On the run

Chapter 26

Rose noticed Alec was a bit quiet on the drive back.

"Did you feel uncomfortable there?" she asked him as he drove down the High Street.

"I was afraid she would ask too many questions, about our past relationship."

"Well maybe when all this is over, we can tell her the truth, that I was hiding."

"Just you or both of us?" he asked as they reached the mini roundabout and turned into the caravan park.

"No-one has to know who you used to be Alec, what's the point? You and Pete went to a lot of trouble to hide who you used to be."

"You mean you don't mind me remaining as Alec Hardy then?" he asked as he reversed into their parking area.

"I'm getting used to it," Rose smiled, touching his leg.

He put the car into 'park' and leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"I guess I can live with it. At least there is no need to pretend we are together. How do you feel about having me stay as a Scottish detective?" he asked, unfastening his seatbelt.

"You pretended to be other people in the past, what's so different this time?" Rose replied, getting out.

"Well, for one, I could go back to being me. Now, it is too dangerous, with or without Yvonne."

"We should check in with Pete, do a vid call."

"Then we will do so, just to settle a few things. Maybe you should tell him any concerns you have?"

"What concerns?" she asked as Alec unlocked the door.

Alec was about to answer when he saw Olly standing at the edge of the caravan.

"Go inside love," he told her as she turned to see what he was looking at.

"Who's that?"

"The local reporter who is about to be run out of town, unless he goes away."

"DI Hardy, do you want to give me an interview?" Olly dared ask.

Rose took his advice before the reporter decided to snap a photo of her, it was all she needed.

"No and take my advice Stevens, there is no interview to give. Are you so desperate for a story right now?"

"Who's your girlfriend? She looks vaguely familiar."

"Then why are you even asking?" Alec wanted to know.

"I was thinking of including you in a story about how the town is picking up the pieces after the trial. You wouldn't be the only person in it. Care to participate?"

"No, I am sure others have a better tale to tell than I do. You are wasting your time here."

"Just tell me, is she your girlfriend, from when you were in Sandbrook?"

Alec thought if he said yes, the annoying reporter might go away. As long as he didn't take a photo of Rose or asked her name, she should be safe enough, for now. On the other hand, this may get to the stage Stevens would want to make more out of it and Yvonne surely had someone watching for the smallest sign of where Rose had been hidden away.

"She was my girlfriend, back in Sandbrook, we broke up and then met again last week. That's it, nothing mysterious about it."

"Then what's her name?" Olly persisted.

"None of your business. Now if you will excuse me, I have been out all day."

"Just one more thing. How are you coping with the fact the defence pulled you apart at the trial? I mean about the mistakes and the accusations?"