Chapter 29
Laura stared up at James, shocked at Robbie's comment. She waited until he was out of sight, "What was that all about?"
James shrugged, "I don't know. Innocent informed me earlier he wants a new sergeant."
"That can't be right?"
"Says there isn't enough trust for a partnership such as ours."
Laura picked up her case, started walking toward her car, "Trust?"
They started walking, in perfect step, "Innocent thinks he might be jealous."
Laura looked at him skeptically, "Jealous of what?"
"Our relationship."
"Surely he doesn't think…"
"Apparently he spent his two weeks at the bottom of a whisky bottle. All sorts of bad ideas swirling down there."
Laura handed a few items to the SOCOs then turned back to James. "I can't help him, James. I know what you are hinting at but my whole focus is on Matty. Robbie is a grown man, he needs to figure out how to rescue himself."
He nodded, knew it had been a long shot, "You all done?"
Laura paused for a moment, trying to determine if he was taking a new angle or just inquiring. "For now, PM is eight o'clock sharp."
James nodded acknowledging what she'd said then paused for a moment before pressing forward, "Is there anything I should know?"
Not sure where he was headed with his questioning, she asked brusquely, "Such as?"
James looked at her somewhat perplexed by her tone, "With himself. Besides his general annoyance with me, when I first mentioned this place he got very uh, beady."
Laura, surprised James had given up his line of inquiry, relaxed and sighed "Well there was a young woman attacked here, nine, ten years ago. A sister of one of the undergrads, uh. Chloe something, Robbie's case."
James looked at her even more confused, "What happened?"
Laura looked down at her shoes, "A couple of days into the investigation his wife got killed."
He stopped walking, stunned, "Oh."
Laura stopped with him and looked up at him, more softly than before, "So keep an eye, eh?"
He stopped walking, "You and Innocent. Is that all I'm good for?" She turned back to him, "Keeping an eye on the wayward Inspector?"
"No, James, it was unfair of me to ask. I'm sorry." She took a step to him, her hand reaching for his arm, caressing it lightly. "Are you OK?"
"I'm angry. We've been through a lot, him and me. Why wouldn't he just tell me?"
"I'm probably not the best person to ask that question."
He covered her hand with his, "How have you held out hope, for so long?"
"Matty…and I loved him."
"Does he know?"
"Of course not, I don't think I really knew until recently." She shook her head, "It doesn't matter now. There's too much history. I'll never be able to separate the last few months from how I feel about him."
"Even for Matty?"
She smiled, "James, I want him to know Matty but I won't force it. And just because he knows Matty doesn't mean I have to have a relationship with him."
James jerked his head toward the college, "I need to get back before he adds another reason he doesn't want to be my partner to his list."
She grabbed his arm again, squeezing it, "I know it's not fair to ask. But keep an eye on him."
"I always do."
