I do not own Rookie Blue or any of the characters….

Thanks as always for the reviews, favs and follows. It is so lovely to get your feedback and I feel happy knowing I'm writing something you guys enjoy. Your comments and suggestions often get me thinking about new directions to take the story in or inspire me to add whole new scenes or elements. So, for that I thank you all.

To the Guest/s? who asked me to update, I try my hardest to update every two weeks. I'm even posting a few days earlier this time (it is not quite as long as the last chapter though). When I first started writing this, the chapters were shorter and then I was on holidays so had lots of time to write. My job can be fairly intense, and about half of it involves quite a bit of writing (non-fiction stuff), so at the end of the day it's sometimes hard to find energy to write. Plus I have a lot of family stuff going on at the moment. But I do love writing about Gail and Holly, so will keep trying to post regularly! And it's nice to know someone likes this story enough to ask for updates :)

It's been great to see so many other Golly stories being updated. I haven't had a chance to read many of them, but hopefully this weekend.

I do try and reply to all reviews with pms, however quite a few reviews for the last chapter were from guests so that wasn't possible. To the guest who wondered why Holly would remain friends with Lisa (don't we all), hopefully this chapter will show why.

As always, I hope you enjoy. Please forgive me for mistakes!

….

As she entered Rahmi's apartment, Gail was hit by the stench of dog urine and dog shit. Chloe, Chris and Andy, who followed close behind her, groaned at the smell.

'Man it stinks,' Chris said, holding his hand over his nose.

The apartment was small. One bedroom and an open plan living, kitchen and dining room. A dining chair was upturned and a glass of wine had been knocked over, the red stain spreading across the white tablecloth like a blood splatter. There were two plates on the table and another wine glass. Evidently Rahmi had shared her last meal with someone, most likely her killer.

An open pizza box lay on the floor next to the dining table. The dogs had obviously eaten what was left of the meal, even chewing part of the cardboard box. They'd also managed to bite through a large packet of dog kibbles that was now lying empty on the kitchen floor.

Chloe motioned to a framed photograph on a sideboard.

'That's our victim,' she said.

Gail picked up the photograph. It showed a smiling Rahmi, her cheek pressed against that of a man who seemed vaguely familiar. He had light brown hair and green eyes and, like Rahmi, he was grinning happily.

'Boyfriend?' Gail said to Chloe.

'Could be. Might even be the killer.'

'Ah, detectives,' Andy called out from the bedroom, 'you may want to take a look at this.'

In the bedroom, the door to the built-in robe had been flung open. It was obvious that someone had searched through the closet, flinging out shoes and handbags. Andy was pointing to a carry-on suitcase. It was the same brand and shade of pink as the one in which Rahmi had been found.

'Matching set?' Andy asked.

Gail nodded. 'I'm calling forensics,' she said, digging out her phone, 'we need to stay out of here until they process the scene.'

'Should the three of us canvas the neighbors in the meantime? See if they know anything. Maybe they can identify the guy in the photograph,' Chloe asked.

'Yeah, good plan. I'll stay and wait for forensics,' Gail said.

In the stretch before Holly and her team arrived, Gail went through a stack of bills and other correspondence she found on the kitchen bench, hopeful they might yield a clue. Fifteen minutes had passed when she heard a noise at the front door.

Thinking forensics had made good time, she moved from the kitchen area to greet them. Standing stock still just inside the door was the man from the photograph. He had deep circles under his eyes, like he hadn't slept much in the last few days, and his mouth was slightly agape. When he saw Gail rounding the corner from the kitchen, his face registered total confusion. Then he glanced down and noticed the badge clipped to her belt and his expression turned to one of panic.

'Sir,' Gail said calmly, 'I'm Detective –'

Before she could finish he turned and bolted out the door. Gail was after him in an instant, yelling, 'Stop. Police'. She hoped it was loud enough that the other three would hear and come to help.

The guy was fast but Gail could be nimble when she wanted to be. Rahmi's apartment was at the end of a long corridor and Gail had nearly caught up by the time the man reached the glass doors to the complex.

It was at this moment, as Gail and the man reached the front entrance to the apartment, that Holly and her two interns were getting out of the forensics van. Holly was congratulating herself on finding a park directly outside the apartment building and on the speedy trip from the morgue. Natasha had spent most of the car ride asking questions about Gail. Would Detective Peck be at the scene? How long had she been a detective? Had Holly known her when she was in uniform? Was it usual for detectives to be so knowledgeable about forensics, because Detective Peck certainly had an impressive grasp of what their work entailed. Holly had sighed and given curt, non-committal answers. So it was with some relief that she pulled into the curb and, cutting the engine, got out of the car.

