A/N: Thank you for the reviews!

Vera stared across the table at her dinner companion. Billy hadn't bothered to show up which left her with Hu, a complete stranger. "I thought Billy was going to be here," she mumbled around a bite of pasta. Healthy pasta, damn Billy anyway.

"He felt it would be better if it were just the two of us."

"I don't see why. He knows everything."

"Does he?"

"What do you mean?"

"Have you told him everything?"

"Of course I have."

Hu arched an eyebrow. "Have you?" he pressed.

Vera scowled. "I don't know what you mean."

"I believe you do."

"I told him that she was haunting me and that the case was all about sex because that's what I keep seeing."

"Yes, but did you tell him that you aren't just seeing things as if you're Mrs. Kingsley – that you're also feeling everything she feels? Including the arousal she feels when you're seeing them making love."

Vera blinked at him. How the hell did he know that? "No. Why would I? And how do you know that I am?"

"She's haunting you, Miss Stanhope. You are living her memories. It only makes sense that you would also be experiencing her emotions."

"I told Billy about the fear."

"Well, he wouldn't have needed you to tell him about that. Your scream was enough."

Vera looked down at her food. "It happened again today. A perfectly happy scene with her and Marty snuggling on the sofa and messing about instead of watching the movie and then," she shivered. "They were in their bed, and I was watching the same scene again that I saw the other day. I saw a bit more of the memory before the shadow appeared but…"

"But?" Hu encouraged, his keen eyes taking in the way Vera paled at she relived what she'd seen and experienced.

"It was the same. I felt the arm around my neck, smelt the alcohol on his breath as it whispered against me ear. I clawed at the arm," she pointed at her neck. "I'm surprised Billy didn't demand to see that I'd cleaned it properly when he was here."

"Vera, you called Mr. Kingsley Marty."

"What?"

"You called him Marty."

Vera thought back on what she'd said and shrugged. "I didn't think about it. That's what Hellen calls him most of the time."

"Her nickname for him?"

"Yes. She hadn't called him that for years. Not until they fixed what had gone wrong," she shook her head. "No, fixed what had always been wrong."

"So you're learning about them through her memories."

"Yes."

"And has she given you hints that have helped the case with these memories?"

"Well, I got enough of a hint to ask Martin's mother if the couple had been seeing a therapist."

"And they had."

"Yes. A sex therapist. She was how I learned there was another man, though she didn't know that Hellen had only kissed the man and nothing more."

"But that is how you found out there was another suspect?"

"Yes. We thought it might be the manager Martin had fired and had beat up by one of his bouncers. He was the only lead we had until I talked to the therapist. Of course, nothing has come of that so far because the name he gave wasn't his real name. No one has seen him. At least no one alive. He isn't with Parks and Conservation like the son thought he was." Looking up at Hu, Vera sighed, "I've not seen his face in the memory."

"Mrs. Kingsley may not have seen his face. She would have recognized him by his voice and the things he said."

"But how does that help me? If she can't show me who he is, why is she haunting me?"

"Maybe she can show you. Remember, she saw him at other times."

"And how are you going to help me? Talking about it isn't going to make her stop haunting me."

"No, you're right, it isn't. Maybe, though, I can help you relax while you're awake and we can get her to show you more memories. If we can do that, we might just be able to learn more and you can have a restful night's sleep."

"That's doubtful."

Hu gave her a look. "What is?"

"A restful night's sleep. I don't ever get a night's sleep. Haven't done in years."

"You must get some rest because Billy says you're looking like hell which implies that you don't normally."

"I think they all need glasses," she mumbled.

Hu chuckled a bit. "I think they're all just worried, especially Billy. There's history between the two of you."

Vera rolled her eyes and frowned. "Not that kind of history. He just knows things that no one else does because he's known me for years. He's protected me against the others learning," she shrugged. "Well, Billy's a friend."

"A friend that is very worried about you. You frightened him the night he heard you screaming. He also seems to worry that you're not taking the threat of the killer coming after you seriously. Why is that?"

