A/N: Sorry for the delay. RL got in the way and I also realized I needed to put up another chapter of "A Million Holes" first for some of this to make sense. Thank you everyone for enjoying this story with me. And thanks to hazelmist for everything!

Chapter 5

"Because You Said So"

Hardy eyed the bunch of green fruits suspiciously. This was the second time his friend seemed to make a reference to something that only he and a certain curly-haired woman in a hideous orange windbreaker knew about. He had mentioned Ellie Miller to Duncan in passing and Duncan had latched onto it immediately, convinced that Miller was his secret love interest. He couldn't have been farther from the truth. If there was any mutual secret interest then it was how to annoy each other the most efficient way.

Duncan's eyes sparkled and he demonstratively plucked a grape off its stem. He dropped it in his mouth and bit down enthusiastically. The skin popped with a crunch and Duncan's grin was back.

"They're rather tasty. You should try one. Maybe you'll actually like something for a change?" Duncan teased him.

"Why did you bring those, Duncan? The only grape that you like is usually liquid and has been fermenting in a barrel for a few months," Hardy asked, trepidation rising.

"Ah, being witty, dear Alec? I heard a rumor that grapes are good for convalescing. Especially if they are brought to your bed by a 'friend'." Duncan had leaned towards Hardy, putting on a conspiratorial expression, whispering the last word as if it was a state secret. Hardy cringed at Duncan wiggling his eyebrows up and down, face all pleased with this little game of his. An image of a fifteen-year-old Duncan teasing him about a girl Hardy fancied surfaced in his mind.

For God's sake. Duncan didn't think that Ellie Miller and he… he never finished his thought, utterly thrown off by Duncan's next words.

"So, about the fact that you miss Ellie Miller… do you wanna talk about it?" Duncan had a hard time keeping his face neutral. If Hardy hadn't known him for so long, the tiny twitch at the corner of his mouth would have gone unnoticed. His friend popped another grape between his teeth and grinned.

"I dunno what you're talking about. Just because I mentioned her to you, doesn't mean I miss her," Hardy replied carefully. He didn't want Duncan to get any ideas. He didn't miss Miller. Not really. Not her per se. Maybe it was more like missing another human being to spend time with that wasn't called Claire Ripley. Who wasn't trying to hide the truth from him while making desperate attempts of getting him into bed with her.

Duncan's grin grew wider in response. It was unnerving. Hardy squirmed on the stairs and loosened his tie. The night suddenly felt warmer than it had before.

"Why you would even think so is a mystery to me," he grumbled.

Duncan bent over and breathed into his ear, "Because you said so."

Hardy's mouth opened and closed.

"What? I never -"

"Apparently being poisoned with digoxin works as a truth serum for you. I should remember that trick. It was rather impressive. More grapes?" Duncan shoved the fruits under Hardy's nose and when he saw his reaction, he burst out in laughter.

"Not funny," Hardy sulked. "She threatened to piss in a cup and throw it at me."

"Astonishing!" Duncan grabbed his tea mug that was sitting on the cracked cement. "Can I offer her this cup?"

Hardy groaned. If the thought of Emily in the same room with Duncan had frightened him already, an encounter between Ellie Miller and Duncan would obliterate the need for the pacemaker once and for all. Sudden death seemed like a merciful way out.

"She hates my guts, Duncan. I took her job, arrested her husband and destroyed her life. Can't even blame her. I'd be irritated by myself." Hardy's thoughts drifted back to the dinner at the Miller house and his conversation with Joe. It might have been the last time he laughed with someone until Duncan showed up. To think it was with Joe Miller sent a shiver down his spine. He had had no idea at the time who he was telling that he would solve this case with certainty. Joe was a better liar than he had given him credit for that evening.

He stared out over the water, the moonlight turning the river into a lake of silver. He pulled his coat tighter around him, all heat gone. 'It was Joe' - Ellie Miller's haunting watery eyes didn't let him find peace and had joined the cast of his nightly horror show of dreams.

"Alec?" Duncan's gentle voice drew him back to the here and now.

"I had to tell her," he muttered.

