An: Thank you to those who have reviewed so far! Hope you enjoy chapter 2.

"This doesn't mean you're right, you know," said Gene.

He was sitting at his desk, a tumbler containing a shot of whiskey was being lovingly cradled in his hand. Alex was perched on the opposite side of the desk, flicking through a file.

Another heroin addict had died. This one had died in what was supposed to be a house but was too run down to be considered a home. Outside, a fire had burned, consuming wood.

"Lots of druggies die. Lots of fires are started by wood. Occasionally two might happen at the same time."

"What, twice?" Alex closed the file and turned around to face Gene. "We could have a serial killer on our hands, Gene. Both deaths have the same MO."

"One died in his home, that is not the same MO, Bolly."

Alex leaned back slightly. Gene hated it when she did that and how she was looking at him now, considering him. As though she was about to do something that she knew would piss him off and she was trying to work out how much she cared. He wished sometimes she would care a little bit more.

It didn't look like it was going to be one of those times today since Drake turned on her heel and left his office. Her voice carried back to him.

"Ray, I want you to look at the old files on the deaths of drug addicts and dealers, paying special attention to those that mention a fire in the vicinity. Chris, ask the Fire Department about fires involving wood in the area of Fenchurch East, especially recurring ones, going back three years. See if at any point, there was more information on the type of wood being burnt."

There were murmurings of "Yes Ma'am" as Alex tried to make her way back to her desk. Gene called her back.

"Drake, who's in charge around here?"

"You are, Guv."

She didn't look embarrassed, damn her. More hesitant, as though she was sure of what he would do.

"Then why are you telling my officers what to do?"

"Supposing you're right," Alex said. "Supposing the deaths are exactly what they seem, addicts taking too much, leading to death. The fires are new. You could have a new supplier around. A new web of drug trafficking that you have to stop before the problem gets out of control."

XXX

A few hours later, Alex was at her desk looking at the files Chris was excitedly putting in front of her.

"There are five areas in Fenchurch that have had fires more than three times in the past year where before they didn't have any. The earliest was eleven months ago. All in all, there 'ave been thirty three of these fires, all of them with wood. Twenty seven of these have used furniture, chairs and tables and stuff."

"Furniture," breathed Alex. At last, a breakthrough. "What about the others?"

"Nothing, Ma'am," Chris replied. "It was either furniture or not identified."

Alex smiled at Chris. "Excellent work. Go and help Ray, he hasn't managed to find anything yet." Chris returned to his desk and was greeted by a large pile of files dumped in front of him by a disgruntled looking Ray.

Alex went to Shaz's desk and asked her to research any furniture stores that had opened just before the first fire. As she turned to go back to her desk, she caught the Guv's eye through the windows of his office. Neither of them said anything but she was reluctant to break eye contact. It always meant he had won.

XXX

They were sat at their table in Luigi's, complete with glasses of wine and a half-empty bottle.

"I'm not sure I like it when you take control of my team, Bolls."

"Control freak," said Alex, good-naturedly, relieved to see Gene give a fleeting half smile in return.

"I suppose you managed to find results. Chris and that thing with the chairs, Shaz found that store- Ray found nothing but not even you can have everything, eh Bolls?"

Alex laughed quickly and gulped a mouthful of wine to steady herself. Just for a split second, a very strange idea had entered her brain. If she was going to keep her sanity (even if she was in a world that was twenty years ago), she would have to trample on that idea. She couldn't have everything, not really.

"I have a question," said Gene, leaning in.

"What is it?" asked Alex, trying not to whisper as though they were two lovers on an intimate date.

"At what point during your 'Alex Drake Detective Agency' saga is it the bit where we haul in scum and let me do what I do best?"

Alex smiled wryly. "If by 'what you do best' you mean using physical intimidation, then hopefully never. As for arrests, we need evidence, Gene, yes we do," she said as Gene rolled his eyes and downed the rest of his wine.

"And the scum?"

"Chris and Ray are staking out the Farrant's Furniture store for a few days. We'll see what they find first."