Barbara swore as she threw her bag onto the table then went to her cupboard and found the bottle of Irish whiskey she kept for Tommy. She shook her head at the irony as she poured herself a large finger. There was closer to three nips when she held the glass up to the light and looked at the amber liquid. He would not need the bottle again so she intended to finish it - the faster, the better.

She had not read the file. Tommy would have his facts correct. He would never have endangered their friendship if he had not been confident that David was playing her for a fool. Fire burned her throat as she downed the whiskey in two furious gulps. "How do you drink this stuff?"

It annoyed her that Tommy dominated her thoughts. She had felt foolish and had lashed out, wanting to hurt him. She had needed him to feel as bad as she had at that moment, but his eyes had told her he hated himself for what he had done. Visions of him sitting in his chair drinking himself to oblivion filled her mind. He had believed she despised him and that hurt her more than learning about David ever could. Nothing could ever make her hate Tommy. She had been angry at herself for being gullible, but Barbara knew she would have done exactly what Tommy had done. She would have risked their friendship to save him from ruin. In fact, on occasion she had, and she hoped he would understand that she forgave him just as he had always forgiven her.

She had suspected herself that David was not who he claimed to be. His flattery had been sweet for a while, and she had wanted to believe that someone was attracted to her. Initially, it had been nice to find physical comfort in his arms. She had even wanted to try to love him in the hope that one day it would overtake her love for Tommy. It never would, and it had been misguided to try. She loved Tommy in a way she could never love any other man.

She knew he cared for her as a friend and had wanted to protect her. If only he cared about her in the way she loved him. What they had was enough. It had to be. She could never let him go. She sighed and decided to ring her boss to apologise after she had despatched David, who would arrive any minute.

Her doorbell went promptly at seven. This was going to be a quick conversation. "Good evening, darling," Cantree said as she opened the door.

He had flowers which made her feel cheap. Reason vanished as her anger flared. "I know all about you David. I'm not the easy mark you think I am. Don't come near me again or I'll have you charged." She tried to slam the door in his face.

"No, you won't," he growled as he pushed the door. He wedged his foot in the jamb and forced his way into her flat.

"No David, leave now or I'll call the police."

"And have everyone at work know what an inexperienced, lovesick fool you were? I doubt that."

For all her Aikido training, Barbara did not anticipate the punch. She doubled over in pain and struggled for air. Another blow to the side of her head distorted her hearing. The world seemed upside down as she stumbled then toppled sideways. As she lay on the ground, he kicked her hard in her shoulder. Cantree had aimed for her head, but she had rolled slightly to avoid his swinging boot. She tried to make herself a smaller target by contracting into the foetal position. The kicks were swift and savage. Her right arm felt numb, but when he stopped, she fought her way to her knees. David's eyes were wild with rage as he struck her across her face. The edge of his signet ring gouged her cheek. Tears mingled with her blood as she fell again to the floor, defeated and uncaring. He hovered over her and shouted obscenities before his foot then lashed out again at her head. As the world faded, she hoped the end was swift. Forgive me Tommy...

Her vision was blurred but she could just see her watch. It was almost eight o'clock. Barbara used the table to pull herself to her feet. Her bag was one the floor. Her purse was opened. The four hundred pounds she had withdrawn from the bank to pay for her long weekend away with David was gone. She checked her emergency money in the sugar tin. That hundred pounds was also missing. Oddly, Barbara was more annoyed at the sugar strewn across her kitchen.

She had not expected David to be violent, or she would never have opened the door. She grabbed Lynley's file and read quickly through the charges. She swore at her stupidity then collapsed into a chair. She wished Tommy had told her everything. Her hands were shaking and she felt cold. Shock was setting in and she had no idea how badly she was injured. Her bag was still in her hand and she fished out her mobile. Instinctively she pushed the speed dial. It rang twice before she remembered her argument with Lynley. She could hardly ring him now and expect him to come running if he was even sober enough. She hung up and threw her phone against the wall. Barbara yelled a series of expletives then headed for the sanctuary of her bed.

Tommy had driven around before going home. He had even walked up Primrose Hill and sat for an hour thinking about what a mess he had made of his love life and how he had squandered so many opportunities to approach Barbara about his feelings. When he had cursed loudly, an elderly lady at the other end of the bench rebuked him. He smiled, some of her bad habits had worn off on him.

