He shrugged. ‘It’s relatively new.’
She grinned. ‘As effusive as ever, Jimmy. You just can’t stop spilling your guts and banging on about your feelings, can you?’
Emily came into the room carrying two mugs. She handed one to Burton, the other to Bliss. He smelled his favourite Earl Grey tea. ‘Are you not joining us?’ he asked.
‘No, you two go ahead. I’ve got dinner to do, and I’m sure there are things you need to discuss that I ought not to hear.’
Bliss shook his head. ‘We were pretty much done. Ange came over to update me on a new case so’s I’d have additional information for the morning briefing.’
Emily nodded and smiled. ‘How thoughtful. I was beginning to think the rest of your colleagues were mythical. Anyhow, you two don’t mind me. Dinner in about an hour, Jimmy. That okay?’
‘She likes me,’ Burton said when the kitchen door closed. ‘You can tell.’
Chuckling, Bliss said, ‘You being here took her by surprise, that’s all. I don’t get many visitors.’
‘Oh, I think it’s more than that, Jimmy. We women have a sixth sense about exes. Your lady friend took one look at me, sized me up in an instant, and knew without doubt that you and I had once had a fling.’
Bliss did not argue. He’d seen something pass across Emily’s gaze the moment it alighted on Burton: an immediate suspicion, which put her on high alert. He nodded. ‘You may well be right. And if so, she’s bound to ask me about you later.’
‘You want my advice?’
‘I sense I’m about to get it no matter what I say.’
‘You’ve got good instincts. Listen, be honest with her. You and I had a moment. That was it. We’ve seen each other around the nick on many occasions since. We get on well, for which I’m grateful. You’re a good friend, but there’s no lingering spark. Tell her that and she’ll believe you.’
‘Em is not a jealous woman.’
Burton laughed. ‘Oh, Jimmy. How can you still be so naïve? You don’t have to be a jealous woman to feel jealous. You only have to see the opposition.’
‘But there isn’t anything between you and me anymore – you said so yourself. So what has she got to worry about?’
‘That there was once a you and me. She knows we must have been attracted to each other at some point in the past, which means we could be again in the future. The here and now aren’t always relevant when it comes to sex, Jimmy. Emily knows – or at least is pretty certain – that a woman you once slept with is here in her territory. And was here with you, alone, when she arrived home. That’s why she’s in the kitchen. There’s no way she can look at me or talk to me without thinking about the things you and I might have done together.’
Bliss took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. ‘You women are far more complicated than I give you credit for.’
‘Which is why you’ll always be the weaker sex. But don’t worry. I’ll drink up and go. And don’t make the mistake of waiting for her to ask you about me. Tell her. She’ll feel more comfortable having it out there.’
Bliss was about to reply when his personal mobile rang. He checked the screen and frowned. ‘Sorry – I have to take this.’
He slipped out into the garden and walked across to the far side, where a bamboo bridge crossed the narrow part of his pond. As if they sensed his presence, the koi began to gather close by. He spoke for less than thirty seconds, the conversation causing him alarm. When he went back inside, he said, ‘I have to go. Sorry. Thank you for the info, and for… well, the life lesson. I’ll tell Em about us when I get back.’
Burton got to her feet. ‘Is it the case?’
‘The… no. Something else. You take your time with your drink. I’ll say goodbye to Em.’
This was not how he wanted to leave it, but the information he had received gave him only a narrow window of time in which to react. At least it would take Emily’s mind off Angie Burton, because the reason he was headed out again was the one that had kept the two of them at loggerheads for the past fortnight.
Eight
Vesuvio’s Italian restaurant and pizzeria was located in one of several unassuming brick-built units along Eastgate Mews in Whittlesea, a small fenland town six miles east of Peterborough.
Bliss abruptly shook his head and walked silently past the man who tried to seat him. He hadn’t gone there to eat. Instead, his eyes scoured the diners. He spotted the man he’d been told he would find sitting at a table with a mature redhead. The two were enjoying their main course, a glass of red wine poured for each of them. The woman leaned forward attentively as her companion spoke. She had one of those curious faces that at first glance seemed plain, yet the more you looked, the more attractive qualities emerged. The man had his broad back facing the entrance and he reacted with surprise when Bliss approached their table from behind, pulled out a chair and sat down to join them.
Ignoring him, Bliss turned to the redhead. ‘Good evening,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry to drop by unannounced. I don’t want to spoil your enjoyment, but believe me, it’s better to do that than allow you to ruin the rest of your life.’
‘Do we… do we know each other?’ Her voice had the cadence of a local fenlander.
‘No. We’ve never met before. But tonight is your lucky night, because I’m here to do you a massive favour. Especially if you have young
