Anna tucked her hands into her armpits, trying to sandwich her gloves between her body and upper arms in an attempt to keep herself warm. She dodged others on the street and ducked out of the evening flow to take the few stairs into the building. Dodging a banged-open door, Anna caught it on the ricochet and pivoted to address the individual. But the man held a woman's shoulders as they shook in time with her sobs. Ducking her head, and keeping whatever retort she planned behind her teeth, Anna entered the building.

The office lights burned a dusky gold color as Anna worked her sleeves from her shoulders and escaped her coat with a bit of difficulty. A knock on the edge of the jamb startled her and her hip collided with her desk. She hissed through her teeth, scrubbing furiously at the blossom of pain while gimping over to the door to open it. There she smiled and managed a half-step back to allow the visitor inside.

"I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

"Nor I you with how bushed you must be." John nodded at her, digging in his coat with one hand. "But I needed to return this pen to you."

"Ah, the mysterious weapon." Anna reached over, taking her pen with the arm still clad in her coat sleeve before finally extricating herself fully to drape the article over the back of her chair. Her palm pressed deeply into her thigh as she maneuvered behind her desk. "Did it serve its purpose?"

"Didn't actually get to use it since it would've destroyed the Ambassador's view that Mr. Pamuk died in a tragic accident." John shrugged, his coat ruffling and moving over his shoulders before settling when he did. "But I've actually come with another inquiry about that pen."

"I really hoped your sentence would end with another phrase."

John's eyebrows rose, "What kind of inquiry were you hoping for?"

"At least dinner. Or," Anna frowned, looking over the papers on her desk. "Perhaps I should suggest breakfast given our nightly schedules."

"Perhaps I should ask after I finish the business portion of this meeting." John winked at her, "My partner and my boss would prefer that."

"As would I. Makes sure I stay focused." Anna extended her hand, taking the pen. "And so I'll ask what you need from me in regards to this pen now?"

"I need you to kick up some dust in that direction for me."

"What kind of dust?"

"Manufacturer, origins, anything that might tell us who could've given this to someone to use on Mr. Pamuk."

"And how do you want me to get this information?"

John shrugged, "Probably about the same way you got it the first time."

"Ah," Anna leaned back in her chair, twisting the pen in her fingers. "I'm sure your Superintendent was exceedingly pleased to hear all about the friends I have."

"Oh I didn't tell him about your friends." John grinned, "I may look like I was born yesterday but I do know enough about what I do to know that you never give away your sources. Hence why I told him that they were my friends."

"Makes me want new friends if they became yours so easily."

"I've never met them."

"Nor should you, it'd destroy the illusion."

"And, for the moment, your friends will stay your friends and everyone else can believe they're my friends because you need to stay in the black as long as possible." John chewed his lip a moment when Anna straightened. "Unless you don't like that idea."

"Doctor turned informant and spy?" Anna rotated slightly in her chair, manipulating herself on her toes. "I actually rather like that idea. Keeps life interesting."

"So you're alright with all this?"

"There's a dead man in the morgue and a pen that administers poison. I'm curious as well so I'll bite and see who else will bite with me."

"If we're speaking about the potential for a breakfast date then I will warn you," John pulled at the lapels of his coat, "I don't bite until asked very nicely."

"Oh?" Anna winked at him, "If I intend for that I'll ask very nicely."

John tipped his hat, "Doctor."

"Detective." Anna turned back to her desk, tapping the pen over the surface before reaching for her phone.

She worked it between her ear and shoulder to hold it in place as her fingers worked the rotary. When the last number finished she waited for the line to connect, tapping the pen on the edge of the phone until a click at the other end sounded. No one answered and the only indication that there was anyone there at all was the soft breathing on the line.

"I've a friend who likes red roses." Anna waited another moment, "And I'd love to get her some very soon."

Replacing the phone in the cradle, Anna pushed off from her desk. The pen was still in her hand and she paused before opening the top drawer on her desk. Tugging it open, Anna leaned down to feel around the inside of the desk before tucking the pen under the lip and shutting the drawer. She turned to her chair, snatched her lab coat from the back, and worked her arms into the sleeves before leaving her office through another door.

Jane nodded at her, making notes on a clipboard as she walked down a table where all of the evidence from the Cerulean Swan sat labeled and tagged. She pointed to the pile still bagged by the door and Anna made her way toward it. "Got all this done on your own have you?"

"Freddie was good for his grandmother and got right to his schoolwork when I came for work so I didn't have the fight I normally have." Jane sighed, "I do hope it gets easier because he learns to understand and not because he just believes that I'm abandoning him."

