Henley stepped out of Lewisham police station and breathed the cold winter air into her lungs. She looked up at the few stars that flickered in the city night sky.
“You see more stars in Bradford,” Ramouter said as he appeared at Henley’s side and looked up.
“Well, this is southeast London, and this is as good as it gets. If you’re lucky you might spot a helicopter,” said Henley as she pulled on her gloves.
“Yay, I’ll get my binoculars out.”
“Speaking of Bradford,” said Henley, “and you can tell me to mind my own business if you want, and I’m not just thinking about myself, but have you and Michelle made a decision?”
“Are you trying to tell me that you’ll miss me if I went back?” asked Ramouter.
“OK, yes. Yes, I would,” Henley said with a sigh as she and Ramouter walked back to her car. “I’ve got used to you.”
“Thanks. That makes me feel wanted.”
“Good. So have you...ow,” Henley said as a red-hot shooting pain ran across her right ankle.
“I don’t know why you don’t get that looked at,” said Ramouter as Henley bent down and gently rubbed it. “You’ve been limping around like a wounded duck.”
“It’s just a sprain. I just need to rest and take a couple of painkillers.”
“You’re so stubborn.”
“And you’re rude,” Henley said. She straightened up with a grimace and they began to walk again, albeit more slowly. “So have you decided?” she asked.
“Aye, we have,” said Ramouter. “Michelle wants to be with me, here in London.”
“Really?” Henley said, pleased but surprised. “And how do you feel about it?”
“Good. I’ve got this job and I don’t want to give it up. I know that it sounds selfish but that’s how I feel. I think that we can make it work.”
“We’re all here to support you, and Stanford loves to babysit.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. So, what next?” asked Ramouter.
“We don’t have to be in the restaurant until eight, so I was thinking of checking in on Serena Annan and Brandon Whittaker first. I’m happy to go alone. You don’t have to tag along.”
“I’m more than happy to tag along.”
“Good. I just want to make sure that they’re OK. This entire thing started with them. It’s a bit of a sick thing to say but we may never have found Brandon Whittaker if Caleb hadn’t been murdered.”
“Hopefully the CPS will come back with a charging decision soon for Dalisay,” said Ramouter. “Not that it should be that difficult. Derrick Sullivan has already agreed to give evidence against her. If he’s lucky they might drop the murder charge.”
“If he’s lucky,” said Henley. “I don’t think that anyone has been lucky in this case, including the ones who have been left behind. Everyone is broken. Including you—how’s your groin?”
“It’s not funny,” Ramouter said as Henley began to laugh. “Don’t tell anyone about that.”
“Yeah, it might be a bit late for that,” said Henley as she opened the car door. “Stanford already knows and if Stanford knows then that means Eastie knows.”
“Great, that means that I’m going to have to listen to his rubbish jokes over dinner.”
“Just remind him that he lost a bet that you would leave the SCU in six days,” said Henley.