Many thanks to everyone who read Chapter 1, and especially to the kind people who took the time and trouble to review. A few words from you keeps me going!
Sorry about the delay in posting this second and final chapter - last weekend I gave priority to finishing "Decision Time", and I've been away since then (and made a good start on my NEXT fic while on the Eurostar!)
A missing credit from Chapter 1: The phrase "the banality of evil" comes from Hannah Arendt's book "Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil".
After about an hour, Alex needed the loo. Sliding out of bed, careful not to disturb Gene, she noiselessly opened the door and tiptoed down the corridor. She opened the bathroom door carefully, praying that it wouldn't creak, slipped inside, and pushed it shut behind her.
In the act of reaching for the light pull, she was surprised to see an intense white light behind the shower curtain. It looked as though someone had left a lamp or a torch on there. In a bathroom? She reached out and pulled the curtain aside, and had to swallow a scream as an all too familiar figure emerged.
"Surprised to see me, Alexandra?" The Clown grinned evilly, his deep voice ringing in her head.
Alex found her voice. "Get away from me. You're a murderer. You killed my mother, and you tried to kill me too."
"You should have died then. We're still waiting for you, Alex."
"No. I'm still alive. In 2008 and here, I'm still alive. You can't touch me."
"You escaped then because Gene saved you." The glow around the Clown spread and she became aware of a second figure, standing to the left of the Clown and slightly behind him. A big, heavy-set man who had Gene's blond hair and blue eyes, but whose face was coarse and cruel. "But he can't save you here. He can't escape me. He never will."
Alex felt a wave of terror course through her. It was as though she were channelling all the fear that Mary and her sons had felt whenever they saw him loom over them. Suddenly she was desperately afraid for Gene, sleeping peacefully a few doors away. She forced herself to respond. I must, for his sake. He has always protected me. I must protect him now.
"That's a lie." She faced Gene's father defiantly, her dread of the Clown momentarily forgotten as she confronted this new threat. "You destroyed Stuart, but Gene has escaped you. You know him. He's fine and strong and brave. You used your strength to terrorise those weaker than yourself. He is good. You are evil. You shall fail." But even as she spoke, her heart sank as she remembered Gene's violent, often brutal temper. This was the man whom she had seen allow his officers to kick a handcuffed man to pulp. Who had beaten suspects to get confessions out of them. Then she remembered the haunted look in his eyes as they entered the bedroom.
Has he really escaped his father after all?
"You see?" Gene's father radiated grim triumph. "I'm King of the Jungle here. I'm the one thing he still fears."
"In this place, you and he in our power." The Clown stepped forward. Alex backed away, pressing herself against the wall, feeling the cold tiles against her bare legs."You shall die in both worlds. He cannot defend you here, and without you, he will be lost."
"No." Alex glanced desperately towards the door, but Gene's father barred the way. His belt was wrapped around his hand with the buckle dangling free, and he raised it to smash her skull. The Clown stepped closer, so close that she could feel the chill emanating from him. His long, slender fingers stretched out and wrapped around her throat. She couldn't breathe. Everything went black.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Her eyes opened on darkness. Strong arms held her, and she fought wildly to be free.
"Bols? What's wrong? Christ, wake up, woman! Stop struggling, for God's sake, it's only me - "
She sobbed with relief as she heard Gene's voice, even though he sounded near to panic. They were lying in bed, facing each other, and he was holding her tightly, cradling her head on his shoulder and muttering in her ear. She wept with terror, clinging to his solid warmth, feeling the hammer of his heart.
"Gene - oh, please - help me - "
"It's all right. I'm 'ere. You're okay." He sounded as though he were reassuring himself as much as her. He reached across her and switched on the bedside lamp. Its soft glow illuminated the room. His face was sharp with worry, his eyes darting nervously about him. Had she seen something? This was DI Drake, for God's sake. She had more balls than most men he'd known. What the hell had got into her?
They both started at the sound of gentle tapping at the door and Mary's voice calling out, "Is everything all right?"
"Yeah, Mam, we're fine." Gene did not sound convinced. "Alex 'ad a nightmare. It, er, happens sometimes. Not surprisin', in this bloody place," he added under his breath.
"I'm not surprised, with the work you do." Mary sounded quite unruffled. "Would either of you like a cup of tea?"
"No, thanks, Mam, we're fine. She'll be okay, now I've woken 'er up." His glare dared Alex to contradict him. "Go back to bed."
"All right. Good night, dears."
"'Night, Mam."
Gene waited, silent and tense, until he judged that his mother had returned to her room. Then he bent his head to Alex's ear and hissed, "What the bloody 'ell was all that about? Wakin' me Mam and probably the rest of the street too - "
"I'm sorry, Gene, so sorry." Alex was still sobbing and shaking. "I went to the bathroom - there was a glow behind the shower curtain - the Clown and - " She stopped herself. She could never tell Gene that she had just seen his father's ghost. He was upset enough as it was.
