Rose felt much better about things the next morning, now if she flirted with him, he might begin to flirt back but if he'd just told her in the first place who he was making the call to, it would have not made her so apprehensive. He might also open up to her and tell her what was wrong with him, it had to have been something bad, for him to get taken to hospital, it was a pity this Ellie wasn't still around but since she didn't know her surname, she would be hard to locate.

When Alec got up, he didn't feel too bad, just as long as he remembered not to get out of bed too quickly but it was moving out day so along with going into the coffee shop, he had something else to look forward to but if he was to be honest with himself, he'd looked forward to it for the last two mornings and at least now she knew he didn't have a girlfriend, was that about to change?

He still had to find out why she had chosen to move to Broadchurch though, running a coffee shop of all things, she could do anything she wanted to. As he got ready to go out, Rose had opened the shop and Maggie had gone back in, having realised who she'd been talking to on Monday morning. Her star reporter was still taking some personal time though he hadn't said what for but she had her suspicions since she'd found out his aunt Ellie was on leave from the police and the killer had been caught.

"Morning, do you want an expresso again?" Rose asked Maggie.

"Thanks. So are you settling down now?"

"Yeah, I like it here, I'm glad I came now."

Maggie looked around at two people with their noses buried in their phones.

"The free internet's taking off then?"

"Yeah but I still get checked up on, to make sure it's not causing any trouble."

Maggie passed the money over to Rose and took her cup of coffee. She'd also heard Alec had been in hospital and had already confronted him about it, wondering if he'd managed to keep his job or not and if he was still in the town. She'd find out if he was at Danny's funeral tomorrow and maybe Olly would be there, Tom Miller would want to go, since his mother seemed to have disappeared.

"You have the police round?" Maggie asked her.

"Oh you know, just the local DI who has nothing better to do but between you and me, I don't think he needed much persuasion. It gets him out of the office for half an hour if nothing else."

"You get DI Hardy's personal attention? Lucky you then. I thought he'd left town?"

"Nope, he's still around, says he's staying for the funeral but who knows?"

"Indeed. We did an article about him last week."

"Yeah, I read it but I can't find out what happened to him, he's not talking about it."

"Well he told us but we promised to let things die down before we printed anything. Now though, I don't think it's that newsworthy, best just leave it and let the man pick up his life again."

Rose was pleased to hear that, having been subjected to all kinds of speculation about her personal love life, or lack of it. She was counting the minutes until Alec would arrive and was going to ask if he wanted help in moving later. Maybe he had it all arranged though? At least now he wouldn't have far to get back to after he finished work.

Rose was just serving someone when she heard the bell and thinking it was Alec, her heart skipped a beat but when she looked up, Mickey was standing there.

"Hello Rose, how are you?" he asked, stepping up to the counter.

Just her luck Alec would be on his way in and Mickey would open his big mouth. She went around the counter and pulled him towards the back area.

"Listen to me very carefully Mickey. Someone is about to come in, his name is Alec Hardy, he just found that boy's killer and you may recognise him."

"Come off it Rose, your mother never stopped going on about him."

"Yeah, well just you remember that and not let on to him, I think he likes me and if you spoil it, I will never speak to you again, got it?"

"Loud and clear. Now are you gonna let me go before he gets here?"

Rose let him pass and he was just deciding what to drink when Alec walked in, going to sit at his usual table. Mickey pretended not to notice and picking a cappuccino, Rose put the mug under the coffee machine then went to prepare Alec's tea, deciding what to put on the tray and seeing Mickey looking at her.

"Can I get you anything else?" she asked Mickey, to make it look authentic.

Mickey just grumbled about paying for his drink, Rose wanted to point out he'd pay more than that elsewhere and was just daring him to go over to Alec and say anything. She was not going to stop flirting just because her ex boyfriend had decided to pay her a visit. Rose waved to Alec, who just got his phone out then his specs, remembering what she had said about him wearing them and thinking he should stop trying to be so vain, the woman was obviously interested in him or she wouldn't be going to all this trouble.

