"Yes, Sir... We will... No unnecessary heroics. Yes, I understand... Yes, I will keep him under control, or try to... Yes, we have organised a satellite phone. The Danish Police were very good about that... Yes, Sir, I will. Good bye, Sir." Barbara hung up and threw her mobile on the bed.

"Well?" Tommy asked. He was sitting in a chair by the window waiting while she packed. The call from Hillier had interrupted her.

"He wants me to keep you under control. We are to observe and report, and not, and he stressed extremely loudly, to engage Schweindeiner in any way that might arouse his suspicions. And no, dramatic arrests. Oh, and no wasting taxpayer monies on expensive whisky at the bar. I took that to be a message for you."

"Humph. As if I couldn't afford my own indulgences if required. He forgets we are working, not on holidays."

"No, he reminded me of that several times. Apparently Winston is not happy about being in charge. He's had to bring Guthrie back from Landsborough."

"Poor Winston. Still we are all making sacrifices."

"Are we?" Barbara stood with her hands on her hips. "If you had made any sacrifices, it would be Anja packing and not me."

Tommy visibly shuddered. "Queen and country only goes so far."

Barbara laughed. "And what if I snore?"

"Then sadly I will have to report that Schweindeiner pinged on to you and threw you into the Arctic waters."

Barbara threw a cushion at him. "Might cut both ways."

"I don't snore."

"Says who?"

"My mother."

Barbara tucked the last of her clothes into her bag and zipped it up. "Come on then Mummy's darling, you can carry this. What time is the flight to Kangerlussuaq?"

"Three o'clock. The Puffin Express sails at six. Crew from the ship meet everyone at the airport. I think most people will fly in there direct. The brochure says about 70% of passengers are German, and the rest 'English-speaking'."

"It's eleven now, so we can go to Kulloq's office for the hookup with Copenhagen and London. How's your German?"

"Nicht so gut."

"What?"

"Not so good."

"Better than mine. I only know Auf Wiedersehen and schnell from Hogan's Heroes re-runs."

Tommy raised his eyebrows. "A misspent youth watching US comedy. I see."

"You see what? I don't listen to German opera and stuff like you."

"I... one day I will take you and you will like it."

"Or else?"

Tommy laughed then put his arm around her shoulder. "This is going to be an interesting week, Havers. A very interesting week."

Barbara felt Anja's eyes boring into her. She ignored her. "So, Winston, any news?"

"No. Toxicology has officially confirmed the cause of death. A total of 67 victims. Three more were found in their houses. They must have felt funny and gone home. Did you learn anything about Mrs Green's death?"

"I forgot to ask. Kulloq?"

"Martina Green. Died three years ago in June aged 76. She's buried in the cemetery we passed yesterday. Husband pre-deceased her in Britain. Born in Berlin. Grew up and when to university in East Germany. Majored in Biological Psychology. Her thesis was about chocolate as a punishment and reward system. Most of her work seems to have been about how to control people. After the wall came done, she met a widower from England, Bill Green, during a hiking trip in Scotland. They married a year later and she moved there. After he died she moved back to Berlin for six months then came to Nuuk. She lived alone."

"Cause of death?" Tommy asked.

Kulloq thumbed through his notes. "Slipped on some ice and fell down the stairs near the fish market. They were old wooden steps. Anyway they were replaced a couple of years ago. Her death was one of the reasons."

"Anything suspicious about the fall?"

"No, there are witness accounts saying she was hurrying and lost her footing."

"Any links to Schweindeiner?" Barbara asked.

"They were both members of the small German Club and lived in the same street."

"Hmm," Tommy said. "Any links in Germany?"

"None we could find," Anja replied, "but accessing East German records is very difficult."

"For the moment, it's safest to assume there was a link." Barbara looked at Tommy.

"I agree, Havers. Our best lead is Schweindeiner."

Barbara nodded. "If no one has any other ideas, let's grab some lunch, then you can take us to the airport."

The flight was short but spectacular. Barbara was spellbound by the patterns on the ice sheet. Little puddles of green and grey pockmarked the white. In places the craggy lines of moving glaciers formed a twisting river through smoother ice. In other spots, it was as glittery as diamonds. Somehow Barbara had imagined the icecap to be uniform and unyielding, but it almost seemed alive.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Tommy said as he leant across her.

She looked at his hair, and gently sniffed his scent. "Yeah, it is."

He looked up and smiled then turned back to the view. "And to think I could have seen this with Anja."

Barbara shoved him, only half playfully against the seat in front. "It was your choice remember?"

Tommy sat up and rubbed his shoulder. He looked across and grinned at her. His eyes were sparkling yet soft. "Yes, it was. I would always choose you."

For a moment they stared at each other. Barbara sensed that his words were not just about Anja. "Yeah, me too." She turned back to the window. "Do you think we will see any polar bears?"

The Kangerlussuaq Airport, like so many in Greenland, was an ex-US military base. The runway ran down the centre of a long valley with grey rock rising steeply on either side. Tucked at the narrowest point, the town was nothing more than a few rows of old barracks opposite the small terminal. Children ran around the passengers as they waited.

"Are you for the Puffin Express?" A young rather plumb woman with a German accent asked.

"Yes, Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers," Tommy replied.

The woman scanned her list. "Ah, yes. I am Freya." She handed Tommy two luggage tags. "Cabin 606. Please put these on your bags then leave them over there. The plane from Germany arrives in twenty minutes. We will send the first buses down just before they arrive. You will be able to see the plane fly over. There is a small gift shop for souvenirs just outside the terminal. The money goes directly to the local economy. Your bus leaves from outside that shop. Please do not wander too far. Welcome aboard the Puffin Express. We hope you enjoy your trip."

