Chapter Text
Disclaimer:
You know the drill – the brilliant characters of Broadchurch belong to Chris Chibnall, and Kudos/ITV. I am not making any profit from this story.
Dedication:
This story is dedicated to Sand5Marlowe for all her support, and advice. Thanks for reading my plot outline and encouraging me to write it, and for your brilliant suggestion regarding how to deal with a certain character in this chapter. :-)
Author Notes:
I’m not putting any Trigger Warnings at the beginning of chapters as I feel it spoils both the mystery and suspense elements, so please bear in mind this story features crime, therefore may contain disturbing events and violence, but nothing too graphic I promise, as it’s only rated Teen.
As stated in the summary this is a sequel to You Never Know Who’s the One. Alec and Ellie are married in this story, so if you don’t like them together then you may not like this fic, but I hope you do. :-)
ELLIE
As her train rolls smoothly into the station Ellie can just make out the roof of the awful flat she once shared with Fred during the worst months of her life. Thank god things have improved drastically since then, she thinks.
It’s Sunday night, and she’s returning from London, having spent the past few days attending a course exploring the latest techniques in evidence gathering and analysis. Ellie’s feeling pretty confident now especially when it comes to electronic evidence. She’s satisfied she will know more than Alec anyway, who’s not exactly tech savvy.
Just before their baby was born, Alec had been given the clean bill of health to return to active duty, which had coincided nicely with the Broadchurch DI at the time transferring to another village, freeing up the position for him. She wonders if it will be weird working together now that they are married. Maybe not for Alec, since he worked with Tess for years. Although, probably not a good idea to compare their marriage with his first given how it ended.
Stepping down onto the platform she bounces her grey, wheel suitcase down behind her. Scanning the station for her husband, she quickly spots his tall angular frame slouching near the ticket barrier.
Bright smile on her face, she quickens her pace to meet him. “Hiya,” she says. “Did you miss me?”
The way he screws up his face, makes her wonder whether the concept of a married couple missing one another is foreign to him. “You’ve only been gone four days,” he says.
Ellie can feel her smile slipping, but the longing she saw in his eyes when he first noticed her off the train tells her he’s pleased to see her. As does his quick intake of breath when their fingers accidentally brush as he reaches down to relieve her of her suitcase.
“Thanks a lot,” she huffs. “Shall I turn around and catch the train back to London, then?”
“No,” he says, beckoning her towards him. “Come here instead.” She does, stretching up to wind her arms around his neck. Dipping his head, he gives her a quick but hard kiss.
“I much prefer that welcome,” she says, breathlessly.
“How was training?”
“Good. Learnt heaps.”
“Gonna show me up tomorrow? Dazzle everyone at the station with your newfound expertise your first day back?”
She runs her hands down the front of his Mac. “You’d better believe it, DI Hardy.”
As they head towards the exit, she asks: “You been coping all right with the kids on your own?”
“Aye. Fred and Maxine are asleep. Tom’s watching them.”
She deflates a little, is aware it’s late, but was hoping they’d still be up. “Can’t wait to see them.”
“Our daughter splashed my favourite suit. Fred was in hysterics.” He sighs, “Hope it dries in time. Planned on wearing it to work tomorrow.”
“Of course.” She rolls her eyes skywards. “Why wouldn’t you be wearing it to give a five month old a bath?”
Reaching the car, he unlocks it, loading her luggage into the boot.
“Keys,” she demands, blocking his path to the driver’s door, her expression determined. “Your driving is shit, and I’m already feeling queasy from the train.” She’s never been much of a traveller, and being stuck on the train for hours has nearly undone her. She’s hoping occupying her mind by driving will help keep the nausea at bay.
Alec tosses them to her. “Missed you, darling,” he drawls, rolling his tongue over the ‘r’ in ‘darling’, in that sexy way he does. She’s definitely missed that.
Once they’re underway she asks: “How did it go yesterday? Daisy all moved in okay?” Daisy’s been out of school for four months having completed her A-levels back in June. Her results were excellent but much too Alec and Tess’ chagrin she’s decided to take a year off before applying to universities. Since leaving school she’s been working full time at Top Shop, living at home with her mum, but recently she (along with Chloe, and their friend Kirsty Nicholls) has been given the opportunity to house-sit for a local Broadchurch family, the Ackermans, while they’re holidaying in Australia.
“Yeah,” he says, in a deep grumbling voice.