Holly had stretched slightly, appreciating a day that felt more like it belonged to summer than the middle of autumn, which if you went by the calendar it was supposed to be. She decided to push down thoughts about whether this was yet another sign of global warming. Nothing about the day was a harbinger of winter. She felt the sun warm against her skin. Skin that was still pleasantly humming from Gail's touch last night and again this morning, loose and relaxed and yet somehow charged.

Days like this should be spent lazily in bed, with Gail pressed against her. Until the gentle shafts of sunlight, which at this time of year, as Holly had learned, fell across the back of Gail's house and through the french doors into her bedroom and then reached the bed, made them reluctantly but finally pull away from one another. The sunshine luring them up and out to delight in a day so perfect, and to revel in the fact of finding one another in it. There hadn't been enough days like that. Since Holly's return to Toronto work had overtaken them. Then there was that trial in San Francisco that had dragged on, and it was just the first. Holly wasn't sure how happy Gail would be about more time apart. She wasn't too happy about it that was for sure.

Sometimes it did feel like they had to snatch moments to be together. Maybe Elaine was right. Maybe they should move in together. Which reminded Holly that she had to do something about Lisa. Of course she knew Lisa could be snooty and condescending. That Lisa deliberately left her filter off because she actually relished making people feel uncomfortable, something Holly just didn't get. But Holly had meant it when she told Gail that Lisa was like family. And just like family, you took the good with the bad. Lisa was always there, always supportive when Holly needed her. In fact, Holly was certain Lisa would do anything she asked of her, apart it seemed from accepting Gail. Now Holly decided she'd had enough. If Lisa couldn't acknowledge how in love she was with Gail, how happy Gail made her, then she didn't need Lisa in her life anymore. Which meant she needed to find somewhere to live.

Just as Holly came to this conclusion, Gail and the man burst through the doors and onto the steps leading up to the building. Holly and the interns watched as Gail leapt from the top step and launched herself at the fleeing man, bringing him down with a loud thud. Clearly winded, he was still for a second. Enough time though for Gail to put her knee in his back and grab his wrists. Just as she managed to bring his hands together, he pulled one free, jerking his arm out so his elbow thwacked into Gail's cheek. She swore but didn't loosen her grip on his other hand or remove her knee from his back. At that moment, Chris appeared with Andy and Chloe close behind.

For Holly the whole event seemed to unfold as if in slow motion and, as she watched, several thoughts occurred to her almost at once. The first was that Gail was more athletic than she made out. The second was at least the man was fairly slight so hopefully Gail could handle him. The third was Gail would not be impressed that she'd been made to run. In fact would probably spend the rest of the day complaining about it. The fourth was why was Gail chasing a suspect by herself. The fifth was where the fuck was Gail's back up. The final thought, as Gail landed half on top of the guy and struggled to restrain him, was why did her girlfriend have to have such a dangerous job. That had to have hurt. She hoped Gail hadn't broken any ribs.

At the same time as all these thoughts ran through her head in rapid succession, another seemingly separate part of Holly's brain was wondering at how calm she was being and why it was that she remained rooted to the spot and had not gone to help Gail.

Then as Chris ran out of the building it was as if someone had flicked a switch and the world returned to its normal tempo, so that Holly no longer had the sense that time had been slowed down. It was then that she instinctively moved forward, full of panic, her only thought now to go to Gail. Then with some effort she stopped. This was police business. She had to remember that. They were trained to handle the situation and her interference might only make things worse.

She recalled Gail's rebuff at the station the day of the Ford shooting. For an awful minute Holly had thought Gail regretted kissing her in the interrogation room and the joy, the sheer giddiness of that stolen moment when she found that Gail felt the same way about her was replaced by wretchedness.

Later Gail explained she and the other officers needed to focus and couldn't be distracted by what had or was transpiring between she and Holly. Of course Holly should have seen that. In fact, Holly berated herself for not picking up on that. Instead she had rushed in, wearing her heart on her sleeve and caring too much, just as she always did, just as Lisa and Rachel warned her not too. And Holly should have known better because hadn't Gail told her how easily she was spooked, and there Holly was making assumptions when Gail hadn't even had a chance to process what had happened in the interrogation room. So now Holly held herself back, even though every atom in her body was screaming to go to Gail.

Once down the steps, Chris was immediately on the suspect, pulling down his flailing arm and cuffing him. As Gail stood, Chris hauled the guy to his feet.

