Rose and Jamie were just packing the car, Rose trying not to get mad that Jamie wanted to drive when he was still in a mood.
"There's no rush to get there Jamie," Rose tried to tell him when he told her to hurry.
"I know but why waste time here when we can spend the time there, on the beach?" he wanted to know. "You do want to go on the beach?"
"Well yeah, that was the point of going Jamie," Rose replied.
"Geez Rose, if you don't want to lie on the beach in your bikini, you only have to say," he told her.
She felt like saying exactly that, if he was going to be in a mood. The last time they'd been anywhere, he'd chased her into the sea trying to splash her.
"I don't wanna spend all the weekend on the beach Jamie," Rose finally replied after they had set off.
"Fine, have it your way Rose," he gave in, clinging hold of the steering wheel. "Oh and can we please not talk about what's going on down in Broadchurch, eh?" he added.
"I wasn't gonna Jamie," Rose insisted, determined he wasn't going to win this game he seemed to be playing, that of bringing up the fact Alec was in charge of the case and there was no getting away from the fact.
Ellie Miller was still not impressed with the way her new boss was handling things. Did the man ever stop barking a dozen orders all at the same time? She had gone back to her desk after getting a uniformed officer to escort the phone engineer downstairs and wondered what Hardy was up to. Why would Torchwood be interested?
Alec had been put through to an agent, hoping he could use the fact that Rose had told him he could ring any time.
"Yes, this is DI Hardy, Wessex police. I have a murder down here in Broadchurch and during the investigation, something has come up regarding a man who claims that the victim has contacted him," Alec explained when asked the nature of his call.
"I see then, detective inspector," the male agent was telling him. "Can you give more details?"
Alec repeated what had taken place and waited for the agent to tell him they couldn't get involved.
"So, this man claims the boy told him he'd been put in a boat but the police have not yet determined the fact?" Alec was asked.
"I know it sounds vague but I was hoping you may have heard of such a thing before?" Alec replied. "Maybe you have heard of this man, his name is," Alec stopped to put his glasses on to see what Ellie Miller had hurriedly scribbled down. "Ah, the name is Steve Connolly."
"I will have to look the name up," the agent told him. "So, he was caught glancing at papers on desks?"
Alec knew where this was going already. If it hadn't been for the fact Rose had told him if anything bothered him for him to get in touch, he wouldn't have bothered.
"No, before you say anything, the officer concerned had not left anything in view, the man had moved several papers and was purposely snooping," Alec insisted.
"Just one moment while I look up the name then," the agent then told him.
Alec waited, wishing they would just hurry up. Ellie knocked on his office door to ask if he was ready to interview the man just taken away.
"I am waiting to find out if Connolly is known to Torchwood," Alec told her. "If not, they can investigate him for us and save us the time. They can also then warn him to stay out of the way of a murder investigation."
"You mean you hope they can – Sir," Ellie replied, thinking he was just wishful thinking and Torchwood would tell him to handle it himself. "We should be getting down to interview him, or he may decide he wants a solicitor."
Alec didn't need reminding of that. He had to wait a bit longer, listening to boring music before the agent got back to him. The agent had consulted the Torchwood database but found nothing on Steve Connelly but was making an entry to watch out for the man in the future and that he'd tried interfering with a murder investigation.
"Sorry to keep you waiting Sir," the agent apologised to Alec. "We don't have anything on the man but I've made a note of it. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Alec felt like saying a fat lot of good that was going to do him.
"Well can you investigate the man?" Alec wanted to know. "I really don't have time to deal with someone who claims he's spoken to a recently deceased boy. I can see this man is going to be trouble and keep coming back if we ignore him."
"I understand your concern, detective inspector," the agent sympathised. "I can speak to my supervisor and get back to you. Given the circumstances, I can see how you think this person may just be trying to get some recognition from his interference."
"Exactly," Alec agreed. "Then I would appreciate some help from Torchwood in keeping this man in check. We have to concentrate on how the boy died, not some fake who says a dead boy told him he'd been put in a boat."
"I see then?" the agent replied. "Then I will make it a priority to get my supervisor to call you personally. Please expect a call later today, when we hope we can resolve this for you. Was there anything else we can do for you?"
Alec wanted to say yes, get Rose herself to call him back or did Rose no longer work for Torchwood? He knew she'd taken time off to plan her wedding but had she gone back?
"If you could just do that, that's all I ask," he said instead. "Does Rose Tyler still work there by any chance?"
"I'm sorry Sir, we can't say about senior agents," was the reply.
"Look, I was at her wedding, my daughter is a friend of Miss Tyler's so now can you tell me?" Alec got annoyed.
"I apologise Sir but we get asked questions like that all the time," the agent apologised. "Yes, she does still work at Torchwood but she is not an active agent."
So, Rose was still working with Jamie then, Alec pondered.
"I see then?" was all Alec could say.
"Should I pass a message to her telling her you called?" the agent wanted to know.
