A/N Thanks everyone for the encouraging reviews!

Chapter 4

Alex looked at her watch as the Quattro sped along the streets. 12.20. For once she didn't want Gene to slow down. The radio crackled into life.

"Message from Special Branch, guv." Viv's voice came through the speaker. "The bomb squad are at the Kiss Chase. They'll get someone over to you as soon as they can. In the meantime they want you to evacuate the area."

"Oh well, that'll be easy." responded Gene sarcastically. "Get some uniform out to us pronto, Viv."

"Will do, guv. Take care."

Alex rested her head against her hand. God, what a screw-up. She really hoped she'd been right first time. If this went wrong, if the bomb went off here, if she'd failed to stop another one….

"Let's just hope this place isn't too full of pissed up wankers." growled Gene, pulling her out of her reverie.

But it was. As the Quattro skidded to a halt at the end of the alley, Alex could see that the wine bar's clientele overflowed onto the street. And as they approached the bar she saw to her horror that it was flanked by a restaurant and a chip shop, both doing a roaring lunchtime trade.

Gene barked orders. "Ray – get that restaurant cleared. Chris, you do the chippy. Everyone out of this alley. Now! Bolly, with me."

Alex and Gene shouldered their way through the crowd into the packed wine bar. The noise was deafening, with shouted conversations competing with the loud music.

"Can I have your attention, please!" bawled Gene at the top of his voice, but only those closest to him turned around. Alex pushed her way to the bar and jumped up on to it.

"Quiet please!" she shouted. That got more attention, as those who hadn't heard her had at least seen her. A barman had the presence of mind to switch off the music as she brandished her warrant card.

"There's been a reported gas leak at the back of the building, so I need you to leave quickly and calmly and assemble at the end of the lane" she instructed the crowd as the noise level dropped. There were mutterings of discontent, but encouraged by Gene's shout of "Come on, you heard the lady. Out!" the drinkers gradually began to filter out into the alley.

"I always said you had a good pair of lungs on you." said Gene, helping Alex down from the bar and glancing appreciatively at her chest. "Why a gas leak, though?"

"I thought it might cause slightly less panic than shouting 'Bomb!'" she shrugged.

"Fair enough. Right, let's get ourselves out of here too."

As Alex started to follow him she noticed a canvas bag tucked under a chair by the bar. It was dark green and scruffy, and looked seriously out of place. She grabbed Gene's arm.

"I think I might have found the bomb."

"Well you can bloody well leave it where it is!" he protested, but too late. She was already crouched by the bag., unzipping it, silently praying that she was about to find someone's unwashed gym kit.

"Well?" asked Gene, peering over her shoulder, then inhaling sharply as he saw the plastic explosive, with the timer counting inexorably down to zero. "Sometimes, Bolly, I wish you weren't so clever. Now get your skinny arse out of here this instant and let's get these idiots well out of the way before we're all blown to kingdom come."

He strode out. Alex looked at his retreating back, then back down at the bomb. Three minutes left. They'd never get the alley clear in time. She was no expert, but she was fairly sure that quantity of explosive was enough to take out the whole bar and most of the alley. People were going to be killed.

Suddenly, in a moment of awful clarity, she realised what she had to do. She had to die here. That was the only way to escape and get home. And she saw exactly how to do it.

Alex picked up the bag and walked out of the doorway to where Gene was shouting orders into the still crowded alley. She put down the bag and put her hand on his shoulder. He turned round, frowning. She put her hand behind his head and pulled him close to kiss him. She felt him pull back slightly, then begin to return her kiss with enthusiasm as her other hand moved down and over his trousers. She allowed herself a fraction of a second to enjoy the feel of his mouth on hers. Then she broke the kiss, and backed away quickly, hiding the keys she'd just taken in her hand.

"Not that I'm complaining, Drake, but this is hardly an appropriate…"

"Bye, Gene" she whispered, then turned and ran, grabbing the bomb bag as she raced for the Quattro.

Just one chapter to go...!