"Roo!" Barbara exclaimed, "I'm so glad you're safe."

"Yeah," he said proudly, "I can take care of m'self."

Tommy moved closer and extended his hand. Roo shook it and in a maneuver that surprised everyone Tommy scooped him up into his arm and held him against his side. "Oi! Put me down."

"No."

"You're embarrassing me," Roo hissed. Barbara and KoolCat began to laugh as Roo struggled and used his little fists to punch Tommy's shoulder and arm. "This is not funny," the boy yelled.

Tommy twisted and lowered him to the ground but kept a firm grip across the boy's chest. "You son have led us a merry dance for days. It's about time you realised..."

"No Tommy, leave him," Barbara said gently. Lynley glowered at her but released his grip. The boy shook free and moved out of reach.

"He forgets he's nine sometimes," the girl said, earning herself a kick in the shins from the angry lad.

"I don't believe he is," Tommy retorted, "it's like one of those bad movies where an adult and child swap bodies."

"I can't help it that I'm smarter than those cops. You at least were worthy Lord Asherton," Roo said smugly. Tommy and Barbara both looked surprised. "What, you didn't think I'd do my research? Large estate in Cornwall, daddy died when you were at school, you got a First in History at Oxford, nearly killed your best friend in a car accident, married Lady Helen Clarke..."

"Point proven, I am familiar with my CV thank you. Do you tell the future as well as the past?"

"It's pretty obvious. You two will get hitched, retire to your estate and have an heir and a spare or two and live satisfied, uneventful lives."

"After this week that sounds appealing," Barbara said referring to the uneventful part of the statement. When she realised the other implication her face flushed.

Tommy beamed at her wondering if she had just agreed to his as yet unasked question. "Very appealing."

"Now you're getting all soppy again," Roo complained, "go on, kiss her, you know you want to."

"I do, but not with an audience thank you. Are you going to introduce your friend?"

Roo grunted like a grumpy old man and Tommy had to suppress a smile. "Detective Inspector Lynley, Detective Sergeant Havers may I introduce my sister Catriona."

"Sister?" Barbara exclaimed.

"Half-sister actually," the girl explained, "different fathers."

Tommy and Barbara exchanged a meaningful glance. "We didn't know you had a sister Roo. It seems to be something you neglected to tell us in Sheffield."

"He didn't want to endanger me. We'd been in contact for about six months after Mum told him about me."

"And you've been living with Catriona?" Barbara asked.

"Cat, she prefers Cat. Not exactly."

"Dad would have gone mental if he'd found out. Mum left him for Roo's dad. She was on track to complete her PhD in genetics before she got involved with him. Dad hates him, and Roo."

"Do you live here?" Barbara enquired.

"Nah, over the hill in Tamarama. My dad's an orthopaedic surgeon. I have a nanny but she doesn't know about the room in the loft. I hid Roo up there when anyone was around."

"How did your mother meet a steel worker?" Tommy asked.

"Dad's an industrial chemist originally. They met at the uni. She became preggers with me so they ran off back to Wollongong."

"Dad fought for custody of me," Cat added, "Mum didn't willingly abandon me."

"I see. You know we need to take you back for a chat. There are a lot of unanswered questions."

Roo approached Barbara and looked up at her. "They said on the news a policeman was killed in the explosion and another man in the basement. Was that Dad?"

Barbara looked at Tommy across Roo's head. "I don't know Roo. We got three young boys out but I didn't know about the man," she answered honestly.

"He was their cook," Roo said matter-of-factly, "he brewed up methamphetamine for them in the lab they had next to the cells where they kept the boys. He told me he had to do it to pay his gambling debts. They captured me when he tried to go to the police. They made him watch as they took photos. I heard them say they'd post them on the net if he didn't co-operate."

Tommy tried to kneel but it was too painful. "Roo, did they..."

"No. Not then but they would have if Dad hadn't agreed. I saw men come and go into the other cells. I knew they were," Roo swallowed hard, "touching the boys. Some boys disappeared. I never saw them again. Dad used to cry that he had gotten me into it. He said he had send Mum to England to protect me. I believed him."

"We need to get you to talk to some people that can put those animals away for years. You have to come with us. Cat, you're going to have to tell your Dad."

The girl nodded. "Can I ring from the police station?"

Tommy agreed. "Let's get a cab."

Two hours later they had debriefed the two as much as they could on a Sunday. Cat's father, Dr. Pepperhill, required Tommy's best tact to ensure he did not lay a complaint. He glared at Roo disdainfully as they children sat holding each other's hand. "Bastard child has brought me misery since the day he was conceived! I'm not having him in my house."

"He has no other family," Barbara insisted, "would you have him institutionalised?"

"With pleasure! In a gaol for preference. He'll grow up just like his wastrel father."

"Doctor, the boy's just lost his mother and now we believe his father in less than ten days. I suggest some sympathy might be in order."

"Pfft! I'm taking Catriona home. We will co-operate because he dragged us into this mess but I'm not supporting him."

"That's your choice Sir," Tommy replied, his anger simmering just below the surface. "We will however need a DNA sample from you just to exclude parentage."

