Disclaimer not mine.

Blast from the Past?

Sam cuffed Keats as he heard tyres screech round the corner. Keats continued to struggle as they both looked up to see Chris fling the driver's side door open. The heavens opened as Sam dragged Keats to his feet. Once again Viv wondered how a man as physically slight as Sam was able to hold his own against people much larger than him. He stepped forward as Sam shoved Keats towards him.

"See to that" He let go of the man as he turned and ran in the direction Gene had run moments earlier. He was certain the woman screaming had been his friend.

"Pleasure" Viv smiled as he formally arrested the man and shoved him in to the back of the car.

Xxxxxxxxx

The old wasteland had been eerie but nothing had prepared Sam for the interior of the beautiful but abandoned old church. The stained glass windows let in a little light but the shadows still cast a menacing glow over the church. Sam looked round, knowing that when the place was an active place of worship the parishioners would have kept the place immaculate. None of that mattered now as he saw the burly outline of his friend and boss hanging over the table at the back of the church.

"Guv?"

There was no response form the larger man. Gene hung his head as Sam saw the remains of a cassette player on the stone floor. He sighed heavily as he watched his friend fight to regain composure. Sam bent down and retrieved the small tape.

"It's her Sam" Gene sounded on the verge of tears.

"Good"

"She's crying Sam. My Bolly is in tears. How is that good eh?" Gene rounded on him. He clenched his fists.

"Crying means she was breathing and alert at the time the recording was made"

"Yeah" Gene straightened up and sniffed. He wanted to kill Keats. He wanted to kill whoever it was that had made Alex scream and cry. Sam stepped towards him.

"So now we have Keats, we have one of the Hughes brothers and we have this as evidence" Sam took another step towards Gene. "That has got to help us find her"

"Sam" Gene sighed "What do I tell the girls? If we don't find her? What do I tell me girls?" Gene looked away from Sam as he closed his eyes.

"We will get forensics to go over the recording. We are getting close to her Gene. We will find her. Look" Sam stepped towards Gene "Alex is a tough woman, what's the betting she's already on her way home?"

"I hope so Sammy boy. I bleeding well 'ope so" Gene blinked as he fought back the tears. He didn't cry in front of anyone. The Manc Lion just didn't cry.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Alex closed her eyes as she tried to think. She's been dragged from the boot of a green car. She was certain it was a Ford but couldn't be sure which model. Definitely either a Focus or a Fiesta. I really should have taken more interest when Gene watches Top Gear. She sighed as she thought of her big burly, fearless husband. She knew she had to see him again. She'd been married before but she had never felt for Pete what she felt for Gene. There was no way it ended like this. She was not going to let Keats and his friends win. She stared straight ahead as she grew more and more angry. Did Keats own a green Ford? Did that matter somehow? C'mon Alex think! Everything is significant. A minor detail may be enough to get me out of here. She glared straight ahead. She had never been so angry. Staring ahead she noticed a heavy set man sit in the chair in front of her. She recognised him straight away as the man that had dragged her from the boot of the car.

"Oh, awake now princess?" Alex ignored the remark. Her hands were tied behind her back and she knew given a little luck and enough time she could untie her wrists. She also knew she would have to be discreet. There was no way she was going to risk the others coming to rescue her.

"Why?" Alex glared at the man. "Why did you do this? Why kidnap Shaz Grainger? Me? Why am I here?" Her cut glass English accent pierced the air. The man in front of her sighed.

"Look luv" He leant forward as Alex held his gaze. "That young girl? Shaz you said her name was"

"Yes" Alex held her breath.

"She's your mate eh? Nothing to do with me that. Not my choice. She seemed a nice kid. Shame really that she's a copper"

"She is" Alex pulled on her restraints.

"I aint got nothing against the kid"

"Good, so what have you got against me?"

"You darlin?"

"Yes me. Or do you tie every woman you meet to a chair?" She glared as the man in front of her laughed. He stood and walked towards her and ran a hand across her face. Alex shuddered at his touch.

"No, but tempting thought"

"What has Keats got over you? You kidnap two police officers on his orders, that suggests he has a considerable hold over you" Alex no longer cared about making the man in front of her angry. It didn't matter any more.

"Does Gene Hunt tolerate that psychobollocks?" He laughed. She narrowed her eyes.

"Leave Gene out of this"

"You asked why. Your friend Annie is a clever girl. She'll work it out"

"She will" Alex tried not to scream with joy as her hands slipped free. She knew she wouldn't be able to escape if the man in front of her knew she was free from the ropes.

"Don't take this personal luv. It aint you and me"

"I have two kids at home. You know that. A husband. How can I not take this personally? Have you got kids? Mine are little. They need me" Alex knew she was playing with fire but she didn't expect the slap that almost knocked her out of the chair. She screamed as his hand collided with her face.

"Sorry luv, but thems me orders. And that was courtesy of your husband Pete" He walked away as Alex reeled. She hadn't seen Pete since the day they had divorced. She had no idea what he was doing at the moment but she knew if he was involved with Keats then she really was in trouble.

A/N more from Ray, Mia, Chris, Annie and Shaz next time. Is the strange man right? Will Annie be the one to break the case and save Alex? More soon. Nearly there now :D