He had been looking for any clue that she might be interested in extending their friendship into something more for months but today was the first time he had seen the slightest hint and now he was unsure what to do. Barbara's expression as she had looked at his photo was going around and around in Tommy's head. Since they had left London he had tried hard to concentrate on the road but all he could think about was whether it had meant what he thought it meant; what he hoped it meant. Maybe it was just a physiological reaction! He did not think himself arrogant in considering he had been a good looking young man and maybe she had simply responded to that. After all she had seen him without his shirt before and had not given any indication of anything but embarrassment. Then again why be embarrassed? He took a peek at her again. She was staring out the window but sensed him looking and turned towards him. He gripped the wheel harder and focused on the road.

Winston was already waiting for them at the large private hotel on the outskirts of town. The front was indistinguishable from all the redbrick townhouses of the area with their ubiquitous white timbered bay windows and terracotta roofs but it extended out the back with a nineteen seventies red brick extension that offended Tommy's sense of style with its rectangular blandness. In the last few miles he had hatched a little plan and he hoped the hotel could facilitate it.

"How was the trip down? Did you hit traffic? I was expecting you an hour ago."

"It seems my personal hygiene takes too long," Lynley replied as he walked past Nkata into the hotel.

Winston turned to Barbara. "What's that about?"

"Long story," she said and followed Lynley. Tommy had been unusually quiet on the drive down. At first she thought she had annoyed him but he seemed more amused and thoughtful than angry. She had tried hard not to look at him but each time she stole a glance he seemed to be looking at her. It was as if he had been waiting for her to say something important. She suspected he wanted an explanation for that thing with her finger and the photograph. Not bloody likely!

She approached the desk in time to hear Tommy trying to charm the young receptionist with his best smile and smooth way with words. "Yes, I understand how difficult that request is at short notice but I would really appreciate it." The receptionist blushed and smiled coyly and Barbara shook her head, smiling to herself. Whatever he wanted he would get, the poor girl was putty in his hands. Barbara's smile evaporated. The receptionist looked a little like Helen when they first met; perhaps he had asked her out. Damned hide of the man when we have a case to solve. Barbara marched up to the desk so he would know she was watching.

The receptionist handed Tommy two keys and he held one out towards Barbara. "I took the liberty of checking us both in," he said, "we're next to each other on the second floor." He turned back to the receptionist. "Thank you again for your help."

Winston came up to them. "Can we look at the crime scene tonight Sir? Then I can head back to London."

"Good idea," Lynley replied, "we should still have enough light until ten." Tommy was pleased for the distraction. It would be good to think about the case and not about his sergeant.

Barbara glanced at the clock on the wall behind his head to see it was shortly before six. "We haven't eaten since noon. Perhaps we could have a bite first?"

Winston and Tommy looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "Will you really starve if we wait an hour?" Tommy asked in exasperation. "Poor Winston wants to drive back to London."

"Alright!" Barbara grumbled, "but don't blame me if I faint."

Tommy turned to Nkata. "Give us ten minutes and we'll be ready."

He started to walk towards the stairs carrying his soft leather grip casually in one hand. Barbara trailed behind struggling to get her oversized backpack under control before it slipped off her shoulder. She was sliding along sideways rather than walking and when she reached the bottom step she collided with Tommy who had stopped to help. Her bag flew left and she fell backwards until Tommy's hand shot out and grabbed her coat. He pulled her upright so they were standing only inches apart. "Barbara! Are you all right?" he asked, the concern evident in his voice. His heart started to thump and he almost leant down and kissed her. Oh Tommy now is not the time!

"Yeah," she replied uncertainly, "I don't know what's wrong with me today." She tugged free from his hand and bent to pick up her bag. She had almost wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. One bleeding photo and you turn to mush!

"Well no harm done. Here let me take that," he said.

"I can manage thanks," she said angrily. She needed to snap out of this and fast. Her feelings were entirely improper and pretty soon he would notice she was behaving like a fawning adolescent, if he had not already realised.

"Suit yourself." Tommy turned and walked up the steps. At the top he paused until she had caught up to him. He was concerned she was overtired. They had been in York for three days and had been lucky to get more than three hours sleep each night but at least they had identified their suspect. As they walked along the short hallway to their rooms he said, "what about we share a quick bowl of chips then we can all go to Beachy Head? You and I can have a proper dinner when we get back."

There was no anger or bitterness in his voice which made Barbara feel even worse for barking at him. The poor man had done nothing wrong except be himself. "Yeah, good. Five minutes then?" she replied as she opened her door. "Sir?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry." She wanted him to know that she recognised she was being petulant and childish.

"I know." Tommy smiled at her in that way that he seemed to reserve for her. He looked so adorable and if she did not know better, loving. Barbara's legs started to weaken. She straightened and before either of them could say anything more she slipped into her room.