'About fucking time,' Gail snarled at Chris, 'what were the three of you doing? Having morning tea with the residents.'

Chris shrugged good-naturedly. He knew Gail's reaction was part fear and part adrenalin rush.

'You okay, Gail?' Chloe asked.

'What do you think, Price. You know I hate it when they make me run,' Gail replied.

Holly bit her lip pensively. It was kind of reassuring to hear Gail being all snarky. On the other hand, Holly's heart was hammering so loudly in her chest it was as if it were she who had tackled the guy to the ground, not Gail.

'Man that was badass,' Wilson said with a mix of awe and admiration.

'Totally badass,' Natasha agreed, a slight flush to her cheeks.

The two interns had come to stand next to Holly and she turned slowly to look at them with disbelief.

They could hear Chris ask the suspect for his name and the man refuse to give it. Then Gail told Chris to put him in the squad car. She sounded peevish and her words were clipped making Holly worry that she had hurt herself tackling the guy. As Chris hauled the man off, Gail began brushing dust off her legs and inspecting herself for damage.

'Fuck, these were my favorite jeans,' she said, noticing a rip in the knee, 'god I hate it when they make you run.'

'Ah Detective,' Andy said tentatively, pointing to Gail's cheek, 'you're bleeding.'

'What?' Gail's hand went up to the place on her cheek, where the man's elbow had connected. It hurt. She knew it would already be starting to swell but she hadn't realized it was bleeding. It probably explained the sting that accompanied the throb.

Andy stepped closer to Gail and raised her hand as if she intended to examine the cut. Gail immediately took a step back, a look of alarm on her face.

'Whoa, McNally, you're not trying to touch me are you,' she scowled, her tone somewhere between indignant and irritated.

Just at that moment Holly came up behind Gail. She gave Andy a sympathetic smile.

'Gail,' she said, trying to keep her voice level, determined not to sound panicked. She didn't want Gail to know that as she watched Gail grapple with the man it felt like her heart was in her mouth. That for an instant, merely a second really, she had been fixed to the spot, her brain whirring like a hamster on a wheel, a subconscious distraction, so she wouldn't have to admit that her paralysis came from fear.

Gail's head whipped around.

'Oh, hey,' she said softly, 'you saw that.'

Holly nodded and cupped Gail's chin in one hand. She reached up with the other and gently touched the area around the cut.

Gail winced a little and then quipped, 'what's the verdict, doc? Will I live?'

'Yes. Nothing's broken. The cut is superficial even though there's quite a bit of blood. We need to clean it up and put a bandage on it. Then you'll need to ice it. There's a first aid kit in the van.'

'Okay,' Gail said meekly.

Chloe and Andy watched the exchange between the two women with growing amusement. Chloe, having become something of a permanent fixture at Gail's house, was used to it. But Andy had never seen Gail so readily acquiesce to anyone, especially in a situation like this. Normally she'd be telling people to back off, that she was fine, to stop fussing and to quit trying to touch her.

'McNally,' Gail said suddenly, turning to Andy and Chloe, and narrowing her eyes when she noticed the goofy expressions on their faces, 'you and Diaz take that guy back to the station. Detective Price and I will interview him once we've finished taking forensics through the apartment. Then I'll need the two of you back here to stay with forensics while they process the scene.'

'No problem, detective,' Andy said smiling sweetly, knowing exactly why Gail was glowering.

'And McNally see if you can get a name out of him.'

'We'll do our best.'

'Who is he?' Holly asked.

'Possible suspect,' Gail replied, 'stupid idiot ran when he saw me in the apartment.'

'If he's the killer, weird that he would come back to the crime scene,' Holly said.

'I dunno, people do dumb things,' Gail said tetchily, which made Holly realize she was more shaken by the scuffle than she was letting on. 'Maybe he came back to clean up the evidence.'

'Four days later? I guess it would fit if he is one of our bus drivers and he's been out of town on work for the last four days,' Holly mused.

'There's a photo in the apartment taken of him with the victim,' Chloe said to Holly, 'he's definitely connected to this in someway.'

Back at the forensic van, Holly instructed Wilson and Natasha to unload the equipment.

'Detective Price will show you to the apartment. I just need to attend to the cut on Detective Peck's face,' she said.

'I could look at the cut, if you need to get a start on the apartment,' Natasha offered.

'I've got it, thanks Dr LaPaige,' Holly said tightly, trying not to let her irritation show. She motioned for Gail to sit in the passenger seat of the van, facing outwards with her feet on the ground.

