Chapter 126 I knew it was Tess

Before he had left, Tess had told him what had happened with Claire and Cate and he had warned her she would have to just keep on at Claire.

"Do you know what you're asking Alec?" Tess had wanted to know.

"What do you want me to say Tess? I can't use Rose to get to Claire and if I try?" he'd asked her. "Claire only has to think she can use me the same way she uses her husband, it could all backfire on us."

"Well you're asking a lot of me," Tess had pointed out. "She'll see through our idea."

"Not if you pretend to be on her side," Alec had suddenly got an idea. "Think about it Tess, let her think you sympathise with her, things can't be going well between her and Lee."

"What? Are you crazy?" Tess replied.

"No, I've just come to my senses," Alec had told her. "You can take her side Tess, use our separation to get her to trust you."

"You want me to admit it to her?" Tess sounded surprised.

"Come on Tess, it's your chance to complain about me to her," Alec had reminded her. "Isn't that what you want?"

"You mean to say you want me to tell Claire how you suddenly went for a divorce after your old girlfriend came back?" Tess had turned on him.

"Say what you like Tess but you keep Rose's name out of it, understand?" he had insisted. "Don't you dare drag her into this. I'm going to let Ashworth out on police bail."

"That's a bit risky Alec," Tess told him.

"Why? Maybe he will say something to Claire? She then may let it slip when you see her again?" he suggested.

So Tess had agreed reluctantly agreed to go back to Claire's salon the next day to try to convince her she was on her side and to start complaining about Alec. Well he'd asked for it as far as she was concerned, he'd not bothered mentioning a divorce until Rose had turned up.

Alec had called Dave to have the custody sergeant let Lee Ashworth out on bail and with certain restrictions, including they could recall him at any time when his car had been searched thoroughly and the evidence examined by forensics. He had to at least keep up the illusion it was still in their possession.

How long they could keep it quiet that the pendant was missing, he didn't know and hoped Tess wouldn't mention it but with it being stolen from her car, he doubted she would brag about it, unless she claimed it had been stolen from his car.

Alec thought about it on his way home to see Rose. They had only just got back together again and he didn't want to put it all in jeopardy. He'd had a son all this time and that meant everything to him. He had Daisy, yes but he'd never wanted any more children with Tess, she had tricked him by pretending to care about him when she'd only wanted one thing.

She had been selfish and only wanted his help to get back home and prove she could get a husband and try to put her affair behind her. Rose greeted him with kisses when he arrived home, Alec thinking it was a far cry from going home to Tess. It had only been Daisy when she was younger that made him look forward to going home.

"Hi," Rose grinned several kisses later.

"Hello sweetheart. Did you have a good day?"

"Let's see," she pretended to think. "Changed the bedding, put the duvet away, gathered the washing, did that. Did I miss anything?"

Alec held his hands up in defence.

"Yes, okay, you've been busy," he laughed. "Sit down Rose, I need to talk to you, seriously. The only way I can see us getting out of here sooner rather than later is to keep on at the suspects and I'm sorry Rose but I can't let you get involved now. The suspect's wife is unstable, you could end up getting hurt and I can't let that happen."

"Alec, if it helps, I'll take my chances," Rose replied as they sat on the sofa.

"No love, I'm in charge of the case, Tess will just have to do it, I mean for her to get closer to Claire and gain her trust. It didn't go well though when she saw her earlier," he admitted.

"Well there ya go," Rose protested. "Ya can't use her, can ya? If Claire already suspects Tess is tryin' to get her to confess."

"It's just not as simple as that love," he replied, taking her hands and kissing the back of one of them. "I love you so much Rose, I never stopped loving you but I felt like I had betrayed you and you would want no more to do with me."

"Alec, I knew it was Tess, not you," she assured him. "I knew what she was up to but I didn't know what to do, that maybe she'd got her claws into ya and ya wouldn't see sense."

"I would have snapped out of it but I thought it was too late," he admitted. "Tess has a lot to answer for but forget that for the moment. I am not prepared to let you get hurt in order to solve this case, that's the end of it. Claire is unstable, she is still changing her story, Tess saw her today and she thinks she may be able to turn her."

Rose was still listening to Alec's idea of getting Claire to turn on her husband.

"So, ya think Tess will enjoy complaining to Claire about ya?" Rose smiled.

"What do you think love?" he replied. "They have a lot in common."

"I expect she'll make the most of it?" Rose asked him. "I bet she won't say she stole you from me in the first place?"

"Don't let it bother you love," Alec told her.

"Why should I? She got what she deserved, ya said ya were already splitting up before I even came to find ya," she reminded him.

"I know love and I made it clear to her I knew what she did," he replied, putting his arm around her. "Come on, try to forget it eh?" he urged her. Don't let her spoil things."

"Sorry, she just gets me so mad," Rose replied as he held her tightly.

"Rose, if I could leave tomorrow, you know I would," Alec told her as he kissed her hair.

"I know that but ya have to catch that poor girl's killer," Rose insisted.

