatever Carla" Alex rolls his eyes, she sighs and shakes her head "You can take the lead, there's something that he isnt letting onto"

"I know," she says quietly looking into the room and seeing Peter fiddling with the plastic cup that was in front of him knowing exactly what he wasn't letting onto, Alex nods and leaves causing Carla to head back into the room where Peter was sitting alone "What the hell are you playing at?"

"Oh shut up" he hisses "You're a right one, conflict of interest of whatever it is, talk about lying to me. You know I was with you that night at the time it took place"

"Yes but-"

"No buts" he shakes his head before finding a way to have her over a barrel "If I save your skin, you save mine"

"What?" she exclaims as Peter smirks at her "You're playing with fire you are"

"And you're not?" he questions tilting his head to the side, she narrows her eyes and clenches her jaw "Your decision otherwise I let slip as to where I really was that night-"

"You wouldn't dare"

"Would I not?" he questions "We all know that this is a huge case and the fame and the fortune you would get if you completed it, we wouldn't want anything to come in the way of that would we?"

"You bastard" she snaps, Peter smirks just to rile her even more "You utter bastard"

"Charming after the lovely night we spent together," he says "Your choice Carla, take my deal or I reveal all"

He offers his hand to her as if to shake on it, she bites her lip and looks down at his hand, she thinks about her career and all the dedication and time she put into getting to this rank. She sighs and shakes her head knowing that these cases were few and far between and that was when she found herself placing her hand in Peter's and shaking it. All she could do was hope it was the right choice.

The questioning got nowhere, all Peter did was answer no comment to all of their questions which just made him look even more guilty leaving Carla to put up the pretences. She sighed heavily at the end of her workday, they were unable to track down Nick for some reason and if she was honest she wanted to go home so thats what she ended up doing making out that she had a migraine. Instead of going home, she went to Michelle's place and her friend just knew something was up, what she didnt know was that it was work-related.

"Come on then" Michelle places a glass of red down on the table, Carla immediately picks it up and gulps it down "How was work?"

"I've done something so stupid"

"Now that does intrigue me" Michelle hums thoughtfully "Did you sleep with that fit Alex guy-"

"Ew no, I don't sleep with colleagues thats one of the rules-"

"So you slept with someone then and thats what's got you in a mess" Michelle chuckles, Carla groans at her friend because of her psychic abilities, she couldnt deny it now

"I shouldn't even be here"

"You shouldn't but you are so you obviously want advice"

"I shouldn't even tell you"

"But?"

"I've been so stupid"

"We're going around in circles here Carla. You're either going to tell me or you're not"

"I slept with one of the suspects in the murder case I'm working on" she blurts out as Michelle opens her mouth then closes it, she immediately tops up Carla's glass

"Wow"

"Is that all you have to say?" Carla questions gulping her wine down as she needed it "It's such a mess Michelle, and he's smart as well, he knew how much this meant to me and I didnt even tell him"

"You're just easily readable babe" Michelle rolls her eyes and hums "What are you going to do?2

"It's more like what have I done..."

"I don't follow..."

"I made a deal with him" she groans, Michelle rolls her eyes wondering how she managed to get into this mess "Dont give me that look"

"Go on" Michelle breathes out drinking her wine, Carla groans

"A deal where he will save my skin and by that I mean I continue to work on the case but because we were in the midst of sex when this person was being murdered I'm his alibi, they could pin it on him Michelle and that would be all my fault for not being honest but I really want this, you know how much I've been waiting for this opportunity"

"And let me guess if he saves your skin you have to save his by convincing your team he didnt do it"

"Bingo"

"I'm sorry but how do you manage to get yourself into these messes?"

"Alright Michelle" Carla snaps causing her friend to laugh "I dont know what to do"

"Well, as much as I want to help you I can't decide that for you, Carla. At the end of the day, it depends on how much your career means to you. Just do what you think is right"

"Yeah" she nods slowly biting her lip, "I guess you're right"

"You amaze me though for getting yourself into that position"

"Hilarious" she whacks her arm, Michelle giggles "I'm so stupid"

"You are but I love you for it" she smirks causing Carla to roll her eyes "But I'm afraid it's decision time"

"Yeah" she nods slowly closing her eyes "I just hope that I've made the right one agreeing to his deal"

"Good luck"

"Also I never told you this ok?" she confirms, Michelle nods slowly "It's just I dont need more disciplinary action if it happens"

"My lips are sealed" Michelle smirks shaking her head, Carla sighs, "I say we change the topic now"

"Yeah, me and all"