Rose decided on Monday, she would take a look around Exeter since she wasn't due to start the training college until the following morning but needed to go complete her registration in the afternoon, finding out her options on classes and deciding to take the two on Tuesday morning from the same tutor and two on Thursday afternoon with two different tutors. The new admissions officers were not yet aware there had been a change in tutors so Rose was under the impression she was to have a female one in the mornings, which just suited her fine.
Alec got a taxi to Exeter hospital, he didn't fancy travelling by public transport and found the department he needed for his consultation with the heart specialist, who expressed her concern that he'd left a simple procedure so long and had a near fatal episode only two weeks ago. He was told he'd now be put forward for the surgery but may still have to wait but he'd be given priority if a cancellation arose but at least now he could claim he'd tried and if his symptoms got any worse, they would try and bring it forward and was told to ring her secretary if that was the case.
While he was in Exeter, he decided he'd may as well call in at the college and make himself known, that was a big mistake he'd thought. He'd found the superintendent's office only to discover the programs he was running were still under the other tutor's name so students wouldn't be expecting him in the morning but one good thing was that the lectures were already prepared and he wouldn't be talking all the time, there would be a good deal of practical work.
While he was there, he asked about claiming back travel expenses and was told to hand the taxi receipts in every Tuesday morning and was pleased since he'd made the journey today, he could also include that. He had found since being on reduced pay he could still manage as long as his expenses were paid, he wouldn't be out of pocket.
Rose had just left having made all her arrangements that the other classes she needed to take could be done online and only the more practical ones required her to attend. She got back to her caravan, having crossed over to the takeaway and settled down to watch some early evening TV, noticing a taxi driving past and Alec noticing the owner of the blue car had learned her lesson and had still reversed in but given herself enough space to turn right and the car was almost up against the side of the caravan as he'd passed to get to his own.
Why was he even bothered, he asked himself as he opened his caravan door. He'd come in through the side of the mini-market after getting himself something to eat when he'd got dropped off by the taxi, being careful to get a receipt and wondered why he couldn't just use the same taxi company and get them to bill the college, he'd have to ask when he got there in the morning. He'd still seen no evidence of anyone else staying there though, maybe she was on her own or maybe the other occupants were just being quiet.
They both had a more comfortable night, Rose opting to use the single bed again but meaning to ask at reception if someone could move the mattress for her or if she'd be better off just swapping caravans. The next morning, Rose set off early to get to the college in time but Alec had already left, Rose not noticing another taxi as she got herself ready. She'd escaped having to wear a uniform and had opted to wear black trousers, a white cotton blouse and a black jacket and if anyone were to quiz her about it, she was going to give the answer she was on a special assignment which wasn't far from the truth.
Alec collected his folders of what was to be covered in the first lecture, that of following lines of enquires, Rose was actually looking forward to it since she knew the basics and thought it would also help with Torchwood business and learning it the police way would be an advantage but she had questioned Pete's choice of booking procedures but since he'd thought it would come in useful, she'd had to go along with it.
Alec was shown his lecture room as Rose grabbed a coffee from the vending machine, meaning to get something in the college canteen during the 45 minute break between classes and with her study bag on her shoulder, containing a large notepad and a clipboard and other stationery she thought she may need, she followed other recruits into lecture room 103, not taking much notice of the person shuffling papers around on the desk at the front and finding a seat, preferably away from whom she noticed were mostly male students, some appearing to be hardly out of high school.
Then she looked up as the tutor called everyone's attention and she stared at one Detective Inspector Alec Hardy. What was he doing teaching recruits she wondered? Had he annoyed someone to get reduced to this? Then she remembered reading something about him having an illness but not recalling what it actually was and this was probably the only job he was capable of doing. Still, he didn't look that ill to her and it would be rather fun to try and wind him up, since there was no possibility she could get kicked out and the rest of the class already looked like they didn't want to be there.
She tried her best to get him riled but he was taking it all in his stride, answering her questions, him asking questions to see if they were paying attention, Rose seemingly the only one answering them until he asked for someone else to speak up.
''So no-one else has been paying attention then?'' Alec asked, five minutes before the end of the lecture and he had another class to take in less than an hour and he wasn't too happy about it.
Rose was the only one with her hand raised, Alec wondered if the blonde was just showing off to the male students or trying to get herself noticed by him, probably both.
''Someone other than – what was your name again?''
Rose thought he was making some kind of point, surely as a senior police officer he knew who she was or he'd been living in a cave for the last six or seven years.
''Tyler,'' she answered, wanting to add ''as if you didn't already know that'' but decided she had pushed her luck once too often in the last hour or so.