"Not being a mother myself, I can't say that I understand but I'd like to think your Freddie, being as smart as he is, would believe you're abandoning him." Anna reached for a pair of gloves before digging in her pockets. "Bollocks. I left something in the office. Give me a minute and I'll be right back to help you."

"Don't worry, I'm keeping busy."

Anna hurried back toward her office, pausing when she noticed the dusky lights were black. As her hand went to flip the lights on, a voice spoke from the darkness. "I'd leave those off if I were you."

"Do you like roses?"

"I'd like to thinks so." The voice softened and Anna took a step closer to it. "I married one after all."

Anna managed her way around her desk and flipped on one yellow light to give detail to the face of the tall, handsome man sitting in the dark corner. "Does she know you're here Atticus?"

"She can't or she'd be endangered by my job." His dazzling smile came to life as he offered a hand to Anna before using it to kiss both of her cheeks. "It's so good to see you."

"And you." Anna slapped a hand against his suit-ed chest. "You got here awfully quickly."

"I was just around the corner at the bank, maintaining my cover."

"I'm touched you thought my personal call so important."

"You caught me just as I was on my way out the door actually so it's just a tiny delay on my ride home." Atticus nodded at her, "What's so important that you used the emergency line?"

"I couldn't just want to talk to a friend?"

"Not when I got a message from Jack Ross that informed me you had something I'd be a fool to not investigate and that got me a touch more curious than normal."

Anna laughed, "I knewhe was still working with the OSS."

"I can neither confirm nor deny his supposed involvement with a friendly government's more clandestine agency or his intelligence work that may or may not be happening on these fair shores. However," Atticus adjusted his tie and settled into his chair. "Since you so gracefully opted out of continued work in the intelligence field it's all hush, hush and I shouldn't even be here talking to you about any of it."

"But you and both know that while I was never suited for it the way you are." Anna shrugged her shoulders from her chair. "I loved the Navy and working with you and Jack at Naval Intelligence was a dream but afterward…"

"It didn't become what any of us thought it was supposed to be."

"You and Jack had the patience to work for it."

"We were always too much on the outside to ever go back to civilian life after we'd had a taste for being valuable and important." Atticus pointed at her, "But you could've called me on a regular line if you just wanted to talk over the old days."

"True." Anna reached into her top drawer and moved her hand about to find the pen. Her brow furrowed when it failed to touch her hand and she bent to try and discern the shadows under the lip to see where it might be. But when Atticus coughed and drew her attention back to him, Anna frowned. "You're not playing fair."

"And you still use the same hiding spot for small things." Atticus twirled the pen over his fingers. "Jack might've hinted it had something to do with a smaller device meant to administer poison."

"As I remember you were pretty deft with one of those in Prague once." Anna shut the drawer and pointed at the pen in Atticus's hand. "Do you recognize the design?"

"The mechanics of the piece aren't what interested me." Atticus leaned forward, disassembling the pen over Anna's desk in an instant and then reassembling them just as quickly. "It's the advanced nature of it."

"I did notice it seemed a bit more… beefed up."

Atticus raised an eyebrow, "You're not still hanging around Americans are you?"

"Some slang never goes away." Anna waved him off. "Just tell me what you think's so fascinating about the pen."

"Who said I thought it was fascinating?"

"The look on your face. It's why you were usually in the office, your poker face is terrible."

"There is that." Atticus shrugged a shoulder and then handed the pen back to Anna. "What's interesting is that I know who made this."

"You do?"

"Of course I do." His jaw tightened. "Same man who made them for us during the war."

"For a hefty price as I remember." Anna shuddered, "He's still in the business?"

"Probably not like he was then, making all his money off the war with his factories, but that's my father's work."

"You're sure?"

"Tip to tip. He's a scrimper and a saver but he's never one to be known for shirking on detail, design, or durability. The quality gives it away."

Anna investigated the pen, shaking her head. "What's Lord Sinderby got to gain from making poison pens?"

"There's an underground market to do the kinds of things we did during the war. More to the point, there's still Q Division and he's a contracted consultant with us." Atticus cringed, "Pretend you didn't hear any of that."

"My lips are sealed." Anna tucked the pen away, "But I'll need to talk to him about the pen."

"You take your own chances there." Atticus stood, "It's his skill but I wouldn't be foolish enough to confront him with it."

"I can't very well just stalk him until I found out how someone got one of his works to murder a Turkish diplomat."

