Laura sensed rather than heard Robbie behind her. She turned to face him and pointed at the house. "Are they all still in there?"
Robbie put his arm on her back. "Afraid so."
"I wish we three could sail off into the sunset and leave them to it." She reached down to tuck a blonde curl behind Flavia's ear."
"Me too, Luv."
They stayed outside for a few more minutes enjoying this precious family time. Finally Laura reached into the canoe and picked up the baby. Osborn raised his eyebrows as if to ask if she was sure. "It's time."
Before heading inside Robbie bent down to inspect his craft. "Look at this." He brushed his hand over something. "It's a dent. I don't remember hitting anything the time James and I took her out."
Laura eased herself down to ground level still holding the sleeping child. "And paint too; it's looks like your canoe has been in an accident."
Robbie rubbed his chin. "The paint is the same colour as Alec Pickman's boat."
Laura stared at him. "You don't think your canoe had anything to do with his death, do you?"
Robbie stood up. "We need to find out. Or I need to. You could stay out here and pretend none of this is happening."
Laura got to her feet and leaned into Robbie and whispered so softly he almost couldn't hear. "Is that what we have been doing, pretending, playing house?" Flavia began to wriggle in Laura's arms. "Have we, or should I say 'I', made a mess of things?"
Robbie turned and glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone was watching. Seeing no one, he led Laura over to the garden bench. They sat down and he put his arm around her shoulders. Not wanting to wake the baby he whispered too, in a low voice, into Laura's ear. "No, you've been following Caroline's wishes. Your niece knew what she was doing, choosing you to take care of her child in an emergency."
Laura turned and gazed into Robbie's eyes. "She choose you too, Robbie."
"I guess you are both stuck with this old grouch then."
Laura expertly shifted Flavia into one arm leaving the other free to stroke his tie. "You're our old grouch." She moved her hand to his cheek. "I miss the smell of wood glue sometimes."
"Does that mean you'd like me home with you every day." As she started to turn her head away, he gently put his finger on her chin and pulled her back. "You wanted me to go back to work because you knew it's what I wanted." He pretended to be stern. "I'll have the truth and nothing else Laura."
"The truth?"
"I'm not arguing."
She sighed. "The truth is, taking care of a baby has turned out to be the most difficult job I've ever done. I would love to have you home with me as my partner in this unexpected episode of our life. But I will not ask you to give up work." She bent down to pat Osborn who had come over to sniff Flavia, something he did several times a day.
Left unspoken were both their thoughts about how temporary their custody of Flavia was. The only reason for welcoming release from their responsibilities would be Caroline's unlikely recovery. Neither was willing to speak about the elephant in their living room, Flavia's father, Cale Pickman.
Robbie chose to proceed as if nothing would change. "I won't give up work because you ask. I will give it up because I love you, and want to be your partner in every new chapter."
Laura was so stunned by this revelation she almost dropped Flavia. She took her free hand and threw it around Robbie's neck and bent him towards her. Just as their lips met Osborn started to bark.
The dog wasn't trying to interrupt. He was attempting to prevent James from getting to them. Robbie and Laura ignored the dog until they heard shouts.
"Get off me! Robbie, your dog is going to owe me a new suit. Look at all this slobber. " He shook out his leg.
While Robbie frowned, Laura started to laugh. Flavia woke up and started to cry. Osborn ran back and forth between James and the baby. When the noise level finally diminished Robbie asked James, "What do you want?"
"We are ready to get some answers to this case. There has been an arrest."
Robbie stayed where he was, next to Laura. "You don't need me."
Laura had a different idea. "Robbie, go in and get the case resolved and at least some of those people out of the house. Then we can deal with the family issues."
"Are you sure?"
Laura always got a bit prickly whenever he asked that, usually in a work situation, but no less annoying when he did it at home.
"I wouldn't have said so if I wasn't sure."
Robbie gave Laura a quick kiss on the check and followed James back into the house where he found three more people had arrived during his absence.
DI Alan Peterson was talking with Bradley Hobson and Cale Pickman. Mrs. Collinson was serving tea and scones to DC Green while DS Lizzie Maddox was setting up a screen on which to project images from her tablet computer.
James had little admiration for Peterson but had to admit the fastest way to get everyone up to speed on the investigation was to let Action Man address the group. After all, he was the anti-explosives task force leader.
After Peterson had everyone's attention he made an announcement. "We have arrested Ronald Marsden for being the mastermind in the case of the small bombs and the murder of Alec Pickman." Lizzie provided an image of their elusive man in black, riding a motorcycle.
James searched his memory to recall the name and its significance. "Grace Orde's bodyguard?"
"Former bodyguard. " answered Peterson.
"And former boyfriend," added Robbie.
