Nightmare

22

Nightingale opened the office door half expecting Jenny not to be there, but he smiled when he saw her at her desk. ‘Sorry,’ he said, placing a Starbucks bag and two coffees in front of her. Jenny’s desk was always immaculate, in stark contrast to his own, which was usually hidden under stacks of newspapers, files, dirty coffee mugs and overflowing ashtrays.

‘You should be.’ She turned away from him.

‘I’m an idiot.’

She steadfastly refused to look at him. ‘Yes. You are.’

Nightingale moved one of the coffees closer to her. ‘Latte.’

‘Thanks,’ she said quietly.

Nightingale gestured at the bag.

‘Banana choc-chip muffin. And a croissant. Breakfast of champions.’

‘Thanks,’ she repeated. She looked at her watch. ‘But it’s six o’clock in the evening so it’s a bit late for breakfast.’

‘I figured if I turned up with a pizza it wouldn’t have been as cute,’ he said. ‘Come on, Jenny, at least give me a smile. I know I’m an insensitive prick sometimes.’

‘Sometimes?’

‘Okay, most of the time. I was just wrong-footed when Fairchild turned up out of the blue. I shouldn’t have laid into you. I’m sorry.’ He grinned. ‘Especially when you were giving me a lift. You really are heartless, aren’t you?’

‘You deserved it,’ she said. ‘Anyway, you weren’t far from the Tube.’

‘I did deserve it. And yes, the Tube wasn’t that far, though it was pissing down.’ He put up his hands. ‘But, again, it was my own fault so I’ve only myself to blame. To be honest, I didn’t really expect you to be here.’

‘I had work to do.’

‘Then I saw the light on and thought the least I could do to make amends was to buy you a very late breakfast.’ He pushed the bag towards her.

‘I had work to do,’ she repeated. ‘I thought you’d go straight home.’ Jenny turned away from her computer and opened the bag. She took out the muffin. ‘There’s a bit missing,’ she said.

‘I broke off a piece, just to check it was fresh.’

Jenny raised an eyebrow. ‘You bought me a muffin and then ate it?’

‘Checked it for freshness,’ said Nightingale, taking off his wet raincoat. He shook it then put it on the rack by the door.

‘Did you try my coffee too?’

Nightingale went back to her desk and picked up his cup. ‘No. And I didn’t touch the croissant either.’ He sipped his coffee and smacked his lips. ‘So what are you doing later this evening?’

‘Why?’ she asked suspiciously.

‘I thought I’d buy you dinner. By way of apology.’

‘You don’t have to.’ She held out the muffin. ‘This is enough. Even if you did nibble it.’

‘I want to. You can choose the restaurant.’

Jenny grinned. ‘Money no object?’

‘If that means you accept my apology, sure.’ He took another sip of his coffee. ‘Just one thing, can you make it near Marylebone?’

Jenny sighed. ‘Why?’

‘I need to swing by a meeting there.’

‘What sort of meeting, Jack?’

‘A spiritualist group.’ He walked away from her desk towards his office. ‘Mrs Steadman at the Wicca Woman shop in Camden recommended it. It’ll be fun,’ he said. He stopped and looked at his watch. ‘We’ve got to be there by seven thirty.’

‘We? Now it’s “we”, is it?’

‘It always is,’ said Nightingale. He grinned. ‘You know I’d be lost without you.’