"No, it's fine," Alec thought better of it in case her husband got to know about it. "If you could just get your supervisor to call, I may have more information for you by then."
Ellie was getting tired of waiting and saw he was still on the phone. So, what did he think Torchwood was going to do over the man downstairs, who was surely a crank. Alec suddenly got up and opened his office door.
"Come on Miller, let's get this interview over with, then you can go home."
Ellie got up in shock. So, he did know it was a Saturday and she didn't normally work at weekends? She was going to say she was the one who had been waiting for him to get off the phone.
Alec had left his mobile number with the Torchwood agent but hoped the man kept his word and didn't let Rose know he'd called and asked for her.
"Do you think Connolly is a crank then?" Ellie dared ask him on the way down.
"What do you think Miller? I know he moved papers out of the way to find information he could use but I hope he found none?" Alec replied.
"He couldn't have seen much, I caught him before he could look for more," Ellie insisted.
After advising Connolly of his rights and getting him to state his address, Alec soon found out the man didn't know much.
"So, you don't know Danny or the family?" Alec asked the man.
"Ah, no, I don't think so," Connolly admitted.
"Then why claim Danny told you he'd been put in a boat?" Alec wanted to know. "Was that before or after he was killed?"
"You think it's funny," Connolly dared tell Alec. "I get these messages, I don't choose to get them but I couldn't ignore this one."
"So, all he said was about a boat?" Ellie wanted to make sure.
"Get him out of here Miller," Alec told her when he'd had enough.
Connolly was just leaving when he turned back to Alec.
"She forgives you, about the pendant," he told Alec.
"What?" Alec stopped. "What does that mean?"
"You know, I can see it. That and someone you know will come back."
Alec shook his head as the man was led out.
"What did he mean Sir?" Ellie asked him.
"Never mind Miller. Just keep him away from the Latimers," Alec warned her.
Alec thought if the man meant Rose, then yes, he did want her to come visit him but would she think this was important enough? He set off for his hotel and had just got to his room when his phone rang. He stared at the caller display and saw it was Torchwood.
"DI Hardy?" a female voice asked when he answered. "You were asking about a certain person?"
"Yes, someone who claims he has psychic abilities in no uncertain terms," Alec replied. "There is no other explanation for him to be snooping around on desks and claiming to have spoken to a dead child. I find it rather disturbing."
"Yes, of course, it's only natural," the agent told him. "Do you have any more information so we can fully check him out?"
"Only that he still insists he's telling the truth. I do not want him giving the family any grief," Alec replied. "I was hoping Torchwood would be aware of him?"
"No, we've not come across him but I can promise you, we will send agents down there, keeping out of your way, of course," Alec was assured. "We will get to the bottom of it if he's telling the truth or not. Would you be able to keep us up to date with the latest developments?"
"You mean if we actually discover the boy was in a boat after he was killed?" Alec wondered. "That would prove Connolly was right and I was too hasty to seek Torchwood's help."
"No, detective inspector, you were right to turn this man away until you gather the facts," he was assured. "You have a job to do and this man is getting in your way. We can deal with him for you and if we find he was right, we can keep him from retaliating and claiming you didn't listen to him. If he is right, he may try and seek some kind of fame and give his side of the story that you dismissed him.
Alec wondered how they knew what he was hoping the agency could do but this was Torchwood after all.
"Then I would appreciate anything you can do," Alec replied.
"That's what we're here for, to help fellow agencies," the supervisor told him. "We'll be in touch, just leave everything to us. Was there anything else you needed help with?"
"Well, there was just one thing," Alec thought he may as well include.
After all, if Rose took an interest in what went on there, she'd find out he'd called.
"Would this be mentioned to Miss Tyler herself?" he asked.
"Not normally, unless things escalate. If we have trouble with the man, she may take an interest herself. I could let her know about it, if you wish?"
"Ah, maybe not yet?" Alec changed his mind.
What would Rose say about being told he had a crank to deal with and he couldn't handle it himself?
"We'll let you know how things go but hopefully, after a visit from our agents, you won't have any more trouble with Mister Connolly."
Alec just hoped the agent was right. Would it get as far as Rose's attention? Not if it was resolved quickly and he didn't hear from Connolly again. Was he secretly hoping Connolly would take no notice and then Rose would get involved?
Down in Brighton, Rose and Jamie were sat on the pier, having a drink and Rose watching the rides.
"We can go on later, when they're all lit up," Jamie suggested.
"That's if they're open late?" Rose wondered.
Was he just trying to get out of going on?
"We should be getting back to the hotel anyway," Jamie then told her. "You can catch up on the news."
Rose knew what he meant by that.
"There's no rush Jamie," she insisted. "Why did ya even mention it?"
"You know why Rose. Don't you want to know if they found that boy's killer yet?" he replied.
Rose got up.
"I'm going to the ladies room," she huffed. "Geez, Jamie, it's not a crime to watch the news ya know?"