"Because I can take care of me self." Taking a sip of her drink, she shook her head. "Not that anyone listens to me. I'm sure you saw the car outside hidden so I can't see them."

"I did. How do you know they're out there?"

Vera gave him an exasperated look. "Because I've been doing this job a long time. I knew they were following me about and I've told them time and again to stop, that I know they're doing it, but Aiden nor Shep will listen to me. Shep says she has to or she won't sleep, and cheeky thing that she is, she insists that one of us has to look well rested. I'm sure it's Aiden out there tonight. They take turns. One of them follows me home and the other stays out there all night if they don't call Billy to come and harass me. Tonight, they don't know who you are, so they're staying."

"So how will you explain me?"

She shrugged. "I won't."

"And they'll accept that?"

"Probably not." Vera gave him a mischievous look. "If they go to Billy, he'll have them believing we're sleeping together."

Hu sputtered then coughed at that. "What?" he finally managed a surprised almost squeak.

Vera laughed and smirked. "I'm just stating the truth. He's done it to me before."

Hu shook his head. "I see he really hasn't changed much over the years."

"Not at all."

"So I shouldn't be surprised if I get phone calls from well intentioned people from your team checking to make sure I'm good enough for their boss?"

"It's doubtful they'll do that. They know I'd have their heads for it."

"Well that's good." Hu took the last sip of his wine and pushed his plate back. "Thank you for talking to me."

"I didn't really have a choice, did I? You heard Billy."

Hu laughed and shook his head. "I did, but I don't really believe you're afraid of his threats."

"In this instance, I think he would have hunted me down. Billy's never really been afraid of me. I used to get more cheek out of him," she shook her head. "Always pushing it way past the line."

"What do you mean?"

"The things he'd say when we were working cases together. He was always pushing the line of going too far."

"And you let him?"

"I'd tell him to stop or scowl at him, but he never seemed to listen."

"So he knows your bark is worse than your bite."

"Oh, no, he knows just the opposite, he just isn't afraid of me like my crew is."

"Because he knows your secret."

Vera fidgeted with her empty glass. "Yes."

"And what is that secret?"

Shaking her head, she stood up and took her plate to the sink. "Nothing to do with anything in my life now."

Hu watched her, wondering if the secret she wouldn't talk about played a part in why she never got a night's sleep. Or could it be that a mind that worked in the way hers did wouldn't shut down long enough to let her rest for very long? Either way, he hoped to help her with all of it. He liked Vera. She was harsh, but the little bit he'd learned from Billy about her upbringing explained that. She didn't hold back, a trait he liked in people. He'd rather someone tell him exactly what they thought then play games.

"Gathering wool?"

Hu looked up and nodded. "I suppose I was. I think we've talked enough for tonight. Tomorrow evening, same time?"

"I'll try. I can't promise that something won't come up with the case that keeps me out late."

"Here," he handed her a business card. "My mobile number is on the back. If you aren't going to be here, just call and let me know."

Vera accepted the card with a nod. "I'll try to remember. I'm not good at that when my mind is on a lead."

Hu chuckled at that. "That is an excuse."

Snarling her nose, she stuffed the card in her pocket. "Fine then."

Standing, Hu shrugged into his jacket. "I really did enjoy our dinner."

"I did, too. Even if you were asking all sorts of nosy questions."

Hu grinned. "Goodnight, Vera. I'll be sure to wave to your guard as I drive by."

"They'll like that," she chuckled and walked with him to the door. Waving at him as he turned to get in his car, she shook her head as she closed and locked the door. Turning out the lights, she walked back to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of whiskey then made her way to the bedroom.

She'd spent more time sleeping in her bed since the haunting started than she'd spent in years. She usually fell asleep in a chair for an hour or two. At least in the bed she didn't take the chance of landing on the floor in her tossing about. She had a sore forehead a couple of times from falling asleep at the table, the last thing she needed was to break an arm or hip falling out of her chair. "I'd have a lot of lying to do to explain that one," she mumbled as she downed the last of her drink.

Stripping down and pulling her nightdress over her head, she slid into bed. "Alright, Hellen…what have you got to show me tonight? No nightmares, eh?"