A couple of disclaimers: I know nothing about plumbing or the London Underground in 1982.
Next chapter is at least a week away. Please enjoy this in the meantime!!
--
"Oh god."
He'd woken horny and hard that morning, kissing his way down her belly and waking her with his tongue. She came so fast he wondered aloud what she'd been dreaming of, hoping it was him as he turned her over, taking her from behind.
Gene groaned, his hands gripping her hips as he thrust slowly, his face contorted in a grimace she couldn't see as he tried desperately to keep from coming. Feeling himself close, too close, he pulled out, resting his cheek against her back, breathing hard.
"Gene?" Alex turned her head, panting. "Are you OK?"
He nodded, his head still resting on her back. "Good" he answered hoarsely. "Don't want..." He slipped his fingers inside her, he didn't want it to end, teased her clit until she bucked against him. "Over Alex, roll over." Gene settled between her thighs, entering her slowly as she arched her back, sliding out as she dug her nails into him. He entered again, faster, knowing she'd come again"Gene, god, again, I'm , oh, YES!" She shook, raising her hips to his again and again as she climaxed.
Gene captured her mouth as he thrust hard into her, faster as she rode her aftershocks. Groaning he pulled back, catching her eyes, her mouth wide, smiling. "Oh god, my god Alex." He was too close, he couldn't stop again. With a final thrust he exploded, moaning her name, kissing, biting her neck. Falling to the bed he pulled her close, stroking her back as they both fell back to sleep.
--
When he woke a few hours later he found the other side of the bed empty. Smelling coffee, he pulled on his pyjama bottoms and found Alex in the kitchen, grabbing her around the waist.
"Thanks." He kissed her on the head.
"For what? Would you like an egg?"
"Love one." He poured some milk in his coffee mug as he sat at the small table. "For puttin' up with me. Not sure I always deserve it."
"Not sure you do either" she teased. "But that's apparently what one does, when one is in love with someone." She smiled over her shoulder as she cracked an egg into the pan.
Gene drank his coffee, staring at Alex's bare legs. "'Ave we got plans today?"
Alex stopped, contemplating. "I don't think so. What did you have in mind?"
"Was thinking I'd go to the plumbers merchants and pick up the shower parts. C'n put them in this afternoon. If you still want one. C'n come if you want." Gene tucked in to the egg and toast Alex set in front of him.
"Oooh. Plumbers merchants. I think I'll pass." She sat across from him, one leg tucked under her. "Would you mind dropping off the dry cleaning? I have a few things and your suits need to go."
Gene scowled. "Should I stop at the market and pick up dinner while I'm out?" Secretly he was delighted. He had another errand to run, and the longer he had an excuse to be out, the better.
"Would you?" Alex teased. "I'll make you a list. It would save me a trip."
"Good. More time for you to work on the bloody profile." He smirked, forking toast and egg into his mouth.
--
An hour later, armed with Alex's shopping list, Gene sped off in the Quattro. Parking on a side street, he pushed through the door of a shop selling neither plumbing supplies nor food of any kind.
"Can I help you sir?"
Gene eyed the man behind the counter. Forty-ish and entirely too prim for a bloke, but he was the only person in the shop.
"Yeah. Is 'arry around?" Gene drummed his fingers on the glass case in front of him. He had helped Harry out a few months ago when he thought one of his employees had been skimming cash. He'd let Gene know that any time he needed anything he should come to him directly.
The man eyes Gene's fingers disapprovingly. "He is. Who shall I say is calling?"
"Tell 'im it's DCI Hunt." That got the desired reaction and the man stepped back a bit, hurrying out of the shop and into the back room. He returned in a few minutes with Harry in tow.
"Good morning Mr. Hunt. Nice to see you again." The man held out his hand and Gene shook it uncomfortably. "I've picked out a few things you might like." Harry reached under the counter and pulled out a small tray lined in black velvet.
Gene stared at the sparkling rocks, overwhelmed. He had no idea what he was looking at and he was sure Harry knew it. His first impulse was to bark at him, make sure he wasn't trying to get one over on him. But Harry seemed like a good enough bloke. He didn't have much choice but to trust him.
Harry spoke, sensing Gene's unease. "I inspected each of them myself. Very good quality and all in the price range we discussed."
Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, he finally pointed to one he thought she would like.
"Ah. The marquise cut. Elegant. I'm sure she'll love it. White gold for the ring with a platinum setting, as we discussed?"
Gene nodded, suddenly breaking out in a sweat. "When will it be ready?" Gene pulled out his wallet.
"You can pick it up any time after Wednesday."
Sitting back behind the wheel of the Quattro, Gene rested his forehead on the steering wheel. What the bloody hell was he doing?
--
Alex sat on the floor in the living room, she'd pushed the coffee table to one side and had spread out all of the files on the floor. She'd separated out the three women who'd survived from the rest, certain that the key was in those files. Two of them had been in their jurisdiction, the third had happened just out of reach, so the investigation had been done by another team. The file wasn't quite as complete as Alex would have liked.
