When Eddie left Rachel's home, probably far later than he should have on a school night, he was somehow unsurprised to see the figure waiting for him in the passenger seat of his car. A figure that said nothing as he slid inside, keys rested in the palm of his hand. They sat there, the two of them, for so long that the overhead lights flicked off and a strange, artificial quiet filled the car as the outside world muted and faded.

It was Eddie who broke the silence. "He was going to kill her." The words were acidic on his tongue.

"You are certain of this?"

"She was more talkative before the shock wore off. He was going to go for her again when Tom walked in."

He received silence, but he was beginning to understand this man a little better and this time, refused to speak first.

"You wish for me to deal with him on a more… permanent basis."

It wasn't a question. It wasn't wrong, either, and Eddie began to wish he had alcohol for this conversation. "I want Rachel to be safe," he corrected slowly. "However that looks. And as much as I hate to admit it, you can achieve that better than I can."

After all, he hadn't even received a reply from Andy yet. To his surprise, his passenger sighed. "On that we agree. She will blame herself, however, should anything happen to him."

"She won't even have him charged with assault!" Eddie snapped. "What happens the next time he decides to visit her, and there's no one else around?"

He found himself on the end of an uncomfortably appraising look. He was just beginning to wonder if losing his temper was perhaps not the best idea he'd ever had, when soft laughter filled the car. "You love her."

Eddie blanched. "I… I'm…"

The laughter grew. "You haven't told her?"

"This is really none of your business."

"Perhaps not. But I am glad to know that she will be looked after."

"She'd say she doesn't need looking after."

"True."

Another silence, this one growing weightier and more filled until Eddie blew out a breath, leaning his head back. "I want her safe," he repeated softly, insides twisting uncomfortably.

"Even if our Mr Hordley was hit by a bus tomorrow, she would always wonder. Always have that voice in the back of her head questioning if it was her fault."

Eddie gritted his teeth. "Isn't that better than ending up dead? And why are you looking at me like that?"

The other man had an odd expression on his face as he studied Eddie, the rest of him as relaxed as could be, as if they were discussing the weather or something as equally asinine. "You would go behind her back to protect her?"

Eddie felt like they were going in circles. "I'd protect her when she wasn't willing to do it herself," he corrected. "You claim to know her, you know she always puts others before herself." He remembered what she'd explained about Bolton, how it had been Hordley's threat against him that had made her change her mind about conceding to the blackmail. The number of times she'd worked late, or come in early, just to help one of the kids. Putting herself through the indignity of the prison experience (the kids talked), throwing a Hail Mary for the sake of a group of children most of the world had already turned their back on. "Hordley isn't just a slimeball. He could have really hurt her."

A few beats passed, then another, and another. "I will help her. In my own way."

What the hell did that mean? But before he could ask, the door was being opened and Eddie was alone, more than a little taken aback. "Wait!" He fumbled for the handle, but by the time he'd opened his own door and climbed out, the street was empty.

Eddie stood for a long moment, blinking in confusion and felt a sliver of unease curl around his spine and into his stomach.

He should go home, he knew. Just as he'd planned, go to his own bed and sleep and see Rachel in the morning, just as he did every day. Only… he couldn't do it. He'd barely made the decision when he was stepping away from his car, scarcely remembering to lock it behind him as he jogged back to Rachel's front door and knocked.

She'd already removed her makeup when she answered, bare toes curled against the cold wood and her eyes widened at the sight of him, before crinkling in amusement. "Didn't I get rid of you already?"

He shrugged sheepishly. "Couldn't do it. Mind loaning out your sofa for the night?"

The lines of Rachel's mouth twisted. "I don't need a bodyguard, Eddie."

"Ever think it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me?"

She blinked in shock, before her expression softened and she nodded, stepping backwards to allow him in. The door was barely closed before she'd wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug and it was all the invitation he needed to bury his nose in her hair, closing his eyes against the feel of her in his arms.

He wasn't sure how long they stood there. Too long, he knew, as the chill that came with night-time began to creep its way through him and he still had his jacket on- Rachel had only the top she'd changed into before they'd eaten dinner. But he couldn't bring himself to release her, and eventually she was the who shifted, drew back to look at him. "It's late." Her fingers brushed across his jaw. "Let's go to bed."

He loosened his grip, reluctantly, didn't even have a chance to step backwards before her hand was entwining with his and she was leading him upstairs.

W.R.

Eddie wasn't sure what he'd been expecting over the next few days. But he'd been anticipating… something. Instead, life was painfully normal. The kids misbehaved and got into all sorts of odd situations, he had workbooks to mark and textbooks to tape together. There was no sign that that particular evening had ever happened, and for the first time he began to realise what Rachel must have been going through before. He was on constant tenterhooks, waiting impatiently and he wasn't even sure what he was waiting for.

