Chapter 21

Val watched him struggle to replace the bandage. Taking it off by himself was the easy part, getting back on straight was a different story. "I bet if you asked Laura she would change it for you before you leave for the day."

He shook his head as he finally got the bandage to stick. "No, I only need it for a few more days."

"You thanked her for the book, didn't you?"

He looked up at her, temper flaring. "You already know the answer to that." At her chastened look, he smiled, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped."

"You've been very temperamental lately. Want to talk about it?"

"No, nothing to talk about."

"Well I'm here when you are ready."

"It's not about being ready, Val. Laura and I are friends, nothing more."

She smiled to herself, "Of course you are. I'm just offering a friendly ear."

Without another word, he grabbed his jacket and left the flat. He drove in silence to the office. He did need someone to talk to but it couldn't be Val. And it couldn't be Laura either. If he was honest with himself, he didn't have anyone to talk with about this.

His phone buzzed, James with a call out. Stopped at a traffic light he read the address in the text. He made a quick turn and was on his way to the scene in a matter of minutes.

Arriving at the scene, the first thing he saw was Laura's car. His mouth went instantly dry, his heart sped up a bit. He had seen her several times since their drink and each time his body had responded the same. How was he supposed to tell Val that? Who was he supposed to tell? James? Innocent? He laughed at the thought as he stepped out of his car.

He entered the home, immediately greeted by Hathaway. James talked him through the case up to that point bringing him up to date on all that he knew. "Hobson's still taking a look but I know who killed her." Robbie stared after the younger man sensing a joke but not sure what it could be. He looked at James expectantly, "Albert Einstein."

Robbie resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Clearly the lad had been spending too much time with Laura and her bad puns. He followed James down the stairs to see the butt of the joke. James continued with his estimation of what happened, "Single blow, to the back of the head with that."

Robbie followed James into the other room, "I presume the bleach is to get rid of the DNA?"

Laura was kneeling next to the body when he entered the room. Casting a mischievous eye toward him, she smiled up at him. "You're learning." She stood as James passed her, "You used to think DNA meant Don't know anything."

His heart skipped a beat at her teasing. The dryness in his mouth returned. He couldn't help but return her quip, "Better than thinking that CID stood for coppers in disguise." He'd only thought his heart was racing before. When she smiled and laughed at his joke, it beat even faster. Laura smiled at him as she laughed at his joke.

James interrupted them, "If I may, there's a dusting of a plinth from up there which would fit Albert."

Laura added, "Yes, it was thrown down on her from behind to keep the splatter off the killer and then he or she cleaned it up."

Robbie looked at her, "Timing?"

"Can't do better than say 4 hours after 9:30 last night."

Robbie walked away drawn to a book on a side table, "Right." He lifted the book and read the title, "The Gifted Child."

Laura looked up at him with a teasing smile on her face, "Don't speak about Sergeant Hathaway like that you'll give him a big head."

James looked back and forth at the two. Something had changed between them, they both seemed more at ease. Laura stood with her equipment nodded briefly at James then looked back at Robbie and with a flirty smile and a lilt in her voice she told him bye and left.

Looking up at the knock, he was surprised to see Laura standing in the doorway. "Hang on a minute, love." He looked up expectantly at Laura, placing his hand over the phone.

Her smile when she leaned against the door made his heart speed up. She tilted her head to the side, "Just thought I'd let you know about the results on Elmo and the toxicology report.

He nodded, trying to hide his disappointment that she was here about work. "Oh right, is it very complicated?"

She smiled brighter, "I can make it not so." She stepped into the office unknotting her purple scarf. He watched her, mesmerized by her movements. He barely heard what she was saying, "Ah the lab detected LSD because it was a brain burner of a dosage, absolutely massive. If hadn't jumped he'd have been psychotic for the rest of his life."

The last words broke through his musings, allowing him to form a question. "Could he have taken that amount by accident?"

She shook her head, "Well it's possible but if anyone had a motive to destroy his mind I'd assume the worst."