That was why he loved her so much, she cared about people and would put something back like them moving away if someone needed help.

"Rose, that means a lot to me love but things are not going so well. I am certain Claire is covering something up about her husband, the girl's father acts like he doesn't care and the mother spends most of the day drinking. I hate to say so but I bet they are somehow involved," Alec admitted.

"That's awful Alec, is that possible?" Rose asked, leaning on his shoulder.

"I hate to say so but yes. They went off to a wedding that night, Ricky Gillespie could have gone home and be somehow involved in what happened. We still have no idea where the older girl went," he replied.

"Alec, ya have to find out, we can wait a while longer to move. I have loads to do anyway, like deciding what to do about the house if Donna doesn't want it. I'm still not sure about selling it otherwise and it's too big for mum on her own. I can't just let it go."

"I understand that," Alec agreed. "I'm sure your friend will think the same."

"Donna and I were good friends before I even married James. There's no rush for her to decide, it's not like I'm gonna do anything right away," Rose told him. "Wanna help me make dinner?"

"Sure love. I just wanted you to know where things stand," Alec replied. "We can go out to eat, if you want?" he then suggested.

Alec drove them a short distance to a pub that served food and he called Jamie when they'd finished eating.

"How are things going?" Alec asked Jamie.

"Fine Dad. Gran said you're not coming up this weekend?" Jamie asked him.

"I'm taking your mother to Broadchurch," Alec replied, looking at Rose.

"Are you moving there yet?" Jamie wanted to know.

"No, I'm going to have to finish this case, I owe it to the girl's family," Alec told him. "Unless things change," he added. "Are you looking after your grandmother?"

"Yes Sir," Jamie replied. "Did she tell you she invited uncle John over on Sunday?"

"She told your mother," Alec laughed, remembering when he and John used to visit and Rose used to drag him in the kitchen to clear up afterwards. "Do you remember her old flat?"

"Yeah, we used to go see her when I was little," Jamie admitted.

"Your uncle and I used to visit quite a lot," Alec told him. "We would get there at all times," he recalled.

"I bet gran loved that?" Jamie laughed. "Can we do a video call next time Dad?"

"Sure, I would like that, it's just that we are out at present. Hold on, I will put your mum on," Alec offered.

Rose took his phone and Alec went to get more drinks, turning around while waiting and seeing her smiling. It was still taking some getting used to, having a teenage son older than Daisy was. He still wished Rose had told him about Jamie when she had found out, instead she had chosen to tell James.

How could he have abandoned her so easily because of Tess? He hoped his idea had worked, about getting a fast divorce and that he could get some positive proof that Lee Ashworth had killed Pippa. He couldn't wait now to take Rose to Broadchurch and start their new life.

Over at Claire and Lee's house, Lee was confronting his wife.

"Get Tess off your case Claire," he was warning her.

"How am I supposed to do that?" Claire objected. "She just turned up at the salon, everyone's getting suspicious Lee. How come they let you out anyway?"

"Not glad to see me? I don't care about anyone getting suspicious," Lee replied. "Stop her asking questions then."

"You and your stupid suggestions," Claire laughed. "If I didn't let her in the salon, she'd only be waiting for me when I leave."

"Well avoid her somehow," Lee suggested. "If she carries on asking questions, she may try and trick you into saying something."

"Such as?" Claire wanted to know.

Should she tell him she had cleaned up after him yet again? He'd never even asked if she'd found anything in the car he'd just sold. Should she tell him the police had been all over it and she'd followed the woman detective? Why had Tess Hardy been handed a plastic bag, then instead of going to the police station, had gone to a hotel instead?

She bet anything Tess had been meeting a bloke that wasn't her husband.

"Never mind that, they suddenly decided to let me go, they think they have evidence against me and I'm not going anywhere," Lee told her.

"Have they?" Claire grinned, knowing what they'd found in the car.

How could he have been so careless, she asked herself yet again.

"What did you find in that car Claire?" he turned on her and ignoring her question.

"What do you think I found Lee?" Claire replied, trying not to let him put her off.

"You never said anything, stop playing games Claire," Lee warned her.

Claire began to laugh so Lee raised his hand to her but she dodged him and grabbed his hand.

"I'm not telling you, it's my insurance policy if you decide to drag me into it," she smiled.

"You cow, I bet you have something on Ricky as well?" Lee sounded angry at being fooled.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Claire defied him, trying to get out of his grip.

"You'd let me stay locked up?" Lee wasn't that surprised. "Hardy told me they'd found something."

Claire tried to act normally. Why would the detective say that when she'd followed Tess and broken into her car? Unless they were seeing how far they could go without admitting Tess had been stupid enough to leave the evidence unattended?

Well good luck to them, she thought. Why should she bail him out when he'd do the same to her? If she admitted she'd taken it, she'd end up in prison as well and why should she? She had the baby to think about but the more she did, the less she liked the thought of Lee being a father. It was decision time, before it was too late.

She had no-one to turn to, Cate wasn't talking to her so that left Tess or her husband so who would be more likely to feel sorry for her? If she asked either of them, they'd want something in return. She could turn on Lee and let him fend for himself or say he told her to take the evidence and she hadn't wanted to.