The doctor protested but after a long, angry telephone call with his solicitor he agreed. He was processed and went to take Cat. The girl ran back and hugged Roo who fiercely returned her embrace. Barbara felt a lump in her throat and then Tommy's reassuring arm around her shoulders. Roo seemed to shrink as he came back up the hall towards them, looking very much like a vulnerable nine year old rather than the mini man that had teased them at the beach. As he reached them Tommy put his free hand on his shoulder and steered them all into the room where the team were waiting.

Kosti took a DNA swab from Roo then bustled off to have them fast-tracked. Davo signalled Tommy over to where he was standing with Cam and Gibbo. Barbara took the hint to keep Roo occupied.

"It's Sunday. The Department of Community Services say they can't get an emergency foster carer until tomorrow. If Dr. Pepperhill has refused to take Roo he'll have to go into a child protection unit overnight," Davo said grimly.

"Barbara and I will take him until tomorrow."

"I don't think we can allow that under the legislation."

"Disguise it," Tommy said flatly.

"How?" Cam asked.

"We think he knows more but is intimidated by the surroundings. He trusts Barbara and we believe he will open up to her away from the station."

"We'd need a judge to agree," Davo said, "we can ask Margaret Possome, she will agree."

Half an hour later Tommy and Barbara left with Roo under strict conditions. Barbara had explained the situation to Roo and made him promise not to run off. "I'm out of options," the boy said, "you two are better than gaol."

Tommy collapsed gratefully onto the sofa and stretched his legs along the seat as Roo ran excitedly through the apartment then stared out the window. "How do you become an earl?" the boy asked seriously, "how many marks do you need for uni?"

"It's hereditary," Tommy replied, "you have to be born to it."

"Bugger! I want to live like this. You're lucky Sergeant."

She was sitting at the end of the sofa and had slipped off Tommy's shoes and was massaging his feet. "I know but at home I live in a modest one bedroom flat. Nothing like this."

"Really? You two don't co-habit?"

Tommy laughed at the boy's choice of terms. "Not yet but I'm working on it. Oh that's good Barbara," he purred.

"Why do I get the feeling I'm going to be sent to my room to watch a video?" Roo asked cheekily.

Barbara's face reddened and she stopped massaging his feet which earned a light kick and a resentful groan from Tommy. "There's none of that while you're here," she said seriously, "now what would you like to do for the afternoon?"

Tommy grumbled under his breath. He had no intention of changing his private behaviour with Barbara but he had enough self-control to understand that they had Roo to look after. "Nothing that is too active please. My legs hurt."

Roo stood at the window and contemplated his options. "We can leave you here to rest Your Earl," he said seriously, "and I can take Barbara to Manly on the ferry."

"I am not 'Your Earl'. I think you should call us Tommy and Barbara and I can manage a ferry," Tommy said quickly. He was surprised that he was vaguely jealous of a boy threatening to take her away. He hoped he would not feel that way when their children were born.

"Okay," Roo agreed, "and I'll need some new clothes. I only have one other set and Pepperhill has probably burnt them by now."

Tommy looked pleadingly at Barbara. He did not fancy traipsing through the city to go shopping. "They have shops at Manly," she replied and Tommy nodded. He wanted to let them go by themselves while he rested but he had put his reputation on the line to take the boy. He could not afford any tricks if Roo tried to abscond.

They walked slowly down to the long bank of wharves and waited patiently for the big green and cream ferry to pull in. The crowd coming in for Vivid started to pour off the vessel while they waited behind the metal grill. Slowly it was opened and Roo tucked his hand in Barbara's and raced for the open deck at the back. Tommy trailled behind and settled awkwardly onto one of the hard, red bench seats where he could watch them at the rail. Roo's unnerving habit of swapping seamlessly between child and pseudo-adult was fascinating to watch. One minute the boy was whooping at the ferry's movement then the next explaining the chequered history of the Opera House to Barbara. She was completely at ease with it and Tommy knew that she had had years of practice with him lecturing her. He pulled his phone from his pocket and began to take some photos of them. Roo noticed and came over and pulled him to his feet. "Come over and I'll take some for you and Barbara as mementos."

Roo fussed to get the angles and took shots of them in front of the Bridge, the Opera House, and Pinchgut, a convict built sandstone fort on a little island now used as a restaurant. "Come on relax," Roo said, "I'll take one formal one for your colleagues and then private ones for you two."

"Perceptive aren't you?"

"Yes," the boy said without a trace of arrogance, "now kiss or do something gooey."

For the whole half hour of the trip they took turns to photograph the scenery and each other. Tommy enjoyed watching Barbara interact with the boy and it made him more determined to marry her and have children. Twice he tried to ask her again but each time Roo ran over from the rail to point out a landmark.

They shuffled down the gangway as the ferry disgorged it passengers. Tommy looked around the harbour beach. "Is this it? I thought Manly was a rival to Bondi?"

Roo screwed up his face at Tommy as if he were an idiot. "We have to walk across The Corso to the ocean beach."

