Rose was in the bathroom, admiring the ring on her finger, thinking she had been dreaming last night. Alec brought her back to reality as he tapped on the door.
"Come on Rose, the cab will be here soon love."
"Yeah, I know, I'll just be a tick."
"Good thing I beat you to it this morning," he replied, putting his jacket on and leaving his tie in his pocket. "Rose, I'm coming back, you know that?"
Rose opened the door.
"You'd better Alec Hardy 'cos don't think giving me an engagement ring is gonna get ya out of marrying me."
He went to put his arms around her.
"I know that love," he told her, kissing her cheek. "I hope we do not get that cab driver Clive or whatever he likes to be called all the way to the hospital."
"Well we'll just sit in the back and snog all the way there, inbetween looking at my ring."
"I just bet you will love. Don't forget the overnight bag in case you have to stay eh?"
"So ya not gonna make a fuss if they insist ya stay in then?" she wondered.
"Well you are qualified to look after me in a hotel room love," he smiled, letting go.
"Well best hope they agree then? You should have sent the car back yesterday."
"That would be admitting defeat love, don't you think?"
"I suppose so, shame I can't drive it?"
"You may be too upset to drive back love, then what? You would have to call Ellie Miller to come and collect you and the car."
"She'll find out anyway, won't she?" Rose insisted, picking up her bag as Alec got the small holdall with a change of underwear each, some toiletries and two t-shirts.
"Come on love, let's make a move eh?"
They were both relieved it was another driver that had been sent and relaxed in the back seat, just holding hands and Alec still daring the driver to watch them, Rose squeezing his hand. Alec paid the cab fare and Rose looked at the signs for the heart unit. Soon, they were waiting for Alec's name to be called and he had to go get changed, Rose waiting having taken all his personal belongings and turning his phone off.
"If your friend calls, don't tell her anything," he made Rose promise.
"So what excuse did ya make then?" Rose smiled as he was behind the curtain.
"None, did I need one?" he replied, putting his clothes in the blue plastic basket and trying to figure out how to put the hospital gown on though he'd refused to take his shorts off.
"Well won't she call then? If she calls me, what do I tell her?"
"Rose, leave it love eh? Only tell her if the worst happens and get her to come over for you, promise me?"
"Yeah. I promise Alec but this is not going to be the shortest engagement in history, got it?" she asked as he drew the curtain back and got into the bed.
A nurse appeared from nowhere and began setting up the heart monitor, attaching pads to Alec and Rose keeping out of the way.
"Can I go to the theatre with him?" Rose asked the nurse.
"Yes, you can follow him but someone will show you where to wait. I'll be looking after him before and after his procedure. Don't worry, it'll be over in no time and you'll be waiting for him to wake up."
Rose just hoped she was right as Alec had the wires hooked up to him.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," the nurse told them as she turned the machine on.
Rose went to sit beside him.
"Rose, just be here again if I wake up."
"You mean when ya wake up?" Rose corrected him. "So go on then, how did ya explain to Ellie where ya were going or did ya tell her it was me?"
"I told you the budget had been cut?" he asked her. Rose nodded. "Well I said I was going to chase up some leads and I would be out most of the day. I just hoped she believed me but if I don't call her husband and son back in, it will seem suspicious so I have to do so on Monday. It's the reason I need to question him again Rose, I just hope my DC has been able to make something out of that car park incident, I'd told him to leave it for now."
"Well I just wish that was over with Alec, that you can tie that with Joe's temper and him losing it with Danny. Why don't ya let me talk to Ellie?"
"Rose, I can't ask you to do that love, she will tell him. Wait until I speak to him then we will see eh? Now give me a kiss and promise you will call her if things go wrong and call DC Daniels and tell him I said for him to confront Joe Miller. He's guilty Rose, I know he is."
"Yeah, I'll tell him everything I told you Alec but you'll be there to bring Joe in. I love you Alec."
"I love you too sweetheart, remember that. Seems what they gave me is having an effect."
Rose looked at the drip he'd been put on as Alec was closing his eyes but still holding her hand. She gave his an extra squeeze and he just managed one back when the nurse and two orderlies came in.
"We have to take him now, we'll show you where to wait."
Back in Broadchurch, Ellie was staring at Alec's empty office when the chief entered.
"Where's DI Hardy?" Ellie was asked.
"He said he had some leads to follow since we've cut back on staff. I hope that doesn't mean he's going to bring my son and husband in again."
