Back from their short weekend break, Alec was preparing what he was going to ask Tom Miller about his friendship with Danny and see just how much Joe Miller interrupted him by answering for his son. Ellie was getting ready for work, Tom making a fuss.

"Tom you were the one who asked me if you would need to be asked any questions," Ellie reminded him over breakfast. "You may get away with just a few, my boss went away for the weekend, he may be in a good mood," she told him, getting half a smile.

"Has he got a girlfriend?" Tom dared ask.

"Yes and you know her, it's Rose though goodness knows what she sees in him and he pinched my job while we were on holiday."

"Well I expect that's because he didn't take her job, did he?" Joe grinned as he tried to feed Fred.

"Easy for you to say, you chose to leave and Rose never tried to take your job," Ellie replied.

"She didn't drive back then Ell, she was just a trainee. I was surprised to see her at the reconstruction, driving the ambulance. I heard her latest partner prefers to drive. She was talking with your boss afterwards but they weren't giving anything away."

"I wonder if the chief knows about them?" Ellie mused.

"Are they keeping it secret?" Tom asked.

"No but with everything going on, they keep meeting up at incidents, it wouldn't look good if everyone knew about them," Ellie replied.

"That's not going to be easy," Joe told her.

"You should have seen them last Monday outside the newsagent's, Hardy saw an ambulance and went to see if it was her," Ellie laughed.

"Sounds like they've got it bad then? So why didn't she come with him the other night?" Joe asked.

"She must have been working and I didn't know then, did I?" Ellie replied. "See you at the station then and don't worry too much Tom, he'll just ask how Danny was before you went on holiday. You didn't sneak off to meet him that night did you?"

"Mum, I was tired, I was going round to see him the next morning," Tom told her. "I wish I'd gone now, Danny might still be here."

"Tom you didn't know what was going to happen," his mother assured him.

"Don't blame yourself," his dad joined in.

Rose had been relieved she was starting at ten again so she'd get finished fairly early. Alec had called in the hotel on their way back and got the rest of this things but told Becca the police were still paying for his room.

"You want me to keep the room when I'm turning guests down?" Becca asked him.

"Sorry but my chief wants me to keep it, I can't give you the reason though," Alec replied.

"Charming. Has she got to know I'm letting the press stay here and she doesn't want them to know you're here?"

Alec saw his chance.

"Something like that. If I get any mail, call the station and I will collect it."

"Fine, I'll just have to do that then?" Becca told him.

Rose had been waiting in the car, hoping Olly wasn't lurking around, it would be just like him to be doing so, even on a Sunday night. She wasn't quite sure why Alec's chief wanted them to keep quiet but if it turned out her suspicions about Joe Miller were right, they would be in the spotlight.

As they were getting ready for work the next morning, Rose asked how long it would take for his chief to consider what she had told about Joe Miller.

"I have no idea love, sorry. No bragging you have a new boyfriend eh?"

"If ya come and pick me up, everyone's gonna know Alec," she reminded him.

"Yes, I'm aware of that. We just have to keep things low-key for now. Don't talk to that reporter about us though."

"I don't anyway except to tell him to get lost," Rose smiled.

"It seems he never listens then?" Alec smiled, going for a kiss.

By Wednesday though, Rose's day off, it was apparent nothing was going to happen immediately so Alec went to see the chief again.

"Nothing is happening," Alec reminded her. "We've been seen together, no-one has said anything and the hotel owner wants to let the room. It's a good thing I did move out, the place is crawling with the press."

"You mean you have not already done so Alec?" the chief smiled. "Very well, I will inform personnel to tell the hotel owner to let the room go and I will cover it by saying you are paying your own costs. Just hope they don't know where your girlfriend lives."

Ellie still wasn't pleased how Alec had interviewed her son, well the tale she got out of her husband when she'd got home.

"Miller, what's going on at the hut?" Alec wanted to know. "Have they finished up there?"

"As far as I know. Do you think they missed something?"

"Did they? Did you hear about that scuffle outside the sea scout hut last night?"

"Joe said something about Nigel was shouting at Jack, something to do with what Olly started and when I see him, he's in trouble. I think someone put him up to it though, it's a bit much even for him. Hang on I've got a copy of the paper somewhere. Oh hi Bob, what do you want?" Ellie turned to ask the sergeant.

"Call from Jack Marshall. His shop's under siege from the press, he's a bit upset."