“Still struggling with the idea I see. For god’s sake it’s only for a few weeks. She’s almost eighteen. Of course she’s going to want to strike out on her own.”
“Still don’t like it.” He squints at her closely. “What about you at eighteen? Living it up in the house you shared with your parents, were you?”
She pokes out her tongue at him. “Never miss an opportunity to insult my sheltered village upbringing, do you? Like you’ve led such a sophisticated life, Alec Hardy. And stop changing the subject! What’s the house like?”
“Seems nice. Solid locks. No alarm though.”
“Not many houses here have them, apart from our house cos a certain someone insisted we have one installed before we moved in.”
“Bloody small town people and their lax attitudes towards home security and personal safety,” Alec says, hitting the dashboard with his hand for emphasis. “Burglaries happen everywhere, even here. How many B&E’s have you been called to in all your years as a police officer? Thirty? Forty?”
“All right, don’t go on.” Throwing him a wounded look, she adds: “And what do you mean by ‘all my years’?”
Sighing, he focuses his gaze out the window.
“Do they have everything ready for tomorrow?” she probes. Not only are the girls going to be house-sitting they’re also babysitting Fred and Maxine for them, and Lizzie for Beth and Mark, starting tomorrow when Ellie returns to work.
“Yep.”
“Wow, you’re hardly reassuring me, here. A bit more information would be helpful.”
“What do you want me to say? Daisy assures me everything’s organised.”
“And you call yourself a detective. I’ll ring Beth.”
Less than half an hour later they’re pulling into the garage of the modern, four-bedroom, brick house they purchased together just over a year ago.
Entering via the internal garage access Ellie heads upstairs to check on the kids. Poking her head in Tom’s room first, she gives him a cheery, “I’m back”. The grunt she receives in reply makes her wonder if he’s been taking lessons from Alec, and also whether he’s even noticed she’s been gone for several days. Leaving him to it she heads down the hall to the bedroom Fred and Maxine share.
Prior to moving in she and Alec had disagreed over how to divide the three bedrooms among four kids. Alec had felt that Tom, Fred, and their impending baby, should have their own rooms since they live with them full time and that Daisy should share with the baby. Ellie had been adamant that a teenage girl needed her own space more than the little ones, and that she didn’t want Daisy shoved into a room with one of the others like a spare wheel when she visited. As their argument had escalated, the sleeping arrangements for the Master bedroom had also come into question, when a frustrated Ellie had screamed at him that if he didn’t see reason then maybe he would prefer to sleep in the garden shed. Alec must have felt sufficiently threatened by that because he’d backed down, allowing Ellie to have her way. And it was working out well. Fred seemed happy enough sharing a room with his little sister. Ellie figures they’ll revise the arrangement when the kids are older. Daisy and Tom will probably be gone by then anyway, she thinks wistfully.
Even though winter is upon them, due to central heating, the kid’s room, along with the rest of the house is toasty warm. The UFO night light bounces multiple colours across the walls, disorientating her, as Ellie gingerly picks her way to her son’s bed. Fred is sprawled on his front snoring lightly, arms thrown wide. He’s always been a restless sleeper and as per most nights his covers are bunched haphazardly at the foot of the bed. He’s almost as lively in sleep as he is awake, she thinks wryly. Bending to retrieve the fallen duvet, she tucks it gently around him. Leaning over she buries her face in his soft hair, inhaling the sweet chamomile smell of his shampoo. Unlike her brother, Maxine is wrapped up tight lying contentedly on her back, when she approaches the cot. Placing a hand on her small body Ellie feels for the rise and fall of her breathing through the layer of blankets. She’s never felt so blessed.
After unpacking, and speaking to Beth, who like Alec assures her the girls are on top of everything, she heads for the utility room. She still marvels over how great it is to have a separate room for the washing machine and dryer instead of them being crammed into the kitchen space. After putting a wash on, she removes Alec’s suit from the dryer and sets about ironing it so her grumpy husband can wear his favourite suit to work tomorrow. The lovely, dimpled smile she receives later on when she hangs his newly-pressed suit on the wardrobe door still has the ability to cause her heart to flip, even after eighteen months of sleeping together, and a year of marriage.
ALEC
The following morning is a hectic one for the combined Hardy/Miller family as they struggle to adapt to their new routine. Alec had thought the past week had been difficult, being the sole parent and getting everyone organised, but a harassed Ellie pacing around the breakfast table firing last minute instructions, like some kind of drill sergeant, is even more stressful.
