Prologue

"You don't know what a real relationship is!"

Alex Drake gestured with her wine glass, spilling half of the contents over the immaculate white table cloth.

"All you want is the little woman to wash your underpants, clean your house and make sure your dinner's on the table at six."

"How do you know what I want? You weren't bloody married to me!"

"Thank God!"

"And how long were you married? Ten minutes? I managed fifteen years!"

"To some poor little housewife who didn't know any better!"

Neither of them could remember how the argument had started. It had also escaped their notice that they were in Luigi's and not in the relative privacy of Gene Hunt's office. Even Ray was embarrassed by their behaviour.

"You wouldn't last five days in a proper relationship!"

"Bet I would!"

"Bet you wouldn't."

It was true that they were both slightly the worse for alcohol and they'd had a shit day. The only way they knew how to cope was by shouting at each other.

"How much?"

Gene leaned towards her and Alex took a sip of her wine.

"Whatever you want," she breathed.

He seemed to contemplate her offer for a moment, swirling the whiskey around in his glass.

"One night. You and me."

"If you stay for five days… if you buggar off then…"

"Then what?"

"I want the Quattro."

Silence. CID held their collective breaths.

"Don't do it, Guv," Ray warned, "No bird's worth giving up that car."

But Gene wasn't listening. He just smiled and clinked his glass against Alex's.

"You've got yourself a deal Bols."