Barbara had known since last night that their relationship had changed. It had seemed almost inevitable that he would kiss her. She had wanted it, but not now. Not when she had to meet her new colleagues and all she could think about was how much softer his lips were than she had ever imagined. She reached out and touched his face. "Tommy."

"Mmm?" He hesitated a second before his lips moved back to hers. This time their kiss was longer but still restrained. Barbara knew that if either of them escalated it, they would never go inside. Tommy must have thought the same thing because he pulled away. "We should go in, Barbara."

Walking up the footpath, he took her hand. It surprised her, but she gripped it firmly. He was not her boss anymore. They were breaking no rules. She was entitled to have a friend... or a lover. Maybe tonight that would become a reality.

Tommy rang the bell. A blonde woman with flecks of grey opened the door. She was about Barbara's height with a slightly more solid build. Her smile was warm and welcoming, and Barbara instantly liked her. "You must be Barbara. I'm Laura. Laura Hobson. Come in. And you must be?"

"Tommy. Tommy Lynley. I'm Barbara's... friend. I hope you don't mind an extra mouth to feed at short notice." Barbara watched as he effortlessly charmed their host with a smile and his sexy baritone voice. She had forgotten how much she loved listening to him speak.

"Sorry love." An older man, perhaps in his early sixties, came up behind Laura. He put his hand on her shoulder and rubbed it affectionately. A tea-towel was hanging around his neck, and he was wearing an apron. "You must be Barbara and Tommy. I'm Lewis. Robbie... you should call me Robbie. Sorry, I was wrestling with Laura's oven. The others are inside."

Barbara liked him instantly. His Geordie accent was unpretentious, and he was not afraid to show his affection for Laura who seemed equally unfazed. Barbara smiled at the way the doctor had accepted his public display of love. It gave her hope that maybe she and Tommy could have that type of relationship. Tommy was a loving man. He had shown that by taking her hand. She needed to be careful to remember that and not let him misinterpret her shyness and inexperience.

They followed their hosts down the hall and into a compact lounge room. A small dining area was off to the right and behind was a cosy open-plan kitchen. Robbie made the introductions. "Barbara this is my colleague, at least for another few weeks, DI James Hathaway."

James stood and shook Barbara's hand. "Barbara."

"And this is her friend Tommy."

The two men warily shook hands. "A pleasure to meet you," Tommy said graciously, but Barbara could tell he was still assessing James.

"Lynley? I know that name from somewhere," Hathaway said. "I had a feeling we had met before when I saw you two kissing in the car."

Robbie scowled at James. "Sorry. I've trained him as best I could, but he still has some trouble relating to real people."

"I do not," James replied. "Robbie thinks that everyone needs velvet gloves."

Robbie grunted and rolled his eyes. Barbara empathised. "James's the smartest copper on the force, but you know these fast-entry uni types. He'll grow on you if you give him a chance."

Barbara could not help but smile. "I worked with the smartest man in the Met until recently. I'm sure I can cope with James." She was sending the man a clear message. James nodded. He understood.

"Ah, lad, Barbara's on to you. And this is Lizzie. Sergeant Lizzie Maddox. She doesn't take his nonsense either."

Barbara turned to see an attractive young woman grinning at their interactions. Tommy and Barbara shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Everyone seemed fond of James who only shrugged when Laura told him to stop being a detective and help her rescue the roast that Robbie was overcooking.

Robbie removed his apron and poured drinks. Barbara was relieved that Tommy seemed relaxed. He had not left her side and was still holding her hand as he chatted happily to Lizzie about her husband Tony who was away on business somewhere on western edges of Germany. Lizzie's eyes had traversed Tommy more than once. Barbara did not sense any threat despite her admiring eyes. When Tommy was at ease and charming, Barbara knew he turned heads. He was not as classically handsome as he had been when they met, but his brown eyes still invited you to drown in them, and his voice was like honey. He looked at her and grinned about something. She had stopped listening to the words minutes before. A stray lock of hair fell across his forehead. Without thinking, she reached up and pushed it behind his ear. He stopped breathing and stared at her. If they were alone, she knew it would have led to a kiss and much more.

Robbie coughed politely. They both turned back to listen. "You two've missed each other the last few weeks then."

