I have to try

Tess seemed just as pleased as Alec was as they 'escorted' Bob into the police station and sat him down to interview him after he'd been processed.

"You think you are going to get your revenge on me?" Bob asked Alec as he repeated the charges, which included historical child abuse.

"This isn't about revenge," Tess glanced in Alec's direction. "It's about you finally being accountable for what you did."

Alec wondered who was wanting to know more – him or Tess.

"I'm saying no more without having a solicitor present," Bob replied, looking stone faced.

"Fine, then listen," Alec told him. "You went looking for a teenager so you could join in with your friends, am I right?"

"I'd say so," Tess remarked as she watched the man opposite. "Was Rose the first or did the mothers of other teenage girls turn you down?"

Alec was wishing she wouldn't remind him of how Rose had become a victim.

"Maybe there was no-one else?" Alec wondered. "You singled her out before going after anyone else, didn't you? You saw Rose and her mother together and made a play for them. The fact her mother had been on her own for a long time made it easier."

Tess was determined she was going to get the whole story – one way or another.

The sergeant had seen the pair of them go into the interview room and watched them on the newly installed camera. There was no rule against two detective constables interviewing someone so he was content to let them continue until he'd heard the man asking for legal advice. He thought they were going to ignore it and was about to go and remind them, until Tess got up.

"This way, if you want your phone call," she told Bob.

"You're not leaving me with him then?" Bob looked surprised.

"I can wait," Alec told him as he got up. "I've waited all this time."

While Tess went to supervise handing Bob over to the custody sergeant, Alec's immediate superior went to join him.

"Don't make this personal Alec."

"I won't Sarge, I just want to see he gets what he deserves for not only getting her involved but all the other teenagers. I read some of the charges and they are worse than I thought."

"I know Alec and I'm sorry your girlfriend got caught up in it," the sergeant patted his shoulder.

"Will I have to get her involved?" Alec asked. "Will she have to give a statement?"

"I'll find out for you but as far as I know, the charges are historical, they were under age at the time and won't be named. That's unless she wants to get involved? Maybe that would bring her up here eh?" the sergeant smiled.

Alec knew what Rose's answer would be. She'd made it clear she wouldn't drag her mother into it but she had to know about it. That was if she'd answer the phone or take notice of her mother, who must have told her the other day that he'd rung and he still loved her, so why hadn't she called him on her birthday?

It was bad enough the last few years but he'd not seen her since the time they spent together in Aberdeen. Then he had a dreadful thought. Had she got pregnant during that week and she was trying to hide the fact from him and struggle on her own? They had always been extra careful but mistakes could be made, she may not have bothered taking anything since they were apart so long.

He snapped out of it as Tess came back and the sergeant left.

"Tess, are you certain she didn't call the other night?" he asked her.

"I already said no Alec," Tess replied. "Don't you trust me?"

"It's not that Tess, it's just that she always calls on my birthday and hers. Why didn't she this year?"

"Alec, she's not contacted or seen you for how long?" she asked him.

He leaned against the wall and pictured seeing Rose in the new nightdress she'd bought for her stay in Aberdeen, what now seemed like a lifetime ago.

"She wouldn't stop calling me on her birthday, not just like that, with no warning," he replied. "That man is the cause of all this, she won't come back even though it's way past the age she would have been sent back to him. Start interviewing him when his solicitor arrives, I have something to do."

"Are you going to try calling her?" Tess wanted to know, hoping he wasn't, then he'd find out.

"Yes but I need to know something first and now, she can never be sent back to him."

"What do you need to know?" Tess asked him.

"He said that agreement her mother signed was until she was eighteen," Alec reminded her. "She could have safely come back then, maybe even before that, if it would have been enforced. I need to know Tess, if the police would have handed her back to him, if she was eighteen."

"Alec, he may have just been taunting you," Tess replied. "Maybe he just wants you to think it was eighteen."

