When Hathaway returned from his cigarette break, he found Lewis at his desk, reviewing Doctor Cook's post mortem report.

"This report, Sergeant. Something's got to be missing. I wonder if Doctor Hobson would review this for us tomorrow."

"Wouldn't hurt to ask, I suppose."

Lewis picked up the phone handset and speed dialed her mobile.

"Hi, Robbie, what can I do for you?"

"Hey, Laura, I missed you today." A little bit flirty.

Hathaway peeked up from his desk. He was always amused by the way Lewis's face lit up when he was conversing with Doctor Hobson. And the funny part was, Lewis seemed to be completely unaware of her effect on him.

Lewis continued. "We pulled a young girl out of the canal this morning, and since you were on leave, Doctor Cook is playing pathologist on the case."

"I'm sure he'll do fine. Even you can recognize the signs of drowning, I should think."

"I don't doubt that she drowned, but I'm afraid he may have missed something. I was wondering if you could take a look at her tomorrow."

"Missed what?"

"I dunno. Signs of an assault or something of that nature? I just don't trust his work."

A long pause. When she spoke again, her tone had changed considerably.

"Lewis, I . . . No. No. Look, I'm not your personal pathologist, and I'm not going on a fishing expedition for you. I'm officially on leave until the day after tomorrow. You know, even I am entitled to a couple of days off every now and then. And you can't keep asking me to redo every examination Doctor Cook performs. I won't do it."

At that moment, Lewis heard a voice call in the background.

"Laura, come on, we don't want to be late!"

A man's voice.

"I have to go. If there's something specific you want me to take a second look at, let me know in two days. Goodbye, Lewis." And she hung up.

Hathaway had watched as Lewis's face changed like a speeded-up movie of day turning into night. When Lewis hung up the receiver without saying goodbye, James glanced over as if he hadn't already been watching.

"No joy?"

Lewis chewed his lip. "Well, I was told off, wasn't I? Not just 'no' this time, but 'no' from now on."

"I shouldn't worry. You've planted the seed, Sir. Tomorrow she won't be able to let it rest. She'll do a re-exam just to satisfy herself."

"She's still on leave tomorrow. Plus, she'll probably view this as a test of wills with me. She's so bloody competitive."

"And you're not."

Lewis just frowned.

"What's she doing with two days' leave? Something special?"

"Oh, aye, something. She had a gentleman there, I heard him telling her to hurry."

"Ohhhh." Hathaway held in his smirk as well as he could.

"What's that tone for, then?"

"Well, you sound like you might be a bit jealous."

"Jealous?! What, me? Why should I be jealous? I'm not jealous, that's ridiculous."

"I'm just saying you sound jealous." Hathaway's eyes sparkled with the wind-up.

But Lewis was not amused, and storm clouds gathered on his brow. "Look, Sergeant. We seem to keep forgetting something around here. You're supposed to be my subordinate. And as such, you should be refraining from these unprofessional and disrespectful intrusions into my personal life. A bit less insolence and little more deference are in order, I should think. Am I making myself understood?"

Wow. He really had hit a nerve. No trace of his smile remained. "Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir."

o - o - o