"Come on Miller, we need to ask him a few questions," Alec told her.

"How much do you bet he's sent for the paramedics?" Ellie grinned as they waited for the lift.

Alec was surprised she'd not added that it would be Rose but it was her day off.

"Is that supposed to mean something Miller?" Alec asked her as they crossed the harbour.

"Well you and Rose, I want to see if you still argue when you're on a call-out."

Alec thought he might have known. When he got home, he told Rose what had happened.

"There's gonna be more trouble then?" Rose asked as she served dinner.

"I think so love though your friend was upset you were not in attendance today. I got the chief to lift the ban of moving in with you, officially though."

"Great, then I won't get as many staring the next time ya call for me then?" Rose smiled. "Anyway, early start tomorrow, I'll get a cab."

"No, I will still take you. Nothing has changed Rose. I will try the appointments service again tomorrow, to see if there have been any cancellations though they said they would tell me if they had."

"Yeah, I know. Shame ya couldn't get the one ya had before."

"That would be Friday love. I'm not ready to leave you yet."

"Don't talk like that, I'm bringing ya home again Alec. Anyway, now it's only about four weeks away, ya said the end of August, right?"

"More like five love. As long as I chase no suspects, I will last until then. We will have to hire another car though, you can't drive the one I have now."

"Yeah, don't remind me. Alec, do ya mind if my mum comes down next weekend?"

That was what Alec had been dreading.

"Does she stay here?" he asked nervously, seeing the smile on her face.

The next morning though as Alec drove her the short distance, he had just left when he got a phone call.

"What are you calling at this time for?" he asked as 'Miller' came up on the screen.

"We're needed at the beach. Someone out early found Jack Marshall."

"I'm on my way. I hope Rose does not get the call, I just dropped her off at work."

"You'd best hope not then?" Ellie replied as she went to find her car keys.

As Steven was checking the ambulance, he saw two of their colleagues come towards them.

"Someone's been found on the beach. They think it's the harbour newsagent," Steven was told. "This is our call, it's too late for you."

"What's going on?" Rose wanted to know.

"Sorry Rose, they just found Jack Marshall on the beach. We have to sit this one out."

Steven noticed how quiet she had gone.

"Think your boyfriend will miss you being there?" Steven asked, trying to get a smile out of her as they were waiting for a call.

"Well he'll just have to argue with someone else," Rose replied. "Just as long as he knows he may not win."

"You mean you let him?" Steven laughed as a call came through. "Sorry Rose, we have to go some place else and your boyfriend is otherwise occupied."

Things were only going to get worse from that point.

Rose attended Jack's funeral with Alec a week later and her mother was arriving on the Saturday morning, knowing her way to Rose's place from the bus station so Alec had chosen to go to his office and stay there until Rose got off at two, having another early morning.

"Alec, I'm not stopping ya being home when my mum arrives. Why don't you pick her up from the bus station?" Rose asked him the night before. "You should have been to the hospital ya know?"

"How will I know her?" Alec panicked.

"Ah, don't worry, she'll find you," Rose teased him, kissing his cheek. "She saw ya on TV."

"Great, all I need now is for her to mistake me for that actor," Alec grumbled. "She knows I live here?"

"Yes, she knows Alec, she's fine on the sofa bed. Just remember to wear ya t-shirt when ya leave the bedroom."

"That's not funny Rose and yes, I am aware I should have been in hospital. What if I don't make it Rose? I put it off to give me time to find Danny's killer."

"Yeah and ya getting nowhere Alec and someone else dies, someone innocent in all this. See your chief again Alec and get Joe in for an interview."

"Rose, I can't justify it. If I get him in, I'll have to get other officer's husbands and boyfriends in."

"Then find someone who saw something that night. Alec, someone had to be around, the paramedics get called out at all times."

"You think one of them saw something?" he asked. Rose shook her head. "You mean someone else, say a dog walker?"

"Now ya gettin' it. You told me that woman was a bit odd when ya got the keys from her."

"Rose, I could find half the people in the town to be odd. I think I can justify asking her some questions and maybe I can find a way to get Joe Miller in? I've had someone finding out who got into that car park argument with him."

"Great. Just don't tell him I told ya about it," Rose replied as she got ready for bed. "So shall I text my mum that you'll meet her at one in the bus station?"

"If you make it worth my while love," he relented as he hung his trousers on the hanger.