Atticus sighed, "Then let me help put your mind to rest regarding the question I know's sitting on the tip of your tongue."

"You don't know what's on the tip of my tongue."

"It's the temptation to ask if my department or the government in general was behind this work." Atticus tapped Anna's desk with a finger, as if to point at the pen secured under the lip of her drawer again. "That is our tool, after all."

"It wasn't my question."

"Then I'll give you a piece of free information." Atticus settled his coat over his shoulders. "It wasn't us."

"Was it another government?"

"There are a few people who might think that Great Britain trying to make some peace with Turkey is against our national interests but not anyone with enough skill to get that pen and if not the skill then they've none of the money. As far as I know and I'm concerned, this was a personal dispute."

"Between Mr. Pamuk and someone with a pen full of poison?"

"It appears that way." Atticus reached into the shadows and grabbed his hat. "Now I really must be going or my wife'll have words with me and so will a very irate little girl of mine."

"I thought Victoria was too young to speak."

"She still babbles up a storm and pouts when I'm late." Anna rose, joining Atticus at the door. "I'll give them both a version of your best."

"Thank you." Anna kissed both of his cheeks when he bent his head to do the same to her. "For everything."

"It was nice to see you Anna… and remember some rather good times."

"We had quite a few bad ones as well."

Atticus shrugged, "Nature of the beast. It can't all be good all the time."

"No it can't." Anna opened the door and waved him off. "Travel safely."

"Good luck to you on this case Anna." Atticus ducked his head and headed out into the dark as the gentle patter of rain started to ping off the streets.

Anna rubbed at her eyes and started when the door opened behind her. Two towering young men ducked inside, shaking like dogs to rid themselves of water and almost dousing the third man who entered just behind them. He pushed past the both of them, giving a good-natured scowl before removing his own coat.

"As if I didn't get soaked enough on the way here." He turned to see Anna blinking at them from her desk. "Sorry if we disturbed you Doctor Smith."

"It's no problem Andy. I should be making tracks anyway." She shuffled the papers in front of her, signing the final few forms and pulling them with her toward the trio. "Alfred, Mrs. Moorsum and I finished the catalogue of the evidence for the case at the Cerulean so I would like the three of you to start on the analysis. You'll be taking charge of it while the day shift is here. I don't want any of them mucking it up for us."

"Mock ups and photographs before we return it all?" Alfred extended his hand for the paperwork and handed out the relevant sheaves to Andy and the other man. "I would put William here on returns."

"As you like." Anna reached around them for her coat, working her arms through the sleeves as she walked back to her desk to sort the rest of her things and find her handbag. "Although Mr. Moseley wanted Andy's help with the details of Mr. Pamuk's transfer to the custody of the Ambassador."

"Did they finish the autopsy?"

"They did." Anna turned to Andy, accepting his extended hands to hold her bag as she tugged her gloves over her hands. "And I'd like a copy of the report if you could get me one."

"Will do." Andy peeked around, "Is Mrs. Moorsum already gone?"

"She had to be away early for Freddie." Anna patted over her coat. "Alright then, I'm off. Ring me at home if you need anything but only if the building is on fire or one of you is on the point of death. Not before."

"Yes ma'am." They responded in unison and Anna smiled as she slipped past them to exit the offices.

The intoxicating pull of her bed almost made her miss the man standing in the shadows by the building exit. But Anna stopped in time to catch the profile of John's face. She let the small smile on her face expand when she caught sight of the grin spread over his own. They sidled closer to one another until their toes almost touched.

"And what brings you in this direction Detective?"

"Well, you had mentioned being interested in a proposal if breakfast was involved." John offered his arm to her and let the other open an umbrella. "If you're still interested in breakfast, that is."

"I'm always interested in breakfast." Anna pulled the umbrella from his hand and placed it in the one formerly occupied by her hands and then set her grip at his elbow. "So you don't lose your balance."

"Do you doubt my skills?"

"No, not in the slightest. But I do doubt that the slick road won't betray us at the first opportunity and I'd hate to take away your hands when they could save you a rather devastating fall, should that prove the result of our walk."

"Looking out for me?"

"Hoping to continue your acquaintance." Anna nodded toward the street. "I'm sure you've someplace in mind so I'll beg you to lead on."

"Starved are you?"

"More than famished."

They walked over the street twinkling with the reflected lights until John guided them down a dark alley. The hairs on the back of Anna's neck rose until they entered the golden circle of light from a pub raucous and rowdy with life. Exchanging smiles, they entered the bustle and din to join in the carousing joy of the occupants.

