She didn’t want to say that she thought he was wrong again for storming in and attacking Corrigan. She knew she was wrong for what she said, but it didn’t make him right. They seemed to have moved past it and she wasn’t about to stoke that fire again.

‘Then we’ll tell her that.’

‘Aren’t you going to eat?’ Imogen asked.

She watched as Adrian laboured to get off the sofa, clutching his side as he moved, anguish on his face. His face was puffy again, as though he had been crying. Her mother had suffered with depression many times, when she wasn’t going through one of her manic episodes, and so she recognised it in Adrian. No amount of telling him to cheer up would fix it and she daren’t suggest antidepressants to him, but she knew what he would say if she ever suggested it to him.

She wished there was something she could do, but she had seen that bruise on his rib – time was the only thing that could help. He shuffled over to the table with a cushion and put it on the seat, lowering himself onto it slowly. His eyes watering again.

‘Are you feeling any better? Are your pain meds working?’

‘The doc said my rib was going to hurt for a few weeks. When I get back to work, I’ll have to do desk work for a while. As long as I stay rested it should be fine.’

‘I want you to promise me you won’t do that again,’ Imogen said.

‘Do what again?’

‘Get yourself into a fight. I know this case has been difficult for you, but going out and pissing people off after work until they punch you is not the answer. You were already hurt. What if someone pulls a knife on you next time? I’ve been so worried about you.’

Imogen didn’t want to push too hard, didn’t want to ask what the hell he was thinking. They only had a minor disagreement. He was so impulsive and hotheaded sometimes. She didn’t really understand why he would want to be in pain. Surely this wasn’t worth it. Surely this wasn’t what he wanted.

‘I just got unlucky getting sick at the same time. I’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry about me,’ Adrian said gravely; her words had obviously hit home.

‘You look so pale and you’ve lost weight. I just want you to look after yourself.’

‘I will. I won’t do it again. I learned my lesson.’ He smiled a tentative smile and took a mouthful of food.