Another short chapter, but there's no need for it to be any longer and it wraps up this part of the story so we can get on with the rest. Enjoy!
The Letter on Gene's Desk
Alex was in the corridor outside the main office of CID when she heard Gene yell.
"BOLLY! GET IN HERE NOW!"
Swallowing nervously, she pushed open one of the double doors and saw Gene in the doorway of his office looking at her with a mixture of anger and sadness.
"In here," he breathed, indicating his office with a nod of his head. Alex walked forward, conscious of the eyes of everyone on her as they wondered what she had done to provoke this kind of reaction from the Guv.
He shut the door behind her and picked up a letter from his desk. "What's this?"
"My resignation letter," said Alex, clearly. She had already spent the previous night agonising and weeping over her decision. She had no tears left. "I plan to leave on Monday."
"Why, Alex?" he asked, helplessly.
"I'm a liability to you, Guv," she said.
Gene looked at her in shock. "What are you talking about?"
"Well, let's see," she said, her voice shaking, despite herself, "I messed up the undercover operation with Bryson. I sent Ray to the wrong pub. I got shot on what should have been a simple robbery-"
"That wasn't your fault!" snapped Gene, "That bullet was meant for me!"
"But you said it yourself," said Alex. None of these reasons were true, but she couldn't tell him the truth, "You thought I'd make a good officer, but you were wrong."
Gene flinched as though she had stabbed him through the heart. Perhaps she had.
"I didn't mean it. Damn it, Drake, you're a fine officer," He moved forward and took her hand in his, "We're supposed to be unbreakable, Bolls, the ones with a connection."
Alex realised she had been wrong earlier. There were tears fighting to get past her eyes. "We are," she whispered, "I'm sorry."
"Alex," Gene breathed, "I can't let you do this." Alex noticed his hand was trembling in hers.
"You can't stop me, Gene."
Alex dropped Gene's hand and wrenched open the door. She ran through CID and out of the station into the car park. She leaned against the pillar and finally allowed the tears to come and flow freely down her cheeks.