The bell went and everyone except Rose got up, she was taking her time, hoping he'd at least get up and chastise her for constantly disrupting his class. He didn't, he gathered his folders, took his specs off and folded them into his top jacket pocket and walked straight past her. Rose was slightly stunned, expecting to get chewed out for her earlier actions.
He had decided to ignore the blonde antagonist and go get some refreshments from the canteen, since there were 45 minutes to go and he had to call by the office and pick up another set of folders, on booking procedures of all things, like Elaine had pointed out, he was the last one to be talking about that subject and passing on his bad habits. It had been pointed out to him he should not have taken Joe Miller's confession by himself before they had arrived at the station and getting told he'd be lucky if the confession stuck since he'd allowed the culprit's wife to beat him up.
He sat with his back to the entrance, Rose could spot him a mile off but chose to ignore him and grab something to eat instead, keeping out of his view so when he got back to the classroom, she was already sitting there and he was thinking it was just his luck she had two classes with him and she had got word he was taking it and booked herself in on purpose. It never for a minute occurred to him it was the same blonde from the next caravan.
Sure enough, Rose made a good start, some were the same students as the previous lesson but since she wasn't appearing to wind him up, she went quiet for a while, much to Alec's relief but she started again when he wanted a volunteer to demonstrate a booking of a suspect in a robbery case. Alec much preferred the 'hands on' approach to teaching instead of sending everyone to sleep so to everyone's amusement, he took hold of Rose's wrists and clamped a pair of handcuffs on.
Rose had a smirk on her face, she wished she could tell him it wasn't the first time, she and the Doctor had got into many a scrape and then there was the time she was locked in the cellar with the werewolf but she didn't want to even think about that.
''So, who here knows the correct way to inform a suspect of their rights?'' A lone hand went up and a young man stood up as Alec waved him to stand at the front.
Rose suspected the man had been watching too much TV. The man, who Rose learned was called Wilson, proceeded to inform Rose of her rights and demonstrate how to steer her across to the chair with minimum contact, Rose wishing it was Alec Hardy who had the hand on her shoulder though why, she had no idea. Before Rose was allowed to go back to her place, Alec took the handcuffs off her and she rubbed her wrists.
''They were a bit tight, did they have to be?'' she asked, looking at him.
''They don't come in different sizes Tyler, in case you were inferring they should have some in yours.''
The rest of the class sniggered. Alec frowned at them. He carried on even though they were going into the realms of interrogation methods, which he wasn't taking but Rose was, she was hoping to pick up a few hints on her own methods of interrogation when out in the field, she didn't always do 'research', it covered a wide range of other activities . Rose thought he was rather enjoying it and wished he was the one taking the interrogation class, so by the end of the lecture, Alec was glad she was leaving until next week. He may just resign now and go back on medical leave. Another three months with her, he may be wishing he'd got his surgery before then he wouldn't be teaching these classes and she wouldn't get the chance to drive him crazy.
Rose took her time again, Alec nodded to her as he walked past so she gathered her things and rushed after him, just seeing him going into the office so she decided to forget it and went to her car. Alec had realised he was being followed and relieved the woman had gone and he wouldn't see her until next week. That's what he thought. He knew he had two classes on Thursday morning, the same as he'd just done that morning but to a different group but on his arrival, he was approached to take on an extra class – interrogation methods after the midday break.
Rose had spent Wednesday in Dorchester, thinking she may as well have a day off since she'd not yet received the rest of her course work, Alec decided to gatecrash the station again and use their computer, looking up admissions for his class until he found Tyler: Rose and looked her up. The name still didn't register and all her information was kept to a minimum, Pete didn't want anyone to know why she was there, the superintendent only being told she had the highest clearance and no-one was to question it. The superintendent had been a bit put out and was determined if she caused any disruptions, questions would be asked so when she heard some students talking from Alec Hardy's class, she decided to keep a close eye on him, thinking he wasn't up to the job of keeping his students in line.
Alec set off on Thursday morning, noticing the blue car was still parked and wondering if the occupant(s) were actually on holiday or living there just as he was. Rose had seen a taxi pull up but wasn't taking much notice as it pulled off again, only being able to see the driver so she called Pete to let him know how she was getting on and decided to make use of the free internet in the park's bar area and download her course work since it was faster than connecting using her phone.
Thinking she would have another tutor, Rose walked into a different lecture room to see some of the students from her Tuesday morning classes then who should walk in but Hardy. Rose stared, thinking she had walked into the wrong lecture. Alec had done his two morning classes, had a bite to eat and collected his folder to take 'interrogation' in room 205 but as he walked in, he noticed at least one familiar face and thought it was just his luck she was there, she would be since she'd rather enjoyed him placing the handcuffs on her on Tuesday morning, having noticed how she'd not flinched and had a feeling she'd been cuffed before. He was going to enjoy this.
