He came closer, placing both hands on her desk as he leaned in. ‘Look, I want this thing to work. I still say we could be great together. And I thought you felt the same way. But if that ain’t the case, you need to tell me.’

She looked up at him, her thoughts swirling.

Said nothing.

‘This ain’t goin’ away, Toni,’ Mike pressed. ‘What’s it gonna be?’

‘I … I want this to work, too.’

He exhaled. ‘Good. So where do we go from here?’

They stared at each other for a moment, neither breaking the silence, both turning to look at Hawkins’ mobile as it began vibrating noisily against the desk.

She reached out and picked up the handset, turning it over to see Frank’s number. Held it for a few seconds.

Rejected the call.

She put the phone down. ‘You’re right. We need to talk.’

‘Right. You go.’

He wasn’t going to let her off lightly.

‘I know sometimes I can obsess over work.’

‘Sometimes.’

‘OK. More often than not.’

He stared. ‘And …?’

‘And I should … put us first more of the time.’

‘All right.’

‘Aaannnd …’ She drew out the word, opening a drawer in her desk, retrieving a thick envelope. Holding it out. ‘Show my appreciation a bit more.’

Mike regarded her sideways.

‘An early Christmas present.’

Slowly he took the envelope, opened it and removed the presentation pack, glancing up at her. ‘Membership of the American Air Museum. When did you …?’

‘You’ve mentioned it a few times,’ Hawkins explained.

‘I thought festivities were an unnecessary distraction these days.’ He put on his lame British accent. ‘I’m not sure I have time for Christmas.’

‘I might have said that.’ She smiled, nodding at the pack. ‘But you’re right, we need to have more fun, even if it is in a smelly old aircraft hangar. We should go over new year.’

‘I’d like that. Thank you for this, but it’s not what I meant.’

‘I know.’ She mustered her most reassuring tone.

Mention the wedding, idiot.

Now.

Her laptop screen lit up with an electronic ping. She looked down to see a message from Frank.

You online?

Mike’s smile faded. ‘Don’t tell me. Urgent, right?’

‘It’s just work.’

Another ping.

Call me. Important.

Mike raised his hands, still relaxed. ‘Hey, do what you gotta do.’

‘It’s fine,’ she said. ‘The others can deal with it.’

‘Really?’

‘Really.’

His head tilted, but she held fast, and at last he sank into one of the chairs in front of her desk.

Hostilities suspended.

‘I was thinking,’ he said, ‘maybe you and I should go someplace. Just the two of us.’

She smiled. ‘I’d like that. I’ll talk to Vaughn about taking some time once this case is closed.’

‘I was thinking sooner than that.’