"Tess, don't say that. Those teenagers last night were sixteen and seventeen though maybe they were either tossed aside after that or went on to do the same themselves? We don't know the full extent of what went on."

"I hate to remind you Alec but I heard last night they were. I mean when they got to eighteen, they were expected to start grooming younger teenagers. I also heard what that man said to you, I was watching on the CCTV. What if it was true and Bob intended keeping Rose for himself?" Tess asked him.

"Don't say that Tess," Alec replied.

"You have to face it Alec," Tess insisted. "He didn't want to share with his friends, he would have found a way to get rid of you, if she'd not left."

"You go ahead, I have something to do," he reminded her, not wanting to face the facts. "Take someone else with you for now."

"He can wait. Are you going to tell her?" she asked, wondering if he'd even talk to her any more if he found out she'd lied about his girlfriend calling – twice.

"I have something else to check first," he replied as he went off.

Tess thought maybe she would get someone else to go with her, she wanted to know what else Bob had to say. Alec went to find the sergeant again, needing some answers.

"Something I can do for you?" the sergeant looked over the top of his glasses.

"Yes, I need an answer to something, regarding the man we were interviewing. He made my girlfriend's mother sign an agreement that he would take more responsibility for her, just days before they returned to London."

"Go on," the sergeant told him.

"I had my uncle check on it, to see if it was legal, since it was from a solicitor's but her mother didn't catch which one. She also never saw what else was written on it but basically, that he was to remain responsible for her until she was eighteen," Alec told him.

"She's well past that now?" Alec was asked.

"We found out he changed a few things though but basically it was to include that if she ever returned to Scotland, it would be classed as she'd run away from home and he was to resume his responsibilities and that she wouldn't be allowed to return to London," Alec explained.

"That's a little drastic," the sergeant smiled.

"He knew she would try to get back to me and he was trying to stop her. My uncle found out that if she stepped foot here again, she'd be taken to him, even if she had somewhere to stay," Alec continued.

"I see then?" the sergeant pondered. "Your uncle checked it was a legal document?"

"Yes Sarge but I never checked if it would be acted on, she didn't want me to give her name in case she did venture back here. Now, he's just admitted it was until she was eighteen but we'd been led to believe it was until she was twenty five, which she's just reached."

"He had someone deceive you both to keep you apart?" the sergeant asked, seeing now why Alec wanted so desperately to interview the man. "I shouldn't let you interview him really, since you are involved in some of it but if you let Tess take the lead, you can continue, for now. You wanted to ask something else though?"

"Yes Sarge. Would any police force have acted on this agreement? I mean to take her back to him, even when she was under eighteen?"

"I don't think so Alec. While she was still sixteen, then maybe but afterwards? It was an agreement between himself and her mother, correct?" the sergeant asked him.

Alec nodded, wondering how they had all been fooled because he'd not asked.

"I'm not a solicitor Alec, I thought your uncle was one?" the sergeant continued. "You were all fooled by him Alec."

"I know that now Sarge but we never wanted him to get her back," Alec replied.

"I can understand that," the sergeant told him. "You wanted to be on the safe side, you didn't know if he would have gone that far? Maybe back then, it may have reached our attention, I can find out for you, see if someone was dealing with it? I can keep her name out of it?"

"I would appreciate that Sarge. I'll let Tess take the lead but I am going to make him pay," Alec replied.

"I don't blame you Alec. Have you told her yet?"

"No Sarge, I'm going to, when I can tell her he can't touch her any more."

Alec realised they had all been fooled, Rose could have come back years ago but just maybe she still wouldn't have liked living in Aberdeen. He went to find which interview room Tess was in and indicated the other DC could leave.

"Been to tell her you have me locked up?" Bob taunted him.

His solicitor frowned at him.

"You have my client on numerous historical charges," the man told Alec.

"DC Henchard is conducting this interview," Alec replied, sitting next to her.

Tess knew why he was agreeing to her taking charge – he wanted the man opposite to pay for keeping him and Rose apart. She wondered if he'd been to call her yet.

