Becca Fisher has been lying low. The result of the trial has the entire town on edge. Emotions are running high, especially with the Latimer family, and she has no plans to be in the line of fire. Things were bad enough when the affair had come to light during the investigation, she had no idea how the Latimers would react to seeing her right now. Which is why her heart dropped as she saw none other than DI Alec Hardy being dragged by a very blonde Beth Latimer through her doors.
Putting on her most disarming smile Becca starts her own version of damage control. "Beth, Detective, what I can help you with today?" She braces herself for the coming onslaught of vitriol.
"Detective?" Beth gives Alec a conspiratorial smile. "Right the detective and I need to have a quick look around. Nothing to worry about, just routine police business, we'll be in and out before you know it." She grabs a strange laser pointer type device out of her coat and with a flick of her finger lights up the tip of it. Becca watches as she waves it around moving down the hallway.
Becca pulls her gaze from Beth back to Alec, who looks just as shocked as she does. Not wanting to alert Beth she mouths 'What the Hell?' Catching on Alec quickly mouths back 'I don't know!'
"Well come on then Sandshoes!" Beth's finished whatever it is she's been doing and is waving Alec over to her.
"Sandshoes?" Becca quirks an eyebrow at the detective.
"Don't ask." Alec grumbles out before following after her.
"Shit." It only takes Becca a few seconds before deciding to tag along to see what kind of destruction Beth is planning to wreak on her hotel. Memories of a destroyed bar quickly resurfacing. "Beth wait!"
It's not until Hardy draws her attention that Beth turns around. "Oh right, Beth, that's me, sorry."
"Don't you think you should be with your family right now?" At the confused look she gives her Becca continues. "You know, considering the circumstances."
"Nah." Beth gives her a grin while absentmindedly twirling her strange laser pointer. "My Fam's back in Sheffield."
"Sheffield?"
"Y'know, taking care of their domestics. Not big on domestics me." She elbows Alec in the side. "It's why I've got sandsh-the detective here. Who better to help me out than well, another me."
"You and Hardy, what?" Alec is looking as confused as Becca feels.
"Oh he's like my brother from another mother this one." She reaches up to affectionately ruffle his hair. "My handy spare hand." Alec's mouth hangs open in shock, shoulders hunched at the unexpected physical contact.
Becca chokes down a laugh at the look on Alec's face, relieved that Beth has moved on before she notices her reaction. Alec is still frozen to the spot. "Handy spare hand?" She knows things are tense with the outcome of the trial, but she can't help but revel in the absurdity of the current situation.
"Don't." Her comment seems to have snapped him out of his stupor. "Just don't."
Becca looks around him to see Beth whirring her laser pointer at different doors, distracted enough not to take notice of a whispered conversation. "Is she alright?"
"Probably some kind of psychotic break. Stress from the trial" Alec glances over his shoulder, a pained look on his face as he watches Beth. "I'm trying to keep an eye on her."
- Meanwhile -
Ellie Miller has been pacing outside the police station for a few minutes now. She can't help but hold herself to blame. If only she had been able to rein in her temper, to be less emotional, more removed, she might not have cocked everything up. From her attack on Joe rendering his confession inadmissible to her emotional display on the stand she wished she could have done better.
It was futile really, delaying going in, but she needed to do better now, be more in control, and falling apart in the middle of her place of work was not the way she wanted to go about her job. She could barely even get the courage to see Beth.
Beth who is furious with Alec Hardy.
Beth who is currently being dragged behind a sprinting Alec Hardy right towards her. When they don't stop Ellie throws caution to the wind to follow after them inside. She's not sure exactly what she can do, but avoiding a screaming match in the middle of the police station would be optimal.
She's able to catch the door before it slams shut behind them and come up next to Beth as they pause.
"Detective Inspector." One of her colleagues greets Hardy in passing, and a second later nods in her direction. "Miller."
"Detective inspector, right." He almost sounds surprised when he says it, his hand coming up to ruffle the hair at the back of his head.
"Beth, Hardy, what are you doing here?" It's not that she wouldn't expect Hardy to be at the station, its that he's dragging Beth behind him that's troubling her.
"Well you know, place to be, for a detective inspector, a police station, full of, well, police personnel." He's stalling. Ellie can suss out that much.
"Oh thank god Ellie." Beth grips her forearm with her free hand.
A thought occurs to Ellie as she stares at Alec's hold on Beth's other arm. "Is she under arrest?" Taking her wrist out of Beth's grip she smacks Alec's shoulder. "Did you arrest Beth?!"
"Ow!" He drops Beth's arm and rubs his shoulder. "Of course not! Beth here is helping me with an investigation."
"Sandbrook?" It's the only investigation she knows him to be working on at the moment.
"Erm… yes?"
"Beth? Really? And you didn't think to consult me on this? I thought we were working together?" Ellie is fuming.
"Right! Yes! Of course we are!" A manic grin spreads across his face. "You and me! Two capable detectives working together to solve the sand book-"
"Sandbrook." Ellie interjects, suspicious at his slip up.
"That's what I said." Moving between the two women he places an arm around each of their shoulders, ushering them further into the station. "And Beth here is going to be helping us crack the case. But first I need to get a look at a computer." Extricating himself he gives Ellie another grin before waving her forward. "Lead the way Miller."
"Erm, right." Ellie is moving on autopilot towards Alec's office, distracted by the way he said her name. There were many different ways she had heard Hardy utter her name, in aggravation, sympathy, urgency, but never jovial.
They've barely made it through the door before he's bounding over to the desk. "What the hell is that?" Ellie glances over to see Beth staring at the strange blue tipped LED flashlight in his hand.
"Oi! Don't knock a classic!" He points it in Beth's direction, wagging it in her face. "Some of us don't need fancy new Sheffield steel to get the job done I'll have you know." Just as quickly he's turned back to the computer, pointing his device at the screen. It makes a whirring noise and then he's practically attacking the keyboard, mumbling to himself.
As Beth backs away she knocks a thick file to the ground. Alec's eyes glance down before a wide smile spans his face. Quickly picking it up he triumphantly holds out a picture of Claire Ripley. "Well I think we've got ourselves a lead."
- Across Town -
The domestic approach. It's what the Doctor(s) always appreciated about her. Oftentimes they were so wrapped up in looking at the big picture they didn't stop to consider the smaller details, the human element as it were. Broadchurch seems to be a small, tight knit community. One of those little towns where everyone knows everyone and gossip spreads like wildfire. Which is why Rose is checking out the community center.
From her perusal she sees a man with sandy blonde hair passing out a few flyers. On closer inspection she notices his outfit. A reverend. Town this small he'd be a community leader, someone who would know what was going on.
Rose casually siddles up to him, noting his haggard appearance. Obviously there was something on his mind. "You alright mate?"
He glances her way, giving her a small, sad smile. "Been better."
Rose gently places a hand on his arm. "You know my mum always says there's nothing like a good cuppa to help with a bad day. Looks like you could use one." With a comforting smile she tilts her head towards the door.
"Y'know, I think I could use a bit of a break, miss?"
"Rose." She loops her arm through his, leading him towards the door. She saw a cafe just down the block.
"I'm Paul."
"Well come on then Paul, cuppa's on me." She gives him her tongue touched smile. She may need information on the alien threat, but he certainly looked like he needed some comfort, and Rose was not about to abandon someone in need