Chapter 14

Leaving the lift Tommy and Barbara were greeted by Winston and Stuart both as stunned about Barbara´s appearance as Tommy. After accepting the compliments and cheeky comments they all went together to the hall in a light mood.

The hall was decorated quite subtle with a lot of round tables in it. At the entrance were a list to show everyone where they would sit.

To their total amazement and joy the team was sitting at the same table together with the two foreign cops, the team from Oxford and two single persons: DI Jimmie Perez from Shetland and DI Joan Walters from the Isle of Wight both at the event without any colleagues.

The best part for Barbara was when they were greeted by Hillier as all others and he nearly didn´t recognize her. He was taken aback for a few seconds before he managed to say anything at all.

"Point for you Barbara," Lafferty said when they made their way to their table all grinning like mad about Hillier´s nearly faux-pas.

Robbie and Laura met Lizzie in the hall and Robbie thought there could be worse things than going to dinner with two really beautiful women.

After finding their table, saying hello to the others and introducing themselves to everyone it was time to find their seats as there were place cards mixing the teams around the table.

When everyone was seated and had a glass of champagne Hillier made a little speech, thanked everyone and wished an enjoyable evening.

After that the dinner began with the first courses, conversations started and with all the rumors on the tables it was hard to talk to more than the persons directly beside you.

Tommy was sitting between two women but unfortunately for him not Barbara, she was opposite to him. Seeing that the little petite blonde, the pathologist from Oxford as her table card said, was already in a deep conversation with Lafferty on her other side he turned to Joan Walters on his other side.

A wrong move seeing that as soon as she had his attention she talked without break and quite fast it was clear that she knew that he was an Earl and telling him about all the important people she had met already. That was surely Hillier´s work of match-making Tommy thought angrily but was too polite to stop her.

At her other side Jimmie was talking to the German police woman and didn´t noticed his pleading looks. Looking more around the table he envied Winston who was talking with Jimmie and the German woman but also sitting next to Barbara. He noticed that she was in conversation with the older DI from Oxford and was really enjoying herself. She smiled over to him which he returned as much as possible without looking to encouraging to Joan Walters.

Then there were the Danish guy talking with the other Oxford woman and then Lafferty who at least noticed Tommy´s agonised look.

Smiling at Laura Stuart said: "Looks like my DI could use a distraction from his other table partner. Do you know how we can safe him?"

Looking over and seeing Tommy´s name Laura looked back at Stuart with a grin: "Sure no problem, if you excuse me…" Turning to Tommy she managed to speak to him when Joan took a sip of wine: "I am really sorry to interrupt you but I am wondering the whole time DI Lynley, do you have a sister named Judith?"

More than happy about the interruption Tommy apologised to the woman and turned to Laura: "Yes, I have Dr. Hobson, but please call me Tommy. How do you know Judith?"

"Laura, please! I knew her ages ago in our teens when we competed against each other at horse shows. She was always fun although being rivals. What is she doing now?"

"Oh, she is still horse mad and enjoys looking for new horses for the estate. How about you?"

A little shadow came over Laura´s face: "I stopped riding after an accident at one show and decided to take studying more seriously and changed from veterinary medicine to human medicine and then my professor got me interested in pathology and here we are."

"Oh, sorry, I remember now the show and the accident. Judith was supposed to start behind you but after trying to help she didn´t start and made the jurymen stop the competition at all. But I see you don´t like to talk about it," Tommy said noticing Laura´s slightly sad face.

"Oh, it´s okay. It is quite long ago and I remember that your sister was the only one sending me a card to the hospital which I answered but then with me turning to studying we lost touch. Could you please give her my greetings, I would like to meet her sometime if she don´t mind."

Tommy who had been listening but was looking over to Barbara answered: "Sure, I will give her your details if you don´t mind."

Somehow he didn´t like the fact that Barbara was enjoying her conversation with the DI so much. She was smiling and laughing the whole time simply looking gorgeous and the old man was smiling back. He was far too old for flirting with a so much younger woman…..

Following his look Laura made him jerk by saying: "Please don´t kill him with your looks. He is mine!"

"What?" Tommy answered bewildered.

"DI Lewis is my partner not only for work and after it took us quite some years to get together I would love to have him a bit longer. Your sergeant is quite safe with him." Laura said quietly but grinning at Tommy.

At that moment Robbie looked over and seeing the look he gave Laura and which she returned Tommy relaxed. He started to enjoy the conversation with Laura and Stuart who tried to join in over the main course which was served now.

A/N: Thanks again for the nice reviews I really hope to get this story ready over the summer but as always real life with holiday, summer cold and garden work is quite demanding but hopefully dessert and dance will follow soon.