"Your friends implied you wanted in on their activities of regular contact with their teenagers," she began. "They were all under the age of consent at the time and were being groomed to not only interact with others their age but to be paired off with teenagers of the opposite sex."

"What purpose would that serve?" the solicitor wanted to know, checking his notes.

"He didn't tell you?" Tess asked. "We have several statements from those already charged with grooming but not limited to encouraging underage sex between the teenagers and other adults in the group. They all state you at the time didn't have a teenager living with you so, you went out and got one so you could join in."

She had read through the statements quickly but had seen enough. She could only imagine what Alec was thinking.

"I need a word with my client," the solicitor told her.

Alec thought he should hope so as well, this was news to him but he had suspected later that was what they were all up to, when he'd discussed it with John.

Tess turned away, pulling Alec with her and handing him a folder.

"I'm taking charge of this, if you want him punished," she whispered to him. "Did you find out what you wanted?"

"Yes and I agree, to you taking charge. Was all that true Tess?" he wanted to know, glancing at the folder.

"She had a very lucky escape," Tess replied. "She must have guessed what was going on?"

"We had an idea but we could never prove it," Alec admitted.

The solicitor interrupted them.

"My client states that as he was never allowed to take part, you have no actual proof that he did."

"What about the fact he did go out and get one?" Alec wanted to know.

"My client states he met someone while working in London, who just happened to have a teenage daughter," the solicitor replied. "You have no proof to the contrary."

"Then how do you explain that he had a teenage girl and her mother living with him and when they found out what was going on, they left?" Alec wanted to know.

He waited while the solicitor whispered to Bob.

"They are willing to testify against your client," Alec then bluffed. "They are willing to say you singled them out and got them to follow you and that you, on a regular basis, had your friends around and tried to get the teenage girl to join in."

He saw Bob was looking nervous and since he wasn't exactly interviewing, Tess could hardly object. In fact, Tess was getting the information she wanted.

"They are willing to give statements?" the solicitor checked.

"Yes and unlike your client, the then teenager he tried to force to join in does not have to give her name to the court," Alec added for good measure. "Historic child abuse victims are not required to have their names released to the public."

"I am aware of that," the solicitor seemed put out.

"Then remind your client that the court is more likely to take her version than that of her abuser, or potential abuser," Alec then added.

He watched while the pair of them consulted, Tess leaning over again and him wishing she'd stop doing that.

"You got her to agree, already?" she asked him.

"No but they don't know that," Alec replied.

"My client is willing to give a statement," the solicitor declared, after him telling Bob that Alec was right.

Alec had already learned that recently, the courts were taking the subject very seriously as several celebrities had been in the news with claims against them from teenagers. He thought that Rose may not even have to give a statement, she'd be included with those already known about.

"Write everything down," Tess was telling Bob. "Including how you went looking for someone with a teenager so you could join your friends."

"You may have got me on that but Rose and her mother came willingly," Bob gloated.

"Her mother may have done but Rose didn't," Alec replied.

"You know them?" the solicitor seemed interested.

"Which is why my colleague is in charge," Alec reminded him. "And also why I have not asked your client any questions."

Tess had to give him his due, he'd been very patient so far with the man who had kept him and his girlfriend apart for nine years.

"Going to give her the good news?" Tess asked as they had seen Bob being formerly charged.

Alec looked at the time and hadn't realised how long they'd been.

"I'll leave it until tomorrow morning, she should be pleased," he replied.

"I should hope so," Tess agreed. "So are you going to see her?"

"I wish I could but maybe she won't want to see me, since she never even called me on her birthday," Alec replied sadly. "Maybe I should take her mother's advice and go and surprise her?"

"It's a long way to go Alec, if she won't see you," Tess reminded him.

"I know that but I have to at least try. So, now you know most of it."

He kept quiet for the remainder of their shift, then went back to call Rose before she left for work. He didn't know she'd started leaving earlier to catch up with Donna and also to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

"Alec!" Jackie greeted him. "If ya want Rose, she's already left."