"Well he has to look at everything Ellie, I expect he's had half the town in several times?" the chief replied. "How has he been acting lately?"
"As infuriating as ever," Ellie told her. "If it wasn't for the fact my friend's living with him, I'd just ignore him but if he messes her around, he'll know about it."
"I know about that Ellie, he admitted it but maybe she's doing him some good? He's changed since his arrival."
"Maybe so but he doesn't have to include Tom and Joe in his elimination process," Ellie huffed.
"Ellie, he can't be seen favouring some and not others. I know he's even had the local vicar in so no-one is exempt. If he comes back, tell him I want to speak to him."
Ellie wondered if Rose was working so she sent her a message, asking if she knew what her boyfriend was up to. Rose had turned her phone off, mainly so her mother wouldn't keep asking her questions and so Ellie wouldn't ask what Alec was doing going missing.
Two hours later, Rose had closed her eyes and was leaning her head back against the wall when she heard noises. Two orderlies were bringing a bed out and Rose's own heart was working overtime as she saw Alec with a breathing mask over his face. She got up and the nurse came over.
"Are you Mr Hardy's next of kin?"
Rose looked in horror as the bed containing Alec was taken off.
"Yes, what's wrong? Is he okay?" Rose managed to say, thinking if he'd not made it, he wouldn't have a mask on.
"There were a few complications, the surgeon will explain but we're taking Alec to the ICU to keep a close eye on him. He'd had several recent attacks, so we were told."
"Yeah, I know about one of them, when were the others? I'm a paramedic in Broadchurch, I got him to hospital one night, a few weeks ago."
"Well it seems it was a good thing you did. The other reports were from a place called Sandbrook. Did he tell you about those?"
Rose was anxious to go join Alec.
"No but I knew something had happened before he arrived in Broadchurch, the staff at the hospital said he'd put his surgery off. Can I go to him now?"
"Yes, we're just setting the monitors up, it's just a precaution to see how he goes. We'll know better when he wakes up but you can sit by him, since you're down as his next of kin. You're engaged?"
"Yeah, just. He was worried so he asked me last night, I don't know how long he'd had the ring," Rose managed to smile.
"Well it seems he may not have had anything to worry about then? The surgeon will explain."
Ten minutes later, Rose was sitting by Alec's side again, thinking back to the night she'd probably saved him with help from Steven. Now, there was no way Joe Miller was getting away with his bad temper, even if Alec could only get him on the car park incident but she hoped they'd get him for Danny, if she was right but her instincts were telling her she was and Alec believed her.
Rose was leaning back in a more comfortable chair, trying to hold Alec's hand by avoiding the tubes and she suddenly opened her eyes when she felt his fingers moving. She leaned over to see him opening his eyes.
"Hi, welcome back."
"Rose. You kept your promise. How long have I been out?"
"A good while, must have been the good stuff they gave ya? How do ya feel?"
"Ask me when I stop feeling dizzy, it's worse than before," he replied, deciding moving was a bad idea.
The curtain began moving and another nurse appeared.
"Welcome back Alec, let's see how you're doing then?"
"When can I take him home?" Rose dared ask as the nurse took some readings.
"Do you have a way to go? It's best he just rests here for now, then the cardiologist will say. How do you feel Alec?"
"Dizzy and some pain. Can she take me home?"
"I'm a paramedic, I know how to look after him," Rose spoke up.
"I'll see if the cardiologist is free. Are you staying locally?"
"I can look up a nearby hotel for tonight," Rose replied. "Alec, just rest, yeah? I won't be long."
Rose went to the drinks machine then sat on one of the chairs, accessing the internet on her phone and seeing two messages, one from her mother and one from Ellie but they could wait, she knew what Ellie wanted. She tried a few hotels, looking on the map to see how far they were to justify getting a cab so Alec didn't have to walk too far as she doubted he'd want to be wheeled out. After securing a double room for the night and saying they would arrive as soon as Alec was discharged, she went back to see him propped up and about to be moved.
"We're just taking him to a side ward, he doesn't need to be in here now," the nurse explained as Rose picked everything up.
The specialist went to see him and argued for Alec to stay overnight but Rose assured him she was qualified to take care of Alec and get him back in a hurry if she had to. After getting his discharge papers and some painkillers, Rose took him downstairs and they waited for a cab.
"How are ya feeling?" Rose smiled at him.
"Better than I went in," he replied as Rose had made him sit down on the ledge. "I don't think he was going to let me leave."