Peterson nodded. "Right. Inspector Lewis, with help from DC Green, established the motive. Marsden was angry about the breakup with Grace Orde. He planned to exact his revenge by linking her to a series of small bomb explosions and partnered up with Carl Drew one night while drowning his sorrows at the Red Crawl. Marsden has influence in certain circles and promised Drew special privileges for his wife Stella, who is currently in prison for murder."
Cale took up the story. "I was finishing up some undercover work on another case when I was sent to investigate one of the small bomb sites. I had made myself up to look older, adding a bit gray, and the resemblance to my father was remarkable. Marsden liked to visit the sites of the small bombs and saw me there. DC Green noticed him in several crime scene photos like this one DS Maddox is showing us. He reported it to Inspector Lewis." Heads turned towards the screen and the image of the man in black on a motorcycle and then to DC Green.
"Don't worry, I didn't actually hurt him, that day in front of the Red Crawl." Mrs. Collinson put the tea pot down. "Marsden recognized me. Grace Orde used to work in my department. He saw me talking to young Green here and I was afraid of blowing his cover. The little charade with the iron was to fool Marsden."
DC Green smiled approvingly. "It worked ma'am."
Mrs. Collinson beamed at Green. "This young man has potential, he's not green at all, we saw shades of gray during this case. I've been talking to him about a transfer."
Peterson cleared his throat. "Yes, well, back to the case. Carl Drew gave us Marsden's address and we found him at home, where we arrested him. I am off to do a press conference with Chief Superintendent Inno-, I mean Moody." He looked at Robbie. "Lewis, as you were the lynchpin of this investigation, would you like to come with me?"
Robbie held his hand up in front of him. "No, I'm not into that side of things. I was just happy to be of assistance." Robbie saw Peterson to the door then returned. "I do have a question. What part did my canoe play in this case?"
"I can explain." Everyone turned to look at Cale again. "I was investigating one of the bomb sites and Marsden, observing from his motorcycle, mistook me for Alec Pickman, the man Grace had a brief affair with after she broke it off with him. He followed me to the Red Crawl, not knowing we, he nodded at Mrs. Collinson, were temporarily using the establishment for meetings. He got Carl Drew to lace my drink with barbiturates. I let my guard down, sorry ma'am. When I realized what was happening I managed to slip away before the drugs fully took over. Stumbling around I somehow found my way to Alec Pickman's boat, moored not far from the Red Crawl."
Mrs. Collinson reported on what happened next. "I received a call from Alec Pickman. He was using agent Mick Capelan's phone and although he sounded drunk, I was satisfied he was who he said he was and that Mick/Cale needed help. We were a bit short staffed at the time due to another incident so I sent Bradley Hobson to retrieve him."
Robbie grinned. "And you borrowed my canoe to do it."
"Brad sheepishly nodded. "Yes, I figured you weren't using it while you were in New Zealand."
"I hadn't been using it for some time." He wrinkled his brow. "If Cale was in danger, then so was Alec. Why didn't you take him with you?"
"He refused to come, said he wouldn't ride in that death trap." Brad pointed to the window where the canoe was visible in the garden.
Cale confirmed Alec's fears. "I don't blame him. What little I remember about the voyage was of being terrified we would sink. The most dangerous thing I ever did in my whole life was ride in that canoe."
Robbie defended his canoe. "It floats!"
"Well good luck to all who sail in her", Cale muttered. "It turns out the canoe was safer than his boat. Dad sacrificed his life for mine."
Ellen Jacoby had been uncharacteristically quiet while they discussed the case until they got to the part where Marsden was able to find a witness who saw Mick/Cale board Alec's boat. By the time Marsden got there Cale was on his way to hospital via canoe. While Brad was no 'Attaway Hathaway', his in-depth knowledge of the laws of physics helped him propel them to safety almost unscathed. There had been a small bump into Pickman's boat when he unsuccessfully attempted to get Alec into the canoe with them. Marsden arrived at the boat and mistook Alec for Mick/Cale. Surprised that the drugs had not rendered him unconscious he forced more alcohol into him. Alec wanted to stall to give his son enough time to escape and allowed Marsden to let him to drink himself to death. Marsden then sunk Alec's boat before he left.
Ellen began to cry for Alec. Even though Carole Hobson never cared for her sister-in-law's friend, she went to comfort Ellen. Mrs. Collinson then convinced Ellen to have something stronger than tea. They were all silent for a moment remembering Alec, whose last act on earth was to save his unwanted son.
The solicitor, Felicity Prior, had been patiently listening to events unfold. Now that the case was settled and Ellen had quieted down, she wanted to move on to the reason she was here. She stood up and addressed the room. "My client is here to exercise his paternal rights."
Cale agreed. "That's right. I spoke to Caroline's surgeon. There is no chance of recovery. It's up to me now. Would someone go outside and get my daughter?"
