Sisimuit was quaint. The cottages close to the dock were smaller than Nuuk but just as brightly coloured. Along the distant foreshore at the top of the bay long blocks of red, white, green and blue flats sat on the rock in neat modern rows. Closer to the wharf, the old town was more higgledy-piggledy. Tommy took Barbara's hand as they walked up the road from the pier. At the crest of the hill, another small bay opened up in front of them. Groups of granite boulders pockmarked the azure waters. Seaweed grew around the bases and spread like tentacles of green taffeta across the shallow bay. Small, weather-beaten rowing boats floated close to shore. Old kayaks stitched from skins were pushed up onto the silvery shingle beach, their oars lying across them as if someone could jump in and immediately paddle away.

"This is so different to England," Barbara said as she stared at the scene.

"I'd be disappointed to come this far to find Hampstead Heath."

As they walked further into town, Barbara studied the patches of snow that lay in hollows in the shadow of the mountains that overlooked what in England would barely be a village. Grass and yellow flowering weeds grew in scrubby clumps. Around the houses, the patches had merged in a vague semblance of an unkempt lawn.

"Look at it, Tommy. It's so barren, and yet people have obviously lived here for years. You can just imagine the snow in winter."

"I'm glad this is summer. Here, stand there and I'll take a photo."

Barbara felt stupid but gave him a full, genuine smile. "What about you?"

"Selfie." He came and put his arm around her then adjusted the phone so they were both in the shot. "Smile."

They continued up the road which twisted past derelict buildings slowly crumbling away. Old warehouses and fishing huts seemed to be held up only by the thick layers of paint. Unseaworthy looking boats were stranded on blocks in high grass well away from the water.

"Do you think they will ever fix them?"

Tommy shrugged. "Probably. Maybe they get them back in the sea after the winter snows melt."

High on a hillock, a red church picked out in white trim stood like a beacon to God. Below it, a circle of old buildings, all brightly coloured with contrasting roofs and the same white trim, swarmed with visitors. Passengers from the ship were climbing the steep path towards the church as if drawn by the gasping Abide with Me that wafted towards them from what sounded like a pipe organ.

"That's the last thing you'd expect here," Barbara said.

"The organist is excellent. Beats Mrs Thethwick at Nanrunnel."

Barbara studied the map which contained useful information about points of interest on the back. "It was built in 1926. The old church is the blue one with the red roof below it in the museum and is apparently the oldest surviving one in Greenland and dates back to 1775. Do you want to look at the museum?"

"No, let's make our phone call first. How far to the lake?"

"Another half mile roughly. I'm dreading talking to Hillier."

"Why?"

"He will expect progress, and we haven't made any."

Tommy took her hand and gave her a cheeky grin. "I think we have, a lot."

Barbara looked up at him. His broad smile seemed to hint at a deeper meaning. Yes, in a way they had made progress, but it was towards something that could never be. Not in London. Not in Cornwall. Barbara pulled her hand free. She did not want a holiday romance that left her with nothing but memories at the end of it.

"Or maybe not." Tommy sighed and shook his head. "Are we about to argue again?"

She frowned. "No."

"Then what is it?"

"Nothing."

"Oh, that's a clear sign I am in deep trouble. What did I do?"

"Nothing. I'm just... feeling the strain of pretending to be your girlfriend."

"Then don't pretend."

"I won't." Barbara strode off ahead of him.

Tommy's mind spun with sharp retorts and angry arguments as he trudged in silence behind her. Despite being the most irascible woman on the planet, she was also the woman he loved. That feeling was only growing more profound with every awkward shared moment. He had seen the desire in her eyes in the shower. He had felt her affection in the way she held his hand. But he also knew she had no experience of love. He had to be patient but knew if Barbara allowed herself to love him, it would be the most wondrous experience.

He quickened his step and caught up to her. "Why don't we call Winston first?"

Barbara looked lost in thought. "Huh? Oh... yeah. Good idea. I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"I know."

"No need to be smug."

"I'm not, but I do understand, Barbara. Much more than you think. You should know that my..."

"Hallo, you two."

Tommy groaned then turned. "Volker, Kati, good to see you."

"We are going to the lake, then up the ridge and around the fjord. Are you sure you won't join us?"

"Not with my knee," Tommy said watching Barbara trying not to blush. "We will have a romantic stroll around the lake then back through town." Barbara's face coloured heavily.

"Ja, that's good." Volker slapped Tommy on the back. "Have fun. Come on, Kati."

Kati gave Tommy a seductive smile then licked her lips as she passed him. Tommy was shocked. Maybe Barbara had been right. A hand seized his and squeezed. He turned, relieved to see Barbara beside him. Her green eyes were shining brightly. He glanced back at Kati whose smile turned into resignation. For the first time, Tommy noticed the German was classically beautiful. Barbara was not only protective, she was jealous.

"You have nothing to fear, Barbara." She went to pull away. "About Kati, or about me."

"We should make that call."

