"Yeah, I can get someone up here," she told Alec. "Brian is it? I'll get them to report to you, yeah?"
"If you have to," Brian muttered, looking at Alec. "Just don't keep on finding more crime scenes than we can handle. We still have the oar in for testing, we should get some results back shortly. So anything we find in the boatyard goes to the Torchwood labs?"
"That was the idea," Alec replied as Rose got her phone out. "Rose, what time are you getting Claire?"
"I said around eleven. Are you calling Lee Ashworth?"
"Is he a suspect?" Brian asked as he watched the pair of them and bet Hardy was already involved with her.
"Yes, that's what we hope to prove from the oar," Alec told him. "What about the cloth you were testing?"
Brian could have sworn he'd already told the detective about that.
"Nothing Sir, its been well used, there's just smudges, oil and sea water. I doubt Torchwood could do any better with it."
Rose wanted to ask him if he wanted to bet on that but maybe not.
"I can have someone collect it," Rose replied, making Alec raise his eyebrows. "You'd be surprised what we can do."
Alec thought if they could prove Ashworth's fingerprints were on it along with Danny's blood, they had him. There would be no denying it. He saw Brian answering his phone so he waited, Rose going off to call the mobile lab.
"Sir," Brian called, holding his other hand over the mobile phone. "We finished examining the rag, should I send it to the Torchwood lab, if you tell us where it is?"
"As far as I know, they have taken over the car park by the old railway station," Alec replied.
Well that was where it had been suggested they based themselves and Rose had said no different. Rose had been calling Jake to find out who had been sent so see Alec.
"Doctor Harper sent Martha Jones down for now," Jake told her. "She can confirm what he's been diagnosed with and send for a specialist. Anyway, tell him he's nothing to worry about if something happens, the med lab will be open 24 hours for him, just get him there."
"Yeah, I will, we're in the caravan park now, it's not far and I'll go out the wrong way if I have to, just let them try and say anything," Rose replied.
Jake let out a laugh. "I can see them trying. Maybe you should get him to give you a police sign for your car? Don't worry, he'll be taken care of until we can get a specialist to him, Doctor Harper's got someone on call from both Exeter and Dorchester hospitals, it'll be whoever can get there the fastest. Tell him not to go chasing any suspects eh Rose?"
"Huh, that's easier said than done," Rose replied, seeing Alec watching her. "Talk to ya later Jake."
"You should set off to get Claire," Alec reminded her.
"Want a ride to where ya think Lee Ashworth is?"
"No, he can meet me at the car park entrance. How will we get in though, if there is security?"
"Just show your police ID, they're expecting you, ask them where the conference room is."
"I expect you have done this before?"
"A couple of times, yeah," Rose smiled. "Are ya gonna wait there?"
Rose dropped him at the end of the road and hoped she remembered the way to Claire's cottage. Claire had been annoyed that Lee had been stupid enough to get involved in another death, even if as he said it was an accident. She only half believed him though but she didn't want dragging into it. She had enough with this Rose Tyler butting in and trying to get her involved because Lee was trying to bargain with Alec.
Lee Ashworth had been hiding in the barn he'd been staying in when he'd got a call from Alec, after Claire had more or less kicked him out.
"What do you want?" Ashworth asked him. "Have you arranged a meeting with Claire?"
He didn't really want one now, would Claire give the game away?
"Rose has gone to get Claire so if you want to see her, get up to Broadchurch and turn into the station car park just as you get to the harbour, there's a sign for it. Wait there for me."
With that, Alec hung up and was listening to Rose organising things. As Rose drove off after dropping Alec, she was hoping Claire would have decided to co-operate but Alec was hiding something about him hiding her and he wasn't yet willing to tell her. Maybe she could chat to Claire on the way back and find out?
She drove down the narrow lane and stopped outside Claire's cottage. Claire had decided to go along with it and hoped Lee wouldn't say anything about last night. She went outside when she saw a car stopping, looking to see if it was Alec but Rose was on her own. She thought he must be meeting Lee then?
"Hi Claire," Rose greeted her, getting back in the car. "Are you sure about this?"
"If it's important," Claire replied, putting the seat belt on. "I know what happened, to that boy, well what they said on TV. So, are you and Alec sleeping together?"
"That's no-one's business Claire," Rose replied as she turned the car around in the narrow space.
"Oh come on, it was written all over your faces," Claire laughed. "Don't be so shy. When I met Lee, we were having sex a few hours later. It was like we were drawn to each other."
"You must miss him then?" Rose wondered. "What about when he was arrested when that girl was killed?"
"Why is everyone so sure he killed her?" Claire wanted to know. "Alec hounded him over that and he still does. He's trying to pin the death of that boy onto him as well."
"He knows Lee was there, he just wants to know what Lee saw. A boy died Claire but it doesn't mean Alec has accused Lee. Lee went to him to say he was nearby and saw Danny run off from someone and Alec wants to know who it was."
"How would he know, he's only just arrived here, well so Alec says. I've been getting texts and calls for a while and Alec won't accept it, I tried to tell him."
