The Scarlet and
the.....Grey? Part One
This is a crossover fic with "The Bill", a UK cop show. If you want to know more about the character of Alistair Greig, probably the best place to go to would be the official Bill website at www.thebill.com
Tim Bayliss stretched as he got off the plane at London City Airport. It was pouring with rain, and there was the occasional crack of thunder breaking the silence of this bleak December day. He was pissed off. Very pissed off indeed. He was the primary on a string of prostitute murders in West Baltimore, all involving elements of VooDoo and had a ritualistic nature to the slayings. Now here he was, just before Christmas, in London, England, just to follow up what mayor may not be 3 similar murders.
Wandering idly into the main concourse of the airport after being practically raped by an over enthusiastic customs officer, he kept an eye out for a placard bearing the legend "Detective T. Bayliss". Itwas being held aloft by a tall and somewhat heavy set policeman. Tim approached him, almost cautiously.
"Detective Bayliss? I'm PC Stamp, from Sun Hill. DS Greig sent me to get you. He said he's sorry he couldn't make it himself, but he's got a meeting with the new D.I."
Tim nodded as he settled in the back of the car. To his credit, PC Stamp was fairly taciturn on the journey to the police station, explaining little more other than DS Greig was the lead investigator on the murders, but a new Detective Inspector had started today, andwanted to know everything so far. Tim smiled. So, the brass in the UKwere no different......
PC Stamp led him through into the main reception area of Sun Hill Police Station, and sat him on a bench.
"Wait here, I'll let DS Greig knowyou're here", he said, as he disappeared through a side door.
****************
Alistair Greig straightened his tie as he knocked on D.I. Alex McPherson's office. He'd not even had a chance to meet the new D.I. yet, and here he was, being summoned into his office to brief him on the prostitute murders on Jamaica Lane. Not waiting for an answer, Alistair walked into the office.
"You wanted to see me, Guv?" he asked in his soft Scottish brogue.
Alistair was prepared to hate yet another D. I., feeling that he had been passed over for promotion himself too many times. He'd only transferred back to Sun Hill because he had heard that there was a possibility of a promotion, and it had been snatched out from under his nose again.
He turned to close the door just as the large leather chair swivelled round to face him.
"Alistair? Alistair Greig? What the hell are you doing here?"
A familiar, husky, woman's voice sounded incredulous. Alistair's jaw dropped as he looked at his new D.I. Sitting in front of him was a petite woman with shoulder length light brown hair, direct deep blue eyes and a beautifully curvy body. A body that he had not seen for 14 years.
Alexandra McPherson, or McCleod as she was then, had literally been the girl next door back in Perth. 8 years younger than him, he had known her since he was 11. Despite the age gap, they had cultivated a close friendship as they grew older. She wasn't like most kids, she had her head screwed on. They used to spend time together when he was on vacation from university, where he had been studying law. Both were keen musicians, and Alistair used to take Alex to live gigs. And when he decided to quit university and join the police force, she had been the only one to offer her support.
"Cat got your tongue, boy?" she grinned.
He was stunned to see her again after all this time, let alone as his D.I.! He sat down slowly opposite her, and tried his best to smile. She had certainly changed since she was 18. Gone was the short, boyish crop that he had thought looked so sweet on her, and in was a sleek bob. Her skin was beautifully clear, and he had to stop himself looking at her breasts the way he had when they were younger. Her eyes sparkled mischievously, challenging him the way she always had.
He took a deep breath before speaking.
"Uh, Guv, I'm here to brief you on Jamaica Lane...."
He broke off nervously, unsure of how to act. Alex smiled at him, looking at him from under long, thick lashes.
"Alistair, you didn't answer me... I asked what you were doing here.I meant at Sun Hill. And cut out the Guv crap, I'll always be Alex to you, and you know it."
Alistair looked Alex up and down, his eyes automatically flicking to the third finger of her left hand. No wedding ring, so why the change of surname? Alistair shivered as he felt a familiar rush of desire for Alex.
One of the main reasons that he had left Perth 14 years previously was not only to join the Vice Squad in the Met, but to escape the feelings he had for Alex. He had been 26 years old and Alex had been 18. They'd gone out to a jazz gig one night, and it had been all that Alistair could do not to kiss her. His sense of honor told him that she was just a kid, and, much as he liked her, much as he wanted her, she was off limits. After that evening, he avoided her as much as possible, and when the job in the met came up, he accepted it and left Perth without even saying goodbye to Alex.
He had felt bad about that ever since he had left, but had gotten involved in a long term relationship when he moved to London and had tried to forget Alex. He thought he had managed pretty well until now, when all the old feelings betrayed him once more. He finally dared to look Alex in the eye and smiled as warmly as he could manage.
"Long time no see, huh? I didn't know you'd joined the Force."
Alex got up from her chair and walked around to the other side of her desk, perching herself on the edge next to Alistair. Her voice was soft as she spoke.
"It's good to see you again. I missed you, you know....."
Her soft accent lulled him with thoughts of home and of the last night they had spent together. Alistair looked up at her and almost melted, wanting her every bit as much as he had the last night he had seen her.
"I missed you too, it's.... it's just that I got busy before I left for London, you know how it is. Anyway, you seem to be doing well for yourself."
He smiled again, more genuine this time. Alex looked him directly in the eyes.
"It's because of you I joined the police. You were so passionate about it, I knew it was what I wanted to do. So I graduated with a first in law and joined up in Glasgow."
She got up from the desk, her leg gently brushing against his, and Alistair had to suppress a small moan.
"So. How are you going with Jamaica Lane? Any leads?"
Suddenly, Alex was all business, and Alistair could see why she had made D.I. at the age of 32. She had an air of quiet authority that made people want to do as she asked.
"We've got a detective from Baltimore arriving any time now. They had 4 murders with the same M.O. about 6 months ago, then they stopped and a few weeks later, we had the first one on Jamaica Lane. There are some aspects of what look like VooDoo involved, so I've arranged to see a professor from Imperial College, a Jolie Thibideaux, tomorrow afternoon."
Alistair passed 3 thick case files across the desk to Alex, letting his long, elegant fingers brush against the back of her tiny hand. Almost instantly he regretted it, as she looked at him sharply.
"Thanks, Alistair. Look, if you're not......."
She was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Snatching her hand away, she called out "Come in".
"Sarge, Detective Bayliss is waiting in reception for you."
Tony Stamp almost filled the entire doorway.
"Thanks Tony," murmured Alistair. "Tony, this is D.I. McPherson. She joined us today."
Tony Stamp turned and looked at Alex.
"Pleased to meet you ma'am," before turning on his heel and leaving the small office.
Alex grinned mischievously at Alistair.
"Was I saying something before he came in?"
Alistair blushed slightly.
"Uh, I'm not sure....."
"Anyway, Alistair, I suppose I'd better let you go and talk to Detective Bayliss. When you get back upstairs, if you'd like to bring him in and we can talk about the case over coffee, okay?"
Alistair nodded and opened the door.
"Okay. Oh, and Guv? It's good to see you again," he said, with a hint of a smile as he left the room.
Alex sat down behind her desk, deep in thought. If she hadn't known better, she'd have thought that Alistair was flirting with her. Then again, she was flirting a little too, so where was the harm in that?