Chapter 28

"I think your CD must be scratched."

James inhaled deeply, unsurprised by his DI's disapproval of his music choice. "Don't you find the repetition meditative?"

"If meditative is another word for monotonous, yes, very."

"Highly effective in combatting stress."

Robbie looked over at his partner, "Yeah, but I'm not stressed."

"You don't think you're stressed." James turned the car while smirking at Robbie, "You've assimilated it."

Robbie saw the woman stepping into the road, "God, man, watch out!"

James slammed on the brakes, stopping in time to avoid the woman. Tires screeched and their car was hit. Another driver wasn't fortunate enough to have Robbie alerting her to danger. James turned to look at the other car, "Come on."

They both stepped out of the vehicle. An attractive blonde woman stepped out of the other vehicle. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying close attention." James removed his warrant card flashing it at her. "Oh, bollocks."

Robbie laughed, "I'll leave this in your hands. I've a call I need to make."

When James waved back at him, he pulled his phone from his pocket and stepped away. A single button connected the call, he smiled when she answered, "Hello, you."

"You might not be that happy when you hear I am going to be late."

"I guess that depends on how late and the reason."

"Fifteen to twenty minutes and I was in an accident."

"Robbie, are you OK?"

He nodded nonchalantly, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little fender bender. James is talking with the other driver. Once they trade information we'll be on our way."

"Anything I can do?"

"Just tell me you'll still be available despite my lateness?"

"I think I can arrange that. Text me when you're free."

He saw James wrapping things up, "I will. See you soon." He leaned against the car, watching James as he walked back to him. "Not the best way to get a copper's number."

James looked back at the woman, "It wasn't her fault. It was the woman who crossed the road, she just…"

Robbie nodded at him, "You're sounding a bit tense, James. Did you remember to grab your CD from the car?"

Watching his DI walk away, James scoffed, "Brilliant."

"Well, while you figure all of this out, I'm gonna get a lift from one of the uniforms back to the station."

"You're just going to leave me here."

Robbie looked back over his shoulder, "Yes, I've got things to do. Plus someone has to go back and get another car."

"And what am I supposed to do?"

Robbie waved his hand at the other uniforms, "One of them will give you a lift. Or if you like, I can run back and pick you up later."

"Really, I could be injured and you're just going to leave?"

Robbie stopped, sighing to himself. Finally, he turned back to James, "Fine, I'll stay but coffee is on you."

James nodded, "Five minutes. There's a good shop around the corner."

Holding up his phone, "I'll head that way. Have to make another call." He headed away from James in the direction the younger man had pointed. Once he was sure he was out of earshot, he pressed redial, smiling when she answered on the first ring. "You're going to hate me."

"Not possible."

"You might want to reserve judgement. I have to cancel."

"You're right, I hate you."

"In fairness, you should hate James."

"Why James? He's not the one cancelling lunch with me?"

Robbie laughed, "No, but he's the cause."

"Well, in light of this new evidence, I hate James."

"Raincheck?"

"Always." She paused, "Is he OK?"

He shrugged, "Just a bit needy. Pride wounded."

"Pride?"

"His perfect driving record is sullied and he didn't even get a second look from the girl."

"Robbie…"

"Bye, love. Call you later."

"Was that Lyn?"

Robbie jumped, surprised James had managed to sneak up on him. "Yes. Aren't you supposed to be getting me a coffee?"

James pointed at the shop, "I am. Your usual?"

Robbie nodded. He picked up a paper from a table in front of the shop. "By the looks of that line, I'm going to need some entertainment."

James entered the shop, leaving Robbie to his own devices. His mind wandered to his conversations with Laura. It was nice, the flirting, teasing, simply having someone to call. And the calls happened with more frequency of late.

It wasn't just him calling her. She called him. Always some offbeat question, giving him the tying vote on something she was going to do. Nothing of consequence but somehow it made him feel more a part of her life. And, he found he did the same.

When he saw James coming out of the shop, he had to force away the smile he found he had any time he thought about Laura. "Neck ok, is it, after your shunt?"

James took a sip of his coffee, "Mm-hmm."

"Give it time."

"What were your plans?"

Robbie looked over at him, "What plans?"

"The plans that had you running off, abandoning me."

"I wasn't abandoning you."

"So what was so important?"

Robbie shook his head, "No plans, I had some errands to run. Wanted to get them done on me lunch so I could watch the match tonight."

James' phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket, he showed the screen to Robbie. "Well, now you can't blame everything on me. You'd have been cut short regardless."

Shaking his head, "It's a sad man who uses murder to keep from being blamed for ruining my plans."

"You said you didn't have plans, sir."

She was already there when he arrived. He'd wanted to see her, but not like this. Almost as if she sensed him, she glanced up and in her typical fashion started talking as though they were in mid-conversation.

"Well, he hasn't been shot, strangled, stabbed, beaten, bludgeoned, or had his neck broken."

He wanted to laugh at her gallows humor but instead chose to continue her banter. "If we're listing all the things that haven't happened to him, why don't we include that he hasn't been struck by lightning or savaged by wolves?"

Unfortunately for him, she didn't appreciate the banter. "Robbie, do I stand in your office asking, 'Have you caught them yet?'"

Seeing the body for the first time, he understood her tone. "What is it about those eyes?" Sensing James behind him, he turned to catch James rubbing at his neck. "Strong painkillers, warm bath."

Laura smiled at James, "That's Robbie sorted. How about you?" She smiled brightly at both of them before turning back to the body.

