Claire had got back to her cottage the night before, pleased she seemed to be making Rose start to believe her. She wished she was in the following day but it was her day off until she had an idea. She called Tiffany and made an excuse up to get her to swap.

"Hi, Tiffany, it's Claire. Listen love can you do me a really big favour? I know you have Thursday off but I need to go somewhere that day so can you take tomorrow off and I'll go in? I'll explain it to Maureen, she won't mind."

"Oh, alright then but it's a bit short notice."

"Yeah tell me about it, just phoned for a doctor's appointment and the first one is Thursday morning, can you believe it and I really have to go. I don't want to have to cancel it."

"No, I know how hard it is to get in, yeah, you go ahead then, I'll have tomorrow off this week."

"Thanks Tiff and I'm sorry about earlier, that thing with Rose, she just got me annoyed when I found us a couple of blokes on Saturday night, she never told me she fancied my old flame and now I'm not sure I wanted it to be over with him, we came down here together but we split up and it's rather a sore point now."

"You don't have to explain it to me Claire, it happens."

"Yeah but how do I tell him I want him back, now he's with Rose?"

Claire thought she had put on quite a performance and it should convince Tiffany and it may even get around the salon that Rose had stolen Alec from her and Rose would know nothing about it until Friday. In the meantime, she would continue to work on splitting them up and add a few more bits to the story and bring up the subject of the hospital again but what had Alec told Rose, she would have surely mentioned the subject to him.

The next morning, Claire got the bus as usual and was sat in the staffroom when Rose walked in, still a bit annoyed she'd let Claire get in the way of her and Alec last night and not sure what to do about it. He had been fine with her last night and she had been off with him yet despite that, he'd stayed and acted normally before he'd gone off to get changed for work. She'd already promised she would go to his DS's house that night and going out to dinner was a rare occurrence since she'd found herself back in this world and in Broadchurch.

She hadn't been prepared to face Claire again so soon but as she walked in, she didn't say anything. Claire had walked in early instead of taking her time and told Maureen the same as she had done Tiffany and had got away with it after being told the next time to arrange it officially and not approach another member of staff directly. Claire had promised not to do it again.

"Bet you didn't expect me in today, did you Rose?"

"No but it's none of my business, who did you swap with?"

"Tiffany, she had to go somewhere today, she called me last night to see if I'd swap with her," Claire lied.

Rose was in two minds whether to call Alec and put him off his haircut but maybe if Claire saw him come in to get his hair cut by her, she'd change her tune. On the other hand, it could just make things even worse but it was a gamble. Rose went back out and approached Sarah, who was at the desk checking appointments and seeing who was free to do clients who came in without an appointment.

"Hi Sarah, can you keep me free from around half eleven? Someone I know said he may call in for his hair cutting, if he can get away from work."

Sarah smiled at her. "Oh, a mysterious boyfriend eh? Good for you Rose. Yeah, I'll keep that in mind, do you want me to make an appointment for him then?"

Rose wasn't quite ready to give his name, just in case Claire saw or Sarah gave the game away by mistake.

"No, it's fine, he may not even come but I'll just be around, in case he doesn't show, I'll find something else to do, there's always the clearing away to do or I can pop the towels to the laundry and go back later for them."

"I wish the boss would invest in a washer/dryer," Sarah laughed, since it was mainly her who had to give up part of her lunch break to drop them off.

Just after eleven thirty, Rose was getting nervous, she didn't know if it was the thought of cutting Alec's hair, him finding Claire was working, which she thought was the only reason he'd agreed because she should be off or the fact everyone would see them, he was known in the town with this murder case. Maybe it was a combination of all those factors which gave her the jitters as Sarah was looking at her ten minutes later when a young lad in his late teens came in asking if Rose could cut his hair because his mates had been talking about her.

"Sorry love, Rose has an appointment in ten minutes, take a seat and I'll get Amber to see to you when she's finished with her client."

The lad looked around and Rose darted for the room where they kept the equipment, towels and assorted shampoos and conditioners and hoped he didn't think she would come out just because he was grinning at her. In the time she had been there, various youths had tried to chat her up, she'd felt like slapping half of them but they told their mates and business was slow.

Thankfully, the spotty youth had just got seated with Amber when the bell above the door went and Alec walked in but Claire also heard the bell and had got suspicious when Rose had avoided the youth when he'd come in, Rose always did them. Alec walked to the desk, not realising Claire was even there as she was setting an elderly woman's hair and had her back to him.