"There's no proof it was Lee, Claire. I have all my calls and texts screened though but it could be just sales calls," Rose suggested.
"Texts saying that someone is close?" Claire replied. "It has to be him."
"Well maybe the last few days? We know he's been here since last Thursday at least. Alec thinks he followed him here, to get Alec to lead him to you."
"Why does Lee want to see me now?" Claire wanted to know.
"Think about it Claire, it was the perfect excuse to get Alec to tell him where you were, that's why I'm taking you to my temporary base. Is there anything you want to tell me, that you don't want Alec to know?" Rose asked her.
"No, why should there be? If you want to be my friend, why don't we go out tonight and have a few drinks?" Claire suggested.
"That's not a good idea Claire," Rose replied as they drove towards Broadchurch.
"So you don't want to be my friend?" Claire goaded her. "You mean Alec wouldn't approve of you going out with me?"
"No, you're involved with a possible witness. We can be friends, just no going out, sorry."
"Your loss, we could have picked up a couple of blokes," Claire joked, well Rose hoped she was joking.
"I don't need a bloke Claire, how about you?" Rose told her, hoping to get her to admit something.
"I don't know what you mean," Claire replied.
"I think you do Claire. I think you really want to see Lee."
Claire thought Rose had already guessed she'd seen Lee last night.
"You don't understand so don't pretend you do," Claire huffed, folding her arms. "I've not seen him in a long time, that's all, then suddenly, he wants to see me, to play games with Alec. I'm a victim as well in this."
Rose wasn't sure Claire was entirely innocent. Had she already seen him? She didn't think Claire would admit it though. Rose turned towards Broadchurch then down to the car park, where Alec was waiting, not so patiently as Lee Ashworth sat on his bike just inside the car park.
"Where's Claire then?" Ashworth taunted Alec.
"She'll be here. Why are you so keen to see her after all this time?"
"You kept her away from me, then you tried to hide her from me. You took a job here just to do that?"
Alec was now questioning why he'd agreed to come here but he'd had no other offers.
"There was little choice," Alec had to admit. "Claire was afraid you would go after her."
"It wasn't hard to work out she'd go to you for help. Is this them?" Ashworth nodded to a metallic blue sports type car.
Rose stopped at the entrance and talked to the burly man, whom Alec thought must be tired of turning cars away, when there were two other car parks close by, one just behind them and one across the narrow road. Rose got out and nodded to the large mobile unit on the left. Ashworth got off his bike, making Claire step back.
"Will you go in with me?" she asked Rose.
Rose nodded and led Claire to the steps of the mobile offices, which consisted of an office for her, a conference room, a fitted kitchen and a small outer office for her assistant, who got up when Claire went in first, Rose just behind her.
"Miss Tyler," the woman greeted Rose. "Everyone's been briefed, there's a secure connection to Torchwood on your laptop. I'll organise some refreshments then?"
"Yeah, thanks. We'll be in the conference room," Rose replied, since her office would be too small for all of them.
Claire held back as Ashworth followed Alec into the conference room.
"Having second thoughts?" Rose asked her as Ashworth made himself at home.
"Wouldn't you?" Claire replied. "Is there a camera in here?"
"In the corner but there's no sound, it's just for security. We'll be in my office Claire, just leave when you feel like it, I'll come out."
Rose and Alec left, taking their drinks with them.
"So Claire, are you going to tell them about last night?"
"Yeah, great idea Lee. I'll just go back out there and say, oh by the way, Lee came over last night and we had sex."
Ashworth glanced at the camera.
"You think they've not worked that out yet?"
"What are you going to tell them Lee?"
"What Hardy wants to hear, what else? I got a good look at the other man, I can easily pin that boy's death on him."
Claire let out a laugh, also looking up at the camera and tempted to snog Lee in front of Alec.
"Why did you never tell the truth Lee? About Ricky killing Lisa?"
"What? It was your idea to stop Pippa telling what she'd heard Claire. We should have left Ricky to deal with her."
"It's just like you to leave it to someone else Lee," Claire replied, about to strike him but he grabbed her arm. "What did you tell Alec when he arrested you?" she asked, rubbing her arm when he let go.
Rose and Alec were watching with interest.
"Sure this hasn't got sound?" Alec mused.
"You wish," Rose smiled at his impatience. "Why did he want to see her all of a sudden?"
"To cover the fact he followed me I expect? He is going to pin the blame of Danny's death onto whoever was with him that night. He'll come up with another story, like he did when he was accused of killing Pippa Gillespie."
"Oh, what did he say about that anyway?" Rose asked as she saw Lee and Claire were close. "What does she see in him?"
"That's another investigation," he reminded her, wondering the same himself. "Get her to tell you what she sees in him."
"She suggested we went out tonight and pick up a couple of blokes," Rose told him.
"Are you going?"
"Nah, I told her I already had a bloke, since she implied we were together. I'm not gonna deny it Alec."