“I have to leave shortly to meet Jenkinson, don’t forget?” she says, hovering anxiously near his elbow. “So you’re dropping Max at Daisy’s, and Fred at Nursery.”
“You told me that last night,” he grumbles.
“I know, just reminding you.” She turns her attention to her eldest son. “You’re riding your bike to school, yeah?”
“Yes,” confirms Tom, a spoonful of Coco Pops and milk poised halfway to his mouth. “Same as every school day for the past year.”
“Don’t get smart with me. And after school? Are you coming here, or going to Daisy’s?” she asks, waiting impatiently for him to swallow his cereal.
“Um, here first. But I might head over to Daisy’s later.”
“Lock the doors when you get home, do not leave the house except to go to Daisy’s, and set the alarm when you go.” She waves a finger dangerously close to his face, her expression stern, “Do not go anywhere else. I will know if you do. No friends over without ringing and asking me first. Make sure you keep the house tidy, and load the dishwasher. I do not want to come home at the end of a long day to find dishes all over the counter. If you do end up going to Daisy’s, the girls are in charge, so do what they say, got it?”
“Yes, Mum. What time will you be home?”
“Let me check with my boss.” She shoots Alec a sweet smile. “What time will I be home, sir?”
“About half six. And for god’s sake, you know when your own shift finishes.”
“I know, but I can’t resist winding you up.” He watches as she plants several kisses on their daughters face. The baby responds by shaking a star-shaped rattle near Ellie’s ear.
“Bye, bye, darling,” she says, moving onto Fred. Smoothing back his hair, she proceeds to shower his face with kisses.
Squirming to try and free himself, Fred swipes at his face in protest. “Yuck.”
“Yuck to you too,” Ellie says, deliberately giving him another kiss. “Have fun at Nursery. Daisy will pick you up at lunchtime, okay?”
Fred throws his arms above his head, bouncing in his chair. “Yay, Daisy.”
Ruffling Tom’s hair on the way past, Ellie again reminds him to tow the line. With a smirk, Tom decides to dish out some advice of his own. “No kissing on the job, you two, all right? Be professional.”
“We’ll try to refrain from that,” Ellie says wryly.
Opposite Alec, Fred starts to giggle, causing Alec to wonder whether he’s laughing over the word kissing. “All right, wee Fred,” he asks his stepson.
Fred bobs his curly head repeatedly. “It was so funny when Max splashed water on you, Dad.”
A stunned silence descends on the room, as the two adults and Tom process this new development – up until now Fred’s been referring to Alec as ‘Uncle Alec’. For several moments the only sound in the room is the twinkling bell from Maxine’s rattle.
Catching Ellie’s eye Alec searches her face for any signs of disapproval, but finds none. In typical Ellie fashion her eyes are already welling with tears, but her smile is warm as she nods. Next to him, Tom’s mouth gapes, but when Alec looks at him he merely shrugs, which Alec hopes is Tom’s way of telling him that it’s okay with him. He briefly worries that Daisy will mind, but just as quickly dismisses the notion; knows she thinks of Fred and Tom as her brothers. Clearing his throat, Alec turns his attention to Fred, giving the small boy a wide smile, “I suppose that was pretty funny.”
Fred, oblivious to the interest his comment has generated, watches as his mother plucks a tissue from the box in the centre of the table and swipes at her eyes. “You cry a lot, Mummy?” he tells her.
Unable to look at one another, Alec and Tom struggle to contain their laughter. Alec raises an eyebrow, “Out of the mouths of babes.”
“Oh, shut up, you,” Ellie says, striding around the table to kiss him goodbye, her eyes still shiny. “See you at work.”
As soon as she opens the door Daisy immediately notices how anxious her father is.
“All right?” she asks.
He nods slowly, adjusting Maxine in his arms. “All set for today?” he asks.
“You’re such a worrywart, Dad,” she says, struggling to hide her exasperation. “Ellie went over everything last week, remember?” Before Ellie had gone to London, the three of them had spent a day learning Maxine and Fred’s routines. Kirsty had even taken notes which had amused Daisy and Chloe as much as it had impressed Ellie.
Turning her attention to her little sister she strokes the baby’s head. “Hello, sweet baby.” Maxine gives her a gummy grin.