"I think I have an appointment with Rose, she told me to come in."

Sarah looked up at him, she knew who he was, the disagreeable town's new detective inspector who had already had a run in with the town's reporter, who was a friend of hers.

"Take a seat DI Hardy, Rose will be out in a minute."

"Right, I'll do that then," he told her as he took off his overcoat and put it on the rack and sat down, wishing she'd not just said his name loud enough for everyone in the salon to hear, even under the hairdryer.

Then he saw Claire as she turned around and he felt like just getting up and running out but he'd promised Rose and things had already been tense last night and this morning between them and if he left, it would be even worse. Claire was furious as she'd seen him come and tell Sarah Rose was expecting him and he'd had the nerve to turn down her offer of cutting his hair for him. Right, Rose deserved everything she could throw at her from now on.

Alec had been nervous enough all morning, what with things being strained earlier then he'd informed Ellie Miller he had somewhere to go at eleven thirty and after sitting in his car for five minutes a few metres away from the salon, he'd dragged himself out to keep his promise and show Rose he wanted to be seen with her and not hide her away, like she said he'd done with Claire whom he didn't want to be seen with, especially now he'd got himself a new girlfriend. Well he hoped he still had one, after this morning, he wasn't so sure, which was why he'd forced himself out of the car.

Rose was taking her time but the longer she left it, she would be late going for her lunch and Alec may walk out so she pulled herself together, waved at him and indicated for him to take the vacant chair she went to stand behind, seeing Claire glaring at them.

"Glad you could make it Alec, how do you want your hair?"

"I guess I will just leave that to you but this fringe has to go," he smiled, looking at her through the mirror as she wrapped the cape around him and ran her fingers through his hair, reminding him of what she had done on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

He wished she had done it to him before they had parted earlier, him not knowing what was going on with her. As Rose combed his hair and parted it, he thought back to the conversation last night and glancing through the mirror, could see Claire had finished as she was standing talking to the receptionist, goodness knows what she was talking about he mused.

Rose was half smiling at him, trying not to show any emotion in front of her work colleagues but failing. What had she been thinking about, taking Claire's word over his? He'd shown no signs he had even been with Claire, let alone get her pregnant, with his heart condition so she made her mind up that over the next few days, she would try and forget about what she had been told and try and make it up to him for being off with him last night and this morning.

Before either of them realised, Rose was brushing the hair from his neck and his shirt collar after picking up the hand mirror and him nodding when she showed him the back of his head.

"Is that satisfactory then?" she asked him.

"Yes, that's fine, thank you. Do you have time to maybe trim my beard?"

She was about to say she didn't really do beards but Claire had just come back to tidy her things away since she had no more clients before lunch and she knew Rose and Alec would be going out together so she planned on getting out before Rose and confront Alec if he was waiting for Rose coming out. She had been telling Sarah that Rose had stolen her boyfriend and he was punishing her by showing off in front of everyone and that he'd never come to the salon when she'd suggested it. Sarah had said she felt sorry for her, if Rose was going to parade him in front of everyone and brag about him. That was two people she already had on her side.

Rose carefully trimmed Alec's beard with a small pair of scissors, trying not to take too much off and holding his chin and stop imagining snogging his face off in front of the entire salon.

"Is that enough off?" she asked him as she looked in the mirror.

"Yes, it's sufficient, thank you. I will wait for you outside then I'll drive us to the harbour café or the harbour side again?"

"That's easier for me to get back up here, thanks. I'll tell Sarah to give you a discount, I think she knows who you are."

Alec hated being famous. Rose shook the cape and threw it into the laundry basket, poor Sarah would be having yet another trip. She followed Alec to the desk, Sarah about to charge him full price for a hair and beard trim.

"Give him some discount Sarah, he is a police officer."

Sarah was keeping in mind what Claire had just told her but had to comply.

"Sure Rose, it's your lucky day DI Hardy."

Alec paid and went to retrieve his coat, there were still another ten minutes before Rose could leave but she had to go put her things away and get her jacket, it was still not all that warm for early August. She stopped Alec in the doorway.

"Where's your car?" she asked him as he opened the door.

He nodded in the right direction. "I'll wait by the car for you so you will find it."

"Yeah, thanks and I owe you an apology, for last night and earlier."

"You can make it up to me later then. Don't let me keep you."

Rose went back inside to see Claire had disappeared and since she was desperate to use the ladies room, didn't see Claire going out. Claire looked around outside and saw Alec waiting by a car just up the street, she knew he was waiting for Rose. Alec was thinking about his conversation with Miller as he had been about to leave.

