JO GOT IN her car and drove off without another word. With no arrangement to meet again, Kate returned to the office in a foul mood. Hank was still there, helping himself to her coffee. He made her one too and then sat down, taking an open bag of cheese and onion crisps from his pocket.
‘Low fat . . .’ He grimaced. ‘They taste rank.’
‘So bin them,’ she said.
‘No need, I added salt. They’re better now. Want one?’
Kate laughed even though she felt like crying.
He was too busy with his snack to notice her eyes filling up. Recovering quickly, she did her usual and immersed herself in work. On this occasion, it was a long list of items she wanted to tackle at the evening briefing. By mid-afternoon, they were ready for a break. Yawning, Hank leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms above his head, grinning as if he’d won the force lottery.
She asked what was so amusing. Her own sense of humour had gone walkabout. He said something facetious about all being well now that the Dream Team was back in action, which she didn’t find in the least bit amusing or comforting. Getting up, she drew down the window blind, a message to outsiders that they were not to be disturbed.
Gormley made a face. ‘Am I in for a bollocking?’
‘In a manner of speaking.’ She didn’t attempt to mask her anger as she sat down. He was treading on very thin ice interfering in her private life and she told him so. He’d stage-managed a meeting with Jo in the name of work. That wasn’t on. ‘I didn’t raise the issue on the way home from the beach, but it’s time I did. So keep it buttoned, eh? If I want your input, I’ll ask for it.’
‘What’s up with you?’ He made a meal of looking over his shoulder. ‘There’s no one else here, Kate—’
‘Your point being?’
‘My point being, there’s no need to go off on one. A blind man on a galloping horse could see you missed having her around.’
‘So you took it upon yourself to arrange a meet?’
‘How the hell did I know she’d be on the . . . beach.’
Kate rolled her eyes. What-do-you-take-me-for?
Gormley knew he’d been rumbled. ‘She told you, didn’t she?’
‘About you meeting her in Alnwick yesterday? Yes, she told me.’
‘Now that was pure chance, I swear.’
‘I don’t doubt that for a second.’
‘So what’s the problem? It’s what you wanted, right? Seeing her again, I mean.’
‘Since when do you know what I want?’
‘Oops! Sorry, my mistake. I thought I did.’
Kate glared at him stony-faced. It was ridiculous arguing with him when he was acting in her best interests. She should be thanking him, not berating him, allowing her pride to get in the way. If she carried on like this, she’d have no one to confide in. She should apologize at once.
‘Knock you back, did she?’ Hank said before she could open her mouth.
‘Excuse me?’ Now he really was taking the piss. ‘You’re hardly in a position to play Cupid, are you? Maybe you should get your own house in order before organizing mine.’
He just looked at her. Inscrutable. ‘Y’know what? You can be an arsy cow sometimes. But you’re dead right. Aren’t you always? I’ve made a complete bollocks of home life. Julie and I are about as far apart as we ever were. Ryan hates my guts. Even the neighbours can’t stand the sight of me. That’s why I thought I’d spread a little sunshine your way. But hey!’ He held up his hands. ‘I’ll stay out of your business in future, no need to ask twice.’
Kate swallowed her guilt.
She could see she’d hurt him. She ought not to have dragged his marital problems into their silly spat but she was too prickly to apologize. He thought he was helping. She thought he’d gone too far. End of. It was as well their relationship was strong enough to survive a difference of opinion. He was her number one fan; her professional partner as opposed to her personal one. He’d forgive and forget before the day was out. She couldn’t believe they were having a go at each other. Still, she wished she could take back what she’d said.
Jo would laugh if she knew they were fighting over her.
Sending him off to brief the team, Kate left the station without telling him where she was going, something she never ever did. She needed some time alone – time to get her focus off Jo Soulsby and on to the job. Time to cool down. The best way to achieve that was a visit to the morgue.