Stuart held the envelope between his hands and stared at it. His mouth felt dry and his pulse was racing. So much was riding on the contents. He turned it over and put it down on the desk in front of him. Damn. He just had to reach over for that letter opener and slit the flap.
He'd interviewed for the post before they'd left New York. Even before he knew he and Craig would be a couple. Which was crazy, but since Stuart Turner rarely did anything even remotely crazy, he supposed he was entitled. No one knew. Not even Craig. Stu couldn't take the chance that it wouldn't happen.
New York had been a revelation, and he realised that he had come home. Meeting Craig had only confirmed it.
If it was a no, it wasn't really a problem, he and Craig had made a commitment to each other. Stu's flat was up for sale and they were still headed back to New York, it would be more difficult, but if necessary Stu would leave the service. If it was a yes, well that was a whole different ballgame. Damn. He reached out for the letter opener, grasped it firmly, and slit the flap.
He got as far as pulling the folded paper out of the envelope. His fingers were trembling. Shit. He took a deep breath and put his hand firmly down on the desk, stilling the quivering of his fingers. When the moment passed, he opened the paper out and looked at it.
He read it through three times, his heart pounding, joy zipping through his veins. The job was his and a whole world of possibilities just opened up before him. Hurriedly he checked his watch, the five hour time difference. He wanted to ring right then and there to accept. Somehow he doubted that the man he needed to speak to arrived in the office at 0400.
He'd already put his papers in to the Met, he was leaving with Craig in six weeks, now he had a job to go to. More than that, he had a job which gave him the freedom to do certain things, including selecting his right hand man. That was something that he'd discussed at interview, how he would go about selecting a team. He looked at his watch again and wondered. Would Jo be angry if he interfered? She'd helped him, could he help her?
He picked up his phone. Pressed the message button. Call Me. He scrolled down his phone list until he hit the number. Hitting send before he had time to think twice.
One good turn did deserve another, and he could see Jo wasn't happy. Perhaps the offer he was about to make would change that. Perhaps he was counting his chickens, but suddenly taking a risk seemed like an attractive option. His world had become a lot brighter, maybe he could do it for his friends too.
Millie Brown lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. This feeling often came to her in the middle of the night, right place, right job but a hole in her life. A Jo sized hole. Millie arched her back, rolling onto her side continuing the stretch, loving the feel of the Egyptian cotton sheets against her bare skin, but acutely aware there was no one on the other side of the bed.
Four a.m. She turned her thoughts from her empty love life to the case file sitting on her desk. Her five year career in the Met had given her all the tools at her fingertips. She supposed she should really be thanking Max Carter, just the few times they'd worked together had helped convince her, the Met was not where her future lay. The investigator job for the insurance company was a natural fit. They were so pleased with her, in six months they'd fast tracked her to a new post. More money, stability and a new life.
Millie had accepted with joy, and turned her back on her old life with but one regret. Never having had the courage to talk to Jo about her feelings.
The quiet beep from her cellphone announced an incoming message. Puzzled, Millie rolled over to pick it up. Call me.
For a second her fingers trembled as she pondered the significance of the text. She put the phone down on the bedside unit, and rolled out of bed. She wrapped herself in the top sheet as she came to the window.
A chance meeting, a dinner invitation, several more meetings, ex-pats seeking each other's company. A common ground found and shared.
Admitting what was in her heart, and knowing that he understood. He had the same problem.
Damn. She looked out of her window as the dawn sunlight poured onto the East River.
Jo watched Max warily. Max's occasional clinical detachment she could understand, Max's misogynistic ways she could well do without. Her team were not particularly impressed and the tension when Carter walked into the room could be cut with a knife.
Even Mickey looks depressed. Jo eyed her friend with some concern. He glanced across at her, and the troubled look in his eyes worried her. She frowned, a minute shake of his head and she glanced away.
Where did it all go wrong? Jo concentrated on Max Carter. She hated the sneer in his voice, it was undermining the troops, but deep inside she was horribly afraid he was right. The team had been losing confidence for a while, and everyone seemed powerless to stop it. Even top brass! She had known Lisa Kennedy for years and until recently had admired Lisa's guts and determination to succeed.
Lisa's sudden appearance at Sunhill had not been good for unity or trust. Jack Meadows' natural gift for handling his people seemed to wither under her interference.
Jo knew she had the confidence and support of her team, but that they were adrift and floundering as politics seemed to be overwhelming the management. She tuned Max out for a moment and studied the faces in front of her, Roger, Nate, Mel, Leon, Ben... they all seemed so subdued. Jo was at a loss how to help them.
How could she help them, when she couldn't even help herself?
She thought about Stuart. He'd taken the plunge, risked his heart for love and he'd won. She had dinner with him and Craig the night before.
The tender affection between her best friend and his lover made her think of an earlier, happier time and Millie.
The one that got away... no... that wasn't it. Jo sighed quietly. It wasn't it at all. They'd had their moments. Several of them. More than would be normal between colleagues, or friends... that frisson of sensuality that flickered around the edges of most of their encounters. Jo had always held back. Then it was too late and Millie had gone. Leaving a sense of what might have been behind her.