When Sam strides back into the room, she is met with a sight she knew she would have to face. She remains stoic, even standing a little higher. Frankie and Cat turn to the sound. Their attention may have been interrupted but they are still visibly engrossed in each other. Cat gently pulls her hand away from Frankie’s. Sam puts her tongue to the roof of her mouth. Although she wishes to close her eyes, it’s a luxury she can’t afford.

As Sam rearranges the paper files in her arms, Cat springs up from her chair. Her scrambling is usually met with quiet smiles from those around her, but not today.

“Sam, I- … there’s been… I mean… we’ve been talking about what happened and-”

Sam has to ignore her. Her job and her sanity require it.

“Frankie. I need you to tell me what happened.”

Frankie throws Cat a look, who has her gaze firmly stuck on the DS. Sam however hasn’t stopped staring at Frankie, as she settles into the chair recently vacated by Cat. An overwhelming urge to smile comes over Frankie. What a mess. This will probably get worse before it gets better.

She raises her head to get a closer look at the woman Cat claims to be in love with. Sam’s eyes are dark, the neutrality from before has vanished under a subtle anger that simmers below the surface. Frankie slips her still warm hand back under the covers. There won’t be any more hand holding now.

Frankie shrugs as best she can lying down. “I was out late. I had some drinks. I stumbled onto the road. Bang, Frankie meets car.”

“Did you see the car?”

Shake of the head.

“How many drinks?”

Another shrug. “Several. I don’t know.”

“Who were you drinking with?”

“Tess, Jay and Ed.”

“What time was that?”

“About 11.”

“Did you speak to anyone else that night?”

Frankie pauses and looks up at Sam. There is absolutely nothing there.

“No.”

Her lying gaze remains fixed on the DS, daring her to contradict her false statement.