Before I can allow you to read the next chapter...i have to issue everyone the biggest, hugest apology for dropping of the face of the fanfiction world. Especailly my beta Sarah, who was and still is exceptional when it comes to correcting my horrendous grammar!! Big thankyous to the new people who have read and reviewed. Continuing thanks to the regulars. I hope that you all enjoy the new chapter and i hope to be uploading some more very soon.
A.N I don't own Ashes to Ashes, nor would I want to with my terrible time keeping skills!
Chapter VII
Alex struggled against the rope that bound her wrists. Her jaw had swollen from where 'Davey', one of Yorkson's henchmen had backhanded her across the face. Gene was just sat staring at the side of the van. Alex knew whatever information they gained would be invaluable when it came to court. Shame you can't submit your swollen jaw as evidence. Shuffling closer to Gene, his arm was resting protectively across her shoulders, Alex tried to get a better view out of the windscreen. There was nothing worth remembering, she couldn't see road or shop signs. Great! I think up this fucking plan and now I can't do anything to get us out of the shit pile we are in. Way to fucking go, Drake! Gene had given up shouting and swearing at Yorkson shortly after Davey had landed a couple swift digs in his ribs.
"Gene?" Alex whispered. The thundering of the road whizzing past them, made it hard for the front passengers to hear and Davey didn't do anything unless he was told. Typical drone, Alex thought. She knew they needed some sort of leverage over Yorkson, something that was going to de-stabilise him, but she didn't have the right information to do it.
Gene turned his head. Blood had trickled down the side of his face and his right eye had swollen itself shut, all from where Yorkson had hit him with the pistol. Oh god, look at him. I did this, I caused this. The guilt that coursed through Alex's body was unimaginable. Tears stung at the edges of her eyes. Her plan had been to catch Yorkson with a little role play and hell a little fantasy thrown in for good measure, but now looking at Gene, all she wanted to do was cry and tell him she was sorry for thinking up this stupid plan.
"Yes, Bolly?" The pain in his voice was evident. This wasn't Gene, the Manc Lion trying to play with his prey before he devoured it and spat it back out. No this time, the Lion had gotten a thorn in his paw and was backing off.
"We need something against him. We need to gain an advantage over him." Gene knew she was right, but at the moment his head hurt too much for him to think of anything too complicated. The only thing on his mind was how many different ways he could kill Michael Yorkson.
Gene just stared at the side of the van. He knew they needed something to rattle his cage. Make him that little bit edgy. Yer never know, stupid prat might give yer something. Yorkson was the kind of person how liked to boast, enjoyed showing off. He had done it in Manchester after he had killed the female snout.
"Might I suggest somethin' DCI Hunt?" Yorkson's voice dripped with sarcasm. Gene remembered he'd just kept silent, because he knew he wouldn't have stopped if he had started. "You might wanna catch the real criminals, instead of persecutin' those that 'aven't done anthin' wrong." The smile and the strut down the station corridor showed everyone "I am untouchable". Gene knew he had killed her, but with local community scared shitless, no one was going to rat out Yorkson. Although there was one thing that Gene knew, played on Yorkson's mind and he knew the right button to push.
"Oi Yorkson, yer lousy murdering bastard. Yer know yer not gonna get away with this! Kidnapping a police officer! Every bloody copper in the city is gonna be looking fer you. Yer know yer gonna go down fer this." Yorkson turned to face Gene, the same smile spread across his face.
"Hunt, they ain't gonna find what's left of yer when I've finished. There won't even be enough ter fill a damn coffin." Yorkson paused. He had plans for Gene, really big and painful ones. "But don't worry", he continued, "I will look after yer pretty new wife." Gene subconsciously pulled Alex closer. Bleedin wife or not, 'es not bleedin well touching 'er. Yorkson just laughed.
"The infamous DCI Hunt, nothing more than a beaten has-been cooper 'oo marries a cheap tarts to make 'imself feel good and likes to go after people who mind their own bloody business!" Yorkson was shouting, just like he had at the station. Yorkson couldn't resist one last dig.
"But I didn't know Hunt, that yer traded in Maggie fer this." Gene snapped, lunging forward he went for Yorkson, only to meet Davey's fists in the process. Coughing so hard he thought his insides were going to split open, Gene managed one last warning.
"Yorkson, you worthless pile of shit, don't ever talk about my wife like that again." Gene had been waiting for this, and now was the exact moment. Gotcha now yer bastard.
"Well all I can say, Mickey," the use of his first name, knocked Yorkson a bit. No one had called him 'Mickey' in a long time, "is that at least I just divorced my wife, unlike you, yer murdering scum, yer just kill 'em if they get in yer way." Bingo, and first prize goes to… Yorkson's eyes flashed with complete and utter hatred. Shaking with anger, he pointed the gun, straight at Gene's chest. Alex pulled him closer, only for Gene to lean slightly towards it. Gene for the love of God, don't do anything stupid. Alex thought. She was well aware of the history between them. Their hatred for each other was strong enough to power a small town.