The interns set to work, pausing every so often to shoot curious looks in Gail and Holly's direction. Rummaging through the first aid kit, Holly found a gauze swab and some saline solution, which she used to clean the cut. Then she placed a small bandage strip across it.

'What about your ribs?' Holly asked, lifting Gail's shirt and placing a hand on the left rib cage.

Gail shivered.

'Does it hurt?' Holly asked, her face creased with concern.

'No, your hands are cold.'

'Oh sorry,' Holly rubbed her hands together to warm them and resumed her examination. 'Does it hurt when I press here?'

Gail shook her head. 'Just a little tender.'

'Okay, what about when you cough?'

Gail coughed. 'Feels fine,' she said.

'Can you twist from side to side?'

Gail did as instructed.

'Does that feel okay? No pain?'

'No pain,' Gail confirmed.

'It may just be a little bruised. With your skin we'll see soon enough,' Holly said, pressing around the ribs to be absolutely sure.

As Holly conducted the examination, her face was scrunched in concentration, and Gail couldn't help smiling at how adorable it made her look.

'What,' Holly said, catching Gail staring.

'Just checking your bedside manner is up to scratch, doctor.'

'Uh huh. I would have thought by now you'd had had plenty of opportunity to evaluate my bedside manner. In fact,' Holly lowered her voice so it was deep and husky, 'I've never had any complaints from you. You seem highly responsive to my bedside,' Holly paused before saying 'manner.'

Gail flushed as images of Holly's actual bedside manner rushed into her head. They were not the least bit doctory. This was not good. Well, not at work at least.

'You seem a little hot, detective. Should I take your temperature?' Holly teased.

'Would it be very wrong of me to kiss you?' Gail asked.

'Right here. Right now. Very wrong,' Holly said.

Then she ducked her head out of the van and straightened up, looking around quickly. The only pedestrians were a little further down the street and Chloe and the interns were disappearing into the apartment building. Holly ducked her head back in the car and placed a gentle kiss on Gail's lips. It was quick and it was soft and there was nothing teasing about it. Even if it was little more than a brush against her lips, Gail could feel the love it conveyed and knew straightaway that it was a kiss of relief.

'I'm sorry you saw that,' Gail said, understanding, 'it probably looked a little crazy but we had it under control.'

'I know, but,' Holly pushed her glasses back even though they were in place. It was an unconscious habit of hers whenever she was nervous or worried; something Gail had figured out early on.

'But you worry nonetheless.'

Holly nodded, her mouth twisted apologetically.

Gail grabbed Holly's shirtfront and pulled her closer. This time the kiss was longer and more intense. If Holly's kiss spoke of relief then this was a kiss to reassure.

Pulling back, Gail said, 'we'd better get in there before your minions start destroying evidence.'

Holly smiled wryly. 'I have every confidence Detective Price will not let that happen.'

'And eww, nerd you wanted us to make out in a van that transports dead people,' Gail said as she stood, her tone playfully bratty.

'You are insane,' Holly shook her head and laughed.

….

'For the fourth time what is your name?'

'Why do you need to know? You haven't charged me with anything, I haven't committed any crime,' the man said, his mouth set in a surly line that Gail knew reminded her of someone.

Gail couldn't shake the feeling that there was something familiar about him. Had she arrested him before? Interviewed him in connection with another crime? She had a good memory for faces, courtesy of the Peck junior police academy that passed as her childhood, so surely she would recognize him if she'd met him before.

'You ran from the scene of a crime. We have the right to take you into custody for questioning, and under law you are obligated to provide your name,' Gail intoned, 'besides you ignored a direction from a police officer, and oh lets not forget,' Gail touched the bandage strip on her cheek, 'you assaulted a police officer while resisting arrest.'

'I didn't do anything,' the man insisted belligerently.

'So why'd you run?'

'No reason.'

'Man,' Gail sighed, 'you are really starting to piss me off. You know the thing I hate more than chasing a suspect. Paperwork.' She paused and pointed to her cheek, 'Do you know how much paperwork I've had to do because of this. How many forms I've had to fill out in triplicate. How many of my superiors I've had to convince I'm fit for duty. And you ripped my jeans as well. So you can imagine I'm not a happy traveller and I haven't got a lot of patience for games. And I'm not a patient person at the best of times, am I Detective Price,' Gail turned towards Chloe who was seated next to her.

'Definitely not,' Chloe agreed.

'So the longer you hold out, the worse this is going to be for you,' Gail said as she turned back to the suspect, 'So once again what is your name?'

'I've got nothing to do with whatever this is.'

Gail looked at the man steadily and didn't say anything for a minute.

