Mared was anxious throughout the remainder of the work day. Tom had not volunteered any information as to what that meeting with Prosser was about. She hoped Tom was not in any sort of trouble with him.
Mared and DS Owens were by no means the closest of work colleagues, still Mared was curious if she had any info about it.
"Sian?" Mared approached her. DS Owens turned around.
"Yes, Ma'am?" She responded but almost hesitantly.
"l wondered, if perhaps...". Mared paused.
Sian's eyes were bright and in wait of a question.
"By any chance, has Prosser spoken to you today regarding anything concerning DCI Mathias? To put it plainly, Tom was called in to his office today, and I wondered, since we're a team, if you would tell me if you knew what that was about?" Mared's tone lifted in inquiry. "I feel foolish asking...but it's been worrying me and on my mind, so..."
"Look, we're a team, so I will say...To be honest, ma'am...Prosser actually confronted me asking if I knew if...sorry if...you and DCI Mathias have become..." Sian paused herself almost embarrassed to relay to Mared herself what she was questioned about.
"Yes?" A look of concern spread across Mared's features as she wanted Sian to continue.
"He wanted to know if there was a physical, intimate relationship happening between you and DCI Mathias, because he said if there was, I had a duty to report if there was anything going on that was affecting the progess, efficiency, and productiveness here at this office. My guess is that may have been what that private office meeting was concerning."
"Oh," Mared turned crimson. "My God,". Mared buried her face in her hands. She separated her words in mortification.
"The break room today." Mared reminded herself out loud.
"Sorry?" Sian was intrigued.
"No, Sian, I didn't sleep with him. I haven't slept with him. But, what did you say to Prosser?"
"I said as far as I knew DCI Mathias and DI Rhys are completely professional together. DI Rhys is always professional."
"Thank you." Mared spoke calmly. Mared found herself confiding more in Sian proceeding that response. She never thought she would.
"Sian, I think I may have...I may have done something to draw such suspicion today. DCI Mathias was in pain. I was speaking to him in the break room, and then I...I was tending to him..."
"Tending to him?" Sian spoke.
"I was tending to his injuries. I believe it's much too soon for him to have returned to work after the severity of the injuries he sustained during the conclusion of the Greta Pritchard case. I placed an ice pack on his injured ribs for him. Prosser saw my hands on him. I was holding on to him...helping him."
"It's none of my business, ma'am, but can't DCI Mathias do that for himself?"
Mared sighed and closed her eyes as if to admit it was a mistake to act in that way.
Sian then said to Mared, "I'm now going to ask you a personal question, ma'am. Are you in love with him?"
Mared scoffed at Sian's impertinence.
"You shouldn't ask me this. Why are you asking?"
Sian smiled in that moment knowing Mared had not given her a straight no as an answer.
Sian said, "You're going to have to forgive me for that. We will still work together tomorrow no matter what's said here now. And if there is any doubt, whether you believe me or not, I can keep secrets. I see the way you look at each other. More like long stares. It's in your eyes-the both of you. So, maybe...the question is not have you slept with DCI Mathias, it's-Do you want to sleep with him?"
Mared looked away.
Mared gave a nervous chuckle and breathed out, "Sorry, Sian...I can't continue this conversation. Please don't ask me anything like that again." She held back the wish to smile through her embarrassment.
