Alec now had a decision to make. To carry on playing games with the Ashworths and probably the Gillespies or quit before it really all kicked off and get out of town while he could. He was now very tempted to do the latter but he'd come this far and that wasn't him.
He knew no-one else was up to the job of making one of them confess and they'd tell on the others. At least Rose understood how important this was for him, to get it over and done with and start a new life with her and Jamie. He went back to the hotel for the last time and Rose could see he was debating something.
"Come on, out with it Alec," she faced him over the dinner table in the hotel, only just making it on time.
"I can't Rose, things are not adding up, least of all the alibis they've all come out with. They will all trip themselves up, just you watch love," he told her, reaching for her hand.
"Then wait for them to do it. I know we wanted to move and for Jamie to join us but I won't have him here, while the case is going on Alec. He's never been involved with anything like it, remember?" Rose replied, squeezing his hand.
"I know he's not love, I don't want him being singled out when we change his name, whether we do that before or after we get married," Alec promised. "I can walk away from it, tell the chief my family is more important."
"No Alec, that's not you," Rose already knew. "Jamie already looks up to you, he's been a long time without a dad. He won't think any less of you if you did decide to leave it but he would be so proud of you if you got those responsible locked up, we all would. You do what ya have to Alec, me and Jamie are going nowhere, we're all behind you, even my mum."
"That means a lot to me love," Alec assured her. "I'm leaving Tess to go after Claire, forget what we talked about before."
"I want to help Alec," Rose replied. "There would be no harm in me calling in Claire's salon and chatting to her.""No Rose, she's more dangerous now than she was before. Her husband will be even more annoyed with her if he thinks she's said anything. Even you going for your hair doing may put you in danger if she suspects I sent you."
"Well, the offer's there," Rose smiled. "You have to finish packing. Did ya leave anything behind where ya lived with Tess ?"
"Yes, a few personal things, locked in a cupboard. I did not want her snooping around the things you bought for me," Alec smiled back.
"You're as bad as me then," Rose tried not to blush. "I hate the fact I hid them from James, it's what got him killed."
"Rose, stop feeling guilty love," Alec tried to tell her. "You were trying to spare him from finding out how much we looked alike. No-one could have known what he'd do that night. Don't tear yourself up over it love eh?"
"Even so Alec, I didn't have to hide all the things you'd bought me. Maybe he wouldn't have been curious that night?" Rose wondered.
"Rose, what do you want to do eh? You don't want to tell Donna what happened that night so you can't admit it to anyone else," he reminded her. "Being in the police, I can honestly say nothing would be done about it. He left home that night and you saying you knew nothing about it was the best thing to do at the time. What if everyone had found out it was because you'd argued, over me?"
Getting up, he took her hand again and they went back to their room.
"Rose, you could have been left all on your own, think about it. Donna would've stopped talking to you, your mother may not have helped with Jamie and he would have wanted to know why. He depended on Donna as the link between him and who he knew as his dad," Alec told her.
"I suppose so?" Rose then thought about it. "So, do I ever tell Jamie?"
"Maybe when he's older but I will tell him, he's my responsibility now. The important thing is you still trusted me enough to tell me. When I think he's ready to know, I will speak to him. Well, we may have to make two trips in the morning then get the things we still need."
"I can't wait to finally have a place of our own Alec," Rose smiled as he opened their room door.
"It was my fault it never happened sooner love," he admitted.
"Now who's feeling guilty?" Rose asked him.
As they moved into their new home the next morning, Lee Ashworth was determined he was going to stir up more trouble for poor Alec. He was more annoyed with Claire than anything else but either Tess or Hardy had put her up to it.
"I want you to keep him away from me," Lee Ashworth was telling the chief when he'd demanded to see him.
"He's the lead detective on the case," Ashworth was reminded. "Let him conduct his enquiries, then you can clear yourself from the investigation."
"When he's turning my wife against me?" Ashworth wanted to know. "Well you tell him and that wife of his to stay away from her. What's she been telling Cate and Ricky?"
The chief thought he'd best not say that Tess and Alec were almost divorced, since it seemed like Alec had changed his mind over using Rose to get to Claire. He was glad about that anyway, it may have got out of hand and left Rose in a lot of danger.
