Ashes to mars

Connecting Dots

Walking back into Stopford House in her boots and blue jersey dress with flares,of course.

Alex smiled to herself, happy with her morning's work.
Not only had she made some developments on the case, but she'd also put together a very respectable wardrobe, including a low-cut black jumpsuit for tomorrow night.

A beige princess coat
high-waisted flared trouser,
wide collar shirts
waistcoats
mini dresses with long bellowing sleeves
bell bottoms,
high-heeled loafers
peep-toe heels

Pleats and every shade of brown under the Sun was in her wardrobe

So far 1975 was her kind of year. Dusty Springfield by day, and Saturday Night Fever by night, or so she guessed, she couldn't remember much of the 1970s.

She'd even managed to pick up a fox fur coat in a charity shop as a nod to her former self.
She smiled at the memory of it.

But coming into C.I.D, Alex realised that those days were well and truly still here, as she caught Ray give his final assessment on her to the rest of the lads and Phyllis.

"-I'm telling you, she's bad news and if she thinks droppin' her drawers for the Guv is gonna butter him up, she's got another thing coming-"

"Morning, Ma'am!" Alex narrowed her eyes as Chris gulped. Ray seemed unfazed at being caught mid-speech and went back to his chair, propping his legs on the desk.

"Boys." She smiled in greeting at everyone, hoping the others would warm up to her eventually.

She supposed she couldn't blame them really, they didn't truly know her.
But she knew them, and she didn't feel up to being the outsider again.

She smiled, biting the bullet and filed over to Chris and Ray, " Thank you, for keeping an eye on me last night. Things could have gone differently and it was good to have back up."

"No problem, Ma'am." Chris smiled, always pleased to be praised. It didn't happen much to him. Bless.

"Where's Sam and the Guv?" She asked, trying to start conversation.

"Policing. That's what we do around here." Ray icy tone not caring for how easily Tyler and the Guv had taken to her. "It took you all morning to put your face on, did it?"

Alex narrowed her eyes, again. She could forgive him for being a twat, but if he thought he could be insubordinate, he had another thing coming. "Excuse me, Sergeant?"

But if anything, her use of his rank just riled Ray more.

"You heard me, we've already got one barmy DI, we don't need another. Especially one who's a tart to boot." Kicking his feet off the desk, standing. He got up to face her, now taller, having not enjoyed the height she had on him.

"Everybody knows making a women's department was the worst decision ever made by the force and now you all get the same pay for swannin' around in your skirts and doin' bugger all." He scoffed, looking around at some of the lads who nodded in agreement, though didn't have the balls to say anything.

"I know you're type, trying to get your claws into us coppers, just to climb up the ladder. Cartwright's got her hooks into Tyler," He scowled, though schooled his expression a little as Sam slowly wandered into the hushed C.I.D, "- and now you're makin' gooey eyes at the Guv. I am a Sergeant, but I'm not yours."

Quite the speech.

She could hit him, she supposed, but it wouldn't do her any good. Alex looked around to see most of the room thinking the same, that detective work was not for women, not really.
Well, she'd prove them wrong and they'd learn to respect her for it, but until then, they couldn't go round thinking they could walk all over her.