"My kind of people." Anna tugged John's arm so he lowered his ear and she could shout over the noise to be heard. "How'd you know?"

"You were a Navy nurse and, I'd hazard a very comfortable bet, a bit more." John winked and directed her toward a high-backed booth. "Wait there and I'll get us something to eat."

"Full breakfast, no skimping." Anna warned, her finger erected and warning written over her face.

John laughed and nodded, shouldering off a chattering man so Anna could slip by. She wiggled herself into the booth and hurried to grip the fingers of her gloves to remove them before the heat of the stove in the corner and all the bodies gathered together could sweat her out of her coat. In a moment she snuggled herself into the corner and closed her eyes to bath in the sounds of joy.

A soft knock on the table alerted her to a pot of tea and two steaming plates of English breakfast. John slid her plate to her and managed to squeeze himself onto the other bench to whistle at his own plate. "Say what you want but there's little else as fantastically satisfying as an English breakfast."

"I'll join you in that when we finally get off rationing." Anna took her utensils with one hand and a teacup with the other from the serving boy passing them. "Then it will be a trueEnglish breakfast since I don't believe this is as full as it could be. And I tend to be very picky about the contents of my plate now that I don't have to eat the scraps from the rubbish or dig about for mushrooms with a messkit and a weak fire to cook."

"Was being a nurse truly such a trial?"

"It was when you were the nurse assigned to work with operative teams." Anna lowered her voice, leaning over the table. "It's how I made the friends I did who know a thing or two about specialized pens."

"And did any of those friends happen to have anything else they could say about a specialized pen?" John cut into one of his sausages, biting down with a touch of overdramatized satisfaction. "Rationing or no, these sausages are the best I've had in ages."

"Probably the cat meat they use in them." Anna grinned as John took another large bite, as if to spite her. "And yes, they told me the manufacturer of our particular pen and I think we should arrange a time to go and make his special acquaintance."

"You say that like we'd need a formal introduction." John paused, chewing slowly. "Is there a formal introduction?"

"That depends on whether or not you think the nobility is going the way of the gentry." Anna carefully managed a fried tomato on the end of her fork before she continued. "He is a lord but I do believe he paid for the position."

"Do his children get the title when he's dead?"

"I think so but I doubt his son wants it." Anna winked, slipping the tomato into her mouth and chewing quickly to answer John's unspoken question. "He's the one who knew it was his father's work."

"One of the people you worked with at SIS-"

"I was in Naval Intelligence, not the SIS, and even if I did work with any of those… more ungentlemanly ministries, it was the SOE."

"Then you knew Shrimpie Flintshire."

"Not personally but we crossed paths a few times." Anna shrugged, cutting apart her eggs. "I wasn't talking about him though."

"I doubted it since his father's long dead." John sighed, working a crust about his plate to mop the sauces and juices still there. "Who were you talking about?"

"The man I knew in the war was Atticus Aldridge."

"The Jew?"

"That's his religious affiliation, yes."

John snorted, "I always thought he had too pretty a face to be involved in anything more difficult than drafting useless legislation for the War Department."

"He worked with me at Naval Intelligence and he's one of those people who helped work into the SIS."

"He still work there?"

"I'm not saying one way or the other because he refuses to say and it's all for the best in that regard." Anna finished her plate. "It's not something we want to know because then it can be used to get to us later."

"Ignorance, in some cases, being bliss?"

"This is one of those cases."

"But his father, Lord Sinderby, is the one who made the pen?"

"Far as Atticus could tell, yes." Anna moved her plate to the side and finally sipped her tea. She grimaced at the chill and then forced herself to swallow quickly. "And he's got an eye for detail so I don't think he's wrong in this."

"I doubt he'd direct you to his father as a joke." John shuddered, "I've heard things about Lord Sinderby that make me more than a little nervous thinking about confronting the man with the fact that his device killed a diplomat."

"I've found that threatening a man like that doesn't work so we'll need to think of another angle." Anna huffed a breath, "But after I've gotten some sleep."

"Would you allow me to walk you home?"

"I think I'd be very honored if you'd take the bus with me. Walking that distance in this rain'd be the worst idea either of us had for the morning." Anna gathered her things, finishing another cup of tea before helping John stack the plates for the approaching serving boy. "And thank you for breakfast."

"It was my treat." John shrugged in his coat, the material rubbing over his suit jacket. "And I'll pursue any chance I have to spend more time in your company."

