‘You were waiting.’

‘Bingo. And as soon as the interview room door closes, the guy goes off, rolls over on his buddies one by one, bang-bang-bang, just like that. A taped confession, names, the works.’ He grinned. ‘Been picking up members of his crew all afternoon.’

Hawkins nodded approvingly. ‘You’re welcome.’

‘Hey.’ Mike came towards her, still smiling. ‘Don’t give me that master-plan crap. We all lucked out and you know it.’ He sat on the edge of her desk. ‘But I shouldn’t have blown up at you.’

‘And I shouldn’t have demanded those names. Do you think there’s hope for us?’

‘Hard to say.’ Mike slid round the desk as she stood, and they embraced. ‘But it’s lucky you’re hot.’

‘I’ll take that,’ she said. ‘Fortunately for you, there’s more to life than aesthetics.’ She smothered his theatrical dismay with a kiss.

You still can’t ask him who the dealers are.

Eventually Mike came up for air, fixing her with soft eyes. ‘Beats fighting.’

Hawkins nodded, pleased and surprised in equal measure at how easily a moment like this could still arise.

‘I hate when we argue.’ He bumped his forehead gently against hers.

‘Only because I’m better at it than you are.’

‘Or so I let you think.’ He squeezed her, but then his expression became serious. ‘You know I always wanted to be a narc, and working on the new team is great, don’t get me wrong. But I hardly see you. It’s tougher than I thought.’

Hawkins felt a pang of guilt. ‘It was never meant to be permanent.’

His expression clouded. ‘What?’

‘Oh,’ she rallied, ‘I just meant … I told them I wanted you back quickly.’

‘When?’

‘I don’t know. Before you agreed.’

‘I agreed straight off.’

‘After, then.’

His eyes searched hers. ‘You spoke to them in advance?’

‘Maybe. I can’t remember exactly. Does it matter?’

‘Yeah, it does. You said they approached me first. That you were pissed they were stealing me from you.’

‘I was.’

‘Really?’ He released her. ‘’Cause it sounds a lot like you were behind the whole thing.’

Before she could stop herself, Hawkins had winced.

‘Toni.’ Mike stepped back, now viewing her with clear suspicion. His voice low and steady, ‘Did you set it up?’

She sighed, looked away, but Maguire remained silent, forcing her to answer.

‘OK,’ she said gently. Calming. ‘I heard about the secondment, so I spoke to the drugs team, told them you’d be good.’

His head turned slightly. ‘Why?’

‘Because you’ve always wanted to work in that area. You said it yourself.’

‘That’s right. But that ain’t why you called them. Is it?’

‘Absolutely. Why else would I—’ The words jumped out automatically, but she shut up as Mike’s glare began to snowball.