"Good job I was convincing then?" she teased him as a cab pulled up. "I'd best call my mum, she'll be worried and I had a message from Ellie."
"I might have known," Alec replied as he went for the front seat, Rose figuring it would be easier for him.
The next morning, Alec assuring Rose he was fine to travel, they made their way back home then Rose went to get a few groceries but had the misfortune to bump into Ellie.
"So where did he disappear to yesterday?" Ellie asked her, wondering why Rose wasn't working.
"No idea Ellie, he doesn't tell me everything. Oh, I never said, we got engaged," Rose replied, holding out the ring.
"Wow, that was quick," Ellie replied, taking a look. "He never said anything."
"Well there was no need was there?" Rose told her.
Rose wondered if Ellie was going to notice the difference in Alec when he went back to work? He'd still seemed tired earlier but that was to be expected and why he'd chosen to have the surgery on a Friday. They had a quiet weekend, when Rose had got back, she'd crawled back into bed and curled up beside her now fianc and let him sleep as he'd turned towards her and put his arm across her.
Tuesday soon came around, Alec felt much better and showed it on the Monday night, Rose not letting him go too far though he insisted he took the lead now. They were getting ready for work on the Tuesday morning, Rose was starting at midday and Alec was picking her up later.
"I'm going to bring Joe Miller in today love," he told her as they had breakfast.
"You're not gonna let him off then?" Rose smiled as he picked at his scrambled eggs.
"You know I can't now Rose, I know I can see this through now and there are going to be a lot of changes around the station. You might get a few complaints from your friend though."
"I can handle her Alec. Want me to get her to talk?" Rose offered.
"No love, leave it for now eh? She might call later and ask why I dragged him in again though, see if you can get her to say anything."
"Well okay, she might ask me anyway, if it was to do with that day. Do ya think he'll mention he'd dropped me there?"
"I would imagine so love? What other reason would he have had for being there, especially if his wife knew he was late home and he'd used you as an excuse?"
"I wish I'd said something back to him now," Rose said with regret. "I let him think I was going along with it, that I was staying quiet."
"Rose, you are not to feel guilty over it. He chose to tell her that, maybe he thought you were just trying to keep the peace? If he denies anything, I may have to bring up the fact you were in the car at the time but I will try and keep out the part where you saw him arguing. It could get very unpleasant but I will have Daniels with me, who will testify you gave a statement in front of him."
"I won't have to give another statement?" Rose wondered.
"No, we already have it unless the chief wants more details but you should be prepared for more questions love. Try not to worry about it, you knew it was coming."
"Yeah, weeks ago. If that other man had reported it at the time, maybe Danny would still be alive?"
"We don't know for sure love. The most that would have happened would be he got a warning, it may not have changed his attitude."
"No, maybe not then? See ya tonight, unless we meet up somewhere?"
"Rose, your friend is wanting that to happen, trust me."
"Yeah, I just bet she is?" Rose smiled as they cleared up. "Take it easy today, yeah?"
"I'm fine love and maybe you will let me show you tonight?"
"We'll see. Now I have to face everyone at work and they'll ask me how I got engaged when I was off work."
"I'm sure you will be able to tell them?"
Ellie was waiting to see if her boss was going to bother turning up, since he'd not even told his girlfriend what he'd been doing on Friday. She was surprised though when Joe called her to say Hardy wanted him at the station.
"What?" Ellie asked her husband. "What about Fred?"
"I'll have to bring him with me Ell but why now after all this time?"
"I intend finding out. Get the desk sergeant to call me when you arrive, I'll come down and get a WPC to watch him. If Hardy's interviewing you, I want to be there."
Alec heard the last bit and she put her phone away, looking at him.
"You can't be at your husband's interview Miller."
"You were at your girlfriend's Sir," Ellie objected.
"Rose was a witness as to how Danny was found, nothing more," Alec replied.
"What was she talking to you about before I got there?" Ellie wanted to know.
"That was between Rose and I, you know that. She was worried and she came to me about it, that us working together would cause a problem after we had spoken outside the newsagents. That is completely different from you being present when your husband is being interviewed and if you had not jumped to conclusions, you would have found out why I called him in."
"You called him without saying what it was about?" Ellie asked him.
"I asked him to call in, nothing more. I have some questions for him, about another matter."
"So is it connected to Danny's death?" Ellie asked him.
"It may be Miller, the chief knows about it. I've been getting more information Miller, I may need to ask you some questions later."
"What? What have you got to ask me?"