'You know we found a photo in the apartment of the victim with a man who has an uncanny resemblance to you,' she said, 'they look alike, wouldn't you agree Detective Price.' The way Gail spoke it was as if she were asking Chloe's opinion on whether it might rain or not.

'Spitting image,' Chloe said sweetly.

'So we have a photo of you with a victim of a crime. You turn up at her home -the crime scene - and run. I am beginning to think the worst,' Gail spoke quietly, almost as if she were trying to reason out a much less serious conundrum. 'Are you feeling the same way Detective Price?'

'Most certainly, Detective Peck. This doesn't look good,' Chloe replied earnestly.

'I wouldn't do anything to Rahmi,' the man spoke in a rush.

'So you know Rahmi Amir?' Gail asked.

The man nodded.

'How well?'

This time the man shrugged. 'A little.'

'Why did you assume Rahmi's been hurt?'

'I dunno,' the man's eyes went wide as he realized how what he had said could be construed, 'the apartment looked a little trashed. You wouldn't be questioning me like this if it was just a burglary.'

'Had some experience with the law have you,' Gail said.

The man shrugged again.

'That why you won't give us your name.'

Another shrug.

'So you've been in the apartment before to visit Rahmi?'

'Yeah.'

'But you don't know her that well. So I guess you probably didn't know she was four months pregnant when she was murdered.'

The color drained from the man's face. He went to speak but no sound came out. He was cuffed to the table, but he clenched his fingers into the palms of his hands and Gail got the distinct impression he was fighting hard not to cry. In that instant, she was certain he was not their killer. Still, he knew something. Rahmi was obviously more than a passing acquaintance. Was he the father of the unborn baby? Was he upset because of the loss of Rahmi or the baby or both of them?

'I want a lawyer. I'm not saying anything until I get a lawyer,' he said adamantly.

Damn, thought Gail, that hadn't been the plan. She'd hoped her needling would get him to open up not demand a lawyer. She sighed.

'As is your right. We will resume this interview once your lawyer is here. For the purposes of the recording, interview stopped at 11.07 am.'

With that she and Chloe stood and left the interview room. As they exited into the corridor, Gail heard Duncan calling out to her.

'Ah, excuse me Detective,' Duncan said, 'there's a Doctor Gordon who wants to speak to you privately.'

'Huh,' Gail wheeled around, 'as in Lisa Gordon. Brown hair. Pointy face. Supercilious.'

'Super?' Duncan looked unsure.

'You know condescending. Arrogant.'

'Ah yeah. I put her in interview room two.'

'You put her in interrogation,' Gail all but chortled.

'Did I do wrong,' Duncan was now looking worried, 'I thought she had something to do with your case.'

'Nah, it's fine. I'll go speak to her now.'

Lisa was seated on a chair normally reserved for perps. She wasn't really sitting, perched gingerly as she was on the edge of the chair. Her expression was one of distaste like she was afraid she'd catch something. She looked up as Gail walked in.

'You don't have your own office?'

'That's not really the way we work around here. Only the white shirts have offices.'

'White shirts?'

'The brass. They don't work the streets. You know what, it's not important. Why are you here Lisa? Got some unpaid speeding tickets you want me to deal with.'

'As if I'd come crawling to you if I did, Peck.'

'Well, I'm guessing it's hard to keep to the speed limit in that red Porsche. But if there's nothing I can help you with, I'm in the middle of an investigation, so-.'

'What did you do to your face?' Lisa indicated Gail's cheek.

'Got it chasing a suspect,' Gail said blandly.

'Oh, do you need me to take a look? Maybe it needs stitching.'

'Nah. Holly already checked it out. It's superficial.'

'Well, I hate to break it to you Peck, but all her patients are dead. I, on the other hand, am one of this country's up and coming plastic surgeons.'

'Lisa, last time I checked you didn't need a boob doctor for a minor graze. I'm pretty sure Holly can handle a cut even if she's not a real doctor.' The word real was dripping with sarcasm and Gail couldn't help rolling her eyes.

'I was actually trying to do something nice, Peck.'

Gail raised an eyebrow.

'Anyway, Holly is a real doctor, as you well know. Top of her class,' Lisa said.

'Yeah, yeah. Lisa much as I'd like to once again discuss your disappointment that Holly eschewed fame and fortune for the mediocrity of forensics and what little satisfaction she can glean from bringing killers to justice and grieving families some resolution – and hey what's that compared to saving the world one boob job at a time - much as I'd like to discuss all of that, I have a job to do.' Gail reached for the door handle.

