Chapter 5

"You're grumpy."

He looked up from his book, "I'm reading, Val. It's almost impossible to be grumpy whilst reading."

"I don't mean at this moment, just in general. You're short with James, you haven't called the kids."

"It's James now, is it? What happened to the 'dishy' sergeant?"

She laughed, "Oh, he's still dishy but I've decided I like him. So he's been upgraded to James." Pausing, "And I don't like seeing you treat him like Morse treated you."

"Ouch."

"He's loyal to you, as much, if not more, than you were to Morse. I respect loyalty and I respect James."

"And you think I haven't been treating him right?"

She nodded, "I do."

"You do know part of my job is to train him so one day he can replace me."

"Yes, my love, I remember all of the many times you told me just that as you were having a whinge about Morse."

He slammed the book shut, "I don't whinge."

"My mistake, while you rationally discussed how you'd been improperly treated by Detective Inspector Morse."

"What am I supposed to do? Give him a hug, buy him an ice lolly and tell him what a good job he's doing?"

Rolling her eyes, she stood. "If you're going to act like a petulant four-year old, I'll leave you to it."

"Where do you go when you're not here?"

"Hither and yon, today I think I'll check on our children." Turning to give him a pointed look, "Something you haven't done in quite some time."

Before he could respond, she was gone. He shook his head. There was more truth than fiction to her statement. He was grumpy. There was a persistent anger always on simmer in the back of his mind. He didn't know why.

It seemed to have replaced his grief. But it was always there, ready to rear its ugly head. And Hathaway all too frequently bore the brunt of it. It was the reason he hadn't called the kids. Too scared his temper would break through and he would say something he shouldn't.

Picking up the phone, he dialed his daughter's number. She answered on the second ring. "Hello, pet. It's your dad." A brilliant smile lit his face at her eager greeting. For the first time in months, he felt a sense of peace.

Wine with the Mallory's neighbor had been an unexpected pleasure. It had been a long time since he'd been attracted to a woman. There was something different about her. She was nice but there was the tiniest bit of spice about her, a touch of mischief. Perhaps after the case was over he could explore that touch.

He heard James' steps before he heard his voice. "Thought you might like this, sir."

He accepted the offered cup of coffee, "What was so urgent?"

James paused, took a deep breath. "I've just received a rather bracing lecture from our superintendent."

"I'm sure you're a better person for it."

"I'm not to discuss it with you."

Robbie looked over at James, Val's words echoing in his mind. He shouldn't ask the lad to betray Innocent outright but he sensed something, "Quite right. What'd she say?"

"In short, you've been told you're not to commit overburdened resources…that's me…to the investigation of this case. And that it's not a case, it's a statistic." James shook his head, anger bubbling up. "I'm sorry, but she made me bloody mad, and I didn't stick up for you, and I just feel ashamed."

He felt bad for the lad, serving two masters. Perhaps he could let him off the hook. "She's got a point."

James shook his head, "No, she doesn't."

"Yeah…"

"She doesn't. We've received information from a legitimate source."

Groaning, "Oh, Le Plassiter hasn't given us damn all."

"Yeah, but he will. I've found Stoker. He's in Oxford."

"Look, we've both been warned off this case. Now I'm old and bloody-minded enough to not do as what I'm told, but you're clever…you should know better."

James nodded, "I do, and I've decided the best course of action is to continue investigating the case with you, unofficially, against the rules."

Robbie couldn't help but smile at James' words. Val was right, James was loyal, probably more loyal than he'd been to Morse. And all of those years with Morse he'd wanted just once to be included not used as a whipping boy.

Handing the cup back to James, "Well, if that's the case, get your finger out. Fix me up a whole rogues' gallery of all the faces in the case, but put it somewhere where Innocent's not going to see it if she pokes her head in to have a moan." He turned to leave then turned back to James, "And I didn't say that, so you can't quote me. I'm off to see the granny."

James smiled shaking his head as he watched Robbie walk away. A flush of pride swelled within him. It was the first time he'd felt included in one of Robbie's schemes. Somehow he almost felt as if he'd been treated as an equal.

He rushed to make it to the restaurant, already almost unforgivably late. Certainly not the impression he'd wanted to make. As she turned to him, he shook his head, "I'm so sorry, I forgot."

A sad smile as she shook her head, "OK. Am I refreshed by your honesty or just pissed off?"

"Both, I should think." He motioned with his head toward the chair across from her. When she didn't object, he sat. The waiter appeared with a wine list. He looked at it briefly pointing to one of the more expensive selections.

As the waiter walked away, "Is it expensive?"

"Alternatively, I could buy you a small car." They stared at one another, he tried to bridge the gap. "So?"

"So…"

Shrugging sheepishly, "It's my way of distracting you. Trying to open the conversation." He paused, then tried again, "So…"

Smiling, she reached for his hand. "Is that the small talk done?"

He laughed, knowing he was forgiven. He turned his hand squeezing hers lightly. "God, I hope so.

"Can we cut straight to the reason you came to see me earlier?"

He pulled his hand back, "Yes, I came to tell you…" He shook his head, "This is going to change the whole character of the evening a bit – or a lot – not necessarily for the better." He paused for a moment, "Rachel Mallory was murdered."

Stephanie gasped, her hand coming up to cover her face. "Are you alright, Stephanie?" He poured water into one the many empty glasses. "Sorry but there's no doubt."

Meeting his eye, "And I thought this date got off to a rocky start."

"I could not have told but that would have been dishonest, sitting here, talking to you and thinking about that."