"You were 'avin' a nightmare." His voice was as gentle as she had ever heard it, but firm, brooking no disagreement. "I know you 'aven't left the room since we - we first got into bed." Through her terror, she registered both how difficult it had been for him to say the last five words, and the fact that he had been unable to sleep. Because I'm here, or because of this place? Or both?
"Don't let them get me," she whimpered, still clinging to him.
"Sssh, sssh. You were dreamin'. Look - " He gently tilted her chin up so that she could look around the room. "You can see there's only the two of us 'ere, an' I 'ope you know I'd never 'urt you. If anyone did try an' get at you tonight, they'd 'ave to walk right through me. You're safe."
"Always safe with you," she said softly, resting her head on his shoulder again, savouring the feel of his skin against her cheek, of his arms about her, warm and strong, protecting her. But how safe do you feel now? My nightmare has awakened all your deepest fears, things you'd never be able to admit to. Oh, Gene, I'm so sorry.
She pressed closer to him, and damn it, he wished she wouldn't. Being allowed to hold her like this was a little taste of Heaven, but it couldn't last. When he had first awakened her, his anguished longing had been overridden by simple pity and the instinct to offer comfort, to defend her with his life from whatever it was in this ghastly place that was frightening her. But now, with her in his arms, his face in her hair, the scent of her engulfing him, his desire was returning full force, and any moment now she'd feel it, pull away from him, slap his face, order him out of the room to spend the rest of the night on the sofa. She'd never allow him to touch her again.
But when she moved, it was only to lift her head and look into his eyes. What she saw in that silver-blue blaze - fear, hope, doubt, desperate need - seemed to burn into her soul. He was transfixed by her gaze. She flicked her eyes downwards for a nanosecond, then looked up at him again and slid one hand up the back of his neck to tangle in his hair. Her fingers tingled at the feel of his bare skin, and she felt him shiver beneath her touch. She pressed closer still and slowly, very slowly, drew his head down towards hers.
"Bolly - I - "
"Hush, Gene. We both need this."
He was beyond speech, but he nodded and bent his head to hers. Their lips met at last, and she was more than everything he had ever dared to dream.
-oO0Oo-
At 7.30 precisely, Mary tapped at the door. Receiving no answer, she softly opened it and crept in. The bedside lamp was on. In its glow, Gene and Alex lay fast asleep, the warm covers drawn around them, clasped tightly in one anothers' arms, with her head resting on his chest and his face buried in her hair. Gene's vest and boxers, and Alex's nightdress, were scattered about the room. Smiling to herself, Mary put two cups of tea on the bedside table, switched off the lamp, and stole out again.
The sound of the door closing awakened Alex. She lay there contentedly, enjoying the feel of Gene's strong body, his warm, damp skin, his arms around her, his breath on her hair.
They had just celebrated life and pleasure. That was surely no bad thing. Perhaps, by coming together, they had both been able to exorcise some of their demons. It was the terror which they had both sensed in this place which had brought them together in the night, but she was well aware that what had just happened between them, had been waiting to happen for a long time. But how would he react when he awakened? Would the knowledge of how deeply she had plumbed his vulnerability, make him turn away from her and retreat back into himself? She hoped not.
The smell of the tea reached Gene's nose and he stirred, instantly loosening his clasp around her. She moved to look up at him and smiled. All she could see in his eyes was uncertainty and dread that she would reject him. She could deal with that.
"Morning," she said softly, stroking his chest.
"Bols - " He could not meet her gaze.
"Gene. Look at me." She touched his cheek, turning his head so that their eyes met. "I don't regret a single thing about last night. Not a thing. I hope you don't either."
He relaxed and even smiled slightly. "Me neither."
"Good." She tried to hold his gaze, but he glanced away at the bedside table.
"Where'd the tea come from?"
"It was here when I woke up. Your Mam must have left it."
"Oh. You mean she found us - " He was silent as he took in the implications of that.
"I hope we didn't shock her."
"I doubt it," he grinned. "Mam's very broad-minded. You found that out yesterday. An' that's our early mornin' alarm call. Shouldn't we be up an' doin', Drake?"
If he didn't want to talk about what had happened, that was fine by her. They were both adults. The events of the night would inevitably cause a shift in their relationship, but she was confident that they could both handle it and that they would still be able to work together. She wasn't quite sure yet where they would go from here, but she was aware that she was looking forward to finding out.
"Too true, Guv. Albie awaits." Alex flipped back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Tea?"
-oO0Oo-
After a hasty breakfast, Gene and Alex headed out to the Quattro, conscious of the need to be at the GMP headquarters by 9.00.
"'Bye, Mam." Gene hugged her so hard that he nearly took her off her feet. "Good to see you again. We'll 'ave to start straight back after we've finished with Albie."