"Oh. Then can you ask her to call me?" he replied, wishing he'd called earlier.

"Yeah, 'course I will. Have ya changed ya mind about coming to see her?" Jackie asked hopefully.

"I'll try to get some time off. I still miss her so much Jackie."

"I know ya do sweetheart, she misses you as well. Tell me ya have some good news and that they'll be nothing for her to be worried about, if she goes back?"

He wanted to tell Rose himself so Jackie was going to have to wait.

"I'm all over it Jackie," he managed to laugh. "Tell her I'll be waiting for her call, will you?"

Jackie said goodbye, not thinking to mention Rose had already tried to call him a few nights ago. She wondered if this was the first chance he'd had to call back?

Meanwhile, Rose had got to work and was being grilled by Donna.

"So, what have ya done about Alec then?" Rose was asked.

"Leave it Donna. I don't know what to make of it. I bet he either didn't get the message or he'd already decided it's over between us. I mean ya can't really blame him," Rose replied.

"Just listen to yourself Rose," Donna chastised her. "You've given up on him ya mean? You're not being fair and going up there to ask him."

"How can I face him Donna? What if he's with that woman who answered the phone?" Rose asked.

When she got home, her mother couldn't wait to tell her about Alec's call.

"Well, are ya gonna call him then?" Jackie wanted to know.

"I can't Mum, what if that woman answers again?" Rose replied, feeling defeated.

"How do ya know unless ya try?" Jackie wondered. "He told me this morning how much he misses ya and still loves ya."

"What if he's just saying that Mum?" Rose asked. "I just can't talk to him."

"Ya mean you're giving up, after all this time?" Jackie asked.

"You're as bad as Donna," Rose told her.

"Well if we are, we're only concerned about ya," Jackie replied. "I bet he's there, waiting for ya to call him."

Alec was staring at his desk phone, inbetween going through all the statements from the past few nights. He wished now he'd told Jackie of the arrest of Bob but he wanted to give Rose the good news himself and Jackie might have been a bit annoyed with him.

After all, it was her who had inadvertently got Rose involved with Bob, although she'd escaped but what if Jackie hadn't suddenly realised what was going on and got Rose out of it? Would he and his family have been able to keep her safe?

He suddenly looked up to see Tess looking at him.

"I thought she would have rung you by now Alec?" she asked, hoping Rose wouldn't ask any awkward questions if she did, such as why the message hadn't been passed on to him the other night.

"There's still time Tess," Alec replied. "I called this morning but she'd already gone to work."

"So where does she work?" Tess wanted to know.

"In a big department store," Alec replied.

"Really? Is that all she could find?" Tess scoffed. "I thought she'd gone to school with you?"

Alec looked a little annoyed with her, thinking maybe she was a bit of a snob.

"She did well at school, considering," he replied, not wanting to go into details. "She took the job because she was saving up, to come back and so we had money to spend during the holidays. Not only that, she never intended staying."

"Well she has," Tess reminded him. "What was the good of her saving up to come back?"

Alec didn't need reminding of that. He was about to reply when the sergeant called him over.

"You're wanted in the CID," he was told. "The DCI wants to see you."

"What's it about Sarge?" Alec wondered, hoping it wasn't that they were letting Bob off because he himself was involved.

"Go find out eh?" the sergeant suggested.

"Sarge, can I ask a favour? If Tess answers my phone, will you tell me?" Alec dared ask.

"Don't you trust her Alec?" the sergeant raised his eyebrows.

The sergeant already knew Tess had answered his phone the other night but he had no proof it had been Alec's girlfriend who had called.

"I want to Sarge but I think Tess might not tell me, for some reason," Alec replied.

The sergeant knew Tess was jealous every time Alec mentioned his girlfriend.

"Don't keep the DCI waiting Alec," was all he told Alec.