"Miller, I have to go out, I'll be back after lunch."

"What? You're leaving all this with me?" she queried standing in his office doorway, pointing to all the folders on her desk as he put his coat on.

"Get someone else to help you, him, over there for one."

"You mean Frank? Are you still coming over tonight?" she asked as she closed the door so no-one else would find out, mainly so they wouldn't talk about it when he'd gone out. "Did you ask that woman out?"

"Yes, I asked her but now I don't know if she is still coming, she cooled down a bit this morning."

"What did you do to her?"

"It's complicated Miller, leave it, she may still come, she said she would and don't you go putting her off either."

"Oh, not me Sir, I'm looking forward to meeting any woman who can put up with you."

He was shaken from his thoughts as Claire approached.

"What have you been saying to Rose Claire? What are you playing at?" he asked her, leaning on the roof of the car.

"What makes you think I've said anything at all Alec?"

"You know you have so just you stay away from her with your lies."

"I never told her any lies, I just said ask you about the hospital, you were there with me Alec."

"We both know full well why you were there but you probably twisted it around in that mind of yours. Back off Claire, I mean it."

"What are you going to do to me Alec? Force me again?"

"Stop it Claire, it won't work, I warned her about you."

"She was my friend Alec, you took her away from me, was she any good then? You dragged me down here and left me."

"Don't start that again Claire, you agreed to come with me, you didn't feel safe, remember?"

"I wish I'd stayed where I was Alec, you only come around when you want something from me," she accused him, aware people were passing by and Rose would be there any minute.

Rose was just leaving the salon and looked up the street, seeing Claire talking to Alec. Was what she had said true and they were arguing over it? She got nearer, neither of them were taking any notice as she approached. Then she could hear what Alec was saying.

"Don't poison Rose with your lies Claire, just back off and leave her alone."

Claire suddenly turned around and walked off, she would get to Rose later, she'd probably seen enough.

"Rose, there you are love, let's get going then shall we?"

"We could have walked Alec?"

"Yes, then I would have to come back for my car. I'll put it in the car park opposite the station and move it later unless you want to go to the other café?"

"Well, it's a bit cooler today but I'll need a ride back."

Alec thought he was already in Miller's bad books, another ten minutes were neither here nor there. He drove to the harbour car park and parked just outside the café, putting the police sign on the dashboard, which made Rose smile.

"Are you even supposed to use that to get out of paying Alec?"

"Well if you're not happy about it, go put 50p in the machine and get me an hour's ticket then."

"I don't have any change or I would."

"Well then, stop complaining and let's enjoy our lunch shall we?"

Rose smiled at him as they walked to the entrance and he held the door for her. Thankfully, the place was quiet, the murder was doing the town no good at all, it depended on tourists at this time of year and the only people coming were those who either never watched the news or were not that bothered.

Alec ordered for both of them, Rose hoping it wouldn't take too long or she would be late back but Alec assured her if she was, he would go in with her and blame it on himself entirely though Rose thought that would go down well with Claire. They were unaware they were being observed by Claire, who was sat across the other side of the harbour at one of the catering stalls eating a packet of chips. She had been livid when Alec had walked in the salon and Rose had been expecting him, that must have been why she was talking to Sarah earlier.

Well let her have her day, the way she was now spreading lies about Rose stealing Alec from her, Rose would be very unpopular by Friday. Rose and Alec finished lunch and wasted no time getting back in his car, Claire had left ten minutes earlier, having watched as the two of them had sat by the window and the way Rose had been acting, she'd ignored the warning about Alec she'd been given last night. As they had eaten lunch, Rose was apologising.

"Rose, I did try to warn you love, did I not?" Alec asked her, putting his hand gently on hers as she rested it on the table.

"Yeah, I'm sorry Alec but she was rather convincing you know, you were right."

She didn't yet want to tell Alec what Claire had actually said, it would make him angry and he didn't need that, he had showed it even in the salon and definitely when they had been getting out of the car before going into the café.

"So, no more listening to Claire eh?"

"I'll try not to. I asked her about the hospital but she refused to say any more."

Well Claire had not mentioned it in great detail, she could have got pregnant by her husband, got scared and persuaded Alec to go with her. She had been given no real proof Claire was telling the truth about any of it, including him going back to Claire's cottage last Monday night. Well at least Claire couldn't claim he'd been back, since she had been with him since Saturday night but had Alec really been working late last night?

