The restaurant was fairly quiet when she got downstairs and from what she could see nobody was around apart from Luigi, who was polishing a wine glass when he spotted her.
"Ah signorina! It's a pleasure to see you. A drink?" He asked as he put the glass down and stood opposite her as she sank into the bar stool.
"Just a water Luigi. For now." She surprised herself at the request. Since arriving in the 80's Alex had always gone for alcohol of any sort.
"Well that's not gonna get ya drunk. House rubbish Luigi. You come and sit over here Bolls. You can tell uncle genie all about it." The voice of her D.C.I commented from behind and without even turning she slipped out of the stool and followed him over to his usual table, Luigi not far behind with a bottle. He placed it between them as they sat and left them too it. Gene poured them both a large drink before settling back."Bin' cryin' Bolls?" he asked, bringing the drink up and sipping the top.
"It's fine. Really. I'm fine." she insisted.
"If your fine then I'm a bleedin' nun." He stated in reply, all seriousness in his eyes.
"I think I have a stalker." She said placidly.
"You haven't got another weirdo following' ya have you? Blimey we're gonna need round the clock surveillance on you at this rate. Everytime me back is turned you've got someone after ya." he pointed out and when thought about, Alex noticed he was right. Since arriving in 1981 there had always been someone following her. First the clown, then Martin Summers, and now whoever was calling her.
"But the problem is…I think I know this person Guv. And he knows something about my daughter. Something's happened to her Gene and I can't even remember her name!" Alex breathed deeply, not wanting another bout of tears, especially not in front of D.C.I.
"Molly." He stated, before finishing off her drink.
"What?" She asked, unable to hide her confusion.
"Molly. Yer daugh'ers name. You've mentioned her so many times Bolly the bloody names stuck in me mind." Gene told her and she laughed, out of relief and out of sadness.
"Molly. Yes. Molly. Why couldn't I remember that? She's my little girl and I'd all but forgotten her! I can't even picture her face unless I'm looking at a bloody photograph!" Alex knew she was on her way to crying again, but couldn't help it. Instead she turned her face away from Gene in a not-so-subtle way of hiding as she dried the tears beginning to form.
"Come on. We're goin' for a walk." Gene told her, getting up and helping her up. She obeyed, reluctantly.
The late April evening was cold, wind blowing gently through the streets. Alex and Gene walked quietly for a while, each left within their own thoughts before finally, he spoke up.
"Your cold Bolly." He pointed out the Goosebumps up and down her arms.
"Hadn't noticed to be honest." She shivered, now realising she wasn't just cold. She was freezing. With one swift movement she felt the warm folds of Gene's jacket envelope her, wrapping round her shoulders."Thanks." She murmured bringing the flaps right round her to completely cover her.
Gene watched her as she snuggled into his coat. A part of him wished that he was still wearing the coat and she was snuggling into him.
'Snuggling' he thought. 'Gene Hunt your on the verge of beginning to sound like a poof'.
"So go on then Bolls. This stalker of yours. What's he bin' sayin'?"
"Erm, well at first it was just phone calls. I got a couple where he wouldn't say anything and then he'd just hang up. Then I didn't hear from him for a while and I found a note addressed to me at the bridal shop with Shaz. It said 'I'm watching you Alex.' Then when I got home he rang and told me that I didn't know the news about Molly and I'd find out on the happiest day of their life. I assumed that meant I'd find out on Shaz's wedding day." Alex explained, biting her lip when she finished to stop the flow of tears she felt building up behind her eyes. Instinctively, Gene took her shaking hand in his own, squeezing it reassuringly.
"He's tryin' to scare ya Bolls. Nothing's gonna happen he just wants you to react. Encourages 'im." he told her and she nodded. Taking his hand away and slipping an arm around her shoulders he pulled her to him, holding her close.
Alex nuzzled into his shirt, an attempt to forget the messages, forget the familiar voice that she just couldn't put a name to and focus on the here and now. A year ago she would never dream of just standing in silence, Gene's arm around her and her cheek against his shirt. After what felt like an age she lifted her head to look at him, seeing his eyes were watching her. She gave him a small smile and he returned it but still they stayed in silence. After another couple of minutes she pulled away, only slightly, so she could talk to him face to face.
As she opened her mouth to speak though, loud voices could be heard.
"…me alone! Why won't you go? I don't like you please just go!" A girl cried out and as she passed a light from overhead Gene and Alex saw she was terrified, eyes wide and mascara streaks streaming her face. She was visibly shaking, even from their distance they could see this. Another shadow passed under the light and a boy came into view, around 18 with a glint in his eye. He was staring at the girl with a lust, and anger all mixed into one. He was revelling in the fear he had created.
"Oh come on Sarah! You asked me to the dance and I came you can't turn back now. It's the same as dancing, just a different way! If you don't struggle it won't even hurt!" He grinned at her unpleasantly as he approached her, noticing she was backed against a wall.
Within a split second Alex noticed her companion had gone and was headed over in powerful strides to the boy advancing on the girl. Alex hurried after him.
The boy noticed Gene and took his attention away from the girl who was still too scared to make a run for it.
"Alright mate? Nothing' goin' on 'ere, you migh' wanna just walk on by." the teenager suggested, clearly drunk.
