Chapter 9

Action Man becomes Action Date.

Laura was desperately trying to finish one last report. She had promised herself that she wasn't going to bring any work home this weekend. Her plan was to relax, read a book and work in her garden. All she had to do was finish this report. The knock at her door was decidedly unwelcome, the opening of the door was even less welcome. As to the head that popped in the door, the jury was still out.

"Laura, I hope I'm not bothering."

She forced a smile she didn't feel, "No, it's OK. I don't have any open cases for you, what brings you into my kingdom."

He bowed slightly, "Your majesty, I was wondering if you might like to do something on Sunday."

She looked at him curiously. He was definitely handsome and if she played her cards right he might be even more relaxing than her garden, "I think I might like that Alan."

He beamed at her, "Brilliant, shall I pick you up at noon? We could grab an early lunch then attend the lecture. Then perhaps drinks or dinner after?"

She raised a single eyebrow, "Lecture?"

He smiled sheepishly, "I should have mentioned that. I have tickets to a lecture." He handed her a leaflet, "I thought it might be interesting and you always seem to be interested in learning more about new police theories."

"It looks like it might be interesting. But you didn't need a reason to ask me out, wanting to go out with me should be reason enough."

His laughter filled the room, "You're right, my apologies. We can skip the lecture if you want. I really would like to go out with you Laura. I don't just want company for what might be a boring lecture."

Laura bit her lip as a frisson of excitement ripped through her. It had been a long time since a man had so openly expressed interest in being with her. She'd forgotten what it felt like to be wanted, "I say we do the lecture and see where things go from there."

"Alright then, I'll see you at noon."

Laura looked at the door long after he left. His interruption might have not been welcomed at the start but suddenly, she was very happy that he had interrupted her.

As Laura walked up to the crime scene she was happy to see James' car. For a moment she had been afraid that this case would be assigned to Alan Peterson. She thought back to the abysmal date they'd had the day before. All he'd talked about had been the job. Apparently he had no interests outside police work. She had briefly hoped that his nickname "Action Man" would translate to something exciting outside of police work. Alas, the only action he got up to yesterday was dealing with the disruption at the lecture. He'd left her to find her own way home with a promise of making it up to her at a later date. She rolled her eyes at the thought. The best way he could make it up was to stay away from her.

She entered the crime scene and all thoughts of Alan Peterson were gone until she saw who the victim was. She rolled her eyes, just her luck, the victim was the lecturer from the day before. There was no way that Robbie wouldn't find out about this. With a deep sigh, she started to work. When Robbie arrived ten minutes later, she was ready to face him. As she started telling him the facts she decided to set the stage. Perhaps if he she spun the story her way he wouldn't react as badly, "So what I know is he's a visiting academic by the named Paul Yelland. Post mortem will confirm that as I suspect cause of death will be strangulation. He was in Oxford at the invitation of the department of criminology to give a public talk. I was there actually."

Robbie turned to look at her. "How come?"

Laura rolled her eyes and shook her head, "A friend saw an article in the local paper and thought it might be interesting."

"And was it?"

"No, but the speaker deserves to be strangled, would be, in my opinion, a harsh review," She smiled at Robbie.

He smiled back at her, "Any sense at this talk that he was anxious?"

Laura shook her head, "This wasn't suicide. The door was forced from the outside."

James walked across the room, "If he'd forgotten his key and then forced the door in desperation to get in?"

Laura shook her head, "The key was in his jacket pocket." James nodded to her, "You can do this to yourself." She motioned to her neck, "Apply enough pressure to the carotid bulbs and eventually your heart will stop. But the extent of the bruising around his neck suggests he struggled hard to stay alive." She reached for his hands, "And look at this."

Robbie leaned forward, "Ahh right, he managed to get his fingers behind the ligament. But then the killer was too strong."

James watched the two of them oddly. It seemed that Dr. Hobson had been on a date and so far, Inspector Lewis hadn't expressed any interest, "What was this talk about?"

Laura looked up at him. "A potentially new approach to criminal dangerousness."

Robbie looked at the dead man. "Well right now he must be the worlds' leading expert."

Laura laughed at his joke. She hoped he would remember the joking nature of their conversation and how disinterested she had been in the lecture when it ultimately came out who her friend was.

Robbie and James drove back to the station in relative silence. Robbie let his mind wander, he was pretty sure that Laura had been on a date the day before. He'd caught her subtle mention of going to the lecture with a friend. Probably some professor, or perhaps that Franco character. He wondered for a brief moment if she'd had a good time. It had seemed that she had been less than thrilled, but was that the lecture or the company?

Secretly he hoped it was the company that was a bust. He didn't like the idea of her dating other men. Her voice interrupted his thoughts, "And anytime that you want to stop me doing whatever I please all you have to do is ask me to dinner." He shook his head, he couldn't do that, could he?"