"DI Hardy is in complete charge of the case, I don't interfere unless I have to," the chief then told Ashworth. "I suggest if you want to clear yourself and your wife, you should hire a solicitor."
"I can't afford one, I have to keep leaving my job to answer Hardy's stupid questions," Lee objected. "Tell them to stay away from Claire," he reminded the chief.
Now, the chief wished Alec would get the urge to leave, he wouldn't blame him. Instead, Alec would be trying to impress Rose and solve it before they left for that little seaside town. He still wondered why they'd insisted on moving there.
Alec left Rose to sort things out and went back to work, where he was soon summoned to see the chief.
"You weren't planning on using Rose then?" Alec was asked.
"No, I can't, not now. I have another idea how to get Claire to turn on Ashworth," Alec admitted.
The chief shook his head.
"Tread very carefully Alec," the chief warned him. "What about Tess and her forgetting to include Ashworth's car? Do you think it may be worth a go?"
"Maybe but we have to spring it on them. Give him any warning and we may not find anything," Alec insisted.
"What makes you think we will?" the chief asked.
"We have found nothing in the house, something may have been left in the car, if they were trying to get rid of any evidence the girls had been in their house that night," Alec replied. "Something happened there that night, I'm sure of it."
"You have to be more than sure Alec. Okay, I'll try for another warrant to search their car but if Ashworth hires some legal aid, they may say it's unnecessary," the chief then warned him. "You have your girlfriend to think about now Alec, so keep her well out of it."
He went off to catch up on what had been going on in the morning, trying to avoid Tess. He thought about the warning to keep Rose out of it even though she'd said she would still try to speak to Claire. Was it worth it, he wondered.
Rose had called her mother to say they were settling into their apartment.
"Well ya didn't have to stay in the hotel long," Jackie remarked.
"Yeah, we were really lucky Mum. Is Jamie okay?" Rose asked.
"He's been spending some time with Luke," Jackie told her. "Any news of him meeting his sister yet?"
"We've been a bit busy with moving," Rose admitted. "I'll ask Alec to invite her over at the weekend, then we can do a video call. Has John called in to see ya?"
"Yeah, him and Sarah-Jane," Jackie replied. "We're both fine, don't worry about us," she insisted.
Alec had given up on getting a search warrant as it got towards leaving time. He'd also given up working late now Rose was with him but he was tired of Tess watching him. Just before he was leaving, the chief called him.
"I'll have that warrant for you tomorrow Alec," he was told. "Have someone check Ashworth still has it. If it's been sold for any reason, we want to make sure the warrant is still valid."
Alec called the same officer who was going to help him arrange for Rose to meet with Claire.
"So it's off for now?" Alec was asked.
"Only until we're sure we can get her to talk. Find out if Ashworth still has a car, from the officer still keeping the Gillespies informed."
The man went off and Alec laid back in his chair. He still hoped that if either Pippa or Lisa had been in that car that night, there may still be some clues left.
"He what?" Alec asked as he was leaving and had stopped to find out what was going on.
"Sorry Sir but no-one said anything before," he was told when he found out the car was gone.
"Are they sure?" Alec wanted to be certain.
"Yes Sir, didn't DS Henchard mention it?"
Alec went over to Tess's desk.
"What is it Alec? You know I collect Daisy from her music lesson," she reminded him why she was still there.
"Lee Ashworth's car is gone," Alec informed her.
"It's been gone a few days," Tess confirmed.
"Then why not say anything?" he asked her. "You knew it had been left out of the last search."
"Still blaming that on me?" she scoffed.
"It was you. First thing tomorrow, find out where it is and tell the chief so he can put it on the search warrant," Alec told her.
"You won't find anything in it now Alec, they'll have cleaned it out," Tess stated.
"They could have been careless," he replied, hoping he was right. "We need another reason to bring him in and this time charge him with something."
"We all want an end to this Alec but chasing after a car that he's probably sold won't get you very far," Tess reminded him.
"You should have told me it had gone," Alec replied, not in the mood to argue with her.
"I can't do everything Alec," she snapped at him. "When are you seeing Daisy? You're not taking Rose back this week then?"
"She's here to stay Tess, so get used to it," he made sure she knew. "I'll pick Daisy up on Saturday afternoon, she and Rose can meet."