The little lake was surprisingly pretty. Surrounded by verdant grass, it shone like a jewel. A ribbon of reeds lined one small section and birds dashed in and around them. A mother duck led a trail of offspring across the path in front of them, quacking orders, and nudging the wanderers back on track. They found a bench in the sun. Tommy sat back as Barbara fiddled with the phone to get a connection.

"Winston, how are you? There's no speaker on this stupid phone, so Tom... the Superintendent and I have to share it."

Winston laughed. "Put your heads close together. Now's your chance, ma'am."

"Winston!"

Tommy grinned. "I can hear you, Nkata."

"Oh, shit, sorry, Sir. Um, how's it going? Seen any polar bears?"

"No." Tommy put his arm around Barbara and gently stroked her arm. With their temples pressed together and the phone between them, she would have to make a fuss to make him move. Her arm tensed but then relaxed.

"What's new there?" she asked Winston.

"Not much. Everyone's waiting for you. We have no other leads."

"Schweindeiner is not onboard until tomorrow. The boat is picking him up from a fjord on how do you say it, Tommy?"

Tommy hesitated slightly. Barbara had called him by name in front of Winston. He noticed Winston's little gasp too. "Oh, er Quertarsuaq, also called Disko Island."

"Yeah... okay. Got it. That's on the map."

"We are going there in the morning," Barbara continued, "then to the village on the island in the afternoon. The next day we go over to Ilulissat, then back to the fjord. See if you can learn anything about what might be there. I suspect he smuggles it aboard here and then dispatches it from Ilullisat."

They could hear keys typing in the background. "Okay, Ill-loo-liss-at has an airport a few miles out of town. I'll get Guthrie to check it out."

"How are you and he getting on?" Barbara asked.

"Good. Stuart and I got him a bit drunk the other night and dared him to take charcoal tablets. They've worked a treat. Even he is impressed. He's even talking about doing his sergeant's exams."

"Really?" Barbara sounded disbelieving.

"Yeah, I know. The team said to tell you that I have leadership potential."

Tommy laughed. "You do indeed, Winston. Congratulations. Unorthodox, but if it works."

"Okay, Winston. We will ring you again from Ilulissat. See what you can find out."

"Will do, and you two have fun. Oh, and don't ring Hillier, I'll brief him if you like."

"Winston, you are showing leadership potential. Thank you."

"No problem. Bye."

"Bye."

Barbara sat up and rang off, but Tommy kept his arm around her. "Winston is doing well."

Barbara frowned. "Yeah, but he didn't mean anything."

"About what?"

Barbara looked down. "About taking my chance."

"Ah, that. Maybe it's my chance too. We were interrupted, so you never answered my question. May I kiss you?"

Barbara looked at him. "Why? There's no one around."

"Because I want to. Very much. And, I have wanted it for a long time."

"Don't say that. It's not true. You might think it is, but you had plenty of chances."

"I did, but I was worried about what you would say. I didn't want to lose you as my partner, but after we were promoted, I... well I was trying to see if you felt the same way or whether I would make a fool of myself. Then this case came along and..."

"We were thrown together."

"Serendipity. I sense you want this too, Barbara. Am I wrong?"

Barbara looked away and turned her head towards the mountains. "Tommy... we... I don't want to be hurt any more than I have to be by this charade."

He leant towards her and put his other arm around her, gently pulling her back against him. He kissed the top of her head. "You don't have to be hurt at all. Neither of us does. It's not a charade, Barbara. As I tried to say down the road, I don't want you to pretend to be my girlfriend. I want you to be my girlfriend."

"You do?"

"Yes. No, actually I want you to be my wife."

Barbara stiffened. "Your what?"

"My wife."

She spun in his arms. "You can go from colleagues to marriage just like that. In one sentence."

"Two sentences, but yes, why not? It's not like we're strangers."

"We haven't even slept together, and you're talking about marriage."

"I'd be very happy to change that right now." He stood and held out his hand. He knew he was grinning like a teenager, but he could not help it. He had finally told her how he felt and it was as if a weight had lifted off him.

"No! I'm not racing back to the ship to have sex with you."

Tommy sat down, but he was still grinning. "It was more of a joke than a serious offer."

"See! Drive the knife in a bit more why don't you?"

Tommy was confused. "So, you do want to go back to the ship?"

"What? No. Was that your joke, or about marrying me?"

This was going horribly wrong. Tommy sat beside her and took her hand. He could see the tears brimming in her eyes. "Marrying you was not a joke." He slid off the bench onto his knee. "I have never wanted anything more than to spend our lives together. I love you, Barbara."

Barbara moved forward so that their foreheads bumped together. "You do?"

"Yes, I do."

"I... love you too, but I can't agree to marry you. Not yet. Not with the case and everything. There are too many things to consider. Too many issues."

Tommy sighed. She loved him! "That doesn't sound like a definite no either. I can wait."

"I can say yes to one thing." She lifted his chin. "Kiss me."

I thought I should bring them together before my frustrated readers leave... BUT, they still have a case to solve...