CHAPTER SEVEN

Mark picked up his keys from the table and then stopped, looking about him. He hadn't realised how empty his house was. When he'd moved into it, he'd assumed he'd be sharing it with someone, and when he'd married Paige, it seemed like it was finally going to happen. But that was over now, the last of a long line of failed attempts to share his life with someone. And now the woman that he'd connected with better than he had anyone in a long time was on the other side of an ocean.

His mobile rang and he grabbed it, hoping it was Imogen, then disappointed to see it wasn't. He tapped the answer button. "Hey, Tyler."

"Hey, bro. Just wondering if you're going to be round at Mum's any time today."

Mark felt a stab of guilt at how little time he'd spent with his family lately. Too busy wallowing, he guessed. "I'm not sure. I'm going to be at work, I guess. Maybe afterwards."

"Okay." Tyler seemed to hesitate for a bit before adding,"It'd be good for all of us to see you."

"Yeah, I know. I'll try and arrange time for a get-together some time this week. See you, yeah?" He ended the call and quickly headed out.

Mark quickly checked in at work and looked over the case list. In truth, there was very little for him to work on at that moment, just a long list of cases where he was waiting for lab reports and records checks. He was about to head to his office and busy himself re-reading files that he'd largely committed to memory already, and so almost failed to hear the conversation heading his way from the cell area. "I still think you're on a hiding to nothing, Miss Willis,"one of his colleagues was saying.

Mark froze. It couldn't be. He slowly turned round to see just who Detective Rogers was talking to.

Imogen had her best professionally cool face on. "My client has offered an explanation that fits all available facts. It will be up to you, Detective, to prove otherwise."

Rogers looked as though he didn't quite know how to deal with her confidence. Mark had seen Imogen have that effect on people many times, especially ones that had only just met her. "Well, we'll see what happens when we get the full forensics report back."

Imogen finally seemed to notice his presence, but the cool demeanour didn't crack. He hoped he looked just as calm. "Detective Brennan."

Roger looked between them. "You two know each other?"he ventured.

"Yes,"Mark managed.

"We go way back,"Imogen confirmed.

"Actually, I'll need a word with you, Miss Willis, if I may,"Mark continued. He gestured for her to go ahead of him down a corridor. Imogen seemed slightly nonplussed but complied. When they reached the room Mark wanted, he indicated for her to go in, then followed and locked the door behind them.

Imogen looked at him incredulously. "Did you just lock me in a cell?"

Mark hadn't quite realised how that might look. "Sort of,"he attempted, flustered, before trying to bring the conversation back on track. "Imogen, what are you doing here?"

"Thought it was my turn to surprise you." Imogen suddenly seemed crestfallen. "I thought you might be pleased to see me."

Mark's heart went out to her seeing her like that. He crossed the space between them and cupped her face with his hand. She placed her own hand over his with a smile. "I am,"he promised her. "I just don't know what this means."

"Well…it means I figured Adelaide could use lawyers just as much as LA. It might not be as glamourous but it has certain things that California lacks. Mostly you. So, I got a transfer here."

Mark was still struggling to keep up. "You…you're here permanently?"

Imogen nodded. "I love you, Mark. And I think that might be more important than anything else I've got going on."

"I love you too,"he confirmed. He kissed her softly. "Do you…do you know where you're staying?"

"I thought you might suggest somewhere."

He continued to kiss her. He'd forgotten how good it felt. "As soon as I'm out of here, I will help you move into mine."

"That might lead to me critiquing your kitchen set-up."

"I think that'll be a decent sacrifice, don't you?"

"Mmm. But first…" Imogen glanced over at the door. "Can that be unlocked from the outside?"

"Not without a key." Mark held up his bunch to demonstrate.

"Good." She kissed him again, more passionately this time, and pulled him into a corner well out of view of anyone looking through the door slot, where they spent the next several minutes catching up…