Here is the next chaper :) Hope you enjoy!

"Sir, have SOCO given you any more evidence from the boat?" Ellie asked when she came into his office the next morning. She had been up half the night wondering what to say and had decided the best thing to do was to carry on as normal.

The grumpy Alec Hardy had returned to her relief and he shuck his head . "I haven't heard anything but you know what it's like. A match was on last night I think so they will all have a hangover like last time. Anyway, we need to go talk to Jack Marshall again. He didn't tell us about that conviction and I really want to know why."

"I will make some calls. When do you want us there for the reconstruction?"

"Bring him to the station in the afternoon and we'll brief him on what he has to do. Tell him I will buy him a MacDonald's as a thank you."

Ellie waved the offer off "you don't need to do that, sir."

"No I want to" he insisted. "He's doing me a favour and I want to repay him."

"Fine but you will feel the wrath of Fred when he sees you giving Tom something. He's going through a faze of wanting to do what Tom does. It's a good job he's not coming as he'd be wanting to chase Tom while he's on the skateboard. I don't think we would get the message out about Danny's last movements with a manic baby crawling in pursuit."

"Well I can't treat one without the other. I will give him a Happy Meal." Alec replied and Ellie frantically shook her head.

"No sir. He gets it everywhere and throws it all around. Last time he threw the toy right at me and gave me a black eye."

Alec frowned, looking a little taken aback by the strength of Fred Miller. "He will be good cricketer though."

A look of horror passed over Ellie's face and excused herself muttering something about calling Joe to tell him to cancel the sports package. Alec watched her leave and put his head in his hands. He wished he had met her years ago before he got married and before she met Joe. If so they would have children of their own, nice family home in Broadchurch and they would be happy. Well he would be happy. She already was.

As soon as they left the beach, Ellie kicked at the whatever she could find. Including Alec.

"Bloody mad woman" he shouted, backing away from her.

"We let this happen. You let this happen!" she screeched, punching at his left arm which was defending his face.

"I know and I'm sorry but please stop assaulting me!" he pleaded and she gave one last punch before stepping back.

"I knew that man. Jack has been here for years." she barked at him. "The only person I want to be lying on that beach now is the killer."

"Not even me?" he asked, trying to make her feel better and it seemed to work as she managed a chuckle.

"Not unless you killed Danny." she replied.

Alec watched her curiously before moving towards her.

"What if the killer is someone close to you? Would you still want them dead on the beach?"

Ellie nodded. "I wouldn't want them close to me if they had done it. They have...changed me. I mean look at us. We are so wrapped up in this case now."

"Miller, that means you care. That means you're a good copper. Don't tell anyone this but I am really proud of you."

She didn't thank him, she glared at him. "Stop it,

"What?"

"Stop complimenting me"she demanded."I'm you DS not your girlfriend! Don't act like I am different from everyone else. You being nice makes my stomach feel..."

"feel what?" he asked, a smug grin on his face.

"oh shut up" she snapped. "You really get under my skin sometimes."

"I get under your skin? You have just completely overreacted and physically abused me!"

Ellie rolled her eyes. "You are such a child. I go home and I have two kids to look after. I come to work and I have a grumpy, over-sized one to look after."

"I know what I'm doing!" he argued. "If there is anyone that acts like a child it's you."

"Me?" She gasped. "When have I acted like a child?"

He laughed loudly and maliciously which angered Ellie even more.

"You had a tantrum less than two minutes ago" he pointed out. "Childish is a nice way of putting it as I could have said psychotic."

That was the last straw and Ellie was at boiling point.

"I'M NOT PSYCHOTIC! YOU JUST MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I SHOULDN'T!" she screamed at him and he said nothing in reply.

He stared at her as she kicked at thin air and stormed off. That was angry Ellie and he was scared half to death. However angry Ellie turned out to be a more honest Ellie which, despite his now aching arm and breathlessness, made him smile.