Chapter 32

He sat at is desk wondering if he should have just bucked up and asked her at the crime scene. He barely contained the laughter at the thought. Wasn't that romantic, asking her out on their first date at a crime scene?

Before he could talk himself out of it, he grabbed his phone and typed a rushed message. "Buy you lunch?"

Pacing at the office, he waited. After what felt like an endless period of but was really only a few minutes, his phone buzzed. "When and where?"

His heart leapt as he practically pounced on the phone. He tapped out a quick reply as he grabbed his jacket. "Fifteen minutes, usual place?"

He was already in the car and pulling out of the carpark when her reply came, "On my way."

The menus lay on the table in front of him. He'd arrived in record time, amazing what breaking a few speed records could accomplish.

Her hand on his shoulder, made him jump. "Were you already here when you texted me?"

He shook his head, smiling as she sat across from him. "No, I was close though. Wanted to make sure we got a good table." Motioning around, "How'd I do?"

"You did well. Have you ordered?"

"No, I waited for you." He handed her one of the menus then pretended to look at his."

He watched her over his menu as she perused the offerings. "Why are you staring at me?"

"I'm not staring. Just trying to catch the server's attention."

"Hmmm." It was her turn to watch him. He'd been jumpy at the crime scene earlier. "Are you this out of sorts because James is away? Where is he, by the way?" He nodded toward the server. They each placed their order. "Are you going to answer my question?"

"Which one?"

She rolled her eyes, "Both, either."

"I'm not out of sorts. Just thinking about this case. Not making any progress on identifying the body." He rubbed at his eye, "It's just frustrating."

"And Hathaway."

He grunted, "On holiday. Came in on Monday and announced he was taking time."

"Good for him. A little time away is good for everyone."

"Well it's not a very good time. And now Innocent's gone and saddled with some DC."

She took a sip of her tea trying to hide a smile, "Don't be grumpy, Hathaway's having a holiday."

Robbie grimaced. "He says he is."

Laura raised an eyebrow. "Oh, it's like that is it?" He nodded and smiled as he took a sip. "Come on."

"He thinks I don't know about it. Some old churchy pals of his have roped him in for some do goodery."

Laura had to fight back the smile at Robbie's consternation. "Oh no."

"Fixing up an orphanage. They more or less press ganged him into it."

This time Laura couldn't fight the smile. "Poor James."

"Ahh, get out, he'll fit straight back in with all of them. He wouldn't know fun if it jumped up and smacked him in the gob."

Laura smiled thinking James probably knew more about it than Robbie gave him credit for. "But you would?"

He rubbed his hands together, she had given him the perfect opening. "Oh, I've had me share." He looked at her and smiled.

"In the distant past…" He laughed at her teasing. "Although you did give yourself up to wild abandon the other night." He looked at her confused. "Friday." How had she seen him? "Drinking in the beauty of the river, standing in the dusk and just gazing at the sights."

"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I, uh, well, I thought I saw a body." She looked at him. "Well it wasn't. It was a log." She laughed at him. "What?"

His mobile rang and he pulled it from his pocket as her laughter deepened. "Yeah, Lewis." He listened for a few seconds. "Neal Strickley, good, thanks." He ended the call and looked at her. "A name band, cut off his wrist or his ankle found about a hundred yards from the body. Still, it's something to work on." He pointed at the food on the table. "Sorry, you're treat."

Robbie stood to leave and for one second he almost blurted out his question. Instead, he smiled at her and waved. Laura smiled as he walked away. In all these years, it was the first time he'd left her with a check. She thought for a moment about how she would enjoy teasing him about it.