'Wait, wait Gail,' Lisa said urgently. She had the look of someone bracing for a fall. 'I came to apologize.'

'Apologize,' Gail echoed, 'I have a feeling you should be talking to Holly not me.'

'I, well.' Lisa looked away from Gail.

'Holly's refusing to talk to you, isn't she.'

Lisa nodded miserably.

'And she's threatened to move back to Rachel's so you're in damage control.'

'It's not like that. What I did last night was wrong. I was drunk but that's no excuse. I know how Holly feels about you and it's pretty obvious you feel the same way about her.'

'So why'd you do it?' Gail sat now in the chair opposite Lisa. It wasn't lost on her how they were positioned. She as interrogator and Lisa seated in the suspect's chair.

'It's complicated.'

'Yeah,' Gail raised an eyebrow as if to say no shit, and then, just like she would with a suspect, waited patiently for Lisa to continue.

'Well,' Lisa said, realizing Gail wasn't going to help her out, wasn't going to let her gloss over the incident. 'Holly and Rachel are like family to me. You know that.'

Gail nodded, tempted to say god knows why Holly considered a smug, stuck up ass like Lisa family. Gail hadn't met Holly's parents or her brother yet, but they sounded like decent people so she didn't get why Holly felt the need to extend that family with someone like Lisa.

'She is a few years younger than Rachel and me. You know all about how she was accelerated through school because she was so freaking smart.'

Gail nodded.

'Well, when Holly got to college we sort of took her under our wing. She was still a little starry-eyed and naïve and a bit vulnerable, especially because she's so caring. The three of us met when we were paired in a study group.'

'That the real reason you befriended Holly,' Gail said caustically, 'you knew she was smart so you figured if you kept her on side she'd help bring up your grades.'

'It may have had something to do with that,' Lisa blushed slightly, but said adamantly, 'at first. Then we became friends – real friends. She wasn't intimidated by my bitchiness - she'd just ignore it or call me on it. Then she went through the whole discovering her sexuality thing. I was already out, so of course she talked to me about it. Rachel and I held her hand through her first heartbreak. We were there the first time she got really drunk. We even tried ayahuasca in Peru one summer when the three of us travelled through South America.'

Lisa hesitated and Gail tried to imagine the uptight plastic surgeon taking ayahuasca. It obviously hadn't been much of a mind-altering experience for Lisa. Gail made a note to ask Holly about it.

'That's probably something I shouldn't tell a cop,' Lisa said.

Gail waved her hand to indicate it was of no matter.

'Well, did you know we even got arrested together – not that we were charged,' Lisa added.

'Was that at the vivisection protest.'

'Yeah, Holly told you about that.'

Gail nodded again.

'And the three of us got the professor who was marking Holly down because he was homophobic suspended from the university.'

That was a story Gail hadn't heard. Something else she'd need to ask Holly about.

'And I've been there for every single one of her bad relationship choices and helped pick her up every single time she broke up.'

'So you think I'm one of those bad relationship choices.'

'Yes and no.'

Gail raised an eyebrow.

'I did when I first met you,' Lisa clarified, 'Holly has a bad track record when it comes to choosing girlfriends. They don't stick around, or their project girlfriends or decide they are straight after all.'

'And you thought I was a combination of all three.'

'Yeah, well do you blame me Peck? You were kind of flakey the night we met you.'

'I guess,' Gail screwed up her face at the thought of that night at the Penny, 'but do you actually think you gave me much of a chance?'

'I didn't think there was much point if you were going to be just like Holly's other girlfriends.'

'Especially when you decided I was blue collar and not in her league,' Gail couldn't help the bitterness in her voice.

'I wanted Holly to realize you weren't right for her. That's why I said those things. I could see Holly had already fallen hard for you. I didn't want her to get her heart broken.'

'But that's not why you said those things last night is it?'

Lisa looked like she about to deny this but changed her mind. Gail watched as her expression moved from being pinched and haughty, a look she seemed to reserve just for Gail, to something far more artless.

'I was jealous,' she said, her voice small.

'Of me,' Gail laughed, incredulous.

'Not you, exactly. I'm used to having Holly on call, well her and Rachel. We've always been there for each other. More constant than any of the people we dated. But now Rachel's getting serious about Luca, and Holly seems to have forgotten anyone else exists now she's with you.'

'So you feel like I'm breaking up the band?'

'Yes, no, I don't know. Whenever you and Holly spend the night together, it's always at your house. I know she has half her clothes over there.'

'I wouldn't say it's half,' Gail said evenly.

