The mid-afternooon drizzle became heavier as they drove back into the heart of the city dashing Tommy's plans for a stroll along the river. After the unexpected emotion of the afternoon he wanted time to clear his head but still have an excuse to spend time with Barbara. He did not wish to be alone with his thoughts just yet. She started to laugh. "What's so funny?" he asked puzzled.

"I was just thinking we ended up having a conversation about religion after all. Two taboos in two days."

"Yes," he said with a smirk, "you know what that means!"

"Oh no, there's no way we're ever going to have that conversation!"

"Indeed." They both laughed, slightly embarrassed at the idea of discussing sex in any way that was not related to a case.

"I think it's going to be a wet night," she remarked as they got closer to Belgravia.

"Well we could always listen to Turandot and then get a curry for dinner," he suggested. He had not even attempted to drive to her flat but she had not seemed to notice or object.

"Yeah that sounds …" She was interrupted by the buzz of her phone. "Havers." She listened attentively as Tommy glanced over. He recognised the tone of her voice and sighed. There would be no opera tonight; someone somewhere had committed a crime. He knew it had been too good to last. "Nah, it's okay I'll ring him. We should be there in about thirty minutes."

"Address?"

"Lewisham Sir. Body of a young woman in a flat above the shops in Lewis Grove. Lafferty thinks she was murdered with her iron."

"Her iron?"

"Yeah, that's what the constable said. I presumed she was bashed with it."

The woman had in fact been tied to a chair and burned with the iron in a gruesome act of torture which Tommy presumed might have been an attempt to extract information. The investigation at the scene took them well into the early hours and the hectic pace continued for the next few days with neither of them getting much sleep or having time to talk to each other about anything other than the case. The crime turned out to be drug related and by late Friday afternoon they had arrested the murderer and most of the syndicate, much to the pleasure of AC Hillier whose interview on the nightly news had given Britain the impression that single-handedly he had foiled the greatest threat to London since Jack the Ripper.

The paperwork could wait until Monday and Lynley had joined Winston and Barbara for a drink at the local pub. They had a pint then decided to call it quits. Everyone was exhausted and Tommy insisted on driving Barbara home. "What plans do you have for tomorrow Barbara?" Tommy asked as he drove into her street.

"Washing; no ironing though, that seems to be too dangerous these days; then nothing much."

Tommy frowned at her poor humour and she smiled contritely. "Dame Joan is still waiting for you."

"Who? Oh, yeah we could do that. Do you prefer opera and then that curry you promised me or curry first?"

"Trust you to think of food Barbara when you have some of the world's finest music to listen to," he said in mock exasperation.

"Right. Opera first then the curry if it pleases your Lordship. What if I come over around two?"

"Perfect. I'll look forward to it. Good night Barbara."

"Night Sir." He watched until she was safely inside her flat then drove home disproportionally pleased that he would see her tomorrow. He was beginning to worry that he was becoming reliant on Barbara's company to feel happy and his mother's warning rang in his ears. It was too late to change tomorrow but maybe he should consider seeing her less out of hours but then again they were both alone and they were just friends. It was not as if he was falling in love with her.

Barbara arrived ten minutes early and as they sat in his lounge room Tommy thought it was a strange time to listen to opera. "Do you mind if I close the curtains Barbara? Daylight seems to ruin the mood."

"No," she said watching him closely, "would you rather listen tonight after curry if the mood is important?"

Tommy smiled at her. "Yes actually I would prefer that but now I have brought you over here under false pretences."

"We could always go into the station and do our paperwork."

Tommy looked at her horrified. "I'm sure in the world renowned city of London we can find something both of us would prefer to do on a Saturday afternoon than fill out forms!" He noticed a small glint in her eye that warned him he might not like the answer to his next question. "What do you have in mind Sergeant?" he asked mischievously.

"There is something I've never done but always wanted to do."

He opened his hands and shrugged. "Well you will never do it if you don't tell me what it is."

"It's a bit touristy," she said sheepishly.

"Barbara!"

"I'd like to catch a boat down the river to Greenwich."

