Author's note: Thank you again for all of your kind reviews for my Lost Love stories. I know I said I was finished with TCOT Lost Love, so apologies if you have read enough about this movie! This two-parter should really be the last in the saga as it covers Paul Drake Jnr and Glen Robertson. Kaleen1212 requested the story from Glen's point of view, but before that, I thought we should also hear from Paul Drake. As the PI, he doesn't really know Laura so he can speak as he finds about her, but he can also observe Della and Perry very closely

Hope you like this, and Chapter 2 (Glen)

Paul Drake Junior

I enjoy working for Perry.

Well, I do and I don't.

Since he returned from San Francisco for Della's case, he has been very tough on me – which is ok – I can handle that. He is the best attorney there is because he is a stickler for detail and dedicated to his case, and so it's only natural that he expects the same from me. I aim high too..

So the pressure is something I can handle, but I'm sure I should be paid danger money for the risks I take. In the Robertson case, I've been beaten up several times and seen the inside of a police station more than a Private Investigator ought to. I don't think Perry quite understands at times that I take risks and that I'm only flesh and bone – not indestructible. I do get hurt. A lot! I much prefer to be able to do my job without feeling like some guy's punch bag – I have my handsome good looks to think of after all!

I'm used to Perry being serious on a case, and having tunnel-vision, but this case was different. I didn't know what it was at first – when I met up with him at the Denver court building, I joked about him losing his client and he did not see the funny side. At all. I thought it was a temporary bad mood when Della just rolled her eyes affectionately at me, but that mood never completely lifted. It was as though the tension in the air was never going to be resolved. I was pleased with Della's welcome though –she is always happy to see me and the feeling is mutual – she and her smile always brighten up my day.

When the mood gets too dark, or bleak, I see it as my job to inject some light-heartedness into the situation, although I'm pleased to say that this case also brought its own humour – a bookie called 'Batman'

You've just got to love that! It even made the stern Mr Mason smile – if you looked carefully enough!

Anyway, Della explained who Laura really was – and why Perry was so close to this case. This was something the man himself was not going to go into, and so I respected his privacy. Although truth be told, I was curious – and still am – about his life before Della. Just what was it about Laura Robertson that still lingered after all these years?

There were occasions when I wondered whether this case was causing problems between Perry and Della as there were times when she was unusually quiet or diffident, or looked highly strung, and where Perry was more distant or grumpy than usual. After all the return of Perry's old flame can't have been too comfortable for Della – or Perry. How they walked that tightrope, I just don't know, but I respect them both too much to pry too deeply into their relationship. I just hope that if she has felt hurt, that he makes it up to her, quickly. He's too smart a man to risk losing Della after all that has happened in this case.

As for Laura Robertson, what a manipulative, lying piece of work she was! Who kills someone, however accidentally, and neglects to report it? Just leaves the body there and then stands by when their own husband is accused of the murder? I'm annoyed because I was taken in – Perry was so sure that she was as pure as the driven snow, that I was doing all I could to help them – including receiving some nasty blows in the process. All the while she is sitting back having cosy chats with Perry and conveniently not mentioning that she knew precisely what happened that night. She's an attorney, she's not ignorant of the law, and if she had a case of self-defence she should have come clean, if not at that time, then when Glen was charged. Letting him go to trial was cruel and selfish – I hope no-one ever 'loves' me enough to do that to me!

I hear that Glen is standing by his wife – clearly more that she deserves. He must be dumber than he looks or still held under some spell. After what she's done, I just don't know if I admire the man for being able to forgive her, or despair at his naivety.

I'll admit, I've grown up a little bit during this case. I'd spent so much of my time lately wondering about my ex-girlfriend Linda, half hoping I would run into her again, and half hoping that I didn't. Della knew me well enough to know that I could see some advantages in rekindling that romance again for the duration of my stay there. How selfish I was. When I did finally meet Linda on the street, I was shocked to see her heavily pregnant, and with a toddler in a push chair. I felt a cold sweat cover me as I wondered how old the baby was and whether it was mine. I'd recently told Perry that we split three years ago and that it was "practically a lifetime ago" and I could have been right! Could I have left her pregnant? If so, that would be unforgiveable and I would be very ashamed of my behaviour. Then I realised that the baby was too young and wasn't mine, confirmed by the looks she was giving me, and she emphasised how she had moved on very quickly after I left, and was now very settled and happily married.