"Thank you. I am sure we will."

Tommy attached the tags. "Did you get the feeling buying a souvenir was compulsory?"

"I did." They walked outside. The air was brisker than Nuuk. In the shade it was cool, in the sun, almost too hot. "I'm going to get sunburnt. I hope the shop sells sunscreen."

Tommy smiled. "Hmm."

"What?"

"I was just imagining your skin with a tan."

"I don't tan. I just go red." Tommy was smiling sweetly again. She felt her face begin to redden under his gaze.

"Fast acting sun too," he joked. "Come on."

After selecting sunscreen, lip balm and a polar bear fridge magnet, Barbara looked around the shop for Tommy. He was at the counter. Whatever he had bought disappeared into a small paper bag and then into his pocket. Barbara didn't dare ask as she walked up to the counter. "Just these please."

"I'll only be a minute," he said.

True to form he returned quickly with some shaving gel, two sleeping eye masks, and a small toy polar bear embroidered with Kangerlussuaq in blue thread. He held up the masks. One had little sleeping polar bears, and the other little puffins in nightgowns holding candles. "These might be useful."

Barbara smiled. It was very considerate of him, but her mind had conjured an image of him naked on a bed wearing nothing but the mask. Sharing a cabin was going to be difficult. She sighed. "Good idea. Thank you."

They walked outside and stopped. They looked at each other. "This is surreal," Barbara said.

Parked outside the shop we're two American school busses. The shape, with the flat windscreen, rounded roof and protruding engine bay, was unmistakable. Even the colour was the same dusty yellow. They looked incongruous. Freya beckoned them into the line. Luggage of awaiting passengers was being loaded underneath into the cargo compartments.

Barbara was surprised by the austerity of the interiors. The aisle was so narrow people crabbed sideways to their seats. The barely padded upright benches were uncomfortably close together. Barbara could only just put her feet on the floor but Tommy was unable to get his legs in and had to sit bent up with his knees in front of his face. "I do hope it's not a long journey," he said.

Barbara felt sorry for him. The seat was only wide enough for the two of them if she squashed herself against the window. "They said fifteen minutes."

"I may have turned into the Brunstad Man by then."

"Who?"

"An 8000-year-old skeleton found in Norway buried in this position."

"What in an American school bus?"

Tommy chuckled. "Please don't make me laugh. I only just have enough room to breathe."

The road was bumpy and collective groans went up from all the passengers crammed into the yellow tin can. Fortunately the trip was only the advertised time. As they stood around outside the bus awaiting instructions, all the men stretched and tried to unfold bodies that had stiffened into unnatural poses.

"For the first time ever, I envy short people."

Barbara shrugged. "On balance, your lot has it easier."

"My lot? Are you even turning my height into a battleground?"

"No, but you must admit, being tall is generally an advantage."

"I will concede that. Oh, no."

Freya came along and issued them with life jackets. "We will take your luggage separately. The Penguin Express is anchored around the point. It is too shallow here to dock. We will board the vessel via Zodiacs. Please form a line here, ready to board."

Tommy helped Barbara adjust her jacket. His hands rested briefly on her waist as he untwisted a strap that went around her body. Barbara closed her eyes.

"All done." His hands moved away.

"Thanks."

"Did you put any sunscreen on? You're red already."

"Not yet."

Barbara had to take the arm of a burly sailor to board the gently rocking rib. She moved, as directed, to sit on the inflated side of the boat furthest from the small jetty. Tommy sat beside her and a rather heavy man beside him. They all squashed up to allow six passengers along each side. Then the sailor revved his small outboard engine and sped out into the bay. The boat bumped over small waves, reverberating up her spine. Tommy put his arm behind her and grabbed the rope threaded through rubber holders on the top of the rib. Barbara smiled knowing that he was ensuring she did not fall out. He was always so gentlemanly, something that annoyed her and impressed her equally. When one wave was larger than others, she leant back against his arm and nestled slightly against his side. His smile made her melt. Oh, this week was going to be a test.

Onboard the Puffin Express, they were issued with cruise cards for identification then escorted to their cabin on the second from top deck which opened onto the pool deck at the stern and an enclosed observation lounge at the bow.

"I am Sabrina, your stewardess for this deck," a pretty Filipino woman introduced herself. "If you need anything, please contact me. This is my station." She pointed to a small room with cleaning equipment, linen and a small seat.

"Thank you, Sabrina. We will," Tommy said politely. Sabrina smiled and Barbara felt a pang of resentment. She felt stupid for being so possessive of Tommy.

Sabrina opened the door. "Here we are. Your bags will arrive shortly. Please enjoy your cruise. Remember, if you need anything, I am just down the corridor."

The cabin was surprisingly spacious. Two big wardrobes were behind the door. On the other side of the small entrance hall was the door to the bathroom. Barbara stuck her head inside. There was an almost full size rain shower curtained off from a toilet and basin area. A large mirror was above the basin and above the toilet there was a large storage space behind a perspex screen. "A lot bigger and brighter than the one in the caravan."

"The cabin is quite nice too," Tommy called back.

Barbara came out and stared at the neutral tones of the cabin. A large picture window provided uninterrupted views of the bay. On one wall there was a large photograph of a polar bear and her cub on an ice floe. On the other was a close-up of a puffin. The linen was crisp and white with a lovely azure blue throw rug across a huge bed.

All colour drained from Barbara's face. "There's only one bed!"

Tommy shrugged. "At least it's quite a big one."