She could hardly come right out and ask him after the way she had treated him last night but maybe she could drop a few hints to his DS about him keeping her working late without arousing his suspicion. Rose was just getting out of Alec's car, him being double parked but not worrying too much about it.

"So I will call for you around seven then?" he asked her as she unfastened her seatbelt and kissed his cheek.

"Yeah, I really have to go, I'm due back on the shop floor in five minutes. Thanks for lunch."

"You are welcome love, we have to talk later."

Claire was busy getting her scissors, combs and sprays all lined up by her chair for her next customer. As Rose walked back in, Claire glared at her through the mirror, like she had done while Alec had been there. Rose wanted to be immature and pull a face at her but decided it wasn't really worth it. She wondered though why Sarah had ignored her when she came back in and it was a mystery why Claire had suddenly changed days off with Tiffany though she knew the excuse Maureen had been given but wasn't buying it. It had been too much of a coincidence, Claire waiting for her last night and spinning her that tale then she must have decided to lay it on even more and to do so, had conned Tiffany into swapping days off.

Rose dreaded to think what she would be telling everyone over the next two days but since Claire was now off on Thursday, it was one less day to worry about this week. She wished Alec was picking her up from work but it was only a five minute or so walk down the slope to the esplanade once she'd crossed over the road and gone by the side of the hotel. Alec had told her he'd stayed there for a few days on his arrival but he'd soon got out. Thankfully, Claire was not waiting for her and she hoped her so-called friend had gone home but unknown to Rose, she had gone down to the seafront and was hiding in the shelter across the road on the corner.

Claire was prepared to stay as long as it took to see Rose and Alec together and hopefully, later on they would put a light on and she would be able to see them. Claire just hoped she wouldn't get moved on if any uniformed officers happened to turn in that direction from the nearby police station. Just before seven, most of the cars that had been parked when she had arrived had gone and she saw a black car come around the corner and stop by the gap in the wall where Rose's apartment was. She then saw Alec getting out, a bunch of pink flowers and a box of chocolates under his arm as he closed and locked the door.

"Huh, he never bought anything for me," she huffed to herself.

Alec had just got out of the car, leaving chocolates and wine on the back seat to give when he got to Miller's house and with his free hand, ran it through his newly cut hair. The haircut however had not gone unnoticed when he'd got back to his office as Miller had made a point of mentioning it as she had followed him in.

"So, that's where you got to then? You didn't have to get your hair cut to come to dinner at my house tonight," she laughed.

"I did not have it cut for your benefit Miller, Rose, the friend I'm bringing tonight, she's a trainee hairdresser."

"She did a good job then, she even trimmed your beard for you," she teased.

"Stop it Miller and no awkward question tonight either."

"Oh, so she's not your girlfriend then?"

"We have a few things to sort out, I think I may have rushed things over the weekend and she wants to back off somewhat."

Ellie could think of nothing witty to say that wouldn't get him riled and result in her missing her own dinner party tonight.

As he rang Rose's doorbell, she was putting the finishing touches to her appearance, trying not to appear nervous at meeting someone Alec worked with. Claire had not helped either, she had been nervous about cutting Alec's hair in front of everyone and him asking her to trim his beard had been totally unexpected and she'd only just resisted the urge to snog him while she was doing it. She went to open the door, Alec smiling at her and holding the flowers and the chocolates out to her.

"For you sweetheart, to say I let you off for last night and this morning, I know it was just Claire that made you that way."

"Aw, thanks Alec, the flowers are lovely and I love these chocolates. Maybe we can share them when we get back?"

"Aye, maybe if we get back early enough eh?"

She took the flowers to the kitchen and found a vase under the sink and quickly unwrapped them and poured some water in. Alec was standing in the doorway and allowed her to pass, waiting until she put them on the window ledge. Then without warning he took her hand and pulled her towards him.

"I missed you last night Rose."

"Yeah, I'm sorry I was so off with you Alec, we can make up tonight."

"Yes, we can. We really have to go now."

Before he let her go, he snaked one arm around her waist and took her other hand, kissing the back of it then pulled her close and kissed her. Down below just a few metres away, Claire was getting a good view as the two of them continued to kiss and her blood was boiling. How could he stand there in full view and kiss someone and it wasn't her? Well that was it, she was advancing to stage two of her plan and he wouldn't be able to convince Rose of his innocence this time, if he'd already told Rose he had taken her to the clinic after Lee's arrest.