At first glance the room was unexceptional and uninspiring just like tens of others she had stayed in. The furniture was typically bland with dark wood trim that made the small room feel even tinier. She flopped unceremoniously onto the bed and instantly wished she could stay there. It was soft and cosseting and she was exhausted. Barbara dragged herself to her feet ready to go downstairs when she noticed the door on the side wall was ajar. She had seen the door as she entered but had assumed it was the connecting room for a family suite but as she pushed it open she started to laugh. It was an ensuite bathroom, a luxury not normally indulged on the Met budget, and its centrepiece was a large white enamelled bathtub. She knew instantly what Lynley's request had been. Havers walked over to it and ran her hand across the cool rim. I might just use you tonight! As she turned to leave she noticed a bottle on the vanity. It was a quart of milk with a note, not written in Lynley's hand but clearly dictated by him,

'Some things should not be rushed,
Cleopatra.'

That was quick work! Barbara stared at the note then frowned, unsure whether she should laugh or take the bottle downstairs and crack it over his head. She chose to laugh.

Tommy had ordered and was chatting to Winston when Barbara entered the hotel's bar. She sat down just before two bowls of steaming hot chips were placed in front of them by a pimply-faced teenager who winked at Barbara. She stared at him and he quickly retreated much to Tommy's amusement. His laugh earned his own savage look from her. He ignored it and smiled as he said, "good idea Barbara. I was hungrier than I thought."

They ate silently until Winston excused himself to go to the bathroom. "I suppose you thought that was funny Sir but I actually intend to use it tonight."

Tommy grinned at her in a way that if she did not know him better she would think was suggestive. She hated how her imagination had started to infer hidden nuances into every look or statement. Before she had been caught looking at those pictures she would never have dared dream he could ever think of her as more than a friend but the way he had looked at her in that room was very different. If it were anyone but Tommy she would have sworn it was desire.

"I hope you do. We can't waste good milk."

"No, not that part." She could feel her face redden. It was becoming a habit every time he spoke to her.

Tommy stole a chip from the bowl she had unconsciously maneuvered to be in front of her. "Well I'll go and wash my hands then we can go."

Without the distraction of company Barbara munched on the last of her chips. There was a television behind the bar tuned to a music channel which provided background noise. It was counting down through '150 Gems of the 80's'. Winston returned and sat beside her as they waited. "They had some pretty awful music back then," he remarked.

"Yeah? Well I was there for the original versions thank you very much."

"With the hair and the shoulder pads?"

"No but probably only because I was too young." Barbara laughed with Winston then glanced up at the screen. "That's it, that's who he reminded me of today."

"Who?"

She pointed at the screen. "Him! He looks like the DI when he was young."

Winston chuckled. "Yeah, I can see it. The suit, the face and that hair."

The song finished but Barbara and Winston were still laughing when Tommy returned. "What's so funny?"

Barbara pointed at the television and Tommy looked up to see a female singer attempting some form of dirty dancing to a catchy but quickly forgettable tune. He frowned at Barbara wondering why this was funny.

"It was the song before," she said unable to contain her mirth, "I know now who you reminded me of."

Tommy felt his face redden. He was not sure he was going to like the comparison and he was certain he did not want Nkata to be a part of what had happened at his house. It meant that the moment had not been special to Barbara in the way it had been for him. He was far more devastated than he had a right to be. He wanted to crawl into a corner somewhere and lick his wounds but he felt obliged to play along in good humour. "Oh, let me guess, Edward Rochester?"

"Who?"

Barbara clearly had no idea who he was referring to and he immediately regretted saying it in front of Winston. It had been a joke but it had fallen very flat. "Jane Eyre."

Winston and Barbara looked at each other and shrugged. "Nah never heard of them. What group were they in?"

"It was a book," Tommy tried to explain but it would be impossible with Winston there to say that Rochester was supposedly the most romantic but tragic of Bronte's heroes. He smiled tightly. "Never mind. Who then?"

Winston blurted it out before Havers had a chance. "The main guy from Spandau Ballet." Winston laughed to himself. "It's 'Gold'!"

Barbara was obviously amused. "It's 'True'!"

Tommy looked from one to the other. Both were snickering and clearly neither of them thought he would know the reference to the band or their fluffy songs. Do they really think no one has ever said that to me before? He looked at Barbara and felt very disappointed. Do you believe I am that detached from your precious 'real world'? I'll bet you don't even understand the horrendous origin of their name! He was angry, not by the reference but by the implication. Barbara was not interested in him; it was just some sort of game. Well he would give them what they expected. "I doubt I look anything like the principal dancer of some obscure German dance company! Now are we going to the crime scene or are we going to sit here all night thinking about what we looked like twenty years ago?" He looked pointedly at Barbara.

Winston laughed again but Barbara looked down at her feet. She had not meant to upset him and of course he would have no idea who she was talking about. The way he had looked at her and his joke with the bathtub had allowed her to hope that maybe, if all the stars and planets aligned, one day he might see her as more than his partner and friend. She had been tired and foolish. They were simply too different. "Sorry Sir, let's go."