'And I don't blame you for staying away. I know I can be a bitch. I just…I miss my friend. I feel like you've taken my friend away.' It was said without malice and Lisa looked down as she finished speaking.

Gail had never seen Lisa upset before. Sure she'd huffed and griped when she caught Gail and Holly having sex, but Gail had thought she was annoyed rather than distressed. Now Lisa seemed to deflate, her face crumpled dejectedly, as if all the fight and derision and self-importance had drained from her.

'But I've fucked up that friendship now haven't I, the way I behaved last night.' Lisa looked up, her voice hard again.

'So why did you keep pushing Francine at Holly?' Gail asked gently.

'It was stupid. Holly's only interested in you. She loves you I can see that,' Lisa stopped then and fixed Gail with a fierce look, 'you know that right.'

'Yes, and Lisa don't worry, I love Holly too. And she knows that. I'm not running from it this time no matter how hard you try to push me away.'

'I wasn't, well that wasn't my intention last night. Not really. You were right. I invited Francine and the other two because it was my birthday and I wanted to get laid. But Francine can't seem to get the message that Holly is happy with you and that started to piss me off. Then you and Holly wanted nothing to do with me – in fact spent the whole night avoiding me.'

'Actually it wasn't about you. I think Holly was only trying to avoid Francine,' Gail interrupted, 'which I was fine about.'

'Oh,' Lisa said, surprised. ' Well, that's not the way it seemed to me. And then you two were so loved up and I was, I was jealous.'

'Jealous of us?' It was Gail's turn to be surprised.

'I've never come close to experiencing anything like what you and Holly have. In fact I've never sustained a relationship for more than a few months. Every time I see you together it rubs it in. And then last night, it all just became too much, and I said those things to Holly. She and Rachel are my best friends. I don't know why I acted like that.'

'You lashed out. You were hurt so you hurt her back,' Gail said, recognizing immediately what Lisa had done. After all Gail knew quite a bit about self-sabotage. Hadn't that been what she'd done that night at the Penny when she first met Lisa and Rachel. Hadn't she spent a great deal of her life jumping out of trees, until losing Holly made her realize she had to do something to change that. Otherwise she'd just keep repeating the same mistakes over and over.

'Yes. I guess I did,' Lisa conceded but then pouted, 'God, I didn't think this would become such a drama.'

Really, Gail thought, sometimes Lisa is such a child. She created this mess and now she's sulking about it. Surely she must know that Holly didn't do drama. Didn't want drama. Didn't like drama. Gail was well aware of that. It was the reason Holly finally stopped trying after Gail refused to return her calls after the Penny incident, hurt that Gail wouldn't give her a chance to explain that she didn't agree with Lisa.

Gail said nothing but looked directly at Lisa, her expression neutral, her gaze unwavering until Lisa began to fidget and finally cracked.

' Of course, I didn't mean what I said last night. Can you accept that.'

'Okay,' Gail said without a great deal of conviction.

'I can't help but be protective of Holly and I know that you, well, you –,' Lisa faltered, struggling to find the right words.

'Bring a lot of baggage to the relationship and you wish Holly could be with someone less complicated,' Gail said, guessing what Lisa was trying to say.

Lisa nodded. 'It's not just that. Your job scares her.'

'I know that. I've promised Holly I won't take unnecessary risks.'

'Yeah,' Lisa said doubtfully, looking pointedly at the bandage on Gail's cheek.

'I'm still going to get hurt sometimes. But Lisa, I may be complicated but what's not complicated is the fact that I want to be Holly and I'm going to do everything possible to make sure I don't fuck up this time.'

'Actually I can see that,' Lisa said, 'and I've never seen Holly so happy which has to mean you're right for her. And I don't think you're stupid or out of her league. You must know I didn't mean all those things I said last night'

'Yes, I guess,' Gail said, again not sounding entirely convinced, 'but it's not me you should be explaining this to. It's Holly.'

Lisa's lip trembled slightly.

'Oh, that's right she's not taking your calls.'

Lisa shook her head miserably. 'Holly's never ignored me before. Even the time I went home with a girl she'd been crushing on for months, she still let me explain. I've left at least a dozen messages on her phone. I even tried her at work but her annoying assistant won't put me through.'

Interesting, thought Gail. The not answering calls was more her kind of thing, not Holly's. She must be really mad with Lisa. They hadn't discussed it last night. Once the Uber car picked them up, they had spent the whole ride home smiling at each other and stealing kisses when they thought the driver wasn't looking. Then Holly had run her hand all the way up to the top of Gail's leg, resting it just on the inside of her thigh, and Gail had found that altogether distracting.

