"Daisy, this was not how it looked," he tried to tell her.
"That's why mum was always late picking me up," the teenager replied, wiping her eyes.
Alec got a tissue out of the box on her bedside table and passed it to her, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I am sorry you had to hear that. Yes, I believe that is so, it would explain a lot," he admitted. "Given that several times she failed to show up."
"I think it was only once," Daisy told him. "Gran was getting a bit mad with her, especially when it was bingo night," she then managed to smile.
She sat up and leaned forward, resting her head on Alec's shoulder. It reminded him of earlier when Rose had done it but no, it hadn't meant anything then, had it? When was it he'd felt more protective of Rose, he wondered. He put his arms around Daisy, trying to forget about earlier.
There was more of a rift now between himself and Tess than there had ever been. It had been slowly getting worse but Tess's accusations had really made it worse.
"What will you do Dad?" Daisy wanted to know.
"Don't worry about it," Alec told her. "Don't let it get to you eh?"
"Easy for you to say Dad," Daisy tried to laugh. "Just tell me you're not getting divorced."
"Daisy, it has not got to that stage," Alec replied. "Although things are getting difficult between your mother and I."
"It started the other week, didn't it?" Daisy guessed. "When mum was in the ladies room with Rose."
"I guess that was the start of her getting worse," Alec admitted. "She had made her mind up about Rose when Rose first arrived here."
"But why Dad? What had Rose done to her?" Daisy wanted to know.
"That I cannot figure out," Alec had to admit. "I expect when Rose was made my DC, she felt like she would never get to work with me again? The chief had stopped her because she was always arguing about something and she put everyone else off working with me."
"So she was stopping everyone and Rose getting to work with you was what caused it all?" Daisy asked him.
"It seems so. It would have been the same with anyone, it just happened that Rose got the job, her being new," Alec told her.
"Poor Rose," Daisy replied. "She had no idea what she was walking into?"
"No, she didn't," Alec agreed. "None of it is her fault."
"I liked her, when I saw her and her mother's funny," Daisy smiled. "Did you see her face when she found out mum was holding Rose in the ladies room?"
"Yes, I would not like to get on her wrong side," Alec smiled back.
"Are you going to leave us Dad?" she then asked him.
"I hope it does not come to that but if things get a lot worse, there is a chance I will have to but try not to worry about that just yet."
As he left his daughter, he was already worrying about it. How much longer could he put up with Tess both at work and at home? That was down to Tess but maybe she already had it in her head that he was the guilty one as she tried to cover for herself and Dave.
Should he have it out with the other detective? The man had to be encouraging her, maybe he'd convinced Tess that Rose had encouraged himself and Tess should get back at him? He didn't feel like putting up with Tess and her complaints all night so he went to their bedroom and gathered what he needed for the night and for work and put them in the spare room.
Hopefully, Daisy wouldn't notice or he had some explaining to do, since he'd said he wasn't leaving. He went back downstairs and into the kitchen, since he was getting hungry. Tess didn't say anything to him as she was already at the kitchen table, Alec assuming she'd left his food in the oven or else he'd have to make his own.
He then sat at the table, Tess getting up with her empty plate.
"I hope you didn't tell Daisy anything," she suddenly told him.
"Only what I had to," Alec replied. "She is old enough to understand Tess."
"Oh, so that's okay?" Tess replied.
Alec just ignored her as he tried to eat the food that was now too hot. He didn't think Tess would really notice if he was in their bedroom or not, the mood she was now in. As usual, Tess went upstairs first so he took his time and hoped Daisy wouldn't catch him. The poor girl had grown up faster than she should have done recently.
The next morning, Daisy was talking away during breakfast, Tess was ignoring Alec and Alec was just nodding in agreement with what Daisy was trying to tell him.
"Dad, where's Rose this morning?" Daisy asked him as she was at the kitchen window. "Is she late?"
"I have the car," Alec replied before Tess could get a word in.
"Tell her why," Tess scoffed, looking pleased with herself all of a sudden.
"Dad?" Daisy turned to look at him.
"There was an incident as we were leaving last night so I drove Rose home," Alec tried to explain without going into a lot of details.
He was just waiting for Tess to say something.
"Is Rose okay though?" Daisy then wanted to know.
"I'm sure she's quite alright," Tess told her. "If you ask me, it was just an excuse to get your dad to take her home."
"Tess," Alec warned her.
"What does mum mean?" Daisy then asked Alec.
"Nothing, do you?" he looked at Tess.
"Well I still fail to understand why you need picking up for work anyway when you can come with us," Tess replied.
"I need to get going," Alec then told them both.
"Tell Rose I hope she's okay," Daisy called after him as he picked up his keys.