All of the other victims had been found in the morning, when the station attendants had opened up. Forensics and pathology agreed that the attacks had taken place in the tube stations on the platforms and the bodies were left there. It made sense since in the instances where the attacks were interrupted they had been in progress on the platforms.
Alex was still staring at the files when Gene finally returned.
"Miss me?"
Losing her train of thought, Alex looked up. "What time is it?"
"2:30, I think. Why?"
"You've been out for four hours? No wonder I'm starving." Alex stood up, taking the bag from Gene's arms. "I'll make some lunch."
"OK. Have to go back down to the car. Be right back."
After quick sandwiches, Gene hauled his shower materials into the bathroom. Alex opted to continue on with her work, but after the third time she heard pipes crashing gave up and joined Gene in the bathroom.
"Everything alright in here?" She sat down on the floor, her back leaning against the door. Gene was balancing several pipes over the bath, a cigarette hanging from his lips.
"Shouldn't be so hard" he held two pipes up, looking into each end.
"What are you trying to do?" Alex quizzed.
"Well. I think you unscrew the top of this 'ere, put the long pipe in and hook up the mixer thing."
"Mixer thing?"
"Yeah, the knob that changes it from a bath to a shower."
"Ah yes. The knob." Alex nodded, somewhat patronizingly.
"Yes. The knob." Gene insisted, holding out the particular part. "I could use a hand, I reckon. Here," he handed her an oval shaped rack, slightly larger than the bath.
Alex held it up awkwardly with both hands. "What's this?"
"It's the thing that goes around the top so you can hang the curtain. Haven't you ever seen a shower before?"
"Cheeky. What do you want me to do with it?"
Gene shook his head. "Stand in the bath and 'old it over your head. I need to hook this long pipe to the top and then screw it in here." He pointed to one end of a pipe. Alex had no idea what he was talking about, but she wanted to watch.
Doing as he asked, Alex stood, watching Gene fiddle with the taps. "Don't you think you should turn the water off first?"
"What?" He looked up still unscrewing the top off the tap with a wrench.
"Should you turn off the -" she never got to finish as the water spurted out of the pipe he was unscrewing.
"Shit!"
Alex laughed as he jumped back out of the way, but not before he was soaked through and she'd been somewhat thoroughly sprayed as well.
"Was going to say maybe you should turn off the water."
"Yes. Thank you. Very 'elpful you are." He scowled, reaching for a dry cigarette.
"Gene?" She watched him as he lit it, taking a long drag. "My arms are starting to hurt. Can we please get on with it?"
He looked at her, wet shirt plastered to her stomach, soaked pyjama bottoms sagging off her hips, wearing the slightly irritated look that turned him on every time. The faster he finished the faster he could get her back in bed. "Yeah, OK. Just stand still for a bit longer."
With the water pressure contained, Gene attached the pipes and the knob for switching from bath to shower with only a minimum of difficulty, swearing occasionally as the wrench slipped out of his hand, or he dropped a piece of pipe on the floor.
"You know Gene," Alex started after watching him for a while. "I don't think I've ever seen you so handy around the house."
He glanced at her, cigarette dangling out of his mouth as he fastened the rack for the shower curtain to the back wall. "I'm very handy around the house Alex. Need a house to be handy in, that's all." He was suddenly very intent on screwing a brace onto the wall.
Alex was silent. She knew he was disappointed that they hadn't bought a house yet, but they'd been through so much lately. She only wanted a few weeks of calm so she could really think about it. But maybe they'd never have a few weeks of calm. Gene finished and she lowered her arms, rubbing her shoulders. OK. After this case. They could look for a house together.
"Let me" Gene stepped around the bath, reaching for her shoulders. "Sorry that took so long." He kissed her on her forehead.
"Mmmm. You know, Mr. Hunt, you're quite handy with the pipes and knobs and such." She slid her arms around his neck, biting his chin.
"Yeah, well. I 'ave another pipe 'n a knob could really use your attention, Ms. Drake." Alex giggled as he lifted her by the waist, carrying her to the bedroom.
--
"Oh. Fuck. Gene. Harder!"
After spending the rest of the afternoon in bed they'd abandoned any hope of cooking at home and Alex had volunteered to run out for curry, returning home with several bottles of beer as well. After polishing off the food, the beer and half a bottle of whisky they'd managed to stumble, pleasantly drunk, into the bedroom.
"Can't hold on, Alex oh god!"
He'd tied her wrists to the headboard using ties he'd discarded on the floor earlier in the week. Alex giggling the whole time. "I've been a bad girl Gene" she laughed. "I shagged the handyman this afternoon. Maybe you need to punish me." She whispered in his ear as he slowly undressed her.
"Don't stop! Oh god don't stop!"
"I know exactly how to punish you" he growled as he pushed down her jeans, one hand reaching into her knickers, feeling her wet, eager.