Mickey leaned over as he picked up his drink.

"If I make this look good, you owe me an explanation Rose."

He went over to the bar and pulled out a stool, just close enough to where Alec was sitting to eavesdrop on what was about to be said. Rose picked up some chocolate coated shortbread and put it on Alec's tray then walked over to his table.

"Hi Alec, how are you today then?"

"Just fine thanks Rose. I was wondering if we are still meeting at the arranged time tomorrow?"

"Yeah but I have to stop off on the High Street to collect some flowers I ordered first."

"Maybe I should meet you a little earlier then, say ten minutes before?"

"Yeah, I can come over for you, if you want?"

"No, I will meet you outside. I am really glad we got that misunderstanding cleared up last night."

Rose looked around and since no-one seemed to want anything, she pulled out the chair next to him, moving his coat. She wondered if he took it everywhere with him, he was as bad as the Doctor. She could feel Mickey glaring at her, pretending to be messing with his phone but she just ignored him and turned her attention to Alec.

"Yeah, me too, it was my own fault, jumping to conclusions. Do you need any help moving later?"

"I have it organised, I pick up the keys then I will get a taxi down."

"Right, anyway, I'll let you finish your tea and you still have to tell me why you're on reduced hours."

"I am on light duties, due to what happened that night, I will explain tomorrow maybe."

"Then I'll look forward to it, I hope it was nothing serious?"

How could he tell her he almost died? It wasn't a topic of conversation to impress her when she was chatting him up.

"I am still here, thankfully."

He also didn't want to say he didn't know for how much longer. Rose got up, putting her hand on his arm.

"Yeah, you are. Drink your tea and enjoy the shortbread."

She went towards Mickey, pretending to see if he was on the internet or not. She went to the counter and Mickey got up to order another drink, it seemed to Rose he intended waiting until Alec left.

"How long do we get on the internet?" he asked as Rose turned back to him.

"A reasonable time, just don't overstay your welcome. Anything else?"

Mickey huffed as he paid up. Rose was giving him a warning look.

"Aren't you gonna introduce us?" he asked in a low voice.

"Forget it Mickey, just take your drink."

Alec glanced over and saw Mickey leaning over the counter. He put down his cup and got up, trying to remember not to go barging in.

"Everything ok Rose?" he asked, eyeing Mickey.

"Yeah, thanks Alec, he was just sitting down, weren't you?"

"What? Oh, yeah. Don't mind me."

"You know him Rose?" Alec asked, wondering if he'd been right all along and she did have a boyfriend, well maybe a jealous ex one.

Rose hated to admit it, that might be the last time Alec came in or even talked to her.

Mickey held his hand out. "Mickey Smith, you must be Alec Hardy then?"

"Anyone knows that, I have been in the news recently. An old friend of yours Rose?"

Rose had to think fast. "Yeah, Mickey and I go way back but we fell out recently."

"Really? You must tell me about it then? If you are sure you are ok, I will get back to my tea."

"It's fine Alec, really, thanks for your concern. Mickey came here to find out if I was talking to him again."

"Are you?" Alec smiled.

"I don't know yet, he never did have any patience. Go sit down Mickey."

Mickey huffed again and went back to his seat but Alec remained. At least the man didn't appear to be Rose's latest boyfriend and she hadn't seemed pleased he had paid her a visit. He leaned over the counter, Rose looking a bit flustered.

"Sorry about that Alec, he just turned up before you arrived."

"No explanation is needed, really."

"I didn't want you to think he was my boyfriend, he's not been that since I was nineteen. We stayed friends and up until recently, we worked together, with my stepfather."

"I see. So you both worked for his company?"

She knew Alec was fishing for information.

"Not exactly, I'll tell you later, maybe we can get something to eat again?"

"Yes, that would be nice."

