Chapter 35

The case wasn't going anywhere; an unsuccessful morning and nothing made sense. He needed to talk through the case. His options were DC Gray or Jean Innocent. Neither suited his needs, at the moment. He pulled out his mobile and sent the text. "Care for a walk."

The response came within minutes. "Where should we meet?"

He told her where then sat to wait. His mind wandered, slipping between the case and Laura. He still hadn't figured out how to ask her out. Should he plan something, let it come out in conversation. Val's words echoed in his mind, turn a page.

"I know that look." Startled he turned to her as she sat next to him, "You're at a loss on this case, aren't you?"

He shook his head, fighting a smile at how close to the truth she was. "Something like that."

"Do you want to take that walk, talk it through? "

He stood, offering his hand. She took his hand, standing fluidly then dropped his hand. He mourned the loss of her touch but started walking. They fell into step and he started telling her about the case. Laura sighed when he told her about the sad woman convinced she would adopt a baby. "She'll be lucky. A single woman, mid 40s, with a history of recent child bereavement."

"Yeah, wishful thinking."

Laura looked over at him. "She has an alibi for Matt Whitby's time of death?

He tucked his hand into his pocket. He wanted to take hers but she had both of them firmly tucked into her jeans. "Yeah, and no way really of getting hold of any embalming fluid."

"So back to square one, who's in the coffin?

"Who killed Matt Whitby?"

She countered his question with another. "Who tried to kill Liam James?"

"What does Jack Cornish got to do with any of this? Tell you one thing I could murder a curry."

"Is that an invitation Inspector?"

He looked over at her smiling face, this could be the moment. "Yes, it is."

She smiled. "And whose buying?"

He laughed, "My treat, Dr. Hobson."

They kept walking her hands in their pockets. Robbie realized where they were and realized he could at least tick a box before he took her to lunch.

"Hang on, have we got a minute to take a detour."

She looked up at him with a shy smile. "Is it the scenic route?"

He turned and started walking, confident she would follow. "Ruth Wilson, she lives on a boat down here. We've not been able to contact her all day so she doesn't know about Liam yet." Robbie climbed easily over the fence due to his height. When he turned to Laura he knew this was his chance. He reached out his hand and offered it to her.

Laura stared at his hand amused he was helping her over the fence but she willingly took it then easily scaled the fence. On the other side, before she could drop his hand, he tightened his grip on her hand.

Robbie steadied her as they walked down the small incline. He looked over his shoulder at her and thought how right this felt. He swung her around as they made it to the path and briefly let go of her hand only to reposition it to make walking together more comfortable. He smiled down to himself when she didn't pull away from him.

Laura looked down at their hands wondering how and why this was happening. She smiled with happiness, "We're out of step."

Robbie looked down at her, squeezing her hand. "That's a good sign that is." All either of them could do was smile. They both tightened their grips on the other and continued walking.

Their happiness was short-lived. Smoke was pluming from the windows of the houseboat they were walking toward. Robbie knew whose boat the flames were coming from and took off at a run. "Oh God."

Laura jogged along behind him pulling her mobile from her pocket. "Careful Robbie, there'll be gas bottles." She watched him run towards the boats as she dialed 999. She gave the details to the operator as she watched Robbie enter the boat. She took off at a run towards the boat as she waited.

She was breathless as she watched the door. Robbie had to be OK. Just as she was thinking about going in after him she saw him. He was carrying the still form of a young girl. A single tear fell down her cheek as she whispered a quiet prayer. "Oh thank God."

She ran to him to help him pull the girl to safety. Once they were a safe distance from the boat, she quickly checked the vitals of the young woman. She seemed well enough. Then she turned to Robbie. He had directed the fire brigade and was sitting quietly watching them.

She went to him checking him over. She looked at his hands and all exposed skin. There didn't seem to be any burns. She kept checking before he lightly touched her face. "Laura, I'm fine."

She looked at him, "Are you sure? Robbie I was so worried."

Smiling at her concern, he nodded, "I'm fine. I promise. I appreciate the concern though." She looked up at him. In that moment, he was lost in her eyes. "Laura, will you go to dinner with me?"

"What?"

"Dinner, like a date. You get dressed up, I get dressed up, small portions, fancy restaurant."

She blinked, confusion clouding her features, "You're asking me on a date?"

He nodded, softly touching her cheek. "Yes, if you want."

"And you didn't hit your head, or inhale too much smoke?"

"I wanted to ask you before I ran into the fire. I've wanted to ask you for three days."

A single tear fell down her cheek. "And why didn't you?"

"Murder, murders." At her confused look, he wiped away the tear. "I didn't want our beginning to be tied up in a case."

Covering his hand with hers, she smiled softly. "Robbie, our whole relationship has been tied up in cases. And since neither of us is going anywhere, it will continue to be."

"So, is that a yes or a no."

Turning her head, she lightly kissed the palm of his hand. "It's a yes, Robbie. Yes, I will go to dinner with you."