There wasn't time to think about it. He and James were called to Innocent's office the minute they returned, and oh joy, Action Man was there. This day couldn't get any better.

Twenty minutes later Robbie stalked out of Innocent's office. James was stopped by a PC to answer a question about some CCTV footage. He continued on to his office lost in his thoughts, her date had been Action Man. He shook his head. Action Man had followed her instructions, he had asked, something Robbie couldn't bring himself to do. He couldn't find it in himself to be mad at her. She'd told him what he needed to do and Action Man had gotten there first.

When James returned to their office Robbie and motioned for James to follow. He needed action, he needed to be doing something. As they walked outside Robbie parsed out the scarce leads they had, "So you follow up on this O'Brien lead and I suppose I should liaise with Peterson's unit."

James looked at Robbie curious at the mild response thus far, "What do you think Hobson would see in Peterson?"

Robbie looked at him, "Who knows?"

James watched his response. He really didn't seem too chuffed about Hobson going out with Peterson. This was not a typical Robbie Lewis response. The last time Robbie had learned Laura was dating someone he'd acted like a jealous schoolboy. Now it was barely registering. Did he not think he could compete against Action Man?

Robbie had tried to keep Laura and her date out of his mind while he worked the case. He didn't know what to make of it. She'd said that she would do whatever she pleased but surely she wouldn't date another copper just to get his attention. She knew how he felt.

That stopped him for a moment. She knew how he felt, but yet she still did whatever she pleased, how was that fair? Why couldn't she just wait for him?

These thoughts were running through his head when Robbie entered the lab. For once, he wasn't comfortable being in the closed room with her. He was just about to tell her to email him the results when the door opened. It was Alan Peterson. Peterson and Robbie eyed one another awkwardly before Peterson turned his attention to Laura.

He handed her the file he was carrying, "Thanks Laura."

Laura forced herself not to scream at him. This man really did have the worst timing. Nothing to be done with that, perhaps she could use it to her advantage. With a tight smile she took the file, "No problem."

Alan tried to catch her eye, he wanted to pick up where their date from earlier in the week and ended, "Speak later?" She nodded at him.

Robbie stared at her not really sure how to proceed. Did she have plans with Action Man later? Was she really going to flaunt that in front of him?

One look at Robbie and she knew he had assumed the worst. She realized that she was going to have to explain, a wounded Robbie was a dangerous creature, "He came to discuss some forensic results." Robbie nodded skeptically. "And to invite me to dinner."

Robbie took a deep breath as he stared at the screen behind her. So it was true, she was dating Action Man, "Ah, right. When?"

Laura stifled the urge to slap him. How could he be this damn stupid at times? She tilted her head at him disbelieving. "Never. Not my type."

Robbie stared at her feeling slightly foolish as she smiled kindly at him. He almost melted at that smile that it seemed she only ever gave to him. He knew all of her smiles, could catalogue them if someone had asked. But that smile he had only ever seen directed at him. That smile could make him do most anything. He pointed at the screen trying to bring the attention back to the case.

Robbie and James stood by their cars watching the two suspects being placed into cars and driven away. Robbie sucked in a painful breath, "Ahhh, damn it."

James watched Robbie rub at the sore tooth. He was stunned the man hadn't been to the dentist in 25 years. The only good thing he saw was even with the pain he was undoubtedly in, he hadn't blown up at any point during the case about Laura and her date. She had even gone so far as to make him a dental appointment. If they had survived this unscathed then it might be time for a gentle push, "You know Lipton reminds me of you." Robbie looked at him. "Stubborn, stuck in the past."

"Come again?"

"He allowed his life to be marred by an experience forty years ago. And you are allowing yours to be marred by a dental appointment in 1992."

Robbie rubbed his cheek, "Hardly comparable."

James took a card from his pocket, "Well, I've booked you an appointment with my dentist. Tomorrow morning, she's opening up early especially. I'll pick you up at eight."

"I'll be going for a jog at eight."

James turned back and pointed at him, "You don't jog."

"I just started. You fancy a pint later? Big match, stupid sized telly in a sweaty pub."

James shook his head, "I've got a book to finish."

"Have you learned nothing from this case? Books are bad for your health."

James shook his head, "Not if you just read them. Why don't you invite Dr. Hobson? Get in there quickly before someone whisks her away."

Robbie took a deep breath, "You said it yourself. Stuck in the past, me." James smiled at him before getting in his car and leaving.

Robbie walked around to the drivers' side of his car and looked around. He thought about what James said. Was that the truth anymore? Was he stuck in the past or just stuck? He liked his life, he didn't want to upset the careful balance that he had. He winced as another stab of pain hit.

He got into his car as he rubbed at the pain. Pain doesn't just go away. It lingers like an echo. Change could make those echoes ring. No, he liked it here, he knew all of the echoes. He looked at the card James had given him. As the physical pain pushed through again he thought maybe getting rid of the pain wouldn't be so bad.