If Rachel wasn't much the same, she would probably have been amused. Eddie was in a sour mood, snapping at everyone, including her, and so they'd taken to avoiding each other. There had been no argument, no harsh words but there was an undercurrent between them, an awkward fission of tension that lingered in the air between them. They never discussed it, never even acknowledged it but as if by mutual agreement, at the end of each day they returned to their separate homes, without even a text passing between them during their time apart.

It meant that when Eddie received a message from Andy asking to meet, he had nothing but time to do so.

"What the hell did you get into?"

Not the greeting Eddie had been expecting when he'd walked into the pub. He slid into a seat, shot Andy a look. "What are you talking about?"

"Stuart Hordley, that's what!"

Eddie mouth was suddenly very dry. "You mean the fire?" he asked innocently. "I saw it on the news…"

"Arson, Eddie!"

"I'm sorry?"

Andy huffed, ran a hand over his head. "The fire was arson," he repeated in a low voice. "So the investigation started looking at who might have wanted to harm Hordley construction, or the man himself. And it turns out a shorter answer might be who didn't want to harm the man."

Eddie could hear his heartbeat in his ears. "You're on the investigation?" If he was, that was it. He and Rachel were dead in the water.

"No."

Relief coursed through him.

"A mate of mine is."

Not good. Eddie shifted in his seat, tried to keep his expression blank. "What do you want me to say here, Andy?"

The words that left the other man's mouth weren't suitable for polite company. Eddie winced, but said nothing as he slammed a pint on the table harder than necessary. "Do you have any idea what kind of position you've put me in?"

Now Eddie felt guilty. "I didn't mean to."

"I have information about an ongoing investigation. I should have said something, regardless of our relationship."

Hope sparked. "Should have?"

Andy sighed, jaw set. "Others have come forward and admitted to being blackmailed," he acknowledged. "In the grand scheme of things… one more won't make much difference at this point."

Eddie blew out a breath, sagging in his seat. "Thank you."

"It's still against the rules," he said sharply. "I'm risking a lot here. I wouldn't even consider it if Hordley didn't deserve everything he's getting."

"You have no idea how grateful I am." Eddie shook his head. His heart was pounding, the room spinning a little around him and he had to get away, just for a moment. "I'll get more drinks in."

He went off to the bar, and by the time he'd returned, Andy looked calmer as well. He took a large gulp of the beer Eddie handed him, shook his head. "Hordley is a piece of work, even more than you know."

"How so?"

"You can't tell anyone this, Eddie. I shouldn't even be telling you."

Eddie nodded. "I won't."

Andy sighed. "He's facing multiple charges- blackmail, extortion, using illegal labour, bribery, more broken building regulations than I can count. And he's being investigated for more. There are suspicions that he arranged for the sabotage of other companies, so they lost their contracts and he could swoop in and take over. More than one of his contracts was won illegally."

Eddie had no trouble believing any of that.

"And I'm guessing," Andy continued, eyeing him. "That your late-night hypothetical about strangulation was more than hypothetical."

Eddie leant back in his chair, played with his glass while avoiding his gaze. "So, is he under arrest?"

"He will be, as soon as he turns up."

"Turns up?" Eddie's eyes snapped upwards. Andy didn't notice, shrugging as he lifted his pint to his lips.

"He must have realised what was going to happen, and run for it. They're looking for him, it won't be long."

Eddie was frozen, had to swallow hard before he could manage to speak. "They're sure he ran?"

"Well, he's disappeared without a word. What other explanation could there be? Guy's not an idiot, he put two and two together and legged it."

Could that be true? It would solve everything if it was, but the timing was just too perfect for Eddie's liking. Then again, as far as he knew Hordley hadn't been seen since leaving Rachel's office. There was every chance he'd fled immediately afterwards.

Eddie wished he'd known sooner- it would have saved some certain awkward conversations.

"Eddie?" Andy was looking at him oddly, and he gave him a weak smile.

"Sorry. I was just thinking. Ra… my friend will be relieved that Hordley won't be an issue anymore."

Andy hummed, looking at him with faint suspicion. Eddie fought to keep his expression blank, innocent and it must have worked because his friend turned his attention back to his beer, and only did Eddie allow himself to relax back into his chair. "So… how are the kids?"

Safe topics, he thought, keeping his attention fixed on Andy as he brightened, launched into a story about a dance teacher and a pair of shoes. Stick to safe topics, and avoid all mention of Stuart Hordley with this man again. It seemed like a good plan.