"Sorry Robbie," Tommy said contritely.

"Ah, it's alright lad. We understand. You must be happy to be reunited up here now, though. What made you leave London?"

"I'm writing a book."

"You were a policeman. I remember now." James rejoined them after placing the joint of beef carefully on the table. "You fell on your sword after that case where the woman was murdered."

"James!" Laura screwed up her face into an angry scowl.

"No, it's fine Laura," Tommy replied smoothly. "Yes. I need some time to assess my future."

James took a sip of his drink. "What's your book about?"

"The influence of cultural depictions of Cornwall on the region's economic and social development."

James raised his eyebrows and nodded deferentially. "So why Oxford?"

"Close to London."

"Why not Cambridge?"

"I read at Exeter. I'm familiar with Oxford."

"A rival for you," Robbie said to James. "James is a Cambridge man and lets you know it. Still, we were a good team. I'm the practical one, and his head is full of theories. Somewhere in the middle, we solve our cases."

"That sounds like us," Barbara said as she squeezed Tommy's hand. "Does he have a quote for everything?"

"Does he what. I think the best partnerships are like that. One smart copper and one wise one." Robbie looked lovingly at Laura. "And a brilliant pathologist to set us straight."

"We had one of those too. Stuart Lafferty." Barbara turned to Laura. "Do you play rock music at your autopsies?"

Laura laughed. "No, but I know a lot of pathologists do play music. I've met Stuart at a conference. He had us in stitches."

"He and Tommy try to out-quote each other."

"We do not," Tommy protested. "I always win."

"He thinks he does."

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James murmured in a low, detached voice.

Tommy replied quickly. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. From the book of James. Is that not pride itself?"

"Ooh, you are good. No, it just seemed appropriate."

Robbie gave them both a gentle reproachful headshake. "Right you two. Laura's beef's getting cold."

James looked across at Tommy. "I think we've been told."

Dinner went quickly. Barbara liked the way that even with guests they had only just met, Robbie and Laura were very natural and affectionate. After their initial prickliness, James and Tommy were exchanging stories of their university days and settled into a discussion about the philosophy of policing. She was pleased Tommy was at least talking passionately about the subject again. Lizzie seemed nice, but a little distracted and Barbara admired the way Laura kept drawing her into their conversations.

"So what the chief super like?" Barbara asked when there was a lull.

"Moody," James replied smugly.

"Another one. Our AC is like that too."

The Oxford crew laughed, and Barbara crinkled her face in confusion. "Sorry love," Robbie said, "it's just James' humour. His name is Moody. Joseph Moody. He thinks I'm a dinosaur and that James is too smart for his own good. At least he's got that right."

"So who is the curmudgeon?" Tommy asked, "there's always one."

Lewis smiled. "I used to work with one. Morse. He was another brilliant mind but eccentric. He loved Wagner and cryptic crosswords. Used to drive me nuts sometimes. Anything that was written down he'd find an error. Punctuation. Grammar. Something was always wrong. He liked women too, and a good ale, but he didn't have much luck with either."

Barbara saw the wistful look on Robbie's face. "You sound very fond of him."

"I was, in me own way." It was clear that Robbie was a little overcome. Barbara understood. Even if she were not in love with Tommy, losing him would be very hard. She noticed Laura giving Lewis a reassuring pat on his leg under the table. "I wouldn't be the detective or man I am without Morse."

"And he hated the sight of blood or bodies," Laura said to lighten the mood.

"Inconvenient for major crime officer," James quipped.

Robbie continued to stare absentmindedly. "He drove this old car. He called it a classic, but he didn't look after it that well. An old Jag."

James looked at Tommy. "You're fond of classic cars too I take it."

"Yes, I have a Bristol 410."

"Another gentleman detective?" Robbie asked.

"Something like that," Tommy replied.

"More than that I think," James said.

Barbara watched Tommy's reaction. The niggle between them was resurfacing. "You seem to know a lot about me," Lynley said coldly.

"I remember now. You're a baron I believe. People in London thought you were playing at being a detective..."

Barbara cut him off. "Tommy was the best detective in the Met. He takes policing very seriously. I don't see what his title has to do with anything. And he's an earl, not a mere baron."

