"Sir, can I ask something?" Rose had wanted to know as they got in the car.
"You may as well," Alec replied while putting the seatbelt on.
"Are ya gonna keep call me Tyler all the time?" Rose dared to challenge him. "I mean where I was before, everyone called me Rose."
"Is there any reason you do not like me using your surname?" Alec wondered as Rose set off back to the station, hoping she remembered the way.
She doubted he would give her directions.
"I suppose not," Rose had to admit, thinking he'd never go for it.
"Tyler, well Rose, having just been partnered with my wife, whom you may have guessed who that was, you will have realised I was looking forward to working on my own. Then I was informed a new officer was arriving. We have not yet got used to each other and I was not to know at your last station you went by your first name."
"Oh," was all Rose could think of replying.
"Give it time, Tyler," he then added, hoping she remembered the way back.
If he was going to have her driving him around, she had best not get them lost all the time.
Rose thought maybe there was the slightest chance he may eventually give in and use her first name, she had no idea how long that was going to be though.
Tess has found Dave and was complaining to him.
"I mean did they have to send a new officer who was young and blonde?" she had asked him in the staff canteen.
"Tess, why are you complaining to me?" Dave asked her. "I'm sure the chief knows what he's doing, partnering a new officer with a senior one."
"Go on, tell me how?" Tess replied. "He could have picked anyone."
Dave laughed loudly, making everyone look at them.
"Thought there was only a few DI's around here? The others already have someone under them, Alec's the only one who needs someone. After you worked with him, everyone objected."
Dave had seen her talking to most of the female officers after the chief had split Tess and Alec up, he hadn't needed to hear what Tess had been saying to know she was trying to put them off working with her husband. He had thought it amusing when Tess had complained to him about a young blonde.
Tess sat back on the chair, she'd been hoping for some sympathy but she wasn't going to get it from Dave Harris.
"What did you expect me to do?" Tess huffed.
Dave shook his head. If she was that bothered about it, maybe she was serious about seeing him after work?
"So are we meeting where we said?" Dave asked her.
Rose was now ready to leave and picking up her jacket, knocked on Alec's office door.
"Night then Sir," she told him when he looked up.
"Right, yes. I usually stay later," he admitted, since there was nothing special going on at home and Tess was meant to go pick up Daisy.
Did he believe her when she'd said she was going to see her sister?
"Oh, do you want me to stay?" Rose wondered.
"No, I doubt I will be going anywhere. Night then Tyler."
Rose had to smile as she left. They'd gone out and he couldn't even bring himself to use her first name outside the station. She was going to have to work on him though she didn't expect to be able to use his first name but who knew?
Tess went off to meet Dave, who had found a corner table away from everyone, got some drinks and was looking at the menu when Tess walked in.
"Fancy something to eat Tess? It's two for one tonight," he grinned.
Tess thought that was a good start, the cheapskate as he indicated for her to sit beside him. After they had eaten, Dave didn't waste any time putting his arm around the back of the seat and onto her shoulder.
"Relax Tess," he hinted as she seemed tense. "Why aren't you drinking?"
"I have to go pick up Daisy later," Tess replied.
"Why isn't Alec going?" Dave wondered. "Can't you call him?"
"I told him I was going to my sister's house," Tess admitted.
"That was sneaky Tess," Dave laughed. "He won't suspect anything then, will he if you ask him?"
Tess thought why not and got her phone out to call Alec. Alec had just got home and looked in the fridge for something to eat, knowing he should have stopped off for something. His phone was buzzing and he saw it was Tess. Was she making excuses up for not going to pick up Daisy?
"Alec, can you go get Daisy?" Tess greeted him.
"You are already out," Alec pointed out to her.
"I know but I wanted to stay a bit longer," Tess admitted.
"Sure you're at your sister's and not at the pub?" Alec had to ask her. "Admit it Tess and I bet you're with that Dave Harris."
"Don't be so suspicious Alec," Tess denied it. "Fine, I'll say I have to go."
"Don't be so obvious then," Alec told her. "Besides, I was about to make something to eat."
"Have you only just got home?" Tess wanted to know. "Been working late with your new blonde DC?"
"Stop it Tess," he snapped back. "Ask anyone what time she left."
"You could have arranged to meet her," Tess replied sarcastically.
"Like you did with Dave? Forget it Tess, it won't work. Go get Daisy, as you said you would."
With that, he hung up before she could protest further. Of course she was out with Harris, where else would she be? She had been sneaking around behind his back in the station, he should have listened closer to the whispering when he'd walked into the office, they all knew except him and his new DC, Rose Tyler.
