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The Quiet Man

Mared sat holding the mug of hot tea as she thought about the events of the last few months. The small sea side town she had grown up in had changed. Now she was a police detective she saw the dark side of the place and she had to admit, sometimes it frightened her.

"DI Rhys."

She looked up as the one man she had been trying not to think about sat on the wall next to her. Unshaven, scruffy with hair that looked like he had just dragged himself out of bed it was safe to say Tomos Mathias wasn't your average copper.

"DCI Mathias."

"Are you alright?" He spoke quietly, staring straight in her eyes. She looked away.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Oh I dunno." Tom smiled. "This no Mark that spent the last ten years up in London with the Met has a bit of bother and ends up back ere, with your job."

"It's not my job. DI is my job." Mared paused as she looked back at him. "And just for your information, not everything is about you." She hopped off the wall, glancing out to sea before walking away. Tom swore under his breath. He didn't want to fall out with the woman. She was the closest thing he had to a friend since he had got back. He jogged after her

"Mared?"

"We have a case. The old children's home. Near Devils Bridge. Remember?"

"Course." Tom fell into step beside her. Mared pretended to ignore him. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Stay here? In Aberystwyth all these years? Why not go somewhere." He watched as her eyebrows shot up.

"Why leave? This is my home."

"There's a big world out there, Mared. More than one police force."

She nodded. "Yes, yes there is and you still came here. Why? If there is such a big world out there did you come home?"

Tom sighed, it was a fair question. He had to admit he was surprised that none of the others had asked him. But then, Mared was different. She watched him for a moment as he collected his thoughts.

"My daughter died."

"Oh. Tom, I didn't know. I'm sorry."

He waved a hand. "It's ok. I have. Had. Two daughters. Hannah and Sarah. My wife, ex wife wanted English names." He looked at the tarmac. Mared rested a hand on his arm.

"You have two daughters. Always will."

He smiled slightly. "You'd have liked my girls. Anyway, my youngest died. She was in an accident." Tears filled his eyes. "Tore me and Meg apart. She's with someone else now. Banned me from seeing Hannah as I'm too destructive."

Mared felt her heart break for the quiet man in front of him. She could tell it was the first time he had spoken of his daughter but she didn't want to push him. He closed his eyes, determined not to make a fool of himself.

"Destructive?"

"Well she's right."

"She's your daughter." Mared was angry on his behalf. This man she wanted to resent had already been through Hell; all she wanted to do was protect him.

"Does your girl see her father?"

Mared tensed, stepping back she resisted the urge to run. She shook her head.

"That's different. I was too young. He wasn't a nice person."

"Neither am I."

"Tom." Mared glared. "Drop it. You would never set out to hurt people. Elin's sperm donor did. That's all he ever was. You and Meg, that's different."

Tom sighed. He knew she was right. He looked up at her before noticing an ice cream van hag parked a few meters from where they stood.

"99? My shout." He pulled his wallet out of his jacket as Mared watched him walk away. "Apology for getting your job."

Mared rolled her eyes. Tomos Mathias was different. The quiet man had landed in her life, upsetting the apple cart and now she couldn't imagine life without him. She just prayed that he would let her in, that one day she'd understand the quiet man and they'd be friends.

Xxxxx