"I'll have to see how she feels about that first," Tess told him.
"She'll be fine with it," Alec knew she was trying to stir up trouble. "Don't you put her off."
"Well asking a teenager to meet her father's old girlfriend," Tess replied.
"Is that any different than Dave hanging around, eh?" he wanted to know. "If she and Rose get on, there's no reason why Daisy can't come over every weekend."
"What about the transfer? You get Daisy used to being with you then you leave her?" Tess challenged him.
"We won't just abandon her Tess, I have to go now, Rose will be expecting me helping her in our new apartment."
"I hope there's a spare bedroom, if Daisy does want to stay?" Tess asked.
"Of course there is," he replied as he was now getting annoyed.
He went off before she got him really annoyed and he didn't want to be by the time he got back to Rose. He'd got another chance with her after all this time and Tess was not going to spoil it, no matter how hard she tried. That was what he thought until he got to work the next morning. It had started out nicely, waking up with Rose in their own place and talking over breakfast.
"I'm gonna go into town and look for a part-time job," Rose told him as he asked what she had planned.
"If that's what you want love? We could only be here for a short time, if things go well. We are going to try something else to get the suspect to talk," Alec replied.
"Well I hope it works then," Rose smiled as she got up.
"Thanks love and if you want to visit a hairdressers, stay clear of any run by a woman with a Welsh accent," he smiled back.
"I won't know until I hear," Rose teased him. "I'll go get some more groceries as well."
"Wait and we'll go together," Alec suggested.
That agreed, Alec set off, having the misfortune to run into Tess on his way in but the chief was looking for him.
"Why weren't we told that Ashworth had got rid of his car?" Alec was then asked.
"Tess told me as I was leaving last night. She already knew," Alec replied, not taking the blame for her mistakes.
"Well luckily, it was discovered before the warrant was issued. You'd better get someone onto locating it, without knocking on Ashworth's door and asking him," the chief suggested. "If you still don't want him knowing? What is it with Tess? She had better not screw up because you're divorcing her Alec."
"She had better not even try getting back at me through the case," Alec replied. "If she does, it's nothing to do with me, I am trying to get away from her."
"I know that Alec, just don't give her any ideas," the chief warned him. "I've put a hold on that warrant, unless you do want to try asking Ashworth?"
"Well he's sure of himself so maybe he won't think we are onto him again?" Alec wondered. "I thought I had been warned about annoying him?"
"Since when did you take any notice Alec?" the chief mused. "Don't let me find out about it."
Alec nodded and went to collect the officer who had been helping him.
"We're doing what Sir?" Alec was asked as they drove off.
"You heard. Can you think of another way of finding the car?" Alec replied.
Lee Ashworth was about to go next door to visit Cate when he saw a car approaching.
"Going somewhere?" Alec asked as he got out of the car. "Where's your car Ashworth?" he risked asking since only the van was there.
"What's it to you Hardy? You never bothered before. Have you nothing else to do?" Ashworth wanted to know.
"Use the van a lot outside of work?" Alec then wondered.
"Not really, I'm sure the neighbours wouldn't approve of me parking it around here at night?" Ashworth laughed, annoyed he wouldn't be able to call in on Cate now.
"Was it here the night the two girls went missing?" Alec then asked when he'd got his notebook out of his pocket.
"Claire would complain if I brought it home for the weekend," Ashworth told him. "Is that all you're here for? Didn't you get told to stay away?"
"I have a murder to solve," Alec reminded Ashworth, who was looking smug.
"Well stop hassling me," Lee insisted.
"Tell me where your car is then," Alec insisted.
"I sold it, happy now?" Ashworth replied.
Alec knew he'd get nothing else out of him so he got back in the car.
"Call the station and have someone check up how many car sales have taken vehicles in, say in the last few days and who sold them."
"Sir, that could take some time," was the reply.
"I want it doing. If Ashworth sold his car, he may have forgotten to clean it out properly and left something that will link him to the girl's death," Alec told the junior officer.
Alec waited most of the day before getting any news about Lee Ashworth's car. He was about to leave, since he was now eager to get home to Rose when Tess entered his office.