"You only met me a few days ago." Anna bit the inside of her cheek to keep her smile small but nothing could stop the rising blush on her cheeks. "I'm not sure you could tell too much about my company in that amount of time."

"My father married my mother after a three-day shore leave where he never left her side."

Anna put a hand to her chest, feigning shock as they waited at the corner for the bus. "I'm scandalized you would suggest such actions as an appropriate justification."

"Nothing untoward happened." John chided, grinning his own smile. "Well, not on that shore leave anyway."

"Your father was a Navy Man?"

"Marines, actually. Joined them after a row with my grandfather, who was a very proud member of the Irish Guard and refused to believe his son would dare do anything as traitorous as think about siding with the British."

Anna grimaced, stepping back as the bus wheels rounded the corner and sent a spray of puddled water over the pavement. "Was your father there during all that?"

"He watched his brother die in the Easter Rising so he was less than enthused when my father, after going to school in London, decided that maybe the English were a better choice for success."

"I can imagine but that's about all I can do." Anna climbed on board the bus, choosing a seat and shuffling toward the window so John could share the space with her. "Before I joined the Navy as a nurse I'd never been farther than the hospital at York and my training school in Manchester."

"And then you went all over the world."

"I went to France mostly. They had me in Prague once and then a couple trips to Italy but nothing too far. All of it Europe." Anna sighed, a tiny smile tickling the edge of her mouth. "I was so tempted by the thought of going on one of the missions to Indonesia or even Hong Kong but they needed language learners and I wasn't one for the mysteries of the Orient in that way."

"In what way were you for them?"

"I've always liked the food I've gotten from the Chinese vendors who live over by the East End." Anna shrugged, "Food's about as close to the culture as I'll ever get to understanding it really."

"Maybe you should go there one day."

"On what salary?" Anna laughed, "And it's one of those things that I believe should be left an illusion or else the reality might shatter my dreams, if you understand my meaning."

"I think I do."

They sat in silence until the stop where Anna directed him to wait for the next bus. His umbrella went up immediately and they huddled together as the next bus pulled close to them. Anna waited for John to close the umbrella but it forced them to stand in the only available spaces left on the crowded bus. She crowded close to him but kept her face down, noting the disapproving stares from the older women sitting a few rows back.

When the bus stopped, Anna guided John to the pavement and they hurried through the slackening rain onto Anna's street. With the weak sunlight trying to break through the gray, winter clouds Anna stopped in front of the door to her building. She bit her lip, looking up at the towering structure over her, and turned to John.

"I hope you don't find it too forward but I'd like to ask you if we'd be willing to walk me to my door."

"For a moment I worried this might be your door." John bent in front of her and pulled the door toward him. "After you… Since you know where you're going."

Anna snorted and led them toward the stairs. At the fourth floor they exited, Anna looking away as John massaged his right leg. When he tapped her shoulder, she turned to him, and he ducked his head.

"I'm sorry."

"For?"

"Delaying you."

"Mr. Bates, I understand, perhaps better than most, that some things can only be managed but never cured." Anna pointed, "That one's mine."

"Ah," John swept his arm forward, "Your doorway, madam."

"Thank you, good sir." Anna went to put her hand on the knob but pulled back a moment. "I was wondering if you'd be willing to risk a bit of impropriety."

"That would depend on the kind."

Anna winced, "It was something I mentioned, earlier, and now I'm not sure if I have enough courage to ask it of you."

"What's that?"

"Would you mind risking me shattering an illusion?"

"Only if you know that I want to shatter my illusions as well." John took a breath, "But only if you're suggesting that we kiss."

"And maybe something else." Anna looked at her feet, "But only if-"

His hand went to her face, holding along her jaw and tilting her up so his lips could land on hers. For a moment her body froze but then she sank into the sensation of his mouth. They eased closer to one another until a door at the end of the hall opened. Anna jumped away, almost colliding with the wall, and John stumbled sideways as he tried to support himself and her.

The woman at the end of the hall raised her eyebrows at them but shrugged and took the stairs out of sight. Anna faced John and noticed his hand over his mouth. She went to apologize but heard his laughter. After a moment of confusion she joined him until they could both take deep breaths again.

John put out his hand, taking hers, and kissed the back of it. "I was grateful you could shatter my illusion."

"Actually," Anna kept her grip on his fingers as his mouth pulled away from her hand. "I'd like to continue shattering illusions."

"And how-" John went to speak but Anna opened the door and stepped inside, holding it for him.

"It's your choice, Mr. Bates."

Anna turned her back and walked into her flat.