He went back to his table, watching Mickey. He felt a little jealous himself and could see why the man had travelled all that way, if Rose had fallen out with him again but he couldn't imagine either Rose or Mickey working at Vitex. Torchwood was known to the police but Pete didn't put himself over as the head of it, not any more anyway. Yvonne Hartman was the public figure of the organisation but Pete was ultimately in charge, she was just better at public relations than he was.

Yvonne had kept out of the arguments for and against closing Rose's project down and it was doubted anyone would have taken any notice of her even if she had sided for it to be closed.

Alec finished his drink and put his cup on the tray, noting that Rose hadn't rushed over to see if he'd finished but maybe she was a little put off by her unexpected visitor. Rose was just unloading the small under-counter dishwasher when Alec got up and brought his tray over.

"Oh, you should have left it Alec, thanks," she told him, touching his hand briefly as she took the tray from him.

"No problem, maybe I will see you later?"

"Yeah, I'll come and look for you when I get out. Bye for now."

Alec said goodbye and glanced once more at Mickey, who was ignoring him. The man wasn't really that much competition was he? As Alec left, Rose went to sit near Mickey.

"Thanks a bunch Mickey."

"What was I supposed to have done?"

"Stayed away, that's what. Why did you have to come down here?"

"You weren't talking to me, I said I was sorry."

"Well now, I have to explain that to Alec, thanks to you. He needn't have known about it, I wasn't going to tell him anything about my past."

"Nothing at all? That's a hell of a secret to keep, do you think you can do it, if he and your mother ever meet?"

"Unlike you, she won't come barging in, will she?"

Mickey wondered about that, Jackie wasn't known for being tactful sometimes, well most of the time. He shrugged his shoulders and put his phone away.

"I hope you disconnected from the network Mickey," Rose reminded him.

"Of course I did, Jake told me about it. What do you want to offer free access for anyway?"

"Because this is the only place around the harbour, apart from maybe the pubs and I want to have people coming back. There are plenty of places if people don't like the idea but I've been open less than a week and things are going well."

"Including him looking at home?"

"Stop it Mickey, he's been told by his boss to keep an eye on the place, I don't object. It could have been worse, a uniformed officer could come in instead, the locals know him, he's less conspicuous. You've come a long way for nothing you know?"

"I just wanted to see if you'd forgiven me. Have you?"

"I might have done if you'd not stuck your big feet in it again. Go back Mickey, I'm not gonna let you spoil my chances with him."

"What if he finds out?"

"He won't, not from me anyway but he'll ask questions now and I have to give him some answers. I'll just have to leave certain parts out but he's also hiding something, I know he is. We'll just have to trust each other."

"Maybe he doesn't want you to know? You're hiding something from him."

"I think that's a bit different, don't you?"

"Well I'll get going then, since you don't seem to want me to stay."

"I never asked you to come down. You just timed it wrong."

"Don't I always?"

When Alec had left and got back to the station, he still wondered if he had anything to worry about but he had other things to worry about than someone from Rose's past, he hardly knew her and the way things were going, if he took any longer, it would be too late, he might only have a few days anyway. He may as well make the most of them he supposed, he could do worse than spend his time with her but he'd have to tell her, it wouldn't be fair to lead her on then give up on her.

He never knew his luck though, she might decide he was worth hanging around with even if he did tell her and if not, at least he'd tried but she was going to a funeral with him tomorrow, he hoped she wouldn't be attending his in another week or so, not that Tess would bother to let anyone know where and when it was. Daisy might though, she'd been intrigued at the possibility he may have got himself a girlfriend but that was teenagers for you.

Rose had watched Mickey leave then drive off, she knew he was disappointed and was surprised he'd not put up much of a fight. It wouldn't have mattered if he had though, they were friends, nothing more, not for a long time. The afternoon went quickly for her though every opportunity she got, she tried to glance through the window to see him getting out of a taxi in front of the boating hut. She thought though there may be another way around to the chalet so she wouldn't see him anyway.