The Uber driver specialized in making sure women got home safely after a night out. 'It's become my niche,' she had explained to Holly when she had collected her from the airport the day before, 'it's a good marketing strategy, it gets me lots of business, but I feel like I'm also doing a community service.' Holly nodded, happy to have found the solution to Gail's uneasiness about taking taxis. As she dropped them off in front of Gail's house, the driver said, 'you two really are adorable,' and Gail, to Holly's surprise, hadn't bitten the driver's head off. In fact actually smiled back at her.

Once inside the house and in Gail's room, it became a frenzy of pulling off clothes and pushing against each other, their eagerness to touch one another overwhelming any thought of talking. Two weeks had been too long and the interruption that morning had only served to heighten their libidinousness. For Gail too the fact of Holly standing up to Lisa, standing up for her indeed, only added to her fervor.

As she was about to fall asleep, completely satiated, having made Holly come several times and having had the favor returned, Gail remembered to ask about Lisa.

'I don't get Lisa. I thought she'd got used to me being with you,' she said yawning.

Holly had frowned. 'I don't really want to think about Lisa right now.'

'True,' Gail had agreed, 'but maybe she's still mad about walking in on us having sex.'

'Shh,' Holly had said.

They were lying on their sides, facing each other. Holly leant across to kiss Gail's lips softly. They were a little swollen from kissing and her hair was mussed up, her face relaxed and open. The whole effect was sultry and sexy. The sight of Gail like this, with this kind of post-coital radiance, took Holly's breath away every single time. But who was she kidding? Gail always took her breath away.

After that Holly had pulled her close and Gail had fallen almost instantly asleep, enveloped as she was in warmth and love. Gail smiled to herself as she remembered that and then at the memory of the way she had woken Holly this morning. How, even though there hadn't been much time, there had been a spirited reprisal of at least some of the night before. Enough to send them into the day with huge grins on both their faces.

The sound of Lisa saying her name brought Gail out of this rather pleasant reverie. It was certainly more pleasant thinking about Holly than dealing with Lisa's shit. Gail became aware that Lisa was giving her an odd look. She realized she was smiling and Lisa would probably think that strange, given they were talking about Lisa's predicament and in particular Holly's refusal to take her calls.

'Can you explain it to her for me,' Lisa asked hopefully, 'tell Holly I didn't mean it.'

'Lisa, you need to be the one to tell Holly that,' Gail said firmly. Lisa looked downcast until Gail added, 'but I'll tell her she should talk to you.'

'Okay. Okay, that's fair enough' Lisa nodded, 'she'll listen to you. I know she will.'

'And now I really must get back to work.' Gail stood.

'Of course,' Lisa said, also standing, 'should we hug or something.'

'No,' Gail shook her head vigorously, her eyes wide with alarm, 'it's not really the way I communicate.'

'Okay,' Lisa said with some relief, 'but Peck I gotta say talking to you is much better than a session with my therapist. Cheaper too.'

'Actually Lisa, I think you owe me another one of those expensive bottles of tequila,' Gail said, holding open the door for Lisa.

….

Soon after the suspect's lawyer arrived and Gail and Chloe were back in the interview room. Gail sensed something in the man's demeanor had changed. His face was no longer closed off and he looked at Gail expectantly. She hoped it was a sign that he wanted to talk.

'Now that your lawyer is present, can you please state your name?' Gail said.

The man looked at his lawyer, a woman in her mid forties who had a pleasant round face and a dimply smile. She nodded encouragingly.

'Tom. Thomas Harrison. I swear I didn't do anything to Rahmi. Please you need to tell me what happened to her.'

'Mr Harrison, Rahmi was murdered four days ago.'

'I wasn't in Toronto,' Tom said, biting his lip hard. Again Gail had the impression it was to stop himself from crying.

'So where were you?'

'Calgary. I went a week ago. My mother was dying. We buried her the day before yesterday. I only got back to Toronto last night.'

'I'm sorry for your loss,' Gail said, 'and I hate to ask this but can anyone verify that?'

'My half sister.'

'Can you give us a name and contact number?'

Even as she asked, Gail knew the answer to this question, knew she had the half sister's contact number stored in her own phone, knew suddenly why Tom had seemed so familiar. That surly set of the mouth looked slightly different on a man, the narrow chin didn't work either but their coloring was the same, as were the green almond shaped eyes.

'I think you probably already know her. She's a detective here at 15.'

Gail almost said the name aloud before Tom did.

'Her name's Francine Anderson,' he said.