He started off well then asked for two volunteers, one to be interrogated, one to assist in questioning. Two males put their hands up, Rose kept quiet. Alec noticed and called one of the two men out.
''What about you Tyler? Nothing to say for yourself today?''
Rose felt everyone look at her. Alec continued. ''Well don't sit there Tyler, you had plenty to say the other morning, you can be the one to be interrogated.''
Rose thought if only he knew.
''Are you going to handcuff me again – Sir?''
The rest of the class sniggered. ''Only if necessary and you don't co-operate, do you need restraining?'' More sniggering.
Rose got up and took the single chair, the other student taking one opposite, Alec pulled out the other one and produced a tape recorder, switching it on and stating who was present.
''State your name for the records,'' Alec instructed a grinning Rose, quite pleased she seemed to be rattling Alec's cage.
''Rose Tyler and I'm not saying anything without a lawyer.''
Alec pulled a face. ''One will be brought in but you've not been charged so until you are, I have some simple questions for you.''
Rose was rather hoping it was asking her phone number, he was quite cute really, in a scruffy sort of way and just as easy to wind up as the Doctor used to be.
Alec began asking her a few simple questions, such as where she was two nights ago, had she been near a certain jewellery store in Exeter and forced entry and robbed the place of a great deal of pieces of jewellery. Rose had all the smart answers.
''No, I've never been near that store. If you could prove I have, I would have been charged.''
''You were caught on CCTV entering via the rear entrance.''
''Wasn't me, I was with my boyfriend all night.''
''Two people were spotted in the alley behind the store an hour before the robbery took place.''
''So? How do you know it was me?''
''You were wearing the same clothes as you are now. So what have you to say to that?''
''You can buy these from any branch of H & M.'' More sniggering from the rest of the class. Rose continued. ''You need more proof than that, it's all circumstantial. So charge me or let me go.''
Alec shook his head, thinking to himself if she ever did commit a crime, he'd get someone else to question her. She was too clever for her own good. He got up and banged his fist on the table, Rose smiled.
''You can go for now, don't leave town.'' He turned to the rest of the students. ''So, if you get a suspect who thinks they have all the smart answers, let them think they've won, catch them again when they least expect it. In the next demonstration, you, Tyler won't get off that easily.''
''Am I free to leave then?'' she grinned, getting up.
Alec shook his head and gestured for her to go back to her place. He was glad he wouldn't be conducting the next one but if she were ever to grace a police station with her presence, he'd happily stay out of the way – that or enjoy doing it for real. The class was dismissed, Rose had another one to go to, taking fingerprints and matching records in the police database and wished Alec Hardy was taking that one, dipping her fingers into the ink but why the police didn't use electronic fingerprint scanning, she'd could only guess.
She walked off to the canteen for a drink before her next lecture, Alec handed his folders over and was passing by and spied her sitting playing with her phone and pulled out the chair opposite.
''May I join you?''
''Depends if you're gonna interrogate me again, doesn't it?''
''Do I need to? Why does your name sound familiar?''
''Should it?''
''You're not wearing a uniform like the rest of the recruits.''
''Mmm, I can see why you became a detective.''
''You know who I am?''
''Doesn't everyone?''
''Then you have the advantage. So why no uniform?''
''I'm on a special assignment.''
''To annoy your tutors or just me? Did someone called Miller send you?''
''Who's Miller?''
''Nothing, forget it. Are you going out of your way to disrupt my classes?''
''Not in particular, I just don't like boring lectures.''
''Was I boring you?''
''Not any more. I have another class soon, I'll go bother someone else unless you're taking fingerprinting?''
''No, you have another tutor to annoy in that particular field. I don't envy them. What other classes do you take so I can avoid getting roped in to take someone else's lectures?''
''Aw, you'd only miss me. I only take four classes, sorry to disappoint you. Do I have to call you 'Sir'?''
''In class yes, outside you can call me Hardy.''
''I'll remember that. So I'll see you next Tuesday then?''
''If you must. I was only filling in for someone today, I only do two mornings.''
''I'm disappointed, I thought your interrogation methods were rather good, you kept your cool and didn't try to intimidate me, well not until you hit the desk then said I could go, what was all that about?''
''A good police detective never reveals his own methods. I'll not delay you getting to your next class Miss Tyler.''
''Right, I'll be off then. Do you live in Exeter?''
''No. I choose to travel.''
''Me too, when I got in here at the college, I didn't want to live here so I moved to a nearby coastal town.''
''Don't tell me, Broadchurch?''
Rose smiled – he was still there. ''How did you guess?''
Alec swallowed. Of all the coastal towns between where he lived and Exeter, she'd had to pick the one he was still residing in.