Tess had taken an instant dislike to the newest officer and was now using her as a cover. Tyler wouldn't like it if she knew, that was for certain. He bet the chief had warned her about Tess anyway and why they were split up from working together. He would have to get his version in before Tess did, maybe Tyler would be his only ally.
Rose had got home earlier and thought about her first day in her new station. Alec Hardy hadn't been too bad, she had thought he was amusing with his funny ways of doing things, such as often raising his eyebrows, the way he kept reaching in his jacket pocket for his notebook and pen and his insistence at calling her Tyler.
Him not using the satnav though was more annoying, how was she supposed to find her way around the town she had only been in a short while? She couldn't afford a car of her own yet and she doubted she would get her boss's work car for her own use though it might be worth a try she supposed.
If she used the excuse of picking him up to save him leaving his own car in the garage, she might get away with it. There again, his wife already disliked her, she'd seen Tess's face when they'd gone back to the office. It might be fun winding DS Hardy up and he might even go along with it.
Tess finally got home with Daisy, although she had been late picking Daisy up and the girl had complained all the way home.
"Steph's mother was about to call you," Daisy had told her. "Were you and dad arguing over who was picking me up again?"
"Daisy, don't be so cheeky," Tess had told her. "I was at your aunt's."
"Yeah, whatever," Daisy had replied, putting her earphones on and playing with her phone.
It had left Tess wondering what exactly Daisy had been hearing her talk to Alec about. At least Dave had just been more affectionate in the corner of the pub than Alec was when they were out. Not that they went out much any more.
Alec had been eating his meal and thinking about that morning when he'd been told who he was to be partnered with. At first, he'd just wanted to be left on his own after Tess but he knew the rules and he'd got Tyler, Tess would probably request Dave Harris, the man was already wanting to be transferred.
The chief would probably go for it, just to keep the peace. Somehow, he wasn't that bothered but if affected the way Tess worked, then he'd have to say something.
Rose was early the next morning so she called to see the transport officer.
"Tyler, right?" Rose was asked. "Bit early to be going out?"
"Yeah, right. I just wondered if the car was only for DI Hardy's use or do others use it?"
"Well, DS Hardy used to borrow it sometimes," the officer admitted. "They both had their own cars, that I had to find room for when she could have taken it home with her for getting to and from work. You'd have to ask him what he wants to do, he may take it himself," Rose was told.
"Thanks. I'll call down if he wants to go out," Rose replied, thinking she'd maybe sounded a bit too keen to impress her new boss.
"So, you're new to the area then?" she was then asked. "I noticed the satnav hadn't been programmed, how did you find your way around yesterday?"
"I was given directions to where we were going and had to remember the way back," Rose grinned. "I don't think he likes using them."
"I'd take no notice of him next time and put it on," the officer laughed. "I've no objections of you taking the car, it's down to him though. You'd better appeal to his good side."
Rose didn't want to seem too keen to impress her new boss but she could always claim she was taking the initiative. That wouldn't do any harm, would it? She gave Alec time to settle then ignoring Tess, went into his office.
"What?" he asked as she stood opposite.
"Sir, I just thought of something. Since I have to drive you around, well maybe I can pick ya up in the mornings, save you bringing your car to leave it here all day?"
She sat down, waiting for him to flatly refuse her suggestions and tell her she had no chance.
"Where did that come from?" Alec wanted to know, leaning back in his chair and looking amused. "How do you know I don't want it for my own use?"
"Well Sir, I just thought maybe it was a good idea, I mean if you don't come to work with your wife?"
"Well, it's that obvious is it?" Alec asked her. "She normally takes our daughter to school and leaves early.
That was Tess's excuse for not setting off at the same time as he did so they had to take two cars. Maybe Tyler's idea wasn't so bad?
"Sorry Sir, I never meant to pry," Rose apologised.
"Don't be sorry Tyler. I will think about it and let you know by tonight," Alec replied.
"I can stay later, if ya want?" Rose offered.
"No need, maybe it is time I stopped?" Alec told her.
"I'm on my own anyway, in a tiny flat that there's just about enough room for when my mum wants to visit," Rose admitted, not knowing why she was bothering him about it. "It was all they could find me at the last minute."
"Better than a hotel or bedsit," Alec replied, also wondering why she was telling him.
"Yeah, I suppose I can only apply for something bigger if my mum came to live with me? She won't leave though, I asked her to come here with me."
"Some people don't like change Tyler," Alec pointed out.