Daisy hears footsteps behind her and Kirsty steps up next to her. “Hello, Mr Hardy,” she says. She’s smiling but her blue eyes dart around nervously. She’s already confided in Daisy that she finds her dad ‘a little scary’. Daisy’s still laughing her arse off over that one.
“How are you Kirsty?” Dad asks.
“Good thanks.” She holds out her arms for Maxine. “Chloe and Lizzie are in the sitting room. I’ll get Max settled, if you like?”
Daisy watches as her dad kisses his youngest daughter on the cheek before handing her over.
Cradling the baby, Kirsty lets out an “ow”, as Maxine grabs a handful of her long pale blonde hair. “You rascal,” she coos as she walks away.
Trailing her father out to the car, Daisy shakes her head when she sees the overflowing contents of the boot. “Crikey, think you brought enough stuff?”
“Erm... wasn’t sure what you needed, and Ellie insisted.”
“We’ll need the baby bag, nappies, buggy, travel cot, and highchair, as well as both the kids’ car seats. The rest you can take away.”
All three girls hold licences but Daisy is the only one with a car, a white 2007 Suzuki Swift. Her mum and dad put some money towards it but she saved most of it itself, working at Top Shop after school and on weekends, moving to full time when she left school back in July. Chloe and Kirsty keep telling her that they can walk everywhere in Broadchurch anyway so they don’t need cars but Daisy knows they’re a little envious, particularly Chloe.
“Ellie wanted to be here this morning to inspect the house, but she has a meeting with the Super. Apparently my word that everything is fine isn’t good enough.”
Chuckling, Daisy reaches into the boot grabbing the baby bag and nappies. “We’ve already been through this once this morning when Beth dropped Lizzie off.”
“Before we go in, erm, there’s something I need to tell you. Erm... ” He adjusts the cuff of his coat.
Daisy can’t help but grin. She doubts it’s serious and it amuses her when her father gets all nervous and starts stammering over his words. “Just spit it out, will you.”
“All right. Erm, this morning at breakfast wee Fred called me ‘Dad’.”
“Well that’s hardly surprising. You’re the only Dad he remembers. What’s the problem?”
“I was worried you might be upset?”
Swinging the baby bag, she knocks him on the arm. “Don’t be daft. I think it’s marvellous. About bloody time in fact.”
ELLIE
So far, her first day back has gone without a hitch.
She was slightly nervous walking onto the CID floor. Even though she worked as a DS before Maxine was born it’s been a while. She needn’t have worried, everyone is welcoming, pleased to have her back, and her meeting with Superintendent Elaine Jenkinson is as informal as it is friendly.
Alec arrives about half an hour after her, pausing to participate in her welcome back conversations, even going as far as to dish out money for the first round of coffees for the team. Deeming that enough socialising for one day he disappears into the sanctuary of his office for the remainder of the morning.
She spends the morning familiarising herself with the systems, as well as perusing the open and recently closed cases. Nothing much has changed in that respect – the names that jump out at her seem to be the same troublemakers she’s dealt with in the past, and the types and occurrences of crimes hasn’t changed.
Early afternoon she’s dispatched along with a PC to deal with a trio of intoxicated teenagers hanging around outside the Traders disturbing the peace. Not only are they guilty of skipping school but also of raiding one of the boy’s parent’s liquor cabinet. Two sets of angry parents arriving on the scene go a long way towards sobering up the teenagers, and they leave quietly after that. To her dismay Ellie recognises one of the boys from Tom’s class. She makes a mental note to have a sit down with her son to discuss the dangers and consequences of underage alcohol consumption.
Back at her desk she has a direct view into the DI office to where Alec is hunched over his own desk scowling at the computer screen. Seeing him like that, she’s suddenly transported back to more than two years ago, shocked by how eerily familiar everything is. It’s only when she glances at her desk, sees the photos she placed there earlier, one of the five of them – her, Alec, Daisy, Tom, and Fred – on their wedding day, and a separate picture of Maxine smiling at the camera, that she remembers how much things have changed. She wonders how Alec will feel when he sees the family photos on public display for all to see, knowing how much he strives to keep his work and home life separate. Last week he’d even had the gall to lecture her on how she should conduct herself on duty now that they were going to be working together, until she’d told him to piss off. It’s as if he imagined she was going to jump him in the middle of a briefing and start snogging him in front of their fellow officers. He should be so lucky! It’s not as if it’s a secret that they’re married, and if he has such a problem with it then maybe he should stop marrying his DS’s? Although, she thinks with some amusement, where in the hell else would he have met women if not at work?