Tommy smiled and started to laugh. "Is that all? I thought you might want me to take me on one of those themed walking tours that you see all the time now; Jack the Ripper, Harry Potter, Dr Who."

Barbara grinned at him. "For someone who claims not to like them you seem to know a lot about them."

He looked at her and screwed up his face. "I presume you mean a regular boat and not one of those jet things that they have screaming up and down the river these days?"

"Oh do they? That could be fun." Barbara laughed when his face fell. "No, a regular old tourist boat would be fine Sir."

Both of them realised they had no idea where they left from or how to get tickets so Tommy checked the internet and came back into the room triumphant. 'All set. Get your coat and we'll be off." He was strangely excited.

As soon as they boarded Barbara headed straight for the open deck at the top at the stern of the boat. "It'll be very windy here," Tommy told her when he caught up.

"Yes Dad! Really Sir, if it gets too cold we can go inside."

Her hair was flying in a thousand directions in the wind and her coat was hanging oddly off one shoulder but as Tommy watched her almost childlike excitement he thought she was the most exciting and interesting woman he had ever met. She was an enigma and he often failed completely to understand her but at other times it was as if their minds were one. She could be as prickly as a cactus and then surprise him with incredible tenderness. Who would have thought she would have visited Helen regularly or that she would ever have had him talking to headstones let alone catching a tourist boat down the Thames. She had her back to him as she leant on the railing watching the wake of the boat and the Houses of Parliament slipping behind them. He pulled her coat back onto her shoulder and allowed his arm to hang there as he hugged her gently to him. She looked up and smiled and for a split second he saw past the green of her eyes into a confusion of emotion that matched his own. He dropped his arm and pointed out buildings on the southern bank.

All the way down the river they chatted about the landmarks. The commentary that crackled over the loudspeakers was informative and Tommy added tales from his own knowledge of history. He was surprised at how interested she was and how much she knew about famous crimes scenes along the river. He had expected her to tell him to shut up and just enjoy the view. Greenwich came too soon and they decided to take a walk rather than catch the boat straight back. Tommy told Barbara the history of Greenwich as a royal palace and then as a naval academy and hospital. It was too late to do justice to the museum but he found himself promising to bring her back one weekend.

"I'll keep you to that Sir."

"Do you have to call me Sir when we're out like this? Can't I be Tommy after all these years?"

Barbara looked at him as if she was trying to decide on the fate of world peace. "Sorry Sir, I don't think I can."

"Why not, you called Fiona Knight by her name almost from day one. Is it because I'm a man?"

"No, it's because you are...you."

Tommy shook his head and said nothing but he was annoyed. What sort of answer was that. He should never have asked and now it threatened to ruin their day. He inhaled and then said quietly, "one day you will just because I am me."

On the return journey she snared a spot in the corner of the rail on the back deck away from the crowds of families all trying to take photos near the ensign that flew proudly from a pole at the centre of the rail. Tommy imagined tourists like the red and white flag with the Union Jack in the corner in their photos as a quintessential snapshot of Britain. She seemed amused at the young children running around dodging between the seats to avoid the reaching arms of their parents. "I think I was about their age the last time I did this," Tommy said wistfully.

"We never did much of this stuff. I had a few school trips I think but Mum and Dad never took us many places."

"Really? That's a pity, there is so much to see here. I guess you have taken yourself over the years."

"Nah, it's not much fun alone wandering around. People see stuff when they go as kids or when they take their own but otherwise no one bothers much."

"That's such a waste."

"So you do all this stuff on your weekends do you?"

"Well no actually," Tommy replied looking down, "I suppose I was waiting to take my kids."

"Yeah, that's what people do. They probably get tired and hate the day, like that pair over there chasing their three brats, but later on they look back on it and remember the good bits. Then they have memories they can cherish."

Her sadness was almost palpable and Tommy moved behind her and slid his hands along the rails so that his arms rested tightly against her waist. He kissed the top of her head lightly then rested his head on hers. "We're creating memories right now that we can cherish too." She did not respond but he sensed her shift back against him as they both watched the river.