Thanks for the reviews! This is for sash queen of the jungle and EightEminus for their lovely comments. Enjoy!
"How about we send in Drake's kid? You know, Molly." Ray asks; his first proper contribution to the conversation.
"Children are far too selfish where their parents are involved, but that age group is probably best, any younger they wouldn't understand, any older they're practically adults." The son smiles encouragingly at Ray. I can't help but smile, this man whoever he is knows exactly how to handle Ray.
"Maybe one of her friends? Someone who knew Alex would probably be best." Shaz points out.
"Yeah!" I agree, quickly. "Maybe Molly's best friend?"
"A good idea DI Tyler." The old man smiles. Something suddenly comes into my head.
"The child, would it have to be sacrificed? It would go back, wouldn't it?" I ask panicky, I want to help Alex but no way am I condemning an innocent civilian, especially a child.
"Of course they would, don't worry Sam." The young man smiles comfortingly at me.
"God Tyler, you're such a poof." Ray smirks. I glare at him.
"Ladies, ladies." Annie smiles.
"Back to the subject." The old man intercedes tactfully.
"Yes, definitely, sorry Sir." I say, subdued, Ray is also quiet, drinking his pint in silence.
"Who to choose?" The young man asks.
"Well it'd had to be a girl, wouldn't it?" Chris says.
"Why?" I ask him, surprised at how certain he sounds.
"Well the Gov would never let a lad in, would he?"
"That is a very good point Chris." I grin at him, surprised. Chris has certainly changed since I last knew him. I glance at the person I am certain is the reason just as she leans over to give him a kiss on the cheek. Ray mimes being sick into his glass. I glance at Annie and immediately see she is trying to keep a straight face. I give her hand a quick squeeze.
"Right then, I'd guess we'd better bring out the files." The old man smiles. "If you would all follow me." He stands up and finishes the last of his whisky. I follow suit and he leads us up some stairs into a room that, from the looks on Chris, Ray and Shaz's faces is very similar to their old CID.
"It's practically our CID!" Shaz exclaims, confirming my suspicions.
"Yes, a few changes brought it more up to date. Some of these things are probably right up your street DI Tyler."
"Yes they are sir." I grin. I'd forgotten all about touch sensitive smart boards, and data at the touch of your fingers instead of having to rummage through files. I turn it on and totally ignore the others, who are having it all explained to them by the young man. The old man is sitting in the office staring at me, a ghost of a smile on his face. I open up the database and find in delight how easy to use and how self explanatory it is. I smile and turn to nod at the old man. Ready I mouth. He smiles back and comes through.
"Now as you are all now aware this is technology from your friend DI Tyler's time. By the way, it has data on everybody Sam, connections to each other, everything."
"Good." I smile. "If everyone could sit down."
"Bloody hell." Ray mutters "It's worse than one of Drake's little pyschobloodywhatsits and no Gov to liven it up." Nonetheless however he grabs a chair and sits down, pulling out a cigarette and starts to smoke. I ignore him. There's a whiteboard next to me and across it in big letters I write the words ALEX AND GENE in block capitals. I then summarise what we know.
About forty-five minutes and a lot of arguing later we finally reach a decision in the form of a girl named Alice Moorland.
"I mean she's perfect, what with her personality and wha-" I say for what must be the thousandth time later that night, sitting around the table playing cards, much to Ray's disgust with Shaz and Annie as well as our new friends.
"Yes we get it Sam, now be quiet." Annie begs me. I look at her, mock offended. She laughs. "I haven't upset you have i?" She teases.
"Very much so." I tease back.
"Well I'd better say sorry then."
"I can think of something better than saying sorry." I grin and pull her over for a kiss.
Ray moans but before either of us can say anything Chris buts in. "You really need to get yourself a girl mate." Everyone bursts into laughter except Ray who glowers at Chris from behind his hand of cards. I wait for the Christopher is right Raymondo my friend I hit myself internally when it doesn't come. The Gov isn't here, and he never will be, no matter how badly I miss him. Alex misses him way more than you do; she's the one who's going back. But I know that if given the chance I would give all this up just to be back in the old Cortina and arguing with Gene about his methods. Just one moment, just one moment more of that strange kind of paradise.
As I lie in bed that night I cannot sleep. I turn over onto my back and sigh, staring at the dark ceiling. Annie sits up beside me. Shit, I didn't mean to wake her up.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up Annie."
"I know. What's the matter?"
"I miss him." I tell her, and I don't have to tell her anymore. He was my best friend and she knows it.
"So does Alex. I think you need to go to her."
"It's 3am in the bloody morning!" I object "She'll never be awake."
"Yes she will."
"How do you know?"
"Women's intuition." She smiles, practically shoving me out of the bed. "Go on."
I get dressed and go along the corridor and am about to knock on Alex's door when I spot the manager lingering in the doorway leading to the stairs. "Sir." I lift my hand in greeting, wondering who else is out here on this strangest of mornings.
"When you are done could you bring her to me and my son, we will be downstairs."
"Of course, may I ask why?"
"We intend to ask her and then you need to go save your Alice if she is ever to help those two."
"Why?"
"My friend James Keats" his normally serene face darkened at the name "thought we might try something like this and he is nothing if not clever, he has got her in the grips of depression. He has had her for two years."
"But," I flounder lost for words.
"Time is not constant DI Tyler, especially not here. Please do not take too long."
Then he has gone, slipping quietly down the stairwell. I turn to knock on the door and almost immediately Alex opened the door. She looks tired and her eyes are red and her eye makeup streaky. "Can I come in?"