"The chief says we have to go search the car Lee Ashworth sold to a dealer," she told him. "Are you coming with us or is going back to your girlfriend more important?"
"Tess, keep her out of it, I'm warning you," he got annoyed with her. "Tell me where it is. Got a warrant this time?"
"Stop going on about that Alec," Tess replied. "I have to go, now I have to tell Daisy I'll be late picking her up from my mother's."
"That was the idea of her not going home on her own, given what's been going on," Alec reminded her. "Once she gets used to Rose, there is no reason she can't go there in emergencies."
"Huh, you've never even told me where you moved to," Tess huffed.
"I will tell you when I need to, this is not the time," Alec replied, putting his jacket on. "I will meet you there."
Tess put the address on his desk and left, to go complain to Dave.
"Cheer up Tess," Dave laughed at her mood. "We'll both take our cars and meet up somewhere when we've finished," he suggested. "Is Daisy at your mother's?"
"Yes, she will be," Tess replied. "Fine, we'll meet at the usual hotel then?"
They all went off, meeting two officers at the car sales, who were making sure the car wasn't touched.
"How long has the car been here?" Alec asked the manager when he'd got most of the details.
"A couple of days. I'm short of staff, it was waiting to be cleaned up," Alec was told. "I don't know about your forensics lads leaving marks all over it."
"The car is to be searched in connection with a police investigation," Alec replied, trying to avoid saying which one. "Harris, where's that warrant?" he turned to Dave.
"Must be serious?" the manager tried to sound enthusiastic. "Anything to do with that murdered girl?"
"I can't say," Alec told him. "We'll try to keep this to a minimum."
"I hope so," the manager replied as he went back to his office.
Alec took the front of the car, Tess the back seat and Dave the boot, Alec telling him to check under the carpet and the spare wheel housing.
"I've done this before Hardy," Dave objected as Tess looked over at him.
"Really Alec, we know how to conduct a search," Tess also objected before he said anything to her.
She had almost completed her part of the search when she moved the seat away from the door. Lodged down the side was a delicate chain and pendant.
"Here," she called without touching it and holding her hand out for an evidence bag.
She picked it up using the pen in her pocket and it slid to the bottom of the bag. She then handed it to Alec to sign the label and seal it.
"Who's going back to the station?" Tess wanted to know.
"You go home that way, you have to pass it," Alec reminded her.
"I was going to pick Daisy up first," Tess objected.
"I go the opposite way now," Alec admitted.
"You would," Tess replied sarcastically, looking at Dave.
Alec noticed so Dave tried to cover it up.
"I don't go that way," Dave shrugged his shoulders.
Alec let it slide and went to where the forensics team were waiting by their van. They had been getting elimination prints so hopefully, only Ashworth's and Claire's were left on the car. He watched Tess put the pendant into her work bag and wondered if Dave would follow her. Did he really care, as long as Tess got back with the item that would finally prove Pippa was in that car that night.
Once he had that proof, they could ask Cate if the girl was wearing the pendant that day. He did wonder why she'd never mentioned it before, if it was missing. He called Rose to say he'd been delayed, then set off, noticing Dave driving off.
So what if Tess was meeting him? As long as she took the evidence back first, he really didn't care. He was placing his trust in her to deliver it and place it safely so forensics could prove Pippa had worn it. Only a mile or so down the road, his hopes of locking Ashworth up were about to fade.
Dave had taken a shorter route to where he was meeting Tess and was waiting for her. Forgetting all about being a police officer, instead of hiding her work bag containing her work phone and the evidence bag, Tess greeted Dave and they went inside the hotel, not knowing that the car salesman had called Lee to say thanks for dumping the car on him when the police wanted to search it.
"I knew Hardy was up to something," Lee told the salesman.
"Well I'd better be able to still sell it," his friend grumbled.
He then called Claire, who was just leaving work.
"You idiot," Claire was telling Lee. "How did they know where it was?"
"Hardy was asking questions earlier," Lee admitted.
"While you were sneaking off to see Cate?" Claire accused him.
"Never mind that, go to the car sales and if see if they find anything, get a cab there and be quick," Lee replied.
"What am I supposed to do, if they do find anything?" Claire wanted to know.
"Then get it back, any way you can," Lee laughed. "I don't care how you do it Claire."