She knew why his mood had changed but he was the one who had brought it up, not her. Jamie watched her go off, wondering if he should ease up a bit. Tony wasn't much younger than the boy who had died so she was concerned but why had Alec Hardy been put in charge?
Rose would be following the case even more closely with knowing the detective in charge. He could tell she'd probably try to get Torchwood involved in some way. Maybe someone would try to interfere with the investigation by claiming to be psychic, he laughed to himself at the prospect. Then Rose would volunteer to take the case herself, never mind the work they were continuing.
She'd then find some excuse to go down to the place the murder happened and work alongside the police, Alec Hardy to be precise. He had to face it, Alec hadn't gone away when he'd gone home after the wedding, he was just waiting for a way to creep back and get Rose's attention.
Why had he never bothered asking Rose what had taken place before he'd seen Alec leaving the conservatory? He'd just settled for her saying Alec had just been looking for his daughter. Maybe he should have insisted Rose told him everything but it was too late now.
They went back to the hotel for a rest before going down to dinner, Rose wishing she'd brought more dresses with her had she known the hotel was a bit posh. She thought she might sneak to the shops in the morning and get something for tomorrow night. Maybe she'd let Jamie choose, it might lighten his mood a little. There again, he'd only let up when Alec was out of the news again.
"Jamie, ya did book Monday off?" Rose suddenly wondered.
"Yeah, did it before I left," he replied, thinking she didn't trust him to do so. "I said we'd be in late on Tuesday as well, if we leave early on Tuesday morning, we can go straight to work. Bet you didn't think of that Rose?"
"Well, it makes sense. Come on Jamie, ya all tense, what's really wrong with ya?" she wanted to know.
She put her hands on his shoulders after hanging her dress up.
"Nothing," he insisted.
"Are ya gonna get changed?" she changed the subject, looking at his jeans and purple t-shirt.
"I suppose so?" he thought he'd maybe better and trust her to find a posh hotel.
She kissed his cheek and went back to the wardrobe to decide between the two dresses. Now, she did need another one if they were staying another night.
"Hey, we'd better make sure the room's free for another night," she then realised.
Jamie picked up the room phone and thought he'd better check.
"Rose, I thought you were going to book a long weekend?"
"I thought we'd be here last night," Rose laughed, putting a dress away.
After checking they were okay to stay an extra night, Rose went to get a shower before getting changed and Jamie put the TV on. Of course, Alec Hardy was on the news, giving a press conference.
"I still bet you're gonna call Rose for help," he thought out loud.
Rose came back out, wrapped in a towel and one on her head.
"Oh. Is that from last night?" Rose wondered.
"Don't think so," Jamie replied, his feet on the small coffee table. "He's been asked a load of questions. This woman's been on giving him a hard time."
"Aw, poor Alec," Rose sympathised.
"He can take care of himself Rose," Jamie told her. "Are you thinking of offering help?"
She knew he was going to keep asking.
"Not me but if he wants Torchwood's help, he'll call, same as any other senior police officer. Dad said he'd give help if asked," she reminded him. "I'm not on the active list and you know it Jamie."
He bet it wouldn't stop Alec from asking if she'd get involved.
Alec had finally got away from the press conference, glad it was over since people had found out where he'd just come from. He caught up with the chief before she left.
"You did well fending off awkward questions Alec," the chief had noted.
"How many new officers are you expecting on Monday?" he asked her.
"A dozen or so, more if they can be spared," she replied. "Why do you ask? Alec, people will lose interest if the killer isn't found soon and the resources will be scaled back. You know that already."
"What if we had outside help?"
He saw her reaction.
"Tell me you don't mean Torchwood Alec? What can they do?" she asked him.
"Did you see the report from earlier? It's day two of a murder investigation and the cranks are out already. We don't have the time for one, let alone any more who come crawling out," Alec told her. "Torchwood can keep them away. I just need your approval, I already contacted them, they are willing to help."
"Really Alec, the chief constable for the area disapproves of them. You should have checked with me, with you being new around here," she reminded him. "Don't let him find out that you're using them so no complaints from this person who came forward this morning."
"They can take care of him and warn him off," Alec was confidant.
"As long as they stay out of the way, you'll be responsible for them," the chief warned him. "You had better hope they don't send their top agents Alec. The press would just love Rose Tyler to come to town."
"She is no longer an active agent," Alec admitted.
"You sound disappointed Alec," the chief smiled as there was hardly anyone left in the school hall. "Oh, you already asked for her?"
"I just enquired if she would get to know I had requested help," he had to further admit. "My daughter made friends with her, we were at her wedding last year. She may take an interest but stay back."
"Be careful Alec, if she gets involved, the media will soon catch on. Don't let her come to town," the chief advised him.
"She may not even get involved," Alec reminded her.
If Rose did come to town, what then? If there was any more trouble from Steve Connolly, she'd get another agent to help and that may also bring Jamie to town. Then there would be a showdown, involving himself and Rose would be caught in the middle of it.