It was a relief after the shock of what could have been, but afterwards I still felt a twinge that my pride had been hurt. I'd been telling Perry and Della what a heartbreaker I was, and yet clearly I'd been deluding myself – she had quickly found a better man who appreciated her. I had been thinking about her those last few weeks, feeling sorry for her, while she had clearly not given me a second thought in all that time. That was a sobering thought, as was the realisation that I needed to be more careful and thoughtful with women.

But back to the case...

I always enjoy the successful conclusion of a case, when Perry, Della and I can release that collective breath we've been holding since the beginning, and then celebrate. This case was different though – the atmosphere was tainted and an outsider would think we'd lost. They'd definitely think that if they saw Perry as the court cleared.

After Glen's case was dismissed and I had fixed up a date with the new Linda in my life, I was all prepared to rejoin Perry but the smile left my face as I saw him sitting there in the courtroom – alone and brooding. Della had left, probably to finalise the paperwork of the case with the court clerks, and they were just tidying up around him. I don't remember seeing him so sad before. During Della's trial he was focussed and alert, filled with determination that she would be cleared, but this thoughtful introspection was not something I was familiar with, and was probably not meant to see.

Under other circumstances, I would have tried to talk with him, man to man, or try to coax him out of his mood with some humour, but I knew that I couldn't. There was nothing I could say that would show I could comprehend what he was feeling. I'd been strutting around for weeks thinking how I'd broken my ex-girlfriend's heart three years ago, and felt slighted to discover she was happily married and had moved on from me very quickly. My pride was hurt at how little she was affected by our break-up, but that was nothing compared to the enormity of what Perry's ex-girlfriend Laura has done to him.

The two scenarios are oceans apart. Linda meant very little to me but Laura clearly had meant a lot to Perry I've now seen Perry as more human and vulnerable than I had imagined him to be; and that has only increased my respect and love for him – making me even more determined than ever to live up to his expectations. I'll make him proud.

When we were all back home after the case, I could sense that the tension that had existed between them during the case had mostly been resolved. Della's disposition was sunny again, and even Perry looked more relaxed. Because of this, I felt that it was time to have a man to man chat. I drew him out to the garden whilst Della was preparing some tea, and made sure we were out of her hearing. "Look Perry, you are the smartest man I know" I started. "You sifted through the evidence, you found motives and deceptions going back years in this case – and don't forget we actually found Batman!. You got your client acquitted even though his wife had been concealing the truth all along, and you also managed to lay the cornerstone of her defence in her forthcoming trial. You are truly amazing!"

Perry looked a little embarrassed at the praise, but then I sighed and added "But for a smart man, you can be so incredibly dumb at times!" and he looked at me in puzzlement and a little annoyance. I tried to keep a poker face and rolled my eyes and sighed "I mean, what sane man leaves his ex-girlfriend and his current love in the same room together? Alone? Now Perry, everyone knows that is a disaster waiting to happen!" I shook my head in mock despair, then added significantly "who knows what they were saying behind your back!"

At first he looked quizzical, then understanding dawned – I bet he's wondering now what they did say! He loves a good mystery!

He also had the decency to look sheepish "Oh, you know about that?" he muttered as he reflexively looked back at the house – no doubt wondering if Della was watching us. Actually, I wonder if he realises how much he does that. I mean looking around to see Della.

I nodded, and said that Della had mentioned it, but reassured him that she didn't say any more about it – which is true. The way he looked at me, he knew that I was being light hearted but that also, reading between the lines, he could see that he had been thoughtless about Della and that it hadn't gone unnoticed. We shared a look that meant we wouldn't refer to that again – we wouldn't need to. I know he loves and adores Della, and also know that he will regret causing her any pain or distress, however unintentional it may have been. They will be fine – I love them both and have absolute faith in them.