Being a modern building, and due to police officers often working long hours the station is fully equipped with a ‘Parents Room’ with partitioned off areas for further privacy. It even has its own fridge which is a godsend for Ellie who is still breastfeeding. She takes a break about half two to express milk but finds it doesn’t go as smoothly as she’d hoped making her wonder whether she’s made the right decision to continue nursing while working a high stress job. With Fred she’d made the switch to formula several weeks before her maternity leave ended so she’s not sure why she’s decided to do things differently with Maxine but figures she’ll play it by ear and see how it goes.
Just before six o’clock Ellie is heading back to the station armed with the last coffees of the day for the officers sharing her shift, when she spots Lucy walking towards her. Her sister looks even more glamorous than usual, the burgundy skirt of her dress just visible beneath her cream winter coat, teamed with knee-length high-heeled brown leather boots, carrying a tartan bag.
“Ooh, look at you, all poshed up. Something I should know?” She can’t help feeling a touch of envy. With four kids, one of them a baby, it’s been eons since she and Alec have had a night out. Screwing up her face she tries recalling the last time? Have they ever been on a date? They didn’t even go on a honeymoon because Ellie was already four months pregnant and hadn’t felt the best. Alec had promised her they would go away at a later stage, and then being the great unromantic he was, never brought it up again.
“Remember Patricia Drake and Simon Albury? They used to live in Broadchurch? Tricia’s staying with me for a couple of weeks, and Simon’s driving down from Weymouth to have dinner with us.”
Ellie does. Along with their respective spouses, they were good friends of Lucy’s, and her ex-husband John. “I do. From back when you, John, and Olly lived on Everson Road.”
“That’s right. Simon’s divorced now, and Patricia’s husband died ten years ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Philip wasn’t it?”
“Good memory, Ell.”
“I’m not a copper for nothing,” she says, balancing the cardboard coffee cup tray she’s carrying into a more comfortable position.
“How’s your first day back been?”
“Pretty uneventful, but I don’t mind.”
“No shagging Hardy on his desk, then? Or pulling him into a cleaning closet for a quickie?”
“Are you kidding me,” Ellie says indignantly. Without thinking it through properly she adds: “His office has a glass front.”
“Ah-ha, you came up with that reply rather quickly. You’ve already considered the possibility, admit it?”
“Not true,” She can feel her face flaming, because she has thought about it, despite Alec’s dire warnings to ‘keep it professional’. Damn Lucy, sometimes she’s too perceptive for her own good. “You know how much of a stickler Alec is for rules and regulations, particularly when it comes to the job?”
“Well, that could be fun too.”
“Get out of here,” Ellie laughs. “Have fun at your reunion. Where are you meeting up?” she asks, her sisterly concern surging to the surface. Lucy’s been sober for eighteen months now, and Ellie doesn’t want to see her throw it all down the drain by being tempted into drinking. She remembers attending many a social function at Lucy and John’s where the alcohol flowed freely and the parties lasted long into the night.
“At the Thai House in the High Street, not the King’s Arms, so you can wipe that worried look off your face.”
“Have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“No thanks, cos that pretty much encompasses everything,” is her sister’s parting shot.
Even though Ellie laughs she can’t help feeling a little offended. She knows Lucy’s always found her stuffy and unexciting but it still hurts.
Back at the station she’s just distributing the coffees when the Outside DS, DS Colin Brooks strides towards her, “You have a shout out, Ellie. You and the boss.”
She raps on the glass door of Alec’s office to get his attention. Moments later he emerges. “What is it?” he says gruffly.
“Report of a body,” Brooks informs him. “Suspicious.”
Ellie’s heart plummets to the soles of her feet. It’s déjà vu all over again. Wide-eyed, she looks at Alec in alarm. By the anguish in his eyes she knows he’s thinking the same thing.
Please, please, don’t be a child, Ellie prays. Don’t do this to us. Not again!
“Details?” Alec says. He sounds composed and professional but Ellie knows him better than anyone and can detect the underlying distress in his voice.
“Adult male, late forties, early fifties.”
Ellie slowly releases the breath she’s been holding. Still awful, but she’s been through a lot worse.
“Where?”
“Coastal Road. Near the roundabout on the edge of town.”
One road in. One road out, Ellie thinks.
“Identification?”