"Good, especially where Claire is concerned. Look at them, this is not the first time they have met since Ashworth was arrested. Why was he using me to get to her?"
"She claimed he'd been sending her messages," Rose reminded him. "He must have known where she was."
Claire was observing her husband, running her finger down his torso.
"At least look like you're glad to see me Lee."
"Come off it Claire, we're not fooling Hardy. Why go to him to hide you? Why not go to Tess?"
"They got divorced, she was too busy and besides, I stole the pendant, I've hidden it."
"What? It was you?"
"I did it to save you being found guilty. Now I wish I hadn't."
"You're a piece of work Claire, you really are. Why did you let me in last night?"
"I'd say it was because I missed you but I'd be lying. Well, go on then, who did you see up at that hut then?"
"How do I know Claire? Hardy will probably organise a line-up of a few locals. It had to be someone the boy already knew."
"Yeah, good thinking Sherlock. So, you're going to blame some poor local?"
"It's that or Hardy figures out it was me or do you want him to lock me up, Claire?" he grinned.
"I got you out last time Lee," she reminded him. "I've hidden the pendant somewhere safe and that night, when you got rid of Pippa, I hid something of Ricky's as well, so he wouldn't tell the police."
"What did you tell him that night Claire?"
"That it was that stuff he gave her, she reacted badly to it and we couldn't call an ambulance with all the blood in the living room. Did you kill Lisa or was it Ricky?"
"You have to ask me that? It was Ricky, they were arguing."
"Over you I expect? You did have sex with her then?"
"As if you never played around Claire," he gloated.
"I hate you Lee. If you're not careful, I'll give the pendant to Alec."
"You won't do that Claire, he'd find out the truth," Ashworth replied.
"Just tell him about the other night and get it over with Lee," Claire told him, picking up her small backpack, Ashworth wondering if she carried the pendant around in it.
Alec saw them going to the door and went out himself.
"I'm ready to tell you who I saw that night," Ashworth told him.
Alec called the station to tell them to send a squad car, expecting the man on the entrance to have been instructed to let police vehicles in.
"I'll take Claire home," Rose told him as she'd stayed in the conference room. "I'll meet you back at the police station then?"
"Does she have to be there?" Ashworth asked him when she'd gone off with Claire.
"Agent Tyler is conducting this enquiry with Wessex police," Alec replied.
On her way out, Rose saw a police car approach the entrance and called out of the car window for the man to let it in.
"I know to let the police in Miss Tyler," the man replied, moving the makeshift barrier out of the way.
Rose saw the smile on Claire's face.
"Enjoyed watching us then?" she asked Rose.
"Alec doesn't think that's the first time you've seen him since last year," Rose told her.
"He can think what he likes, he doesn't know how we were before he arrested Lee for killing Pippa."
"Do you think he did Claire?" Rose asked her.
"I don't know but I don't think he killed that boy, why would he? He didn't know him, it had to be the other bloke who was there, if they knew each other," Claire replied.
"Lee knew Pippa," Rose reminded her.
"What's that supposed to mean? You think he's guilty on both counts?"
"I don't know enough about Sandbrook Claire but I know enough about this. Alec thinks Danny recognised Lee from the Sandbrook case and Lee had to silence him because he didn't want Alec to know he was here."
Had she told Claire that before, she wondered. Claire let out a laugh as they drove out of the town.
"What else does he think?" she asked Rose.
"That back there, that wasn't the first time you'd seen Lee recently, was it Claire?"
"Lucky guess. I tried to tell Alec Lee was nearby but he wouldn't believe me."
"Claire, Alec knew a few days ago Lee was in the town," Rose reminded her.
"I don't mean in the town. I meant Lee knew where I was living, he must have followed you and Alec to my place."
"Come on Claire, tell me the rest," Rose asked her.
Claire looked like she was trying to decide as she pulled faces.
"He knocked on the door last night and left my favourite Chinese food."
"Is that all?" Rose asked as she watched for the turn-off for Claire's cottage. "Did you let him in?"
Claire remained silent until they reached her cottage.
"Yes, I let him, we went upstairs and had sex, what do you expect? I bet you and Alec are."
"We've spent some time with each other but no, not yet," Rose replied, not wanting to say Alec was ill.
"Yeah, if you say so," Claire laughed as she opened the door. "Are you going to tell Alec what I just told you?"
"I have to Claire, it has a bearing on the investigation. Lee still insisted on going ahead getting Alec to arrange the meeting."
Back at the police station, Alec was going ahead with Ashworth's interview, calling Ellie to come downstairs.
"Is he going to tell us the rest?" Ellie asked as she met Alec outside.
"If he does, you'll have to arrange a line-up Miller. You know the men in the town, who was Danny likely to be meeting?"
"How would I know? I can ask for volunteers and not tell them why. If I tell them, they'll all refuse."
Alec thought if only one refused, they had to be guilty but left it to her as they went inside the interview room. Alec started by banging his fist on the table as Ellie switched the recorder on.
"You've seen Claire, now stop playing games. Tell me who you saw Danny Latimer run away from that night."