It was as if he had suddenly let go of a balloon he had just inflated. Before his eyes he saw Barbara zig zag away from him and retreat back behind her fortified defences. No! I'm sorry, don't do that. Don't you understand this is not a game for me? I love you, you wonderfully complex and annoying woman! He was shocked by his own thoughts. This was definitely not a game. He had fallen for her ages ago but today he had come to believe something could actually come of it; at least he had thought it could. It seemed he had been wrong. "It's fine. I just want Winston to go back to London." He sounded gruffer than he intended and saw the puzzled look on their faces so added, "while it's still early so he can get onto the case first thing." Tommy turned and walked to the door before things became worse.

There was not much to see at the scene. An area near the cliff face was still roped off with the blue and white police barrier tape. Winston lifted it for Barbara who bent underneath and moved carefully towards the precipice. Tommy followed before Winston had a chance to change position. Winston made a face at his back resenting that he was always treated as the doorman. The grass was long and slippery and Barbara took great care not to fall in case she disappeared over the edge of the chalky cliff. Tommy was standing so close behind her that she could feel the heat coming off him. She started to move and felt his hand on her shoulder. It seemed to sear through her clothes and onto her skin. She closed her eyes and focused on the connection.

Tommy thought she was too close to the drop and with her clumsiness today he was worried she might fall. He put his hand gently on her shoulder and slowly increased the pressure. This would not seem odd but it gave him a chance to touch her. If Winston was not there Tommy knew he would have wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered into her ear that he loved her. In reality she would probably have tried to break free and would have plunged to her death but in his mind she would have spun around in his arms, kissed him passionately and then made love to him in the high grass. He shivered and guided her away from the edge.

"What makes people think it was murder?" she asked Winston. They were well back from the edge but Tommy still had his hand on her shoulder.

Nkata flipped open his notepad. "Margaret Hannon, aged forty six, reported missing by her daughter at ten p.m. on Tuesday night. The body was at the bottom of the cliff. This is a popular suicide spot. Cause of death seems to be a blow to the head but hard to tell if it was from the fall or not. There are some drag marks near the edge that the pathologist thinks might be her trying to hold on and not go over or someone dragging her to push her over. The daughter said her mother had gone on a date with a man she had met online. Second date it seems. The daughter had never met him but his name was William Wallace but we can't find any trace of him and the photo on his profile page is the same as that bloke you were chasing in York. That's why I called you."

"William Wallace," Barbara said thoughtfully, "where have I heard that name before?" She reluctantly shrugged off his hand thinking it had been there too long for decency.

"Hopefully in your history class!" Tommy snapped. Barbara looked at him with that expression of hers that told him she was unsure why he was angry. He did not have a rational explanation. He knew his hand was out of place but he was trying to tell her how he felt about her and she had rejected him. "Leader of the Scottish rebellion against Edward the First. Hung, drawn and quartered in 1305!"

Barbara could tell he was still upset by the comment about his likeness. She did not understand why, it had simply been a bit of fun. She had hoped it would lighten the tension between them. Things had been weird since the photograph incident and now he was in one of his moods. The possessive thing with his hand was just his way of trying to wrest back control. She would have to ride it out as she always did but she could not feel angry with him no matter how much she wanted to shout at him. "Right, so it is unlikely to be him then."

Her comment stopped Tommy in his tracks. He turned to stare at her and found she was smiling at him. He knew he was being arrogant and insufferable but he could not help it. All he wanted to do right now was hold her close and kiss her. Then perhaps they could go back to her bath and play Cleopatra and Mark Antony...or he could be the asp. He shook his head to clear those images and grinned at her. He could not really be angry. "Indeed," he replied.

She was trying to be professional. A woman had died and they needed to find her murderer but right now Barbara could think of nothing but Tommy. He was looking at her with that same hunger she had seen earlier but she did not trust herself to know that was really what he was thinking. Blood rushed to her face and a pleasant wave of desire washed over her. If only he knew what some of her fantasies entailed he would be horrified but she was sure if they ever happened he would be delighted. Her mind started to form a new one about a shared bathtub and she had to take a deep breath to hold focus.

They were staring at each other in a strange way. It was not her fault that she did not feel the way he did but her flushed face and the way she was looking at him was consistent with her behaviour in his lounge but at odds with what had happened at the hotel. He was confused and uncertain but he wished Winston would go and leave them alone. The longer the day wore on the more he ached to feel her touch him and he doubted he could restrain himself much longer. Not that he would ever do anything unwelcome but he would at least like to talk to her.

Tommy did not hear Winston speaking to him. "Sir? Do you think that will help?"

Winston turned to Barbara. "I don't think the DI was listening."

"Sorry Winston," she answered, "what did you say?"

Nkata threw his hands up in frustration. "What's with it with you two tonight? I said perhaps I can find him through his i.p. address tomorrow. I'll go to the dating agency and see if they have it on record."

Lynley managed to tear his eyes away from his sergeant. "Good idea Winston. Sorry I think Barbara and I are just overtired and finding it hard to concentrate. Head back to London and we'll talk tomorrow."

"Right. I'll leave you two at it then," Winston said and two heads spun around to stare at him. Winston was no fool and he could see what was happening between them even if they had no clue. About bloody time. One of you just has to say something!