‘Please,’ Lucy said, accepting the offer graciously, mainly because she didn’t want all three men staring down over her and fussing.
‘I caught you,’ Holder said with a grin. ‘Prevented you from getting into any more bumps and scraps this morning. Do you think it was because of the whack you got from that idiot last night? Should we get her seen by someone?’ Holder said, addressing DS Morgan now.
‘No, honestly. I’m fine. Like Zack said, it’s hot in here. I didn’t have any breakfast. I’m fine really,’ Lucy insisted as Zack came back with a glass of water.
Taking it, Lucy tried to hide the tremor of her hand. Hoping her colleagues hadn’t seen it.
She knew why she’d fainted. It was all too much. All too close to home, and as much as Lucy had thought she could hold herself together and work on this investigation, it was already proving too hard for her. But she didn’t want to let DS Morgan and the rest of the team down. This was a big case; they’d all be needed.
‘Are you really okay?’ DS Morgan said then, an undercurrent to his question which only he and Lucy understood. Though Holder picked up on it too.
There was definitely something going on here. Something Lucy wasn’t saying. And whatever it was, it seemed that their sergeant was aware of it too.
Lucy nodded.
‘If you are completely sure?’ DS Morgan raised his brows questioningly. Getting that Lucy didn’t want to draw any more attention to herself, he lowered his voice. ‘Because my offer still stands. If it’s too much, I can pull you from the case.’
‘No need. I’m fine,’ Lucy said with finality as she started to get up.
Zack held out his hand to help Lucy to her feet. Only Holder stepped around the man and placed his arm around Lucy’s back to steady her.
‘It’s all right, mate. We’re partners. I’ve got her,’ Holder said, walking Lucy over to the nearest chair.
‘No problem,’ Zack said, holding up his hands and shooting Holder a curt smile, not wanting to step on anyone’s toes. He made his way back to the desk at the front of the room to let Lucy have a minute before they continued with the early morning brief.
‘Sarge, there’s a call just come in for you.’ One of the uniformed officers poked their head around the door and interrupted then.
Excusing himself, DS Morgan left Holder and Lucy alone.
‘Jesus! How embarrassing,’ Lucy muttered, trying to pull herself together again, mortified that she’d just lost control like that in front of everyone.
‘It happens. Don’t worry about it. Like you say, it’s hot in here and you probably just overheated. We’ve all been working every hour God sends this week. The job’s intense. I get it,’ Holder said. Then taking his opportunity while they were alone, he added: ‘What was all that about with the sarge? Why did he offer to take you off the case?’
‘Oh, it’s nothing. Really. The victim is pregnant… That’s pretty grim, isn’t it?’ Lucy began. Trying to convey her upset without giving too much away about just why this case had affected her. Only she still couldn’t find the right words. ‘I dunno… I’ve just a lot going on right now. At home. I guess he was just making sure that I don’t take on too much.’
Ben held Lucy’s gaze.
‘Oh! You’re not…?’ Narrowing his eyes, he tried to slot the missing piece of the puzzle together.
‘Pregnant? Oh, God no! It would have to be the Immaculate Conception if I was. I haven’t got time for a boyfriend, let alone a baby.’ Lucy laughed then, realising how Holder had done his maths and come up with the completely wrong answer. Though she could see how he could have got there.
‘Oh good.’ Holder laughed too, blushing, as he realised how relieved he sounded. ‘I mean good, I’m glad that you’re okay. You know. Not good, you’re not pregnant… I mean if you were, it’s none of my business.’
Lucy laughed again, despite herself. She’d never seen Holder look so awkward before and, if she was honest, she found it endearing to see that he did, in fact, have a serious side. He just hid it well most of the time.
‘I’m sure you wouldn’t be short on offers if you did want a boyfriend. He’d probably be the first one queuing up,’ Holder said, changing the subject and nodding towards Zack, who stood at the front of the room. His tone was full of dislike. ‘No one moves that fast on his feet. Apart from me, but then I’ve got good reflexes and you were standing right next to me. But I reckon he was keeping a beady eye on you, because the second you fell, he made a beeline. Bit creepy if you ask me.’
‘Who, Zack?’ Lucy laughed, convinced that Holder was making it up. She glanced over in Zack’s direction, only to catch his eye and see him smile back at her. It was Lucy’s turn to blush then, realising that Holder might actually be right.
‘See. Told ya. I’ve got the sixth sense for these kinds of things,’ Holder said. ‘Though he doesn’t really seem your type.’
‘Oh, yeah?’ Lucy laughed. ‘And what’s my type then?’
‘Well, I dunno. But he seems a bit pompous to me.’
‘Really? I thought he seemed nice.’
‘You say nice. I stay stuck up his own arse.’ Holder grinned just as DS Morgan’s voice filled the room again. Their sergeant walked back into the room and summoned the attention of his team, interrupting Lucy and Holder’s chat.
‘Okay, everyone. I’ve just taken a call from the hospital. Shelby Cooke has had her baby. Mother and baby are both doing well. Holder and Murphy, I want you both down at the hospital, taking a witness statement from her immediately,’ DS Morgan said, holding Lucy’s gaze as she nodded back at him, discreetly letting him know that she was happy to continue working on the