"Silly you," Barbara said to Tommy as she winked at him and took his hand.

The stroll through the open pedestrian mall lined with surf shops, pubs, restaurants and fish and chipperies was pleasantly short. The beach stretched for miles to the north but Roo explained that the top end became North Steyne. Tall, thick Norfolk Pines lined the promenade and provided shade and shelter. Tommy propped himself against the stone wall and insisted Roo and Barbara explore the beach. They stripped off their shoes and socks and gleefully rolled up their jeans then raced each other across the squeaky golden sand to the edge of the surf. Seeing their fun Tommy wished he could join them as they ran in and out of the waves.

When they returned to him he gave Barbara his credit card and PIN and insisted she take Roo shopping. A main shopping district was tucked off The Corso with enough options for a boy Roo's age. "No three piece suits though," he warned, "or he'll think he's me."

Barbara sensed Tommy considered Roo a rival for her affections. "There's only one you," she said lovingly, "can I borrow a kiss? I promise to return it."

Tommy smiled and happily kissed her lightly, sorry that it could not be more passionate. "If you see anything for yourself buy it too."

"Trusting me with your credit card seems a big step in our relationship," she joked.

"I trust you with my heart so giving you my money is nothing."

Barbara swallowed hard then kissed him again tenderly. "Come on Roo, we'll buy you some fresh clothes."

Tommy watched the surf roll in. Further up the beach lifesavers were practicing their skills in a surfboat and down the beach their was a group of men fishing of a rocky ledge. The peace of the afternoon was shattered by the buzz of his phone. "Lynley," he snapped.

"It's Cam. The DNA came back. Guess what?"

"Roo's father is really Pepperhill."

"How did you know that?" Cam sounded deflated.

"I suspected it. Something about their mannerisms," Tommy confided.

"How are we going to tell them? I don't think either of them will be keen to learn the truth."

"Let's keep it in-house until tomorrow. Then we can decide how to approach it."

"Yeah, DOCS will want him to take the boy but with the level of hostility that could be difficult, maybe even dangerous."

"We'll come in at eight. We can discuss it then. Thanks for the warning though Cam."

Tommy stared out to sea wondering what to do that was best for the boy. "You're deep in thought," Barbara said.

Tommy looked up and smiled. "Nothing that can't wait. What did you buy?"

Barbara made a point of giving back the credit card along with the receipts. Tommy tucked them into his wallet without a glance. Roo proudly showed off his new jeans, a couple of trendy tee-shirts and a hoodie emblazoned with a well-known local surf brand. "And for you?" Tommy asked Barbara.

"A swimming costume," Roo answered for her, "and some boardies for you."

"You think I'm going swimming in this weather?"

"Not exactly," Barbara replied mysteriously, "come on we need to catch the ferry back or it will be too crowded."

Tommy put his hand on Roo's shoulder and leant down conspiratorially. "What's she up to?" He asked. The boy shrugged his shoulders but Tommy knew he was about to become the victim of a scheme.

The light had started to fade and they watched entranced as the orange light of sunset silhouetted the famous Coathanger. Barbara nestled into Tommy and he wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him. "We won't be able to do this in London," she said, her disappointment clear.

"Why not?" he asked suddenly fearful that she still saw this as holiday fling.

"Because there's no Harbour Bridge there," she replied in a cheeky tone. She knew how to wind him up and she did not want him to think everything was predictable and cosy. Life was going to be bumpy for them at home but right now she just wanted to push back against him and give in to the moment.

The crowds at Circular Quay were much thicker than they had hoped. Tommy was concerned about losing Roo and Barbara in the pressing crowds. "Want to see more?" he asked Roo who was being jostled. The boy nodded and allowed Tommy to lift him onto his shoulders. Lynley grimaced when the boy wriggled to get comfortable and his shirt scraped across his cuts. Still, better that than lose their charge. Barbara juggled the bags in one hand and put her arm firmly through Tommy's. The light show was beginning on the buildings so they slowed down to watch then slowly wound there way back to the hotel.

Roo sat glued to the window watching the lights bedazzle the Bridge and the Opera House sails. He did not budge even for the pizza that Tommy ordered. He sat fascinated as he ate. Barbara and Tommy had both showered and changed into their soft bathrobes and sat on the edge of the desk watching Roo and the lights. Eventually the boy's head began to sag then bounce up but he still resisted going to bed.

As Tommy watched him he remembered the cocky baby-adult that had evaded him at the old house in Wollongong. It seemed such a difference to the tired, little boy in front of him. "Come on little man, off to bed," he insisted and to his surprise Roo obediently began to climb down from the desk.

"Do I get my own room?"

"Yes," Tommy answered carefully, "I trust you."

He was rewarded by a huge grin from Roo who started stripping off his clothes. "Can I trust you?" the boy asked.

"Of course," Tommy answered helping the boy into the oversized bed that originally he had thought he would sleep in.

"Then you can come with Barbara when she takes me to see Grandma."

Tommy looked up at Barbara. "I was meaning to talk to you about that," she replied as she looked away from Tommy's arched eyebrows.