A/N: Once again, thank you so much for the reviews! Third chapter already (two updates within one day? I must be crazy!) and still going strong.
III.
The murder scène wasn't pretty. Then again, it obviously never was.
"Lafferty?"
"Victim is a forty two year old Caucasian male. Name is Paul Jones. Multiple stab wounds to the chest. Estimated time of death… Somewhere around midnight, although autopsy should give me a better estimate."
Lynley frowned and looked at Havers.
"What else do we know about him?"
"Uhm…"
She checked her note book.
"Apparently he has never been married and has no living relations, except for a younger brother. Works for a local bank."
He nodded, lost in thought.
"Any leads?"
"Forensics are still working on it but the neighbours" – she pointed at an elderly couple who were observing everything curiously – "claimed they saw a man walking about."
"Good. Let's go talk to them, then."
x x x x x x
The couple greeted them greedily. Lynley pulled out his ID.
"Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers."
The elderly woman nodded.
"It's terrible! Terrible! Mr. Jones was such a friendly man. I hope he hasn't suffered."
The woman brought her handkerchief to her eyes. Havers lifted an eyebrow.
"Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary?"
The man pointed at the house.
"He had company yesterday, I saw it with me very own eyes! It was a young man."
He shook his head.
"Youth these days… You can't trust any single one of them!"
"Howard…"
The older woman hushed him. Lynley felt impatient.
"Can you describe him?"
"He was tall alright!"
Lynley was in anticipation, but nothing came.
"… Anything else?"
"Well don't look at me! I was just getting ready for me bed. It was dark outside!"
The old man mumbled something but the woman pulled him with her, making a apologising gesture. Havers turned to Lynley.
"Well, he has just described ninety-nine percent of all males in London. It's like a needle in a hay stack."
"I know, but so far it's all we got."
"Let's go inform the brother."
x x x x x x
"Dead?"
"I'm afraid so, mr. Jones."
Barry Jones fell back on the couch.
"Do you know why anyone would harm him?"
"Of course not! He was the best brother I could ever wish for! A friend to everyone, he…"
He started to sob.
"I'm sorry, I…"
Lynley and Havers glared at each other.
"It's alright," Havers sat down next to him.
He looked up at her, tears burning in his eyes.
"He is the only family I have left. He takes, took, care of me…"
x x x x x x
As they left the grandeur of the house, Lynley sighed.
"What do you think Havers?"
"He seems fragile, but he sure lives in a better life standard than his older brother."
"Hmm…"
They climbed into the Bristol. Lynley shrugged.
"Well, we definitely have to find more witnesses. And look for motives."
Havers nodded.
"They're still working on the house, hopefully they find some fingerprints and DNA."
x x x x x x
That evening Lynley tried to settle down and not think about the case, which seemed unsolvable. But cases always looked like that in the beginning and he had to admit that he found it daring if he was presented with so little clues. Do some extra digging, good police work…
The doorbell rang. Lynley was awoken roughly from his slumbering and turned off the TV. He walked to the front and opened the door.
"Lindsay?"
His mouth dropped in surprise.
"Hello," she smiled.
"I believe you still own me dinner."
Lynley grinned and let her in. After a change of clothes (since he had to match up with her fancy black dress) they drove off. Thirty minutes later they found themselves in one of the most luxurious restaurants of London.
"Now this is what I call dinner," Lindsay laughed.
"Cheers."
He noticed her hand was trembling.
"You're shaking."
She looked down.
"Yes, well, it was a little cold outside, seeing as I am barely wearing anything…"
She lowered her voice on the last part of the sentence. It sent chills down Lynleys spine. He decided that he had been worried for nothing. She had come back to him. It didn't matter anymore now. She had enchanted him, taking him away with her spell.
"So," he said as he lifted the glass of red wine to his lips, "how did you find me?"
"Inspector, inspector. Surely you too, know plenty of ways to track down a person."
They both laughed and it proved to be a quality evening.
x x x x x x
The next morning Lynley watched her as she woke. She looked at him and smiled.
"Thank God, I thought you might have sneaked away from me again."
"In my own house?"
He leaned towards her and kissed her. She started to giggle and pulled him between the sheets.
x x x x x x
As he was reading the morning newspaper she finally came down, her hair rolled in a towel on top of her head. She winked at him and teasingly acted if she had to pick something up from the floor to reveal a little bit of what hid beneath her dress. He laughed and softly hit her with the newspaper.
"I'm terrible sorry, but I have to go our I'll be late for work."
He embraced her and kissed her on her head.
"So soon? That's no fun!"
Lynley laughed.
"Yes well, here has been a murder."
Her eyes grew wide.
"Murder?"
"Yes, in the South of London."
Her eyes grew even wider. He kissed her forehead.
"Don't worry, we'll have the case wrapped up before you know it. We'll catch who ever did it and lock him away safely. Go on, eat your eggs before they get cold. The door will lock automatically. I'll see you tonight!"
Then he stepped outside. The sun was shining bright and he felt all his trouble melt away. Finally there was something good about his life.