Robbie heard his daughter's voice on the phone. "Yeah, I'm still here, love." He looked at Laura, "It's our Lyn."

She smiled at him, somewhat less brightly than before, "Ah, give her my love."

He nodded, pleased she seemed interested in Lyn, "Yeah, I will." Hearing Lyn again, he responded, "Yeah, sorry love."

Laura backed away, making to leave, "I'll go."

He motioned for her to stay but she turned and walked away. He followed to the door and watched her walk away. "No, Laura. No, no, just work." He listened to his daughter and walked back into his office. "How's the morning sickness?"

"The morning sickness is fine. Dad, are you OK?"

He sat in his chair and pictured Laura standing in his doorway. He should have gone after her and asked her to wait. "I'm fine, pet."

"Are you sure, dad? You've seemed less, I don't know, settled of late. You'd tell me if something was wrong, wouldn't you, dad?"

Robbie paused, perhaps he could talk to Lyn. "Just feeling a bit lonely lately."

"I miss her too you know. You're not alone in that.

Her words made him sit up straight, "I wasn't trying to imply…"

"I know, dad. I'm just saying you're not in this alone. You can talk to me."

He took a deep breath, "I'm lonely. There are times I can almost feel your mother next to me. Feel like I could carry on a conversation with her."

"I feel that way sometimes too. More of late. It's like she's watching over me."

He inhaled sharply, "She is, Lyn, she is."

"Maybe so, dad. But it doesn't mean either of us should stop living. It's not what mum would have wanted. She would have wanted both of us to be happy." Silence filled the line, "Has there been anyone since mum, dad?" He laughed, the absurdity of the moment finally overtaking him. Lyn's laughter filled the line. "Come on dad, I'm an adult. You can tell me."

"Just one. It only lasted a few months."

"Was it Laura Hobson?"

He shook his head, "What, no? Why would you think that?"

"You used to talk about her more. Lately, not as much. And your conversation a few moments ago was a bit stilted."

Robbie paused, realized this was his opportunity. Taking a deep breath, "There was a moment where I thought there might have been something."

The case was solved and he felt lighter than he'd felt in weeks. His conversation with Lyn had settled his thoughts. He wanted to see Laura, wanted to revisit the idea of starting their Sunday lunches again. As he rounded the corner, she was there.

He couldn't help the smile on his face when she turned to him. Lengthening his stride, he closed the distance between them. "Look sorry about last night but if you're free now I'm sure James and me will be doing something."

She looked away nervously, "I've got a better idea. Come over next Friday."

He swallowed, taken aback by her suggestion. "To your place?"

Rolling her eyes, she smirked at him, "No, I was thinking more of the mortuary." He laughed at her teasing. She bit on her bottom lip, "I'll cook."

Thinking this might be the perfect chance, he smiled, "I'll bring a bottle."

He stood outside her door, nervous energy filling him. He had the bottle, actually two, he'd promised. At the last minute, he'd added a bouquet of flowers. He took a deep breath and knocked firmly on her door.

It only took a few seconds and the door opened. She was casually dressed, jeans and a button down shirt. As he looked down at her, he saw her bare feet. There was something decidedly intimate about her not having shoes on.

She smiled up at him, "Two bottles?"

He held them up, "Red and white, I wasn't sure which we would need."

"And the flowers?"

Handing them to her, he smiled sheepishly. "Just a thank you."

"You might want to wait and taste the meal before you thank me."

He laughed, "Smells good enough to me."

She took the flowers, stepping back to let him enter. Pointing toward a side table where there were glasses and a corkscrew, "Why don't you open the bottle of red while I find a vase for these?"

Nodding at her, he moved to the table. Turning his head surreptitiously, he watched her walk toward the kitchen. His eyes drawn again to her bare feet. "Laura, why did you invite me to dinner?"

She turned back to him, smiling brightly. "You said you missed our dinners. I thought it was time maybe we started them again." She looked down shyly, "If that's alright with you."

He couldn't find words to reply. All he could do was nod.