"Hey, I saved your ass, remember?" she smiled.

"Yes, you did love. Shame you have no influence over appointments, now I want to bring it forward? Rose, I had a reason to put it back but if I get a cancellation, I promise I will take it but I may not survive a visit from your mother."

"She knows to go easy on ya Alec. She even questioned if ya should be driving so let's see about another car after the weekend, yeah?"

"If you say so love. We should practice being quiet for your mother's visit."

"Excuse me, you make all the noise ya know?"

"Then come and keep me quiet eh?"

Rose was only too willing to oblige without causing him to have another attack. As they lay afterwards, Rose still giggling to herself and Alec wondering why she put up with him when he had very little to offer her, he stroked her cheek as she snuggled into his shoulder.

"I never felt like this before," she admitted.

"You mean giggling all the time?"

"Well that and how you make me all giddy. Don't let my mum walk all over you tomorrow, I did warn her."

"You said already love. I'm sure she will settle in when you come home, I can leave her while I collect you then we can all go down to the harbour and get a late lunch."

"She'll want to go with ya, trust me. Just let her then we can go straight down. She'll want to catch up with Ellie as well while she's here so you should be warned. I'll call her and get her to call round. Has she said anything about you interviewing Tom?"

"She was not happy about it and she will be less happy when I ask her husband to call in. I will have to say we are trying to eliminate as many men as we can. She will just have to accept it and so will he. Hopefully, the other driver will be located soon but we have very little to go on. I put someone onto going back on social media for the last two years or so to see if anyone posted anything about it."

"Yeah, that's a great idea. Did you think of that?" she teased him, knowing he wasn't keen on using it himself.

"What do you think love? If we discover anything, we can ask that person to contact us. People can report the slightest thing if they find it amusing but there's a lot to go through. Watch out for your friend complaining I dragged her husband in but maybe I should wait and ask him about the incident at the same time?"

"Geez Alec, you're asking for trouble with that. So when he brought Tom to see ya, how did he act?"

"It was difficult to tell. Tom did keep looking at him though but I expect all boys would do that."

"So ya got nothing out of him? Well good luck getting Joe in. Shame about Jack though, you should arrest Nigel for inciting a riot."

"Do not tempt me Rose, I would if I were able. I have already had him in over something else but I can't say what that was. Get some sleep love, you have an early start tomorrow."

"Yeah, lucky me. I'm just glad I didn't get called to find Jack."

Alec knew that would have upset her even more and she had said nothing about seeking any help over finding Danny. Things were coming together but there was very little he could talk to her about including Nigel Carter being questioned when he was accused of dumping Danny on the beach but he suspected his estranged mother was just getting back at him.

After dropping Rose the next morning, Alec went to have a bit more rest before facing Rose's mother, whom he'd been warned was a bit of a handful when he'd told Ellie of her arrival. He was surprised Rose's mother hadn't wanted to stay longer but it was just as well he supposed.

Steven was teasing Rose about Alec meeting her mother.

"He'll be fine, he's used to dealing with people," Rose brushed it off.

"If you say so Rose but this is your mother we are talking about. Want to talk about the funeral you went to the other day?"

"No thanks. I just hope there aren't any more before Danny's. I bet Beth's not happy she can't bury him."

"I expect so. Nigel Carter should have known better, then he wonders why no-one likes him?"

Alec was getting ready to drive the short distance to the bus station and hoped Rose's mother would recognise him but Rose had told him her mother had blonde hair and would be watching for him. Jackie had got a lift from Mickey to the coach station and Mickey was surprised when she mentioned Alec was picking her up, since Rose had hurriedly sent her a text she'd found when she woke up.

"Is she serious?" Mickey was asking. "She's taken up with that detective? Aren't there rules about that, she must have to work with him?"

"Well she said his boss knows and they had to keep it quiet but how long is it gonna be before they catch the person? I don't think Beth will be wanting any visitors, I'll just catch up with Ellie while I'm there."

"So this detective, where does he live then?" Mickey asked as he drove into the centre of London.

"Rose said he's already moved in with her, there's something wrong with him and she worried about him being on his own. Trust her, she used to bring every cat on the estate home with her."

Alec had gone into the car park next to the bus station, using his police sign and had gone to locate where the coach from London would arrive, thinking maybe it would have been better had Rose's mother got off at the harbour. It was too late now though, that was where Rose had told him to go as she'd sent a text to him at the same time as her mother so now, there was only five minutes and he was getting nervous.