Chloe arrived and noticed how Rose was on edge.

"So, how did your meeting go?" she asked Rose.

"Can you believe the volume was turned off for recordings?"

"Yeah, men. So that was it?"

"Well he called me then I got a message later to say he'd managed."

"I hope he thanked you?"

"Yeah, in his own way. Ready for tomorrow?"

"As anyone can be, mum's a bit upset but she's pregnant, it doesn't take much to set her off then she was upset about losing her best friend."

Rose wondered about that, why would someone stop being friends unless they had a big fall-out? If the woman had been Alec's DS, what had happened unless she'd had something to do with Danny's death? She could find out if she really wanted to but it was best she got Alec to tell her. When they had finished cleaning, Rose gave Chloe the extra money she owed her, Pete had said to put it down as petty cash since the teenager was still at school and the accountants would sort it out. She knew she'd have to go up to the bank at some point but she was waiting for Pete to sort the account out but at least she had the safe. Hopefully, the account details would arrive tomorrow then she would just have time on Saturday morning.

When she'd said goodbye to Chloe, there was no sign of Alec anywhere so she walked up towards the bridge, passing some of the stalls where they had been last night and stopped overlooking the river and the blue chalet. The door was open and she waited to see if he noticed her.

The move had proved a bit much for Alec though, he'd laid on the sofa having taken some more pills and had fallen asleep. He woke suddenly and looked at his watch – just after five and he'd more or less agreed to meet Rose to get something to eat, realising he was hungry. He reached for his phone to see if she'd called and getting up slowly, he could see her peering across from the road bridge.

He went outside and waved, Rose waving back then he waved her over but Rose had no idea how to get to where he was so she sent him a message. He sent one back saying to go around the corner, across the footbridge then around the wooden building that was a fish restaurant and through the gate. She finally made it, opening the catch to find Alec sitting on the doorstep.

"Blimey, I can see why you picked this place, it's a bit of a pain to get to."

"Well it will discourage unwanted callers if nothing else. Your friend still around?"

"Nope, he went back to London, I never told him to come down to start off with."

"You fell out over something?"

"Yeah, a project I had going that my stepfather insisted on closing down, Mickey took his side."

"Was it important, this project?"

"To me it was but the argument was it wasn't safe any more."

"At Vitex?" Alec smiled, going to fill the kettle and indicating if Rose wanted tea. "I've no coffee, sorry."

"Don't worry. No, not at Vitex. You're in the police, you've been briefed about Torchwood?"

"Really? You were working for them? That woman in charge looks a bit grim, like she means business."

"She's not in charge, not really, she just does the public image bit. My stepfather's really in charge, it's all about image, she's a people person, so she says. He lost Vitex to Lumic and he didn't want to be associated once he got it back, after what happened."

"Yes, I remember that, a lot of companies were taken over by Cybus, it was rumoured Lumic ran the government though how true that was is anyone's guess. So Pete Tyler was involved with Torchwood at the time?"

"They were fighting Lumic, trying to bring him down but you probably already know that? Anyway, enough of that, my project got closed so Pete wanted to make it up to me, I wanted to come here and forget it. There, that's my secret, now tell me yours, why you're on light duties only."

Alec considered he should be as honest as Rose had been. "I was put on medical leave, pending me getting something done about my condition."

He made the tea and they went back to sit outside, Rose on the step below.

"So, what condition's that then?"

"A heart condition, that chase, I had another heart attack."

Rose just managed to put the mug of tea on the decking, taking his hand.

"You should have said something Alec, you let me flirt with you."

"Would you have stopped flirting, had you known? Do you know something? I actually enjoyed it, it's been a long time since a woman flirted with me and I was too afraid to even let any of them try."

"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. So, what happens?"

"I get a pacemaker or retire but I won't last that long, a few months maybe, if I am very careful."

"If you get a pacemaker, you'll be ok, won't you?"

"I've left it too long Rose, maybe at the beginning but my chances of survival are slim to none."