"To confirm a few things," he replied, thinking he'd save Rose from asking her.
He knew Rose was worried her friend may turn on her and from the mood Miller was in now, he couldn't allow that to happen. An hour later, he was told Joe Miller was downstairs but Ellie was already missing and he hoped she was only looking after her youngest son. Daniels was already in the interview room, Alec passing the informal one and seeing his DS trying to entertain her young son and wondering where her oldest one was.
"So what does Hardy want with me now?" Joe Miller was asking Daniels.
The young DC had been instructed not to say anything, the folder containing all the information he'd gathered on the table in front of him.
"He'll tell you when he arrives Mr Miller."
"Then what's in the folder?" Joe nodded towards it.
Just then, Alec opened the door and Daniels switched on the recording equipment.
"I have some very interesting information about you Joe," Alec began as he sat down.
"What?" Joe asked. "What's this all about?"
"An argument in a car park a few years ago and you running a red light?" Alec reminded him.
"How am I supposed to remember?" Joe argued.
"Then let me remind you. You ran a right light at the same time as a car coming from the opposite direction then sought the driver out and began an argument with him. From the information I have, it took two men to pull you both away. Why did you just not report the incident if you were arguing it was not your fault?"
"Yeah and have my wife come out?" Joe grinned, not taking it seriously.
"Were you afraid your wife would find out you had a temper or you had a habit of running red lights?"
"Have you been talking to Rose?" Joe asked him.
"Where the information came from is immaterial and since I cannot book you for running a red light as there were no traffic cameras, let's concentrate on your argument. The other driver has been contacted Joe, he states you were the one jumping the lights as he turned then you waited for him coming out of the store and you confronted him. He said you just lost your temper."
"How did I know he was going to turn?" Joe asked.
"You argued when you were clearly committing a traffic violation?" Alec wanted to know.
"You have spoken to Rose, what did she tell you?"
"What I have just told you," Alec replied. "Except she went inside the supermarket and thought you were leaving when you had no paper to write a note and place it on the other driver's windscreen," Alec replied, trying to keep Rose's part to a minimum.
"She saw me with the other driver?" Joe asked.
"Let's keep her out of this Joe. She went inside the store, she had no reason to think you would remain after she did. Why did you have your wife believing you had waited for Rose?"
Joe began laughing. "What?"
"I can ask DS Miller about that night when you were late back and you put the blame on your then co-worker."
"Well she never said anything," Joe replied. "Why are you bringing this up now? Did the other driver make a complaint after all this time?"
"It was brought to our attention, we had to investigate. Are you in the habit of easily losing your temper, with maybe friends or relatives?" Alec asked him, Daniels looking at him and wondering what was different about him this morning.
"Do I need a solicitor?" Joe asked, trying to get up.
"I don't know, do you? Why drag your then co-worker into covering up for you?"
"Do you think I wanted to tell Ellie I got into an argument? Rose never said anything about it."
"Maybe she was afraid to, after you scared her by stopping suddenly to avoid hitting the other car?" Alec asked him.
"What did she tell you?" Joe asked, sitting back down again.
"Miss Tyler was interviewed about the incident when it was brought to my attention," was all Alec was going to admit.
"It was her who told you, wasn't it?" Joe asked him.
"We can't tell you that. Who else have you lost your temper with eh? Your wife's nephew maybe?"
Alec knew he had to stop short of asking about Danny, he wanted to save that for now.
"Olly can be a pain when he wants to be, I think at the time he was asking about an accident."
"That was not the only time, was it Joe?" Alec wanted to know. "So does your wife know you have a temper?"
"Leave Ellie out of this Hardy," came the reply.
"I'll take that as a no then? So she believed you when you blamed being late on her friend?"
"Why wouldn't she? Ellie and Rose are good friends though we don't see much of her now, thanks to someone," Joe replied a little too smug for Alec's liking.
"Maybe it reminds her of working with you?" Alec hinted, taking his specs off.
"Is that it?" Joe wanted to know.
"You can go for now, have you given a DNA sample yet?" Alec asked him, knowing so far he'd got out of it.
"Do I have to?" Joe replied as he got up again.
"It will eliminate you from the investigation, with you knowing Danny. Was Danny with Tom a lot, at your house?"
"They were best friends, they lived in each other's house," Joe told him.
Alec was thinking it that was the case, maybe Joe had formed a friendship of his own with Danny and maybe it had all gone wrong that night? Maybe Rose was right about it then?