As the coach pulled in, Jackie was already looking out of the window for the likely candidate Rose had made her boyfriend in a short space of time, considering she used to moan about what a pain he'd been when she'd first met him at a call-out and he'd got her annoyed at every one since. She got up, getting her weekend case from the rack above and hoped she'd be able to find him.

It was Alec who found her looking around as the crowd gathered around, since the coach was carrying on to Exeter.

"Mrs Tyler?" Alec called to her. Jackie looked in his direction. "Rose asked me to meet you, I'm Alec Hardy."

"Of course you are, who else would be meeting me?" she asked him. "Have you got a car then?"

"Ah, this way. Rose finishes in about an hour, she suggested we meet her then go down to the harbour for a late lunch."

Jackie thought he could do with a bit more weight on him, no wonder he was ill. She got in the back seat, not sure about her daughter's boyfriend.

"You can get settled in before we go meet Rose," Alec told her as he got in. "She had an early start today. Did she tell you much about me?"

"A bit. Should you even be driving?" Jackie asked him.

"I take medication that keeps my illness under control. I go for surgery soon, did she tell you?"

"Only that you put it off. Watcha do that for?"

"Mrs Tyler, I have a young boy's killer to find, my surgery can wait but the longer this goes on, the more he is getting away with it."

"Well ya won't catch him if you get ill, will ya? I watch the news ya know, someone else died. Did ya take Rose to the funeral?"

"Yes, she was able to start later. She is still upset about having to attend when her friend's son was found. I'm doing my best to help her get over it, maybe she will talk to you while you are here?" Alec asked her, turning in towards the flats.

"So ya live with her then?" Jackie wanted to know.

"Rose was worried about me being on my own, she shows her caring side towards me, maybe that comes with the job?" Alec replied.

"She was always like that, you have no idea how many stray cats she used to bring home."

Alec smiled at the thought.

They went off to collect Rose, Jackie insisting on getting out to greet her.

"Has Alec been looking after ya?" Rose wanted to know, going to put her arms around him.

"I have been making sure she settled. We should go eat," Alec replied.

"Hey Mum, why don't I call Ellie and get her to meet us in the harbour caf ? Then ya can both catch up."

Alec thought it was just his luck he couldn't get a day off from his annoying DS.

Ellie was only too pleased, since Tom and Joe had gone to watch some football and was soon greeting Jackie, who remarked how much Fred had grown.

"Those two will be here all day," Rose smiled as they went to order.

"Yes, I can tell. Maybe we can sneak off and collect your mother later?"

Rose nudged him playfully.

"I'll make it up to ya," she whispered.

"I will hold you to that. So, where are we taking her tomorrow?"

"Ah, just find her some posh house and gardens to walk around," Rose smiled.

"Rose, I don't think that is a good idea. It may tire her out but it may finish me off."

"Ah, ya have plenty of time left Alec. Come on then, we'll sit at another table and leave those two alone."

Alec was glad when Monday morning came around and Jackie was getting ready to leave.

"I'll have to come longer next time," Jackie declared.

"Yeah, we can go more places but I can't get any time off yet Mum, I'll have to save it for when Alec goes in hospital. Let's see how it goes?"

"Well I suppose so. So ya getting another car?" Jackie asked.

"Yeah, so I can drive him to the hospital and back. Ya didn't talk to Ellie about him, did ya?"

"Of course not but she'll find out when he goes in," Jackie replied.

"That's why he's waiting Mum, for the next long weekend. No-one will even notice."

"Well Ellie may, she says he can be a bit of a misery."

"So would you if ya had a heart problem Mum," Rose told her. "Come on then, I have to go to work soon and I want to wave ya off."

As Jackie got on the coach, Alec put his arm around Rose.

"That went well," Rose told him as Jackie waved.

"Yes love, if I can survive a visit from your mother, I can survive my operation."

"Yeah? Well keep going on at them to hurry it up then 'cos ya may get some news about that incident and ya can finally get Joe Miller in for an interview."

Alec had a feeling once that happened, Joe Miller would get more suspicious than he probably already was and Rose could be in danger from him, if he was the one who killed Danny. He wanted the man to be interviewed but would rather keep him than let him go because he didn't want the responsibility of putting Rose in danger. He had to be sure Rose was right.