Climbing off the bed he stripped as she watched, licking her lips. Her eyes drifted to his cock, hard, reaching for her as he kneeled on the bed in front of her. His left hand grabbed the headboard, over her shoulder as he kissed her, his tongue pushing deep into her mouth. His right grabbed his cock, stroking as he pulled away from her. "You can watch." And she did, her arousal growing as he stroked faster, her eyes darting from his face to his cock. "Gene" she tugged at her wrists. "Gene touch me, please." He shook his head almost lost. "Gene! Please. Begging you, please." Alex cried out as he reached for her with his free hand, his fingers pushing deep inside, his thumb flicking lightly over her clit. He leaned forward, pushing their bodies closer, kissing her shoulder, her neck, biting her ear. "Oh. Fuck. Gene. Harder!" "Can't hold on, Alex, oh god!" He groaned, fingers slipping from her as he began to lose control. "Don't stop! Oh god, don't stop!" "Can't, Alex" "Fuck me, Gene, please, want you inside me. Now, please!"
Alex swung one leg around him, pulling him closer, "Come inside me" she demanded hoarsely. Swiftly he released himself, grabbing Alex by the hips and thrusting deep inside her as she shattered around him. "YES God YES!" Gene thrust hard and fast, following her, lost.
Later, after he'd untied her and they lay half asleep, he decided. After this case was over. Then he'd ask her.
--
The phone rang an hour later, waking them both.
"Shit" Alex stumbled out of bed, wishing she'd moved the phone into the bedroom. "What is it?...Oh. OK. We'll be right there. No. Take her to the hospital." She hung up the phone, padding quickly back to the bedroom.
"Get dressed Gene. There's been another attack. She's still alive."
--
Twenty minutes later they pulled up in front of the entrance to the Liverpool St. tube station. Alex ran down the stairs, Gene on her heels. Ray and Chris were already there and walked quickly towards them.
"Night cleaning crew came down here about an hour ago, saw the attack in progress and chased the guy away. Said he jumped onto the track and ran down the tunnel. Two of the crew jumped after him but they lost him. It's hard to run on the tracks and he obviously has some experience doing it. We've already got maintenance crews bringing lights down here so we can take a closer look. Maybe there's a tunnel or something we can follow."
"Thanks Ray. Let me know when they get here."
"Can we talk to whomever got here first?" Alex asked.
Chris nodded. "Follow me, Ma'am." He lead Alex and Gene to a young man in his 20's. He looked shaken.
"Hi. I'm Inspector Drake."
"Geoff. Geoff Dixon."
"Mr. Dixon. What happened when you came into the station?"
"Well, we were settin' up to do the cleanin' job. I pulled my cart over 'ere onto the platform and I saw some people at the end of it. I shouted at them, no one's supposed to be down 'ere y'know? The girl started screamin' and the guy...the guy jumped onto the tracks and ran." He paused, looking at Alex. "A couple of us tried to chase him, but Leonard tripped on the tracks, and it got dark and I couldn't see anything. He ran that way." He pointed down the tunnel. "Funny thing is, we weren't supposed to be 'ere tonight. Last minute change. Lucky eh?"
"What?" Alex started. "You weren't supposed to be here?"
They young man shook his head. "Nope."
Alex looked at Gene. "That's it. We need to find out whether the other interrupted attacks were also unscheduled work crews. Two of them were cleaning crews, and one was a routine security check. No matter. We need to get the maintenance timetables for the London Transport going back at least to January."
"RAY!" Gene gave him instructions, Alex added a few questions. "And don't let them tell you they don' 'ave it. And I don' care who you 'ave to wake up to get it. I want it by 9 am!" Ray ran off, Chris on his heels.
"Unscheduled cleaning crew Alex? And we just know this now? How can that be?" Gene was fuming.
"I don't know Gene. There's nothing in any of the files that notes that they weren't supposed to be there. It could be they weren't, and we're on the wrong track, or they are, and we just didn't connect them. Remember that one of the attacks happened in a different jurisdiction. We didn't see it, so we couldn't connect them until now."
Gene shook his head disgustedly. "Need to have a plonk reading case files twenty-four hours a day to tie the bloody cases together."
Or a bloody database, Alex thought. "Let's get to the hospital."
--
By 9am Sunday they had their information from the London Transport.
"Gene" Alex burst into his office. "It's right. They were all reassigned crews. Someone working for the Transport is involved, or may be one of the killers. We need to see everyone who has access to this timetable."
"How many people could that be?"
"It could be thousands Gene. Rota is probably posted in every station office. I'll have Chris find out."
"Do that. And cross reference them with criminal records. We'll start with anyone with a mark on them and go from there." He ran his hand through his hair in a frustrated gesture. "Thousands, Alex?"
"I don't know Gene. Maybe."
"We still need a bloody break." He rubbed his eyes. "I'm goin' home to kip for a few hours while Ray sorts it all out. Care to join me?"
She felt exhausted. "Yeah, OK."