"Tell her what?"

Hardy ran his hands over his face. "That it was her husband who murdered that boy. She broke apart right in front of me and I couldn't do anything to help her. Another life destroyed by lies and deceit."

"It wasn't your fault," Duncan reminded him.

"If you say so. Can't help but think though that my shit luck rubs off on anyone I'm around. She's probably better off with being nowhere close to me," Hardy scoffed.

"You said she ran off to Devon?" Duncan asked curiously.

Hardy shot him a sideways glance, wondering what he'd actually revealed while he was recovering from the digoxin intoxication. He hummed in agreement. There was no way he'd tell Duncan that he had called in several favors to make sure that the Devon Constabulary would be clear about Miller's involvement in the case and her excellent qualifications as a detective.

"The fucking people in this town, her so called friends..." - Hardy snorted in disgust - "... had nothing better to do than declare her guilty by association. Not really interested in her side of the story. She felt like she had no choice but leave. Sounds familiar?" Anger had crept in his voice and he squashed a grape that had fallen to the ground with his foot.

Duncan tilted his head. "Have you heard from her?"

Hardy shook his head. "Last time I saw her was on the day of Danny's funeral. I haven't spoken to her since."

"How do you know where she is then?" Hardy couldn't help but feel that Duncan was interrogating him. He was too tired to come up with a believable lie.

"Might have bribed her sister to tell me where she was planning on going," he mumbled, eyes fixed on the squashed grape.

"You like her," Duncan stated quietly, a warm tone in his voice. Hardy looked up and their eyes met.

"I don't like people, Duncan. Not any more," Hardy replied bleakly. "Besides, she's infuriating and can't stand me."

"If she's so infuriating and hates you so much, why do you miss her then?" Duncan's voice was as soft as it could be.

"Because she was the only person who was actually nice to me since Lee Ashworth walked free, even if it was more out of necessity than anything else. Because she was the only person who didn't think I was a total fuck up and was willing to give me a chance. Because she didn't shy away from telling me off when I did something stupid. And because we were in this together, she and I. She's a genuinely caring person and her arsehole husband had to destroy all of this over his pedophilic lust for an eleven-year-old boy. Her son doesn't want to talk to her any more and she was forced to leave the one place she called home. How's that fair? She has done nothing but tried to be kind and look how well that went for her."

The words tumbled out of Hardy's mouth and left him breathless. His heart was racing, fueled by the fury at what life had done to Ellie Miller. The silver surface of the water was spinning and he slumped forward, helpless and stricken by his own emotions. His anguish turned into physical pain when his racing heartbeat turned into a flutter in his chest. Duncan caught him before he could thud onto the cement. His friend's voice was far away, asking him for the whereabouts of his pills. He couldn't speak or move, too far gone to have control over his body.

When a bitter taste on his tongue made him gag, he realized that Duncan had shoved the medication into his mouth and was trying to get him to swallow. He almost choked on the water that hit the back of his throat, but it helped to wash down the pills. His vision tunneled in on the spinning pinwheel until the red-silvery blurred blades were the only thing on his mind. That and Duncan's soothing voice that told him to be calm. Minutes passed that could have been hours and finally the pain in his chest subsided and breathing became easier.

Duncan pulled him to his feet and led him inside to the small bedroom. Hardy's clothes were plastered to his thin body, drenched in cold sweat. He fumbled with his shirt, hands still numb from the attack. Duncan watched him for a few seconds, then sighed and helped him to peel off his shirt and pants.

"If simply asking why you miss this person throws you into near cardiac arrest, I don't dare imagine what suggesting to give her a call could do to you. So forget I even mentioned it," Duncan said through clenched teeth while he heaved Hardy onto the mattress.

Hardy didn't know if he should cry or laugh over his friend's exasperated expression. Maybe both.

"'M sorry. Got a bit carried away." He rubbed the back of his head and shot a sheepish glance at his friend who rolled his eyes at him. "Didn't care for her much in the beginning. Too friendly and trusting. Always fussing over people. She drives me up the wall but I sort of…" - he hesitated, trying to find the best word, but there was only one way to say it. "I sort of miss her. She's the closest to a friend that I've had in a while," he ended his thought quietly.

