Robbie Lewis had always been guarded when sharing information about his kids, even with Hathaway. His daughter Lyn came up in conversation here and there, but his son was another matter. When Sergeant Maddox had casually asked about Lewis' progeny as a matter of getting acquainted, he had said that our Ken sold mobile phones in Australia. As Hathaway discovered in his cursory Google search, our Ken did a lot more than sell mobiles. He was the vice-president of a company that worked on expanding mobile phone service to remote parts of Australia and internationally. It appeared that the firm had an important presence in Africa as well. Progress, Hathaway thought somewhat sarcastically. He was unable to envision the mansion sprawling over the Australian plain where Ken Lewis answered his phone.

"This is Detective Inspector Hathaway from the Oxfordshire police."

"Hathaway? Dad's bagman."

Hathaway wanted to object and state that he was a DI in his own right now, but he resisted the urge to correct the younger Lewis by clearing his throat. "I have to ask you something; have you had any contact with a journalist named Hugo Blayne?"

"Well done, Hathaway. I see why dad is so fond of you."

"Why did you do it, Ken?"

"He really upset our Lyn, going back to work. She was just getting used to him being a part of her life again, regular visits with wee Jack and all. And then he had to go re-enlist, probably to prove his virility to his young paramour. Now don't get me wrong, I am rather fond of Laura. I'm just saying that mum's idea of a wild night out was getting out the crochet hooks with her knitting bee. I'm afraid that our dad can't keep up with someone as exciting as Laura Hobson."

"To be honest, Laura'd actually be happier if he'd stayed home."

"Ah, consensus." Ken Lewis said.

"For the record, your father returned to work because he is one of the most trusted detectives in Oxford."

"Yeah, I'm sure he is- until he isn't." Ken Lewis then proceeded to shock Hathaway with his arrogance. "Look, I can tell that you realise by now that my dad and I are very different. Dad never got ahead being a public servant. He and mum had to scrimp and save for everything they had. I don't want to be like that, taking orders from an old coot like Morse, or Strange, or whatever her name is- Chastity? Prudence? I don't know."

"Innocent. Like the pope." Hathaway supplied.

"Yeah, my dad, he loves that yes ma'am, no ma'am routine. He should have left well enough alone and stayed retired. But he went looking for trouble, and I meant to see that he found it."

"I'll say. Graham Lawrie is dangerous, and we don't want to help his case any. Do us all a favour and stay out of it now."

"Right. Anything else I can do for you, detective?"

"Do you want to come clean to your father or shall I tell him myself?"

"Be my guest, Hathaway."

Hathaway dreaded that conversation.

After a brief word to Innocent, Hathaway headed to the hospital to confront Lewis with the truth. There was no sense in waiting for the right moment like he had tried to do with the Simon Monkford affair. No, he would tell Lewis right away. Hathaway poked his head into Pamela Carson's room and beckoned Lewis with a nod.

"Any joy with Carson?" He asked when Lewis joined him in the corridor. The two men sat down in the chairs along the wall.

Lewis cocked his head to indicate mixed results. "She admits to killing PC Travis and to the attempted attack on Maddox, but she's mum on Lawrie's involvement. She won't share about the original murders, but I am working on her." Lewis noticed Hathaway's expression and asked, "What is it, man?"

"Maddox and I found Blayne's source for that bloody article, I'm afraid." Hathaway started. Lewis raised his eyebrows. "It was Ken. I'm sorry, Robbie."

"Our Kenny?" Lewis asked in disbelief. Hathaway nodded to confirm.

"At least it wasn't a fellow police officer spreading rumours." Hathaway tried to mitigate the blow.

"No, it just means that I've failed as a copper and even worse- as a father."

"No, Robbie, it's just an attention stunt."

Lewis was visibly shaken and was having a hard time controlling his emotion. He needed to excuse himself before he broke down. "You should continue with Pamela Carson. Maybe you'll have better luck than me. I'm no use to anyone right now." Lewis walked away without a backwards glance.

Hathaway, against his better judgment, let Lewis go.

Hathaway beavered away on the case for hours that afternoon, but he found that he couldn't get Lewis off his mind. He knew that Lewis regarded him as a second son as much as Hathaway himself looked to Lewis as a surrogate father. Hathaway left a crate of evidence on his desk and decided to pick up a six pack of Lewis' favourite brew before heading over to Lewis' home. When Hobson opened the door, she was surprised to see Hathaway, waving beer at her.

"Hi Laura. I thought I'd come by and try to cheer him up."

"I haven't seen him all day, James. I assumed that he was with you, in fact. Has something happened?" Hobson listened in disbelief as Hathaway filled her in. "Oh, my poor Robbie," she sighed. She took out her phone and texted, I love you and I want you to come home. "For what it's worth, anyway," she said, excusing her texting in front of Hathaway. "He's rubbish with text messages."

"This is true." Hathaway and Hobson shared a knowing smile.

"James, I think I have a good idea where he's gone."

"So do I." They mutually acknowledged Valerie Lewis' grave as Robbie's likely refuge.

Lewis sat crouched in the cemetery, breathing in the cool springtime air slowly rhythmically. He was acutely aware that he was alive and that Val was not. Without so much as a word, his heart poured out all his regrets- what he should have done differently as a husband and father. He stayed with her for several hours. When he felt his mobile buzz, he snapped out of his fugue. I love you and I want you to come home. He smiled in relief that the darkness would not swallow him up tonight as it had so many times before.

"Time to go, bonny lass; Laura's looking after me now so you needn't worry. We have a home together and she brings out the good in me when I can't find it meself."

As Lewis started to rise, he realised there was someone behind him. Suddenly brutish arms restrained him and Lewis felt a knife, sharp against his flesh.

"What the…?" Lewis gasped as he began to struggle against his attacker.

"Don't worry Robbie, I'll make it look like a suicide." Graham Lawrie cackled. "Not even Laura Hobson will be able to tell the difference."