“That’s all the information we’ve received so far.”
“Right, thanks Brooks. Come on Ellie, don’t hang about. Time to do some real police work.”
Ellie drives, while Alec phones Daisy to let her know that they’re not going to be able to pick the kids up until later.
“Check Tom’s there, will you?”
Repeating her question, Alec pauses, and then says: “Okay, thanks darling. Order some takeaways with the money I gave you. Will keep you updated.” Sliding his Blackberry back into his jacket pocket he says: “Tom’s there. Apparently young Kirsty’s a whiz at Maths so she’s helping him with his homework.”
“Wow, I’m impressed. Even I struggle to get Tom to do his homework. Sounds like they have everything under control.”
He gives her a smug look, “Told you.”
“Yes, you did,” she says, slowing down as familiar blue flashing lights come into view. After being waved through the traffic-cordon by a police constable, she parks the car, and they make their way towards the scene. The temperature has dropped drastically in the last hour and Ellie hugs her orange coat tighter around herself.
“Sir, Ma’am.” A uniformed officer, PC Ward, wearing a yellow reflective jacket, holds up the crime tape for them.
“What do we have?” Alec asks, as he ducks under the tape.
The PC repeats the information from earlier regarding gender and approximate age.
“This his car?” Alec indicates to the silver Honda Civic parked on the far left hand verge.
“Yes, sir. He was driving in the direction of town when he pulled over for some reason. It’s possible he was forced to stop cos the boot of the car is damaged. Boot also contained luggage, so he was either returning home from a trip, or doesn’t live locally.”
“ID? Wallet? Driving licence?” Alec fires at him.
PC Ward shakes his head, “Nothing so far.”
“Mobile phone?”
“Haven’t located it yet.”
“Who found him?”
The officer indicates to where a distraught businessman in his late twenties is standing with another PC. “A Mike Turner. Was on his way home from work when he saw the car parked on the side of the road and stopped to offer assistance.”
“I know Mike,” Ellie says. “He’s on the same five-a-side team as Mark and Paul.”
“What time was that?” Alec asks the PC.
“About six he reckons. 999 call received at eighteen twelve backs up his story.”
The body of the unidentified male is laying on the ground, on his front, covered to the neck by a waterproof tarp. His face is turned away, his awful head injury visible from where Ellie is standing. The body is behind the car effectively hidden from passing traffic.
Crouching over the body, pathologist, Dr Anna Bell looks up as they approach.
“Horrible night for it,” she says. “Great to have you back, Ellie.”
“Cause of death,” Alec asks, the tone of his voice making it clear that this isn’t the time for chitchat.
“Nasty head wound, near the crown.”
Frowning, Alec turns back to the young officer. “You said the boot was damaged.”
“That’s correct, sir.”
“Show me.”
PC Ward leads the way, Alec following, Ellie trailing.
Reaching the car, PC Ward raises and lowers the boot. Instead of catching it just bounces off the rubber rim. “See. Won’t close.”
Stepping up beside him, Alec shoos him out of the way, grabbing the boot lid. “What if our victim was leaning over retrieving something from the boot when the killer stepped up behind him...” he slams the lid down to demonstrate, “boot goes down hard, striking him on the back of the head.” Even though it merely bounces when it hits its target Ellie still finds herself flinching. Catching PC Ward’s eye she notices he looks just as sick.
Face impassive, Alec addresses Dr Bell over his shoulder. “Could that have caused that type of injury?”
The pathologist, who’s looking just as unaffected as Alec nods slowly. “Possible. Depending on the force of the blow. I’ll know more when I get him on the table.”
“There was a torch lying on the ground near the car,” PC Ward says. “Could’ve been what he was reaching for. Unfortunately, they’re a dime a dozen. Branded and sold by every Morrison’s supermarket throughout the country.”
“Okay, send it to the lab. See if they can lift any prints.”
Ellie indicates to the ground at the back of the car. “He would have fallen here though wouldn’t he?” She looks over at the victim, lying several feet away. “But he’s over there.”
“Killer dragged him around the car out of sight of the road.”
Walking side by side, she and Alec approach the body. Following him as he moves around the body she finally sees the victims face for the first time. She inhales a sharp breath, “I think I know him.”
He takes a step closer to her, his face etched in concern, “Who?”
“I haven’t seen him in years, but I think it’s Lucy’s friend, Simon Albury. She was supposed to be meeting him for dinner, tonight.”