This is a chapter which I struggled to write, which I think you can tell. However it sets the story up well. Do you think that you could please review it? It would make my day! I am home, ill, at the moment, so I have lots of time for writing! Therefore, the next chapter will be coming soon :)

Trouble Getting Home – Chapter Four

The alarm went off and Alex sighed, turning over to slam one hand down on the top of the clock. She rolled the duvet off of herself and stumbled towards the bathroom. Jumping in the shower, she shook off a night of slipping in and out of woozy dreams about Gene. As she applied her make-up and ran out of the door, swinging her jacket round her shoulders, she went over in her mind, the case so far. Walking into CID, she felt re-energised and ready for the day ahead.

'Morning, Boss.' Chris gave her a fleeting smile while transporting files from one desk to another. Alex smiled back and looked round the sight of the productive office which was becoming a strangely familiar sight.

'What's been going on round here? People actually doing work without being shouted, cajoled and coerced into it?' Alex said to Gene, walking into his office.

Taking his feet off the desk, Gene walked round to the doorway and leaned against it, next to her.

'Mornin' to you too, Bols. Remember, they all went to a club last night?' He nodded towards his team.

'Well the club just happened to be owned by one, Mr Peter Minto.'

Alex raised her eyebrows. Gene stood up straight and strolled out into the room.

'So Raymondo, tell DI Drake what you saw when you entered the clubbing establishment…'

Alex had followed Gene out; Ray stepped towards her, his bulky frame almost quivering with excitement.

'Me, Chris and Shaz went into the club and I was having a good time, chatting up this bird, who I have to say, has a great pair-sonality…'

Alex spluttered in disgust.

'Yeah, just keep your mind on the task, Ray.'

Ray chuckled, along with the rest of CID, and then continued in his story.

'Anyway, it turns out the bird was associated with another man and he got a bit annoyed with me – didn't 'e Chris?'

'Yeah, very annoyed…' Chris smirked. Shaz rolled her eyes.

'So, the boss of the club had to get involved and I took the liberty of enquiring who the hell 'e was.'

Alex's mouth turned slightly upwards at the corners and she leant forward, hands in pockets.

'So? Who was it?...Let me guess.. Peter Minto?'

'The very one. Clever this mornin' aren't we Bolly?' Gene smirked slightly at the expression on Alex's face before departing through the doorway of his office once again.

Alex walked over to Shaz and sat on the edge of her desk.

'Shaz. Did you have a good time last night?'

Shaz's face lit up.

'Yeah, ma'am. It was brill. Me and Chris were dancing all night! I've got those files for you, ma'am – and I found out something while researching… Mitch Colne worked for Peter Minto, in his nightclub, as a barman.'

Alex's eyes widened.

'Interesting, Shaz.'

Alex made her way back to her own desk and briefly flicked through each file. Mitch Colne's file contained nothing really – a few parking tickets – basically the usual. Peter Minto's file had all the stuff Gene had talked about. Drugs, GBH. But none of it had been proved. It was all suspected. After his run in Manchester, Minto had worked his way up through London and ended up running a successful club, Roses. Alex took a sharp intake of breath when she read the name. After thinking it through carefully, she thought that the name couldn't be related to the dreaded Operation Rose – Could it?

Gene burst out of the office, making Alex jump, pulling on his customary leather gloves.

'Right, team. Quattro methinks.'

Alex got up slowly, still shaken from reading the file.