Barbara had in fact organised two adjoining apartments in one of the newer hotel blocks. Butlins had changed a lot over the years and was hardly the chalet style camp made famous by the Carry On movies. "You and Winston can stay in the two bedroom apartment and I'll stay in the one bedroom next door," she said as they parked the car and walked to their block.

Winston and Lynley both looked horrified. "Maybe you would be more comfortable staying in the single Sir and I can stay with Barbara in the double." Winston clearly did not want to share with Lynley.

Tommy shot him a withering look. He did not want Barbara sharing an apartment with Winston, even if they would be in separate rooms. "I think that might defeat the purpose Nkata, aren't you two supposed to be protecting me?"

Winston looked resigned to his fate and Barbara was having another of those silent conversations with Lynley. Her face was saying, "It wouldn't look right if I share with you," and his was saying, "I don't care!" Lynley had had enough. "Havers can stay in the spare room in my apartment and you can be next door." It was clearly an order and all three were pleased.

They settled in and Barbara sent Winston into Brighton to ring Hillier and to bring back some supplies. It was an hour drive each way and she thought that was far enough to throw anyone off the scent. She was confident Lynley was in no immediate danger. After he left she and Lynley started to go through old cases trying to find someone with a grudge. There were no immediate suspects and no one had been recently released from prison, but there were also many people who could have wanted him dead. They were still at it when Winston returned but had made no real progress. The smell of the Indian takeaway was good and soon the three of them were devouring a delicious Tandoori chicken and rice. They would have liked a beer but not while someone might be out there trying to kill Lynley.

Tommy looked tired and asked Barbara to fetch him some painkillers. He would like to rest for a while. Winston took his leave. He and Barbara agreed she would take the first shift and he would sit with Lynley tomorrow while she slept.

Tommy lay on his bed and she arranged his pillows to be comfortable. His shoulder was obviously troubling him and the painkillers had not kicked in. She cursed herself for forgetting to give them to him earlier today. Some nurse she made forgetting his medication.

"Thank you Barbara."

"For what Sir?" she replied absentmindedly sitting on the bed next to him.

"Everything; especially looking after me. I feel foolish about what I said last night but I also feel a lot better having told you. "

"Have you worked out what it was about?" Why did I ask that? He doesn't have to tell me that.

"Yes, I did. I love you." He reached over and with his bruised hand pulled her towards him and kissed her. It was gentle but urgent and he felt her respond. He could no longer deny what he felt for Barbara. She meant the world to him and he regretted not knocking on her door the other night and telling her just as he had planned.

Barbara leapt up almost shouting at him, "What the …" She was angry. She was trying to help him and he did that to her. How dare he? And his timing was appalling. And she knew she had started to kiss him back. Now he will know how I feel!

She tried to calm herself. "Look Sir I know you have had a bad week but the painkillers have addled you brain. We can forget this happened and tomorrow just go back to normal."

"But I don't want to forget what happened, and I don't think you do either Barbara." He had scared her he knew but he could not pretend any longer.

"Yes, I do. I am going to go to my room now and we ARE going to forget this, this, whatever it was. Things are complicated enough." She turned and left the room.

"Barbara wait," Tommy called after her but he knew she would not come back. You are an idiot Lynley!

She threw herself onto her bed and cried. She wanted to run back into his arms but that was futile. He did not really love her and now he knew she loved him. Their ordered world was crumbling around her. Her main job was to keep him alive – just long enough to kill him herself.