Author's Note: I've now seen the TV adaptation of the first five books. Mostly, I think it was almost as good, with Troubled Blood being better. Hopefully, I won't get the two versions confused when I'm writing. Feel free to call me on it if I do. Enjoy.

Chapter Twenty-two

Strike removes the padlock and lifts the roller door, revealing that the storage unit is almost full; the contents including a double bed and other furniture, plus countless plastic and cardboard containers of Catrin Baker's possessions. Even from the doorway, Robin can see that only some are labelled, and she comments, "This will take us all day."

Strike knows her very well by now, and smiles, saying, "Got something better to do?"

She laughs and admits "No," before entering the unit and asking, "First priority is her laptop?"

Strike follows, saying, "Yeah, so Spanner can get started on looking through it, see if the cops missed something. But we're ultimately looking for anything that might explain her disappearance."

Robin merely nods and sets to work. Only a few minutes later, she finds the laptop and shows it to Strike before putting it by the door. And then she asks, "They never found her phone?"

Without looking up from where he's rifling through papers, Strike says, "You might find her personal phone, if the cops have returned it. She apparently used a cheaper model for work, and changed the number regularly. Seems a bit unnecessary, given that her agency would always accept incoming calls and redirect them to her, but if Goldberg is right about one of Baker's clients being a murderer, then too careful wasn't careful enough. It was never found, likewise her set of keys. Wherever she went, she didn't even take her handbag." When Robin makes no comment, he says, "Still set on your theory?"

Robin shrugs and says, "I'll keep an open mind, but like you've said, my impressions about people are usually right."

Strike keeps working as he says, "True. And there are too many similarities between Goldberg and Dane's statements, now and back then. The investigating officer noted the same thing."

"How they both used phrases like 'nothing to add', 'time to cool off', that sort of thing?"

Proud that she noticed, Strike says, "Exactly. Plus there's the fact that Goldberg's accent kept slipping while we talked to her, but it held firm as her native Cornish during the police interview."

Robin has replayed their interview with Allise a few times, and given it some thought, now revealing, "I think her accent slips when she's nervous or upset. I'm a bit the same."

Strike has noticed this, but never commented on it. Now, he smiles and reveals, "I like your accent."

Glancing at him long enough to meet his smile, Robin reminds him, "You like everything about me."

He chuckles and agrees, "True." And then he says, "None of that is enough to prosecute though, especially with an ironclad alibi."

Robin chews her bottom lip for a moment as she ponders this, and then asks, "Could Allise have somehow doubled back after leaving in Dane's car, and killed Cat?"

Strike temporarily abandons his task, glad of an excuse to stand up straight for a while, and says, "If she did, it would make her a magician, and invalidate your theory about the argument escalating into manslaughter. And there is nothing to indicate Goldberg had a reason to murder Baker."

Robin also pauses in her search and says, "Damn, you're right." Then moving onto the next box, she adds, "Let's just focus on this, and leave the wild theories for later."

Strike grins and says, "Yes, boss."

It doesn't quite take all day to search the storage unit, so Pat is still at the office when the partners return, and she greets Strike, "I was about to text you. A Tony Kenneally rang looking for you, and left a message to call him back, at your convenience."

Recognising the name, Strike doublechecks, "Tony Kenneally?"

"That's what I said," confirms Pat, with a note of reproach.

"Okay, text me the number. Uh, you can leave early, if you like. We're in for the rest of the day."

Her mood immediately brightens, and Pat begins preparing to leave as she says, "I'll take you up on that, ta."

Only a few minutes later, the partners are alone, and Strike comments, with a smile, "Doesn't need to be told twice, does she?"

Robin is making two mugs of tea and reveals, "She's probably picking up your gift. She asked me recently what you might like for your birthday."

With a dizzyingly large eyeroll, Strike moans, "Fuck's sake. Wish I had a time machine, so I could go back and ban gifts between colleagues."

Robin laughs and reminds him, "You started it, by giving me that dress."

"Only because I thought that I was shot of you, but you clung like a limpet, and now I'm stuck with you."

Darting a glance his way to confirm that he's teasing, Robin jokes, "If you want me gone, just say the word."