"Don't ever talk about her, it's your fault that she's dead. It's all your fault!" The pistol shaking as Yorkson was slowing losing control. Gene just laughed, which made him wince in pain.
"How in 'ell is it my bloody fault? Yer the one that murdered her! Yer just couldn't let her be. No, yer went and throttled her wit' yer bare hands because she was disgusted wit' yer. She found out yer murdered 'em kids. No, you're the reason she's dead, not me!" Gene collapsed. Yorkson was just staring at them, as though he had no idea what to say next.
Alex studied the 'madman' in front of her. The erratic behaviour, the digs at Gene, the promise of killing him, the fact he blames Gene for his wife's murder. He's not got a plan. He didn't plan this one like the others, he doesn't have a single clue what he's going to do with us, he's erratic, emotional. He needs tipping in one way or another. Knowing that this kind of assailant was not only horrendously unpredictable but also the most dangerous, Alex had to do something that shifted the status quo, if she didn't they could just be the next couple.
Looking down at her knees, Alex's mind was blank. This whole idea was hers, catching Yorkson, ensnaring the madman. But now she was here, with the possibility that she may share the same fate as the others, it awoke a fear within her that she had only tasted once before. Shit, shit shit. Think Alex. Think. Okay, he murdered his wife, because…she left him. So, he has abandonment issue? Which could possibly stem from his mother? Although she was brain storming, her ideas were going nowhere. Each time an idea formed something stopped it. Thinking back to the case files, Alex remembered everything she could. Robert and Karen, young professional, no children, no close or immediate family. Steven and Louisa, late thirties both teachers, no immediate family. Michael and Amelia, late twenties, newly trained lawyers, noticed missing after one week, by work colleagues. As the pictures and case notes flashed around on the insides of her eyes, her mind and memory working as one, it suddenly hit her. The other reason, the hidden link, the subconscious motive as to why all his couples had been chosen. SHIT. Crap, bastard, this just can not get any worse. Alex knew what needed to be done. She knew that if she tipped the balance, tipped the status quo, then Yorkson would become unstable and maybe some how they could talk their way out of it and everything would be alright. Fuck off Alex!! Nothing is ever that simple. You know for a fucking start that isn't going to happen. You need to pull this off and you need to do it convincingly otherwise you are both dead. Taking hold of Gene's hand, Alex allowed every emotion to peep to the surface; to take a tiny glimpse of what life could be like if she admitted what she kept locked away. Combining it with the fear, and the anxiety, Alex knew it was now or never. I will not die; I will not let him kill us. Bloody hell, if I pull this off Gwyneth's Oscar belongs to me! Squeezing Gene's hand, she hoped that he was as good or a better actor than she was.
Facing Yorkson, who was still staring at Gene, Alex could feel the tears start to stream down her face, ploughing in head first, all she could do was hope for the best.
"Please, you can't kill him. Please, please, please don't kill him. I need him. Please don't kill him." The look that crept across Yorkson's face was of sheer pleasure. He liked it when they begged. Especially when the wives pleaded for the lives of their husbands.
Not thinking and just allowing her emotions to take control, Alex swapped places. She was Mrs Hunt, so she was going to act like it. Fuck it. Use them Alex, it's the only way that this is going to work. Just let them out! Yorkson was watching Alex, watching the way her eyes would flicker from his face to the gun and then to Gene. Watching the almost inaudible pleading.
"Just tell me one thing… why should I let him live?" Shit, think of something Alex, think of something so big that even Gene will play along with. Then it hit her. The reason he picked his victims was going to be his stumbling block. It was brilliant and yet incredibly dangerous. Here goes nothing.
"Please don't kill him, please I need him, I need him. I can't do it on my own. I need him to be there for me!" Yorkson had seen it all before.
"But yer didn't tell me why. Why should I spare him? Because yer love him, because he's the best thing ever in the world? WHY SHOULD I SPARE HIM?"
"Because…" Alex faltered. Squeezing Gene's hand again and then looking at Yorkson, the tears still streaming,making dirty tracks down her face. Alex took in a deep breath.
"I need him, because I am pregnant. I need him to be there for me, to be there for our baby. Please, you can't take him away from me, from us!" Her sobs echoed round the van. Gene just stared at her. Her hand locked in his vice like grip. Please Gene, just play along, if you ever do anything else crazy in your life, just play along! Alex could only hope that it had worked. That she hadn't used her true and real emotions; that she hadn't begged for the life of the one man she cared for the most all for nothing.
"Well, well, well, Hunt. Newly married and with a baby on the way, congratulations. But don't think that this will get yer off the 'ook. Yer gonna pay for what 'append to my Lillian and I mean it, yer gonna pay. So if yer don't want yer lovely new wife 'urt and especially in 'er condition, I suggest Hunt, yer shut up , yer sit there very quietly and don't say another word, because if yer do...I swear, I will bleed 'er dry."