James brought Robbie up to speed on the deceased. After he finished, Robbie nodded at James, "I'll be just a minute."

He approached Laura, "I didn't mean to upset you."

She shook her head. "Not you." Motioning at the body, "You nailed it with the look in his eyes. All a bit disturbing."

"Ever seen anything like this?"

"No, but I'll figure it out."

Looking around to make sure no one was looking, he stroked her arm. "Call me when you do?"

"Only then?"

Or whenever you like?"

He could hear the phone ringing as he inserted the key into the lock. He tried to hurry and only managed to drop what he was carrying. He cursed as the door fell open.

"You shouldn't use such language."

He smiled, "That was my dinner and it was from the good curry place."

The phone continued to ring. "You should get that."

He walked past her grabbing the phone, growling a greeting as he did.

"Am I catching you at a bad time?"

"The only bad thing is I dropped my dinner trying to get to the phone."

"Did the takeaway container at least hold up?"

"No, curry and noodles, everywhere."

"Was it from the good place?"

"Yep."

"Damn."

He laughed, smiling at her use of the same word he'd used. "You shouldn't use such language."

"I think spoiling a good curry warrants such use but I'll throw myself on the mercy of the court."

"No need, I said the exact same thing when I did it."

"Seeing as I am the cause of the accident, it's only fair I compensate you."

He smiled, "What do you have in mind?"

"I'm still at the office. I could grab two takeaways from the good place and come by. We could eat together."

"I don't have any wine but I do have a couple of beers."

"Is that a yes, Inspector Lewis?"

"That is a yes, Dr. Hobson."

"I'll be there in twenty minutes. That should give you more than enough time to tidy up."

He went to argue only to realize she was already gone. Smiling at the phone, he replaced it on the receiver then set about cleaning up the mess at his doorway.

Once it was cleared away, he changed clothes then set about tidying his flat. Again, he realized it was in need of sprucing. Perhaps tonight he would ask her to go with him to pick out a few things.

True to her word, twenty minutes later she knocked on his door. He opened the door to find her dancing. She pushed the bag toward. "I'm really sorry but I need to go to the toilet."

He stepped back, "Be my guest."

She all but ran to the bathroom, not even stopping to say hello. He watched her go before heading to the kitchen. By the time she returned, he had food dished out and drinks poured.

Smiling as she returned, "First, thank you. I should have gone before I left the office but didn't want to be late. Second, you desperately need new towels."

Motioning for her to have a seat, he smiled. "First, you're welcome. I suppose I should take it as a good thing that you feel that comfortable with me. Second, I was going to ask you again tonight about going shopping with me."

Suddenly embarrassed, a slow blush crept up her cheeks. "Yes, you should take it that way. And I would be happy to go with you."

A slightly awkward moment passed between them. By silent agreement, they both started to eat. After a few bites, Laura started to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Just thinking about James and his brace. Do you suppose he's taking your advice and having a warm bath and a strong painkiller?"

Robbie laughed, "More like a whisky, a cigarette, and a moan."

"I didn't want to tease him in the morgue today."

"You should have. He needs someone besides me giving him a hard time."

"You don't think he's really hurt."

Taking a sip of his beer, "I'm sure he's a bit sore. The rest is probably for a bit of tea and sympathy."

"Do you think he's alright?"

"He's fine."

She shook her head, "I don't mean physically, emotionally. He's seemed a bit more dour than usual of late."

Robbie rubbed at his eye, "He has ups and downs, always has. Takes the job more personally than I do."

Reaching over, she touched his cheek. "I don't know, I've known you to take it personally a couple of times."

He covered her hand with his, "Maybe once or twice. But, I've always had people to pull me back. Not sure he does."

"He has you. For that matter, he has me. Do you think he might talk to me?"

Squeezing her hand, "Not yet."

"You know, that offer is open to you, too."

Without thinking, he pulled her hand slightly away from his face. He turned his head and kissed the palm of her hand. "Yes, I do."

The rest of the evening went quickly. They talked, cleaned the kitchen together, even watched a little telly. As the detective show they were watching ended, Laura looked over at Robbie to find him asleep.

She watched him for a moment. It was the most relaxed she'd ever seen him. She turned off the television and he startled awake. "Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"I'm going to take it as a good thing that you are comfortable with me."

He laughed, "Yes, you should take it that way."

"Or I could take it as a sign that I am that boring a companion."

He reached for her hand, "No. Don't ever think that."

Turning her hand, she laced their fingers together and leaned into him. "I was teasing, Robbie."

He smiled at her. His other hand coming up to stroke her cheek. "I like when you tease me."

Her eyes widened, she leaned into his touch. "I'll be sure to do that more often."

They each leaned closer, lips almost touching. The startling ringing of a phone pulled them apart.

Laura, leaned back, running her hand through her hair. "I should get home. I'm keeping you…"

Robbie cursed under his breath. "I should get the phone."

They both stood, Robbie grabbed the phone, "Hello."

"Hi, dad. Is this a good time?"

He watched Laura gather her things. "Yeah, Lyn. Give me just a minute." He covered the phone, "Laura…" When she turned to him, he smiled, "Thanks."

"For what."

"Everything."

She nodded, suddenly very shy, "I'll see you tomorrow."

When she closed the door, he returned to the phone. "Sorry, Lyn. How are you?"

As he dropped onto the sofa, chatting happily with his daughter, Val watched quietly from the corner. A smile lit her face as a single tear slid down her cheek.