Strike gratefully accepts the tea, touching his mug to hers with a "Cheers," before saying, "Guess I'll stick it out." As Robin takes a sip of tea, he asks, "What about you?"

At first confused, Robin asks, "Do I still want to get married?" Strike, looking uncharacteristically nervous, merely nods, so she smiles and reminds him, "Darling, the ceremony is in less than twenty-four hours."

He shrugs and says, "Wouldn't matter if it were in twenty-four seconds, you can always change your mind."

He appears in earnest, so Robin resists the urge to mess with him, instead saying, "I've not changed my mind. I still want to marry you."

With a smile that makes him look years younger, Strike says, "Well, good. Did you want to meet there or travel together?"

Robin isn't superstitious, and knows that Strike isn't either, so she feels confident saying, "Together. I don't believe that rubbish about it being bad luck to see the bride beforehand, and strongly suspect that it came about to prevent young grooms backing out of arranged marriages." Studying his face, she then asks, "Who's Tony Kenneally?"

Strike breathes a heavy sigh and explains, "Something of a fixer for a local crime boss. There's a rumour that he's also the guy's illegitimate son."

Her heart beating faster, Robin merely asks, "Oh?"

After another sigh, Strike puts his mug of tea on the counter and explains, "His boss is Rydell Winston, supposedly the only client Baker saw in person."

"And how do you know he's a crime boss?"

Strike shrugs and says, "Not sure where I first heard about him, but I recognised his name in the file, though I wasn't absolutely certain until now if it was the same guy."

"But you didn't tell me your suspicions." When his only reply is another shrug, Robin asks, "Are you yet again deciding for me?"

"No. I was going to make sure it was him before discussing it with you. If he was her only client, there might be something going on here that even the cops don't know about."

Reassured by his apparent sincerity, Robin says, "Okay. Want me to find something else to do while you call him back?"

Strike's eyes widen in surprise and he asks, "You'd do that?"

"Of course. I trust you. I'd want to come with you if you meet with him though."

Everything about him expressing opposition to the idea, Strike asks, "Why?"

"Because we're partners."

Robin watches in fascination as the muscle at the base of Strike's jaw apparently pulses for a few seconds, and then he grinds out, "I'm not happy about this."

Recognising his compliance, Robin smiles and asks, "But you'll do it?"

"Yes, I'll make it clear that any meeting is with both of us. Now fuck off, so I can set it up."

His words are gruff, but his tone is affectionate, and Robin kisses him before taking her tea into the next room as she says, "Yes, boss."

Robin looks up when Strike enters their private office, and he reveals, "We've been invited to dinner in an hour."

Presuming it's with Rydell Winston, Robin asks, "Should I dress up?"

Glancing at her practical choice of jeans and jumper, now filthy from a day spent fossicking in a storage unit, he says, "Perhaps just a little, but it's not a formal occasion. He asked to see us right away, and I said we were about to eat, so we're dining with him at his home in Mayfair."

Her earlier bravado has apparently fled, and Robin nervously asks, "Is there anything I should know before we get there? I've never met a mobster before."

Strike grins and says, "Well, first thing would be don't call him that to his face. But, other than that, just behave as you normally would. He's not going to order a contract on you if you use the wrong utensil for the appetiser."

Robin rolls her eyes and begs, "Can you be serious about this? I'm trying to be professional."

"Relax. It's just an intimate dinner with a guy who'd make Shanker nervous."

Becoming genuinely concerned, Robin says, "Maybe I shouldn't go. We're starting a family together. I'm not sure that attracting the attention of such people is a good idea."

His expression suddenly grim, Strike says, "I'm afraid it's too late for that; there's no doubt in my mind that he knows far more about us than we'd like. But, if I thought for a moment that dining with him would put you in peril, you should know that nothing could persuade me to let you accompany me."

Anger rapidly overtaking her fear, Robin coolly asks, "You think it's up to you where I go or with whom I dine?"

Offering supplication with an open palm, Strike says, "Okay, poor choice of words. I just mean that not even you could persuade me to knowingly walk you into danger."

Relaxing at his apology, Robin concedes, "I guess that's fair enough. And back at you."

Studying her face, Strike asks, "So, we're good?"

In case he doubts it, Robin stands and moves into his welcome embrace, kissing him long enough to remove any concerns, and then assures him, "We're good."