"Don't go encouraging her," Tess told Daisy.
"Why are you so mean to her?" Daisy then replied.
"Don't be so cheeky," Tess warned her.
"Well you were the one picking an argument with Rose the other Sunday," Daisy replied defiantly.
"Don't take her side," Tess further warned the girl. "What has your father been telling you? Get a move on or we'll be late."
Rose couldn't decide whether to wait downstairs for Alec or have further questions from her mother.
"You be careful today sweetheart," Jackie had told her as she got ready for work. "That'll be a new one, your boss coming to collect you," she had laughed.
"I'll be fine Mum, don't worry," Rose had assured her. "I'll have to give a statement, then it'll be up to the chief what he does about it."
"Well, he'd better get rid of that bloke," Jackie replied. "I mean if he lets him back to work, who knows what'll happen?"
"I think he'll be kicked out of that job," Rose hoped.
"I should think so. Will ya be able to say more when ya get home?" her mother then asked her.
"I might just wanna forget about it Mum," Rose replied, not wanting to give all the details.
She was more worried her mother would want to know everything than what her friends would say. She wasn't looking forward to explaining what had gone on, especially about what the sergeant had implied. She would have to ask Alec if she should include that in her statement.
The message tone sounded on her phone, the message saying Alec was downstairs. She hugged her mother goodbye and set off downstairs, Alec waving as she came through the door.
"This is odd," Rose smiled as she got in the car.
"Good morning," Alec replied as she put the seatbelt on. "Just don't get used to it eh?"
Rose looked in the mirror and saw he was smiling.
"Who'll be taking our statements?" Rose asked as they set off.
"Not your friends," Alec told her as he looked back at her through the mirror.
"Geez, what will they say? I mean if they hear about it before I get to work?" Rose wanted to know.
"Rose, it will have been going around the station all night," Alec replied. "A sergeant in the traffic division being held overnight," he reminded her.
"I can't face my friends, what will they think?" Rose asked him.
"If they are your friends, they will have every sympathy for you," he assured her.
"I hope so," Rose replied. "Hey I hope you didn't move the driver's seat?" she then joked.
Alec just raised his eyebrows as usual, Rose seeing him in the mirror. Alec saw her smiling at his reply.
How was it they got along so well, he wondered as they headed for the police station. Had Tess gone out of her way to argue with him all the time when Rose made a joke out of things that did go wrong? He had been determined not to get on with anyone if the chief decided he was in charge of who worked with who, not Tess dictating to him.
Yet after the first few days, he and Rose had already become a team and she was keen to learn his way of doing things, not contradict his orders as Tess had done. Rose had made more friends than enemies but stuck to the three women she had got close to and she never complained about working late.
She had also shown she was willing to work on her own on something but wasn't afraid to accept help. He had no doubts that it wouldn't be long before she passed her sergeant's exam and get a promotion. He just hoped Tess wouldn't spoil her chances but knowing what Tess was like, there were no guarantees.
When they arrived in the garage at the station, Alec noticed someone else was sitting in the sergeant's office, probably from the traffic division he thought as the officer acknowledge him. As they headed for the lift, Alec stopped for a moment and put his hand on Rose's shoulder.
"Ready for this?" he asked her.
"As I'll ever be," Rose managed to smile.
"Good, you have nothing to worry about. I will try to make sure someone from another division interviews you, not Dave Harris, obviously. He is in part responsible for what happened."
Rose nodded and pressed the lift button. Alec began wondering if it would have made any difference if he hadn't got held up last night that the sergeant wouldn't have had the chance to creep up on Rose suddenly. Tess was largely responsible, the woman stopping the lift just added to his delay. If only he hadn't told Rose to wait in the car for him or if her friend had stayed?
When they got out of the lift on the ground floor, Alec went straight to the desk sergeant.
"You know about the incident last night involving DC Tyler?" Alec asked the older man.
"Yes Sir. The chief wants DC Tyler to stay here until she's called," the sergeant replied. "The chief wants to see you himself."
Alec had half expected that.
"You make sure someone from another division interviews DC Tyler, understand?" Alec told the sergeant. "Under no circumstances allow her to be interviews by DS Hardy or DS Harris."
"Sir?" the sergeant looked puzzled. "What if they've been sent?"
"You call me and delay whoever is sent," Alec replied, looking at Rose who had gone to sit down at the side of the desk. "DC Tyler," he called over to Rose, who was wishing she'd got some strong coffee beforehand.
"Sir?" Rose looked up from staring at the floor.
"Do not go for an interview if it is to be conducted by DS Hardy or DS Harris, understand?"