She nodded, tightly, "Yes, I appreciate that. Would mind very much if I went home now?"

Robbie nodded his understanding, stood to help her from her chair. He waited patiently as she wrapped herself then led her from the restaurant. They walked in silence, side by side. Robbie wasn't quite sure what to say.

"I had a lovely evening for the first 20 seconds." He smiled appreciatively at her humor despite the circumstances. Turning to him, "Listen Malcolm has this appalling idea that he'd like to give a drinks party to cheer up Hugh. I think it's a crazy idea, especially now."

Nodding toward her, "Will you go?"

Smiling, "If you take me."

"Who else is going?"

Raising her eyebrows, she teased him, "Is that what you normally ask a girl when she invites you out?"

"Stephanie, it's a murder inquiry. The flashing blue light makes quite a difference for me to go to something like…where the guests might be suspects.

"Who cares about you? I'm fed up going places on my own."

Silence fell as they stared at one another. Robbie grinned slightly. He really did want to see her again.

"Will you come with me? I'll take that feeble grin as a yes."

Before he knows what is happening, she is kissing him. It's surprising, not just in the action but in the fact there is a momentary spark of something. Before he can think to respond, she pulls away, leaving him slightly bewildered. As she drives away, he suddenly thinks a drinks party might not be so bad.

The door creaked open and his first thought was whether or not she would be there. She hadn't been there the night before or this morning, now who was acting like a petulant four-year old. Closing the door, he dropped his keys and wallet into the bowl on the table.

"All I can say is I'm really glad I died before you decided to have a mid-life crisis."

He looked over, she was standing in the doorway of the bedroom. For the first time, she wasn't in normal clothes, she was wearing a dressing gown, not quite tied. He could see something silky beneath it. If he didn't know better, he would think he'd woken her.

"A what?"

"Really Robbie, she's almost young enough to be your daughter. And don't get me started on that son of hers. There's something off about that kid."

"You know Val; it's going to be hard for me to find someone if you get jealous every time I take a second glance at someone."

Motioning to her own lip, she tapped it pointedly while staring at his. "You find someone who's age appropriate, and not looking for someone to take care of her and you will find I'm not jealous at all."

Pulling his handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped at his lip. Annoyed at the lipstick mark he found, "So you admit your jealous?"

"Of that mewling child, hardly. Embarrassed at your interest, more like. How exactly did you plan on introducing her to our children?"

"Oddly enough, I hadn't worked that out just yet. Thought I'd wait until the second date. And, I need to mention your radar for appropriate women just might be broken."

Raising her eyebrow, she tightened the sash of her dressing gown, "Really?"

He nodded smugly, as he loosened his tie, "Yeah, you said Dr. Hobson fancies me. You're wrong, it's James she fancies, not me."

Val laughed, filling the small flat. She held her sides as the sensation engulfed her. Finally, wiping tears from her eyes, "And what, pray tell, makes you say that?"

"I asked her?"

"You did what?"

"She found some important evidence, something others would have likely missed. I told her she brings me these things because she secretly loves me. She said no, it's because she secretly loves James."

Rolling her eyes, she turned into the bedroom. Dropping onto the bed, "I won't even dignify that with a response." She watched him as he undressed, "You did good with James, including him in the investigation behind the Chief Super's back."

He hung his jacket in the wardrobe, "You were right."

"Excuse me, what was that?"

Turning back to her, he unbuttoned his shirt. "You heard me, no need to rub it in." Pointing at her, "Is that the reason for the change of wardrobe? A reward for being nice to James?"

"Would you have preferred an ice lolly and a good job?" At his stare, she smiled, "I thought it might remind you what it was to come home to someone who cares for you and isn't looking for you to be her protector."

He sat on the bed next to her, "I like to think I protected you on occasion."

She looked over at him, "You did and I protected you just as fiercely. But it wasn't the basis of our relationship. Nor should it be the basis of any future relationships."

"She's just going through a rough patch."

"No, Robbie, she's a professional victim and she's set her sights on you. Be careful there, love."

He'd taken James home. True to his word, he'd gotten well and truly drunk. It had been odd to see the younger man so unguarded. He smiled to himself, Val had been right, she always was it seemed.

"It seems you're a bit worse for wear."

He rubbed at his eye, "Yeah, probably should get it looked at."

"I bet the good doctor would take a look at it. Probably some other bits too."

"You know she's quite a bit younger than me too, don't you?"

Val shrugged, "She's an old soul." As he rolled his eyes, she moved closer. "How old do you think she is?"

He shrugged out of his jacket, "I don't know, mid-30s maybe. Maybe a little older."

"I bet you're wrong."

"Exactly what do you have to bet?"

"If I'm right, you have to ask her out."

"That's not fair, you probably have some special knowledge."

"I promise. I have no special knowledge. But I know how to judge women's ages. Men never get it right because they don't want to insult women. Especially if they like those women."

"And how am I supposed to find out?"

"You're a detective, detect."

"And how will you know I'm being honest?"

"One, you're a terrible liar. Two, you forget I can see everything you do when I choose to."

"You're on. But what do I get when I win."

"What do you want?"

"I want you to never leave." At her look, he raised his hands, "But barring that, I wouldn't mind seeing you without that dressing gown on again."

She smiled, pleased by his request. "Deal. You should get some rest. I suspect your sergeant isn't going to be of much use to you tomorrow."

"It's alright, he's earned it."

"That was a good thing you did, with the Chief. It meant a lot to him."

Robbie smiled fondly, "Yeah, it meant a lot to me too."