.

.

Losing his temper had been part of the strategy. Losing his temper like this had not really been planned, but Lynley had known Nkata would make sure the argument would be recorded anyway. He also was glad that Nkata was able to manipulate the tapes a bit so that there were no embarassing things on it. In the end O'Connor's statements, even though slightly crackling on that tape, had led to a new series of evidence and a couple of more witnesses and so they finally were able to wrap it up and send him to court. He was sentenced to many long years in prison and Lydia was set free on probation. She only was responsible for helping him clearing his traces. She had done all these little things that had helped him out of unawareness of his true character or what she was helping to blur.

Although she had won her bet Barbara attended the Autumn Garden Party anyway. Lady Asherton, Lynley's mother, had sent her a personal invitation she could not decline. Barbara actually did not regret going to Howenstow. In the end it had turned into a wet and muddy but nonetheless totally enjoyable event they would talk about for years. What they did not talk about was the match she had wanted to see with her boss.

Winter approached and with it the date of the fixture. Another case, one with a whole series of murders, and with the nastiest corpses, held almost the entire Met in its ugly claws. There simply was no time to think about a football match. When it was the day of the clash it already was sold out so they had to wait for the next season or go to Yorkshire to see the return match. Unaware of it meaning to spend at least one night away with him Barbara actually had insisted on that.

Instead of that football match Lynley suddenly had started to invite her for some theatre plays during winter which Barbara surprisingly enjoyed as well. Until the next year they had come to a routine of going to different concerts, plays and movies and had enjoyed more than a dozen of dinners together. Not to mention the wonderful Police Christmas Ball where they even had danced.

If she would not know it better Barbara would say she was dating her boss. And more than once she had thought, yes, almost hoped he would kiss her after he had walked her home. More than once she had felt his arm around her shoulders and had prepared for everything in the last row of seats in the cinema. In the end they always only laughed or smiled and kept their distance.

Their proximity also led to her starting to call him Tommy from time to time. When she was not watching her words it sometimes slipped her lips. When she had done it for the first time Lynley had blurted out a heart-felt "Finally!". Barbara only had looked at him in surprise and both had nervously laughed. He still was her boss and at work she never would dare that.

Spending a lot of private time together had made working with him easier and more difficult at the same time. On one hand they were closer than ever and understood each other better than anybody else. On the other hand she had started to not only realise but confessing it to herself that the former crush on the handsome Earl of Asherton had turned into deeper feelings that were close to falling in love with him. In fact, she decided one evening in February, she already had fallen.

What a mess.

In order to sort her feelings she called in for a few days off. It came in handy that there was no case at the moment anyway. Barbara had to think a lot about the mess that her emotional life had become.

Without Barbara Nkata and Lynley were working through some old cases together in the DI's office. His boss was absent-minded and sort of dreamy all the time so on the second day Winston finally took a heart and addressed him.

"Sir?"

"Huh?" Lynley jerked and almost dropped the coffee mug he had been holding in front of his face for a couple of minutes without a sip from it. His eyes had been concentrating on an imaginary spot on his desk without him recognising it. His ears turned slightly red.

"You can't get her off your mind, can you?"

"What are you talking, Constable?" the DI grumbled hiding his confusion with aimless sorting of files. He knew very well what Nkata implied. He was caught daydreaming.

"She's gone for one day and you already miss her." If Lynley would bite off his head Nkata would not mind. He had kept his thoughts to himself for long enough. These two were visibly so in love and something still was hindering them from finally confessing it. He had to say something. The rules of the Met were not so strict anymore. They should not fear to be separated just because they had slipped into a private relationship and Winston could not think about any other reasons for them to not step over that stupid line they obviously had drawn between each other. "You should tell her, Sir."

To Nkata's surprise Lynley's expression suddenly turned soft. His boss sighed. "Ah, Winston, it's not that easy, you know."

"It's easier than you think. She hadn't told me in words but the feelings Barbara harbours for you are obvious. And the longer you wait the more obvious it will be. And tormenting inside. And it looks as if your feelings for her-"

"I can't. I'm her boss, I'm a bloody earl, I'm a poncy public school boy. I'm everything she dislikes." Tommy groaned distressed.

Nkata gave a laugh. "You're you, Sir. And as much as she had hated everything you represent, as much she had come to like it over the years she's spent with you. Believe me. You should ask her out for dinner or something."

"We already do that."

This made Nkata gape. "No..."

"Even somewhat regularly." Lynley sadly chuckled.

"You date?!" Winston's voice almost hitched.

Tommy shrugged. "Sort of."

"Well, then maybe you could go to some movie with her." Seeing the lopsided grin on Lynley's face which said they also did that made Nkata's eyes open even wider in surprise. There was definitely something interesting going on between the two but he had not seen that they already were dating. He shook his head in disbelief. "Then just tell her." he murmured.

"Mh." Out of shame he had not done that a long time ago the DI just took another file and continued his pretence of reading. His Constable understood the topic was closed and Lynley would not want to talk about it any more so he also feigned interest in what was still unsolved and the men kept their noses hidden in the files for several minutes.

Suddenly Nkata had to chuckle.

"What else?" Of course Lynley had not read any word at all. His mind still was orbiting around Barbara.

"Just a thought..." The Constable continued to grin.

"Nkata! Say it!"

"You could simply kiss her when you're at the cinema the next time. You know how it works. Tickets for the last row, picking a romantic mov-"

"Bollocks! We're no teenagers, Winston!" Lynley returned his fake attention to the Manila folder in his hands. He already had tried that last row seating trick but had found himself too scared to go on after he had placed his arms around Barbara's shoulder and had felt her straightening her back and becoming tense. Although she had not looked angry and had not shaken his arm off he still had thought he had gone too far.

"Hm. It's February, Sir." Winston shook him out of his reverie again.

"Meaning what?"

"Valentine's Day."

"No..."

"Why not?"

"You mean, I should give her chocolate and roses? She'd say it's clichéd."

"Then maybe a simple card?" Nkata openly grinned at his boss who was shaking his head. Lynley obviously was deeper in love with Barbara than he would confess, he thought, or else he never would have that conversation with him. He would try to tickle his boss into something he would not be able to get out easily. "Ah, I see. I think you're too cowardish."

"And I think you're overstepping the lines, Constable."

Winston knew he already was deep in trouble so why not make the most of it. "With all due respect, Sir, I bet you're not even daring to send her an anonymous Valentine card."

"What if I do?"

"I'll come to work in a bunny costume at Easter." Winston's nasty grin turned even broader. "But if you don't, then you'll come like that."

Lynley laughed out loud. An anonymous card would be an easy thing. And maybe he could give a subtle but clear hint. Or even tell... or... or maybe an anonymous card would do for the time being. He held out his arm across the desk for his Constable to shake hands on it.

"We have a deal, Winston."

.

...