Why was he giving her chance to just talk about something other than work? Rose got the hint to leave when he put his glasses on and picked up a folder. She thought he had better things to do than chat with her all morning. Rose got up to leave, saying she was sorry for keeping him talking.
He let it go, putting it down to the fact she was new and probably hadn't made any friends yet. At lunch time in the canteen, Rose saw a few who worked in the same department and asked if she could join them.
"I'm Rose, by the way," Rose told them when they said she could.
"Hi, we should have introduced ourselves yesterday," one of them told her. "I'm Trish, that's Kate and that's Jo," she pointed to the other two in turn. "So, you got to work with Hardy then?"
"Is that bad?" Rose wondered what that was supposed to mean.
"He and his wife were always at war with each other," Kate laughed. "You should have heard her going on about it."
"Why put them working together then?" Rose asked innocently.
"That was the chief's big mistake," Jo laughed.
"Well I'm keeping out of it," Rose decided, trying to eat her lunch before it got cold, not that it was all that nice, there was too much salt for her liking.
She thought if the food was like that every day, she may venture out to eat or have words with the chef.
Alec was watching from the other side of the canteen, hoping Tess wouldn't decide to join him. They had hardly spoken that morning except over something to do with Daisy before the girl had got downstairs.
"You need to have words with your daughter," Tess was telling Alec as he was trying to make some toasts and egg.
"Why me?" he wanted to know, licking butter from his fingers and Tess frowning at him. "Don't make me out to be the bad guy Tess."
"She was being cheeky last night when I picked her up," Tess had continued.
"She's a teenager Tess, what do you expect?" Alec had wanted to know.
"Don't take her side Alec," Tess had huffed, just as Daisy entered the kitchen.
"Thanks a lot Mum," Daisy complained, taking some toast Alec offered to her.
He wondered why it was always him who made Daisy her breakfast. So it was always peaceful for him at lunchtime, since Tess seemed to want to join her friends recently, probably to complain about him. Why did he put up with it, it was only for Daisy he supposed. Now, Tyler had come along and Tess had a new excuse to complain.
Rose spotted him on his own as she was about to leave and stopped at his table.
"Are you okay Sir?" she asked him as he squinted at his phone.
"Fine Tyler. Made some friends?" he hoped, so she wouldn't keep him talking all the time.
"Yeah, I hope so. Are we going out today?" Rose wanted to know, since she hadn't much to do except catch up on what had been going on before her arrival.
"Not unless something comes up," Alec replied, giving up on his phone. "Nothing to do?"
"Just catching up," Rose admitted. "There are a lot of cases that have just been left," she added.
"You want to do something about them?" he replied. "Go ahead Tyler, let me know if you find anything then."
Rose was pleased with herself and went off to the ladies room to call her mother.
"How ya getting' on?" Jackie wanted to know. "How's the new boss?"
"Okay so far Mum. The only thing is, he seems to be at war with his wife, the chief warned me yesterday."
"You need to be careful there Rose," Jackie warned her. "Don't get caught up in it."
"I'm tryin' not to," Rose laughed. "It ain't gonna be easy, she already doesn't like me gettin' partnered with her husband."
Rose went back to work, seeing Tess down the corridor talking to Dave.
"So can you get out later?" Dave was asking Tess, wanting more than a few sneaked kisses in the pub and when Tess had been leaving.
"I don't know Dave, it depends if Alec's working late or not. When I called him to go pick up Daisy last night, he'd only just got home," Tess complained.
Dave let out a laugh, making Rose wonder what was going on.
"So, he was keeping his new partner 'working' late was he?"
"Shut up Dave," Tess didn't want to be reminded.
Then she caught a glimpse of Rose turning the corner to go back to the office. She bet anything the young blonde already had her eye on Alec. Did he seem any different? Being late home last night and claiming Tyler had gone home early still bothered her. Did Alec really expect her to believe that?
"Oh, that hit a sore spot then?" Dave laughed some more. "Was that her who just came around the corner?"
"Trust you to spot a blonde," Tess replied. "All the males will be going after her, trust me."
"Jealous Tess?" Dave tried to be serious.
Tess went to hit his arm but he stopped her.
"Don't take it out on me Tess," Dave told her. "Meet me the same place as last night?" he then suggested.
"I'll have to tell Daisy to stay at my mother's then," Tess agreed.
"Don't worry Tess, Alec will be too busy to notice," Dave assured her.
It seemed obvious to him that Alec wouldn't waste any time going after the new female officer. If it made Tess really jealous, it would make things easier.
