It was a painfully old-fashioned attitude, Lucy supposed, but again, there were some truths buried there. She had, on occasion, been wooed by civvy guys who she’d thought she might be interested in, only to see their ardour cool when they learned that she was in the job. And there was no question in her mind: she was never going out with a fellow cop. That would be the biggest distraction possible. At least – this had been Lucy’s view until recently.

While Harry chuntered on in the background, she slipped her phone from her coat pocket and glanced again at the text she’d received forty-five minutes ago:

Saturday Street boys charged. Squad party tonight.

Fancy it? Danny.

She sighed aloud at the uncertainties of life.

Harry, mistakenly detecting a kindred weary spirit, glanced sidelong at her.

‘How long are we giving this?’ he wondered. ‘We said ten, didn’t we?’

‘We did.’ Lucy checked the dashboard clock. ‘And it’s still only ten to. And on the subject of how Burke can afford the women in his life … we already know the answer to that, don’t we? Let’s not forget why we’re here.’

‘I’m not forgetting anything.’ He squinted across the rain-wet street. ‘I’m just wondering where the hell he is.’

‘If we don’t get him today … we’ll come back tomorrow. We’ll nab him at some point.’

‘I’m also wondering where you and me stand?’

Harry phrased this like it was any other question, like he was wondering whether she could lend him an umbrella. Lucy cocked her head towards him. He scanned the far side of the road, pointedly not looking at her.

‘What was that?’ she asked quietly.

‘Wondering where you and me stand?’ He glanced round at her, but it was too dim to tell if he seemed in any way embarrassed. ‘Wondering if there’s any chance, like?’

Had Lucy’s heart not sunk at the sudden arrival of this long-dreaded moment, she might have been faintly impressed by the business-like bluntness of his approach.

‘Harry?’ she said. ‘What’re you talking about?’

‘Come on, Lucy … we’re both adults. Don’t make me spell it out.’

‘It’s because we’re adults that you should be spelling it out. Every single word.’

He shrugged. ‘I want to take you out. On a date … for a drink and all? Is that so bad?’

‘Are you actually serious?’ Despite having expected this, she still managed to feign a tone of incredulous outrage.

He looked genuinely puzzled. ‘I’m not such a bad catch. Only a bit older than you, not married any more, no nasty skeletons in the closet … I don’t think.’

‘And are you seriously asking me out now … while we’re at work?’

‘What time would be better? We’ve nothing else to do except sit here.’

She turned back to the front. ‘You should know better, Harry … you really should.’