Once he was home, he had lost interest in drinking himself to death. Instead, as he sipped his regular nightcap, he began to think about ways to slowly win back Barbara's trust. He was not going to give up on their friendship, and with time he hoped he could convince her that he could offer her love, in any form she needed.

Lynley heard his phone just as he returned from the bathroom. It rang once more before stopping. He looked at the screen. One missed call from Barbara. He waited for the voicemail beep, but none came. He poured another drink. It was unexpected for her to ring so soon after their argument and he hoped it was a good sign. He placed his glass back on his sideboard and began to pace his room trying to decide his next move.

After ten minutes he rang her phone. It went straight to voicemail. A little voice in the back of his head began to whisper dark thoughts. He waited another ten minutes and tried again. Her phone was turned off, which heightened his concern. Despite his intention to allow her time and space, Tommy grabbed his keys. The phone call may have been a mistake by Barbara. He knew how easy it was to hit the wrong button. There was probably a simple explanation, but he could not shake the feeling that she needed him.

There was a light inside her flat. He approached the door slowly and noticed it was ajar. "Barbara!" When there was no answer he pushed it open and stepped inside, closing it after him so that he would hear anyone trying to escape. He called her name again as he stepped into her lounge room. A muffled noise came from her bedroom. The hair stood up on the back of his neck. Items were knocked over and it was obvious there had been a struggle. Tommy grabbed a candlestick from her table. It was hideous but heavy. For once, he was glad of her dubious taste as he trod carefully towards the bedroom.

"Barbara?" He cautiously pushed open the door.

She was huddled in the centre of her bed, pressed against the headboard. Her knees were drawn up to her chest, and when she heard him, she screamed then buried her face between her knees.

"Barbara! It's Tommy." He did not need to be a first-rate detective to see Barbara had been beaten.

"Go away. Please."

"Is he still here?"

"No."

Lynley dropped the candlestick and climbed onto the bed beside her. He fought his need to go out and kill Cantree. "You're safe now," he said as he embraced her, "no one else will hurt you." He did not try to change her position, he simply put his arms around her knees and shoulders and pulled her against him. Very gently he laid his face on her head.

"How?" she asked, "why are you here?"

She did not sound angry. "You rang and I was worried. Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Barbara shook her head but lost some of the tension in her body. She allowed herself to lean into him. Tommy had to ask. "Barbara, did he... molest you?"

A strangled cry filled the awkward silence. "No, not like that."

Tommy held her for several minutes. He would have stayed there forever if he needed to keep her safe. Slowly she began to uncoil. When she lifted her face, he gasped. An ugly purple bruise covered her swollen right cheek. Her face was covered in sticky, half-dried blood. She winced when he stroked her shoulder. "Come on, we have to get you to a hospital."

"No!" Barbara struggled violently to break his embrace but Tommy held on.

"Barbara, be sensible, you might have internal injuries."

"Get out! No hospital."

Tommy grabbed her flailing arms as gently as he could. "No hospital," he said, "but will you let me look at your injuries just so I know you're okay?"

"I feel so..."

"Sore?"

"Humiliated. He manipulated me and I fell for his charm even though I didn't really like him and he wasn't... then I was angry that you knew I'm an idiot and then I said horrid things to you and now you hate me and I hate me and I don't blame you and..."

She was babbling and shaking, clearly in shock. All his training about victim care meant nothing when it was your loved ones. Tommy was angry - with Cantree, with himself and even with Barbara for exposing herself to danger. He knew he had to stay calm and focused. He pulled her into a tighter embrace. "Shh, I don't hate you. I could never hate you. None of that matters, Barbara. The important thing is that you're safe now and Cantree can never hurt you again."

"He took money from the house."

"How much?"

"About five hundred pounds."

"Let me ring Winston. We'll file a report and get him charged."

"No!" She began to struggle again.

"It's your choice Barbara, but he should be punished or he'll find more victims."

"I can't, Sir. I know I should but I'd be the laughing stock of the force."

"No one will laugh, I promise."

"No. I can't."

Tommy rocked her gently in his arms as he softly stroked her head. "I would never force you if you are uncomfortable."

They stayed sitting on her bed for a long time. Slowly her shivering subsided. "I'm sorry, Sir."

"Don't be. This wasn't your fault Barbara."

"You tried to warn me and I said horrible things."

"I was only trying to protect you from this."

"I didn't mean them, Tommy."

"I know." A warm, cosy feeling washed over him hearing that she had did not hate him. Then he realised she had called him by name. He held her more tightly and buried his face in her hair.