Alec went off, the sergeant not wanting to get involved in what was becoming a case of Tess being jealous of Alec's girlfriend, who was hundreds of miles away. Alec obviously couldn't see it and it wasn't up to him to tell the young detective constable.

"You wanted to see me Sir?" Alec asked his superior after knocking on the office door.

"Come in Hardy, take a seat," he was told, barely being able to breathe due to the thick cigarette smoke, since there were two of them there.

He swore the other one looked like the DCI's sergeant in the TV programme he'd thought of.

"Well done, for the other night Hardy," the DCI told him. "I saw the recording of the interviews, I'm a bit concerned you knew one of them."

"Which is why I let someone else ask the questions Sir," Alec replied, seeing the grin on the sergeant's face.

"Ah, Tess Henchard," the DCI grinned. "I would have thought she'd have wanted in, considering she has on everything else. I was surprised she didn't want to join the raid."

"She's maybe not got the stomach for it," the sergeant suggested.

"Shut it Carter," the DCI warned the sergeant.

Alec thought they even had the same names, well the sergeant did anyway.

"Anyway, you'll have to keep your involvement out of it Hardy, understand?" the DCI asked him.

"Yes Sir, I never asked him any questions directly," Alec defended himself.

"I know but it was suggested you knew him and one of the early victims. Just how were you involved?" Alec was asked.

"Sir, I went to school with her, then she became my girlfriend," Alec had to admit. "Her mother found out and took her back to London."

"So she's no longer in Scotland?" he was asked.

"No Sir, she never returned," Alec told them.

"Good. Then she can be included with those who were past victims, who can't be named on any charges we bring against the gang of child sex offenders," the DCI told him.

"Sir, I was reading through some of their statements, it's far worse than I had thought," Alec replied.

"Your girlfriend was lucky to escape then," the DCI remarked. "We have enough on them Hardy, she'll remain an unnamed victim, it's enough they tried to get her involved back then. Seems she was too clever for them though?"

"She was Sir, myself and my family were proud of her for that," Alec told them.

"Is she still your girlfriend?" he was asked by the sergeant.

"I don't know Sir, we've not seen each other for a good while now," Alec had to admit.

"Maybe you should go see her?" the DCI suggested. "Watch out for DC Henchard though," he laughed, turning to the sergeant.

"Why's that?" Alec wanted to know.

"It's all over the station Hardy, just ask anyone," the sergeant laughed.

While Alec was in the DCI's office, Rose had got the courage to call Alec again, having the misfortune to get Tess.

"Where is he?" Rose asked Tess before she'd finished answering.

"If you mean Alec, he's in a meeting," Tess huffed back.

"Did ya tell him I called the other night?" Rose wanted to know. "He never called me back."

"It's up to him if he calls back or not," Tess replied, trying not to answer Rose's question.

Jackie was trying not to listen but she thought surely if Alec was calling in the mornings it meant one of a few things, one being he still cared about Rose but didn't actually want to talk to her, in case she didn't want to talk to him.

Would Rose see it that way though, Jackie wondered as she heard Rose asking Tess to tell him she'd called again. The sergeant had gone off somewhere at the time Rose was talking to Tess but when he got back, he saw Tess was trying to hide something and hoped she wasn't going to deceive her partner again.

"So, what were you wanted for?" Tess asked Alec when he got back.

"They wanted to thank us for a job well done with those child abusers," Alec told her. "Did I miss any calls?"

Tess shook her head, leaving Alec wondering if Rose had really given up on them or if Tess was lying to him again. He had wondered about the other night, it was strange Rose hadn't called him on her birthday, then her not wanting to come back. Had they really been apart for too long to be able to pick up the pieces again?

Jackie had been fine with him though but maybe Rose hadn't told her mother, just in case she let slip to him it was finally over between them. If that were the case, why hadn't Rose told him herself? He went back to the statements, not seeing Tess was trying to hide the fact Rose had called again and the sergeant having his suspicions she was actually lying about it again.