Duncan was sitting at the foot of the bed. He put a hand on Hardy's leg and patted it gently.

"Call her, Alec. Or go see her. She sounds like someone who needs a friend right now, just as much as you needed one after the Sandbrook case blew up in your face." Duncan smiled encouragingly. Then his smile turned into a smirk. "You could invite her to the Harvest Festival - a clandestine meeting on the cliffs - Ellie, the outcast of her community and Alec, savior of all women in distress - how romantic would that be?"

Hardy struggled to a sitting position and feebly smacked his friend's arm, then fell back on his pillow.

"You're such an idiot. You spend too much time with theater folks - the melodrama is getting to your head. If you think I'm going to that stupid dance, than you're a bloody moron," Hardy growled.

Duncan laughed and got up. "We'll see about that."

"Don't waste your breath, not going," Hardy mumbled, eyes falling shut.

"Go to sleep, Alec," Duncan said and turned off the light.

The silvery moonlight filtered through the blinds, bathing the room in a pale blue-grey shade, devoid of all color. The memory of watching Ellie Miller walking away from the Traders that night she'd come to talk to him found its way to the forefront of his mind. The full moon had cast its light on her lonely figure and Hardy almost went after her, but then didn't. Maybe he should have, was the last thing he thought before he drifted off to sleep.

Hardy woke to the smell of salt water mixing with the tantalizing scent of freshly brewed coffee. He opened his eyes to see the billowing curtains gently floating around Duncan who was leaning on the door frame, cradling a steaming mug. Duncan was staring out onto the water, lost in his thoughts. Hardy let his eyes fall shut again, not ready for this day. He didn't want his friend to leave.

A phone ringing jerked him out of his drowsiness.

"Oh, hi Ed... No, he's much better. Seems the medication is helping. Almost did him in though... No, I don't think any mistakes were made. They explained everything well. It's a difficult drug to handle..."

Suddenly, Duncan's expression changed and a deep furrow dug itself onto his forehead. He stood up straight and stepped outside. It was harder for Hardy to hear and he sat up slowly, curious what could have caused the change in mood. He clambered to his feet and padded quietly over to the door. Duncan was pacing along the waterfront, too upset to notice Hardy.

"What do you mean the bank's at fault? How's that even possible?... A computer glitch? Seriously? You realize this almost killed him. They'd better..."

Whatever Ed Baxter had said on the other side made Duncan stop. His face went pale and he shook his head, catching sight of Hardy with the motion. His face paled more when he saw his friend. Hardy mouthed 'what's wrong?' and stepped closer.

"Ed, I think he should hear this... He's right here with me, I'll put you on speaker..."

Duncan ushered Hardy inside and put the phone on the small table beneath the window. He tapped the screen and a familiar voice greeted Hardy.

"Alec, still alive, I hear." Hardy snorted in response not really knowing what to say to his former boss and friend who he had dodged talking to since he'd left Sandbrook.

"Do you still have a voice or are you ignoring me like you have been for the past months?"

Hardy sat down and ran his fingers through his hair. "'M sorry. Should have called," he sighed.

"You bloody well should have," Baxter growled. Then he added with a softer voice, "I'm glad you're feeling better. Duncan told me what happened."

"Why do I feel like I'm being ganged up upon?" Hardy grumbled, shooting a piercing glare at Duncan who was leaning against the door again and shrugging his shoulders.

"Ach, stop being a knob. We care about you." Baxter paused and took in a deep breath. Hardy braced himself for whatever bad news was coming his way.

"Duncan told me that as far as you know the child support should have come through. I -"

"The two of you stay out of my business. I can pay for my child myself," Hardy snarled into the phone.

"And nobody doubts that, Alec. That's -"

"Is that so? Why did he do it for me then like I'm some dead beat dad who doesn't care for his child?" Hardy interrupted Baxter again, anger emphasizing the Scottish accent.

"Someone messed with your bank account," Baxter stated matter-of-factly, taking away all the steam of Hardy's fury filled rant.

