It was Frankie’s turn to smile. She took a pack out of her back pocket and offered it to Cat. Cat took out a cigarette and leaned towards Frankie who offered her the light. The smoke burned her lungs and made her knees weak. She held her breath.

“Old habits die hard, huh?” Frankie chuckled pointing at the pack. “How are you going to explain all this to the Sherif? I’m assuming she is still around is she.”

Cat frowned and looked away.

Frankie’s eyes examined Cat’s face looking for answers and found them. “You haven’t told her have you.”

Cat exhaled and a small cloud of smoke obscured her face for one brief moment.

***

They were on the way to Trans Europe Café. The streets were busy with the end of the work day traffic. They squeezed into a little booth by the window and ordered tea. After a long pause, Frankie spoke.

“I met up with my mom, you know.”

“I thought you would, I wondered how it went.”

“It’s ok. I mean, it’s a lot of stuff to take in. We’ve been talking, this and that. The past. She’s nice, I think. Lives in a proper house and everything.”

“You’re going to meet her again then?”

“Yep, next week, I’m invited for dinner.”

“So you’re staying in Glasgow then?”

“Well, that depends.” Frankie said quietly and looked into Cat’s eyes. “So how are things with Miss Detective? Are you planning to tell her about what happened?”

“Frankie…”

“No? Interesting. You’ve changed Cat. You used to be all honesty, never covered things up. My bad influence maybe?” Frankie’s voice became angry, impatient.

“Fuck you Frankie! You don’t know what’s it’s like for me. It’s … difficult. If I told her, she’d never forgive me. She’d leave.”

“Well, would it be so bad? One word, and Detective – gone. You are right. She wouldn’t stick around, wouldn’t stand by you. Listen Cat, you don’t belong with her, you hear? She doesn’t… She doesn’t deserve you.”

Frankie’s voice cracked, she looked away. She looked defeated, broken. Then her face changed.

“Maybe…”

“What?” Cat grew suspicious.

“Maybe I can settle things myself, for all three of us.”

“What can you do exactly?” Cat’s heart sank.

“Well, I can always tell Sam the truth, can’t I!”

Frankie stood up abruptly and stormed away, leaving Cat alone in the café, petrified.