He becomes aware his fists are clenched, fingernails stabbing hard into his palms.

Doggett is suspiciously quiet, just watching him.

Tyler sighs heavily and realizes he’s made his decision. He can’t do this to her again. “I’m going to ask the DCI to reassign me.”

Doggett’s eyes narrow. His fingers begin a silent drumbeat on his thigh. “How long have you known the lad?”

Tyler isn’t even all that surprised. “When did you realize?”

“Come on, son, don’t take me for a complete mug. I saw the look on your face the minute I introduced the pair of you. Why do you think I had Daley look into him?”

He nods, relieved it’s over. “We met the night before last.” But that’s not enough. He won’t lie about this. “We spent the night together.”

“I see.” The only gauge to Doggett’s reaction is a slight increase to the tempo of his drumming.

“I’ll speak to the DCI tonight and remove myself from the case.”

The tapping continues. “If you think that’s best,” says Doggett. “Telling her what you should have told her yesterday.” He pushes a finger into Tyler’s chest. “You pushed your way onto this case; don’t you think you owe it to her to see it through?”

“I didn’t know Oscar was involved then.”

“Of course you bloody didn’t, and if I thought any differently, you wouldn’t be here now.”

“Why am I here then? Why did you even want me on this case?”

Doggett is silent for a moment and seems to be considering his words carefully. “Your father was a good man,” he says quietly. “What they said about him being on the take, about why he did what he did. I didn’t believe it then, and I still don’t believe it now.” He sniffs, perhaps uncomfortable with this level of intimacy. “Anyway, seems to me we shouldn’t be too hasty here. Did Cartwright know who you were when you met?”

“I don’t . . .” Tyler is floored. He didn’t even realize Doggett knew his father, but he supposes they would have been about the same age, so it’s not all that surprising. It’s just . . . it never occurred to him they might have worked together. “No, I can’t see how he could have.”

“Then I don’t reckon there’s much of a problem. In fact, this might give us an advantage.”

“What?”

“You’ve reported the conflict of interest to your superior. You took your sweet time about it, but we don’t need to tell anyone that. The way I see it, this is my call. This . . .” He hesitates. “This business you had with the lad, it’s over?”

“We only slept together the one time.”

“All right. So maybe we use this relationship you’ve got with him to sound the lad out a bit, have a few off-the-record chats.”

“I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that.”