‘I know, but you wouldn’t be. I have thought about this before. After losing Lucy and now finding myself with you … I know I hadn’t been with her long, but it was the first time in a long time that I thought I was capable of a real relationship. When she died, I thought that was it for me. No more chances. Sometimes you just have to decide what you want most – and I know you’re more important to me than this job.’

‘Where would you go?’ she said, surprised that he had given this any thought at all.

‘I have no idea. Maybe I could train new recruits for a while, or maybe I could move to canine division.’

‘Dogs?’

‘What’s wrong with dogs?’

‘Nothing. You’ve just never mentioned it before.’

‘It could be time for a change, anyway. I don’t want to piss off the DCI and who knows, maybe you’ll like me even more?’

‘Not sure that’s possible.’ She smiled.

He put his hand on her knee and squeezed. This felt like an unusually mature approach to the situation from Adrian, Lord knows he wasn’t usually so level-headed and measured when dealing with matters of the heart. They had been through a lot together over the last couple of years and she had seen him at both ends of the spectrum, high and low. There was no doubt that he had grown and changed into a different person. She liked to think she was at least partially responsible for that.

Chapter Twenty-Six

It was obvious from the moment they arrived at the house that it was worth well over a million. This area and this view alone were both assets, but the real gem was the property itself. An eco house, white and wood with large metal beams, the back of the house was overlooking the Blackdown Hills on the border. Green upon green upon green. The house was detached, although they had neighbours either side with just a short distance between them. Enough not to be bothered by loud television sets or even louder parties.

Adrian pulled the car into the large driveway next to a white Lexus. He had never been one of those men who was preoccupied with cars. If it worked, that was enough for him; he only used it to get to work and back, anyway. Corrigan’s driveway could hold at least six cars. The second floor of the house had much larger windows overlooking the drive.

They knocked on the door and waited patiently.

‘Would you want to live in a house like this?’ Adrian asked Imogen, who was looking through one of the windows, studying the inside.