"Goodbye, son." Mary knew that he would hate too much sentimentality at such a moment, but she had to ask. "Do you think you'll be coming back to Manchester?"
"No idea, Mam. Depends if any other London scum try to 'ole up 'ere. But if they do, I'll be 'ere." He kissed her cheek and made for the car. Understanding that he wanted a moment to himself, Alex lingered to give Mary a goodbye hug.
"Thank you so much for everything, Mary. I'm so glad to have met you."
"I'm glad to have met you, my dear. You're so good for him. Just as Sam was, but in a different way. It makes it easier for me to say goodbye to him this time, knowing that you're with him."
Alex felt a pang of conscience. "Well - I may not always be - but for now - " She leaned in and whispered in her ear. "May I call you Mam?"
"Oh, my dear, of course!"
Well, that's made an old lady very happy. And as Gene isn't expecting to come back here for some time, with any luck I should be back home by the time he does. Then he can just tell her that I've transferred. No harm done.
They hugged again and Mary waved as Alex joined Gene in the Quattro. Both waved back as it pulled away.
"What was all that female collusion about, then?" Gene growled as he swerved to avoid a Peugeot and nearly gave an unwary pedestrian a heart attack.
Alex smiled sweetly. "She was just telling me to keep an eye on you."
"Thought you did that anyway," he grunted. There was a short silence as he accelerated. Alex held onto the handle and thought very hard about her blood group.
"So, uh, what now?" he said uncomfortably.
"Well," said Alex, wilfully misunderstanding, "we interview Albie again and see what else he wants to tell us. Then we get him to sign his statement, put it on file, and head back to London. With luck we arrive in time to brief both the team and CPP today. Then we head over to Luigi's at beer o'clock. Then," she added, taking pity on him, "if you want to come up to my flat to discuss the case - or anything else - you'd be very welcome."
"Thanks, Bols," he said gruffly. "I'd like that."
-oO0Oo-
If Alex had looked back as the car pulled away from Mary's house, she would have seen two figures standing in the road, watching the car leave.
"They've escaped us," Gene's father said to his companion.
"For now." The Clown smiled sardonically. "Perhaps not for ever. What are you doing out here?"
"I've been banished. Thrown out of my kingdom."
"How?"
"Last night. They made love in my room. It made them too strong for me. I couldn't withstand them both. Now I can never go back there."
The Clown smiled again."Some in your position would regard that as a welcome release. You're free to go now, but you're imprisoned by your own hatred and resentment."
"What about you?"
"As he puts it, I'm everywhere. I'm not bound to a specific place, like you. I bide my time."
"For what? We've both lost them now. They're stronger together than apart. They don't know it yet, but they love each other."
"How astute of you. But that may not last."
"She's carrying his child. Our grandchild. Conceived in the bed where he was conceived."
The Clown winked. "Don't worry. That child will never be born."
-oO0Oo-
As Mary turned to go into the house, she shivered for a moment as though she had walked past a draught. Or as though someone had walked across her grave... She shrugged and went indoors. Even after Alf had died, the atmosphere of dread in the house had been slow to lift, and it had taken years for her to stop looking over her shoulder and starting at every slight noise. As though he could come back to terrorise her again, even after he was dead. There were still times, like that moment just now, when she felt a chill in the air. It was not something she had ever been able to mention to Gene - she knew that he would either dismiss or mock her fears - but at the look on his face last night, at her suggestion that he sleep in the double bedroom, she had wondered for the first time whether he felt as she did. Alex's nightmare had subsequently intensified that impression. If there was anything bad in the house, it seemed as though she had sensed it too. But this morning, the atmosphere felt lighter somehow, as though there would be no more sorrow or fear here.
Maybe Alex's coming here had something to do with that. It was a long time since the house had known such youth and beauty. Mary liked the girl enormously. For the first time since Sam's death, she felt that Gene was in good hands.
She made herself a cup of tea and sat down, thinking happily through the events of the previous evening. Suddenly she put the cup down and sat bolt upright.
What if Gene's reaction to her suggestion had not been because he was afraid to sleep in the double bedroom, but because she had been wrong about their being in a relationship? She remembered how quickly Alex had moved in to cover for his confusion. Did that mean that two colleagues had shared a bed to save an old lady from embarrassment? Good Lord...
She smiled to herself. If they hadn't been in a relationship already, then to judge by the way she had found them in the morning, it looked as though they were now, and she was sure that that could only be a good thing for both of them. Gene had once said that she would never make a police officer, but it looked to her as though her gut instincts were spot on. It must run in the family.
She smiled again. Maybe it wouldn't be too long before there was another Mrs Hunt.
The End
If you haven't read "Loss and Gain" and "Stravagation" - now read on! If you have - thanks for reading this. Whichever - please let me know what you think about it!