She felt Tommy's arm around her shoulder. She looked up and saw him grinning at her. "My little Rottweiler,' he said then gave her an affectionate kiss. "I'm the 8th Earl of Asherton. I have an estate in Cornwall."

"Oh my God!" Everyone turned to Lizzie who was looking at her phone. "Turn on the news. Tony's caught up in some hostage drama."

Laura found the remote and tuned into the BBC News. The screen was filled with a live feed from Dortmund where the football stadium had been taken over by a group of anarchists who were threatening to release canisters of sarin gas they claimed to have placed around the stadium.

Everyone stood stunned. Laura tried to comfort Lizzie while Robbie poured her a large brandy. "Here love, steady your nerves."

James mobile rang, followed quickly by Robbie's and Lizzie's. "Right," Robbie said, "sorry love but everyone has been called to the station. Someone here has rung up claiming they've got canisters of a biological agent planted around Oxford. It'll be someone's idea of a joke, but we have to go."

"Should I come too?" Barbara asked, "just in case."

"Yes, good idea. You'll meet everybody at least," James answered. "I don't have a car."

"Me either," Lizzie said.

"If the threat is real I'll be needed. I'll go via the lab."

"You can't love. We don't have time. My car's still in the garage waiting for that new tyre."

"I can drive you," Tommy offered. "Why don't you three go ahead? Barbara and I can take Laura and meet you there. I live quite close, so I'm passing anyway."

"Thanks." Robbie pulled Laura into his arms and kissed her. "I'll see you soon love."

"Be careful."

"We'll be fine. It'll just be a hoax to annoy us. Besides, I can just sit back. The young ones can get out there with the nerve gas."

James kissed Laura's cheek. "Thanks for dinner. I'll make sure he's safe."

Barbara helped Laura quickly put a few things in the fridge. "You and Robbie seem close."

"It took us years. His first wife was killed in a deliberate hit and run. He loved her very much, and it took him a long time to move on and realise loving someone else did not mean he loved her less. I waited."

"Like me. Tommy's wife was shot in front of us. Their relationship was more complex. I wasn't waiting. We were good friends. This just crept up on us."

"How long have you been together?"

"About three hours."

They two women hugged briefly and laughed. "He's perfect for you. We should go so I can keep Robbie out of trouble."


They waited in the car while the pathologist hurried into the morgue. "Sorry about this," she said, "but if I can help."

Tommy leant over and gave Barbara a brief kiss. "I did have other plans for tonight, but I understand. Just stay safe. No heroics, please. We haven't had the chance to make love yet, and I don't want to wait while you're in the hospital."

"You heard them. It'll be someone's idea of a joke."

"Even so. I have a bad feeling."

Barbara frowned. His intuition was usually right. "Are you sure it's not just a reaction to what happened in London?"

"Possibly, but I mean it. Don't endanger yourself." He kissed her again just as Laura opened the back door.

"Oh! Sorry to interrupt."

Tommy sat up. "No, I'm sorry, but I'm having trouble keeping my lips off Barbara this evening."

"She told me this is very new. I'm happy for you. You seem well suited."

Tommy raised his eyebrows at Barbara who merely shrugged. "We are. What's the quickest way to the station?"

The traffic was unusually slow. Tommy found a parking spot about fifty yards from the entrance to the station. Laura spotted James and Robbie talking to a uniformed officer outside the entrance. She climbed from the car before Tommy could open her door. "Robbie." She waved to him and he waved back before following James into the entrance.

Tommy helped Barbara out. "Remember what I said. Do you know how to get home? Ring me if you don't and I'll walk up and escort you home."

"I remember. Down there, turn right, second on the left." Barbara reached up and tugged at his shirt. Tommy grinned then bent down to kiss her. This time their lips entwined and gently promised each other love.

It started as a low rumble. They broke apart and frowned before Barbara realised what was happening. Tommy pulled her into his arms and sheltered her face against his chest. His head bent over her as he forced her against the car. The car shuddered as the blast wave passed over them. An oxygen-depriving heat settled over them before a shower of brick and glass fragments rained down. Coughing with the dust, they looked around. The police station was a twisted shell of metal.

Barbara hugged Tommy tighter. Laura was standing in the middle of the footpath staring. She dropped her bag and ran towards the building. "Robbie! Rob-bie!"