"What?" Hardy's heart stuttered and he couldn't hide the grimace fast enough from Duncan.

"Ed, go easy with this, don't want to have to ship him to the hospital again." Duncan interjected from his observation spot at the door. Hardy rolled his eyes at him.

"I'm not an invalid," he muttered under a few strained breaths.

"Alec, please listen to me. When Duncan told me that you seemed genuinely surprised by this, I took it upon me to snoop around. Turns out the bank believes it was a computer glitch. I found that a bit odd and asked Craig to take a look - and before you complain about that, he's keeping it confidential - he thinks it's not a glitch but that someone actually undid the changes you made recently." Baxter's voice carried the slightest tremble, enough for Hardy to know how worried his friend was

Hardy sucked in a sharp breath. His hands came up and pressed against his eyeballs. Then he buried his fingers in his hair, resting his heavy head on his palms. He closed his eyes against the tilting world.

"Same person?" was all he could get out.

"Craig believes so. He gave me some tech babble why, but bottom line is that he's rather certain," Baxter confirmed.

The breeze coming in from the water sent a shiver down his spine. His teeth chattered and all warmth had seeped out of him. A choked noise escaped his throat around the lump that had formed and he couldn't swallow away. His chest felt tight but not from his heart condition.

"Alec?" Bater sounded worried.

"He's all right, Ed. A bit shocked perhaps." Duncan had pulled up the chair next to Hardy and put a hand on Hardy's shoulder.

"Maybe it's best if we keep paying for the child support for now. You can always forward me the money," Duncan suggested gently. Hardy nodded. If it was indeed the same person who had hacked into his personnel file almost two years ago, then this sounded like the best solution.

"Can you guys do something about it?" Duncan asked hopefully.

"I'm afraid not. As the bank insists on not having had a security breach and the hacker was too clever to leave real traces, there is no proof. We also have no way of finding the person. We were not able to back then either. Whoever it is, he or she's a pro," Baxter sighed.

Hardy tried to clear his voice and failed. His "Thanks, Ed." was a more of a croak than a sentence.

"Don't mention it. Just watch your back." Baxter paused for a moment. "Maybe you should come back here, so you're not so alone down there?" There was a pleading undertone that tugged on Hardy's already shaken heart.

"I can't, Ed. I can't go back there. Not yet," Hardy replied, shaking his head. Not until he got the truth out of Claire Ripley and until Joe Miller was convicted.

Baxter sighed. "Think about it, please?"

"I will," he assured Baxter half-heartedly. They both knew that he wouldn't return to Sandbrook any time soon.

"All right then. I'll let you know if I find out anything else. You might want to check on your accounts frequently."

A thought popped up in Hardy's mind. "What about my phone? I really didn't get those calls, I swear."

"Your phone?" Baxter seemed confused.

"Oh, I forget to tell you about that. I guess that's why I'm the actor and not the detective," Duncan admitted with a sheepish glance at a very annoyed looking Hardy.

"Supposedly Tess tried to get in touch with me and thinks I ignored her calls. Never got any of them although they now show up in my call history," Hardy explained.

"I see. I'll have Craig take a look at those as well. But I think we all know what the answer will be. You should get a new phone and number. And don't you dare conveniently forget to give us your new contact information, do you hear me?"

Hardy groaned. "No, I won't."

"Good, because I'll find out anyway. Gotta go for now, have a meeting in five minutes. Talk to you soon, Duncan."

"Bye, Ed," Duncan hollered from the kitchen where he was making tea for Hardy.

"Take care of yourself, Alec." The tenderness in Baxter's voice was almost too much to bear for Hardy.

"I will," he promised. The click in the line echoed through his mind and he felt instantaneously lonely.

Duncan placed a cup of tea in front of him. Hardy looked up. "If I go to the Harvest Festival with you, will you stay?" he asked, unable to hide the quiver in his voice.

Duncan's lips curled up in a smile. "You don't have to bribe me to stay longer, but I'll take you by your word."

A/N: The story is not quite finished yet. After all, Hardy just promised to go to the Harvest Festival with Duncan ;-)