"D.C.I Hunt, mate. I'm not gonna walk on by. I'm gonna punch you in the stomach." Gene told him, sarcasm dripping from the term 'mate'. The teenager didn't understand.
"Wha'?" he asked but without a reply Gene's fist slammed into his stomach, causing him to double over in pain. Alex ran straight past and over to the girl, bringing her into a hug, soothing her.
"It's alright sweetheart. We're the police." Alex held her comfortingly as she watched her Guv bring another punch down into the attacker. The girl shuddered in fear, shock and from crying. She was breathing heavily, struggling to calm herself down. Gene lifted the attacker off the ground by his collar, dragging him forward.
"Come on then, mate." Again sarcastically emphasising the term 'mate'.
Fenchurch station was pretty much empty when they arrived, Gene dragging the youth by his arm and Alex holding the young victim. As he practically threw the attacker at the desk Alex continued walking, taking the young girl with her. Viv, who was still on late shift had turned at the sound of the doors bursting open."Something I can help with?" He asked, eyeing the youth with immediate disgust.
"Our little mate here thought he'd try takin' advan'age of a young girl. Though' it would be a bit of fun. I think it might be fun to throw him in a disgustin' cell. Book 'im with attempted rape Viv." Gene told him and the desk Sergeant nodded.
"Name?" He asked and the kid looked up.
"George. George Robbin's and I ain't dun nothin'!" George spat.
"If you say so well don't worry give it five minutes you can tell all four walls just what you haven't done. They'll be a lot more interested I'm sure." Viv said dryly taking the keys from the side and bringing them round, taking George's arm and bringing him through to the cells.
Alex handed over a cup of tea to the young girl and put a plate of biscuits to one side. She slipped into the seat opposite and smiled reassuringly.
"You're okay now. He can't hurt you anymore." She told her.
"What's your name sweetheart?""H-Hannah. Hannah Lockland." The young girl replied in barely more than a whisper.
"Hello Hannah, my name is D.I Alex Drake. Can you tell me how old you are Hannah?" Alex spoke softly.
"I'm 15. 16 next month." she replied, sipping on the drink.
"So your underage. Who was attacking you?"
"His names George Robbins. Goes to the youth group I go to." Hannah told her, taking one of the biscuits from the plate and dipping it into her drink.
"Can you talk me through what happened tonight Hannah? In your own time." Alex asked.
"Well, the youth group were havin' a dance for all the members and I asked George a couple o' days ago whether he'd go with me. He seemed nice enough and said yes. At first 'e was fine. Had a few too many drinks but my dad was a violent alcoholic so I thought it'd be okay and I could 'andle it. Anyway. We were dancing and everything was fine until he started raising and lowering his hands, tryin' to cop-a-feel. I thought he was just bein' a guy so moved his hands away and continued dancin'. Then he tried again. And again. Eventually I'd had enough and said I was leavin'. He followed me out and was shoutin' things and-and…" Hannah started shuddering with sobs again as she got closer to what Alex and Gene had viewed. Alex put her hand over the girls, stroking it softly.
"Okay, okay. In your own time Hannah. There's no hurry." Alex whispered, allowing the victim time to calm down.
"Sorry…so, yeah. He was shoutin' things like 'it'd be fun and wouldn't 'urt'. Said it was the same as dancin'. Then 'e was comin' towards me and I couldn't go anywhere and I was scared and you and D.C.I Hunt turned up. That's about it really." Hannah, breathed loudly, relieved to get the account over with and lowered her gaze, staring intently at the liquid in her mug.
"Okay Hannah. We're going to get an officer to drive you home now. Get some sleep. The next few days are going to be difficult but you'll be okay. We'll tell the officer to speak to your mum and explain everything."
"I don't live with my mum. Live with my Auntie Leila." Hannah told Alex who nodded.
"Okay. Everything will be alright Hannah. Just remember he didn't get you, and he can't get you now. Attempted rape means he'll be going down for a very long time. Everything's alright now."
Leaving the interview room Alex led Hannah back down to reception.
"Viv. Can you get someone to drive Hannah home and tell her Auntie Leila what's happened?" Alex asked and the Desk Sergeant nodded, taking Hannah in his own care.
Alex looked up to see the clock reading 11:30pm. Removing her gaze she spotted Gene who was standing in silence by the wall, smoking. She headed over.
"Hannah'll be okay. She's going home." Alex told him and he nodded.
"And Georgie boy will be going home too. Only it'll take him about 25 years and not 25 minutes." he responded, stubbing the cigarette out against the wall as he noticed Alex stifle a yawn.
"Not tired of a bit of police work are ya Bolls?" he asked.
"I'm tired of police work when it's nearly midnight Guv." She replied, their moment from earlier completely gone and their usual banter back.
"Better get on 'ome then." He told her.
"Nightcap?" She asked, expecting the answer.
"We'll make something of you yet Bolly." he replied, giving her a small smile of approval as they left CID.
Needed a bit of policing drama me thinks. Big ol' drama coming soon! Here are some hints at the next few chapters:
The wedding gets underway but who puts the Guv and Alex in their place...
Drama unfurls, revealing the stalker
MAJOR SURPRISE! Seriously, I cannot think of a single one of you who will be able to guess what's going to happen later but trust me...its a big one!
You know the drill by now, read, review...and hopefully...enjoy :)