"Yes, Sir," Rose replied, wondering why she needed reminding, as if she'd do it.
"Good. Sergeant, have a WPC take DC Tyler's statement," Alec turned back to the sergeant. "Where is the traffic sergeant anyway?" he then wanted to know.
He supposed he'd have to remember the man's name at some point. He'd seen the man's name badge often enough and had given him several warnings before Rose had arrived. It had seemed the sergeant hadn't heeded the warnings he'd been given, if he had done, Rose wouldn't have had any trouble.
He went off to face the chief, who would want to know why someone else had to be assigned to the garage at the start of the morning shift.
"Sit down Alec," the chief greeted Alec when he'd tapped on the door. "What the hell happened last night? Why wasn't Peters just sent home instead of him being locked up all night?"
"Because I expect DC Tyler would not have been protected from him, had he not been detained," Alec replied. "She was quite shaken by what happened."
"Well I only heard part of it so you'd better tell me the rest," the chief told him. "Why was DC Tyler alone in the garage anyway, where were you?"
"I was delayed by Tess, as usual," Alec replied. "Besides, Rose went off with her friends, one of them has a car. I expected them to be talking. According to Rose, the sergeant just crept up on her and tried to get into the car. She has had trouble with him harassing her before, as have several other female officers."
"Yes, I remember," the chief agreed. "I would have thought the man would have known better than to ignore the warnings. What was your involvement last night then?" the chief wanted to know.
"Tess decided to question my going out with Rose yesterday afternoon. Tess was putting pressure on her and her friends and I thought it best to get Rose out of the office, before she ruined her chances of promotion by losing her temper with Tess."
"What is with Tess then?" the chief asked him. "Why does she dislike DC Tyler so much?"
"Because you put a female officer working with me in her place," Alec reminded the chief.
"Really Alec, I would have thought Tess would have got over that by now," the chief laughed. "She's still that bad? Is it anything DC Tyler has done to make Tess worse?"
Alec thought for a moment. Had Rose done anything other than work with him?
"Rose is from a different station, she would not permit herself to be intimidated by Tess, who feels she is in charge of those who work in the office. I am afraid I let her but I had no idea what she was doing," Alec admitted.
"How could you have?" the chief replied. "I suppose I am as much to blame?"
"I'm the senior officer, I am responsible for those in the office," Alec replied. "The fact I let her just get on with it is no excuse. As a result, I let a female officer wait in the garage on her own when I knew the traffic sergeant had harassed her before."
Alec covered his face with his hands. He'd not shaved again that morning, his stubble was getting thicker and he thought maybe he'd let it grow into a beard. It seemed to annoy Tess anyway.
"Don't be so hard on yourself Alec," the chief told him. "From what I heard, it could have been any female officer on her own. Tell me what happened after she went off with her friends."
Alec began with Tess barging into his office after Rose went to catch up with her friends, trying as much as he could to miss out the part where Rose had agreed to try and catch Tess talking with the traffic sergeant but it was going to be difficult, if the said sergeant decided to try and get away with the incident lightly.
"So what made you call Rose and leave Tess in your office?" the chief wanted to know after Alec explained everything.
"She was not going to stop," Alec replied. "I called Rose to tell her I was on my way, trying to give Tess a hint I wanted her to go pick up Daisy. That was when Rose replied and I could hardly hear her but heard enough of her saying the sergeant was around then she told me the man was standing at the side of the car."
"So you left Tess to go see what was happening?" the chief asked him.
"When I finally got down to the garage, Rose was telling the sergeant to go away and she was not going to let him in the car," Alec continued. "Before I had finished talking to her on the phone, I warned her to lock the doors but she had not managed to close the window and the sergeant had forced it down."
Alec continued, missing out the sergeant making his threat.
"So he'd grabbed hold of Rose?" the chief was shocked to hear. "That sounds out of character Alec."
"Really?" Alec replied. "When I last told him to leave her alone, he was trying to ask her out."
"I see then?" the chief told him. "Well let's see what Rose says in her statement, then I will have another DI interview sergeant Peters and see what he has to say for himself. Let's hope he realises how serious his behaviour was towards a female officer."
Alec got up to leave but the chief hadn't finished.
"By the way Alec, when you said about Tess and there not being anything specific about her dislike for Rose. Is she jealous of any female officer or is it just Rose? If there's anything else you want to say, say it now."
Alec didn't want to say anything but if it was brought up in the interviews, then what? It would look bad for both Rose and himself and would make them look guilty of what Tess had accused them of. What exactly had Tess being telling the traffic sergeant though? The man clearly thought that whatever it was he'd been told was true or was it just he was jealous that himself and Rose were always seen talking when leaving the car?