So the next morning, Claire decided if Tess came to the salon again, she would try turning on Lee before letting go of the evidence to clear him. Why should she do him any favours? She had enough problems of her own and soon, he would start to notice and wouldn't be able to fool him for much longer.

Alec had arrived at the station and was trying to convince the chief they could get away with not producing the evidence to detain Lee Ashworth.

"Well Alec, I don't know how long it would take any decent defence lawyer to ask to see it," the chief smiled.

"We have to at least try," Alec replied. "Get Tess to have one more try at Claire and if Claire refuses to help us, she is definitely the one who stole the evidence. Then we arrest her on suspicion of breaking into Tess's car."

"That's all very well Alec but we won't be able to hold her for long," he was reminded.

"Hopefully long enough to make her realise we mean business," Alec replied. "I will tell Tess to take a female uniformed officer with her and if Claire doesn't talk, to bring her back under caution. We won't arrest her just yet, that gives us time to question her."

"Very well Alec, we'll try it your way," the chief agreed. "Look, I know you want out of here but we may just be clutching at straws. It may not even have been her who smashed Tess's car window and took the evidence."

"It has no value for anyone else," Alec insisted. "I don't go with the theory it was someone trying their luck, it is too much of a coincidence."

He went back to his office and called Tess in.

"How many more times Alec?" Tess asked him. "The mood Claire is in, you'd probably have more luck with her. She looked a bit off if you ask me."

"In what way?" Alec wanted to know. "We could use that to our advantage. Take someone with you and bring Claire in for questioning if she refuses to help."

"Fine but you're wasting time Alec," Tess agreed reluctantly.

Claire was already in a bad mood before Tess even got there. Lee refused to take her to work, saying he was going the opposite direction and had driven off in the van without her. So when Tess walked into the salon and a marked police car was outside, Claire wasn't happy.

"What now?" Claire asked as she approached Tess.

Tess had decided to just get on with it and save herself some time.

"Claire Ashworth, I'm placing you under caution," Tess told her and proceeded to inform Claire of her rights then said for her to get her things.

"Hold on, you can't hold me," Claire protested as staff and customers watched.

"Yes, we can," Tess corrected her. "On suspicion of breaking into a car and stealing evidence."

"What?" Claire spluttered as the female officer joined Tess. "You can't prove I was involved."

"You had your chance to speak yesterday Claire," Tess reminded her. "You will now be interviewed under caution, unless you have anything to tell me now?"

"Okay, just you and me," Claire gave in, pointing to the back of the salon.

"Wait outside," Tess told the officer.

When Claire closed the door, she went to fill the kettle.

"Want a coffee?" she asked Tess.

"Let's just get on with it Claire. Did you or did you not follow me the other night? Did Lee tell you to get something that was left in the car he'd just sold?" Tess asked her.

"He made me do it," Claire replied, hoping to get Tess's sympathy. "I'm scared of him."

"Really?" Tess only half believed her. "What did you get out of the car Claire?"

"A purse with a phone inside," Claire admitted.

"What about a plastic bag?" Tess wanted to know.

"What plastic bag?" Claire asked. "I don't know anything about a plastic bag."

"Come off it Claire, the handbag had a plastic bag inside, containing what we found in Lee's car," Tess told her.

"Well someone else could have found it," Claire insisted. "Yes, Lee told me to get whatever you found in the car but he was disappointed. You really think he killed Pippa?"

"Don't you?" Tess replied. "Were you really with him that night?"

Claire saw her chance.

"No, I was at a friend's house," she admitted.

"I think you'd better come with me," Tess replied. "Do you want to change your story Claire?"

Once back at the station, Alec was listening to what Tess had to tell him.

"So she's no longer giving him an alibi?" he asked.

"Come and interview her with me," Tess replied. "Oh and she told me something else, in confidence, which may have prompted her to stop defending her husband. You'll have to ask her about it."

"So, if she denies she took the evidence, who did?" Alec wanted to know. "I don't believe her, do you?"

"Of course I don't," Tess replied. "That means we can still bluff we have it if the defence asks."

"So long as we keep the two of them apart," Alec agreed. "We can't prove we have it but the defence had best not ask to see it."

"Well it sounds like neither of them are about to admit anything about it," Tess told him.

"That could put us in the clear," Alec hoped.

"What about the prosecution service?" Tess asked. "We have to enter all evidence before any further action can be taken. If we can't produce it, the case may fall apart."

"Then you have to keep on at her Tess, make friends with her and get her to tell you where the pendant is," Alec still insisted. "What about what she told you?"

"Maybe?" Tess wondered. "If I offer to help in exchange for her to testify against him?"

"Then do it," Alec agreed.

"So you and your old girlfriend can get out of here?" Tess asked. "You are asking a lot Alec."

"Really Tess? You can't admit that you lost?" he wanted to know. "Keep that out of this, this is about getting who killed Pippa behind bars, not about Rose and I."