Double Dealing (Detective Sergeant Catherine Bishop Series Book Two) by Lisa Hartley Page B

is my brother Thomas.’ She waved her hand towards him and he grinned.
      ‘Pleased to meet you all.’
      ‘Is DI Knight coming?’ Chris asked.
      ‘He said so.’
      ‘Did you ask Dr Webber as well?’
      ‘Ha, no, I was joking. I’m sure he fancies her though.’
      ‘Who doesn’t?’ Chris winked at his wife, who laughed and gave him a playful push. Ellie caught Catherine’s eye with a smile.
     
      An hour and several drinks later, the table was filled with food. Faye had managed to orchestrate the seating so that Catherine and Ellie were next to each other. Thomas had grabbed a chair by Anna while Dave Lancaster sat between two constables from uniform, Emily Lawrence and Natalie Roberts. Lancaster was in his element, like a giddy puppy that you couldn’t help patting. DI Knight had turned up at last, still wearing the crumpled suit he’d had on at work.
      ‘Sorry, I was in a meeting with the Super,’ he explained. Catherine threw him a questioning glance and he nodded.
      ‘Now, now, we’re not talking about work tonight,’ chided Chris.
      ‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’ Knight’s smile was awkward. He glanced around. ‘Dr Webber not here then?’ His colleagues smirked knowingly. ‘Just wondered.’ Hastily, he broke off a piece of garlic naan bread. Faye leant across to rescue him, leaving Catherine and Ellie sitting in silence.
      ‘I’m sorry about this,’ said Ellie in an undertone. ‘I know you weren’t expecting me. Faye was insistent and she’s my boss, so . . .’
      ‘You’ve had your arm twisted then?’ Catherine grinned. Ellie looked horrified.
      ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean . . .’ she backpedalled.
      ‘I know, I’m joking.’
      ‘It’s not that I don’t want to be here.’
    Catherine gave her a sideways glance, then opened her eyes wide.
      ‘Really?’
    Laughing, Ellie lifted her glass.
      ‘All right, I was dreading it. It’s too much like a blind date and I’ve always hated the thought of them.’
      ‘Me too.’
      ‘Faye just presumed that I’d want to meet you because we’re both single and . . .’
    Catherine took a swallow of orange juice.
      ‘And we’re both gay.’
      ‘She seems to think that’s all it takes.’ Ellie shrugged.
      ‘She’s not the only one,’ Catherine said, giving Chris a hard look that he pretended not to notice.
      ‘Faye told me you’d had a tough time and needed cheering up.’ 
      ‘Did she?’
      ‘I’m sorry, it’s awkward. I know what it’s like to have people think they can wave a magic wand and make it all better.’
      ‘I’m sure they mean well.’
    Ellie met Catherine’s eyes. ‘Faye told me your last girlfriend died.’
      ‘Did she?’ Catherine raised her glass again, aware of the coldness of her tone.
      ‘It’s just that . . . well, so did mine.’ Ellie’s gaze was on the table top.
    Catherine looked at her properly for the first time. A dimple in her left cheek. Perfect teeth.
      ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know.’ Now she felt terrible.
      ‘How could you have?’
      ‘Anyway, Claire wasn’t my girlfriend, not really. We’d only been together a few days.’ She twisted the tablecloth in her fingers. ‘Did Faye tell you what happened?’
      ‘No, not the details. It’s none of my business.’
    Catherine didn’t know how to respond to that and the awkwardness returned. They were quiet for a few minutes, mechanically shovelling rice and curry into their mouths, their thoughts far away. After a time, Ellie put down her fork.
      ‘Your brother seems nice.’
    Catherine looked at Thomas, his arm thrown across the back of Anna’s chair.
      ‘He is. The trouble is he’s a bit of a flirt, always has been. I’m hoping Anna has enough sense to see that, but . . .’
    They watched Anna laugh at some joke Thomas had made, her eyes never leaving his face.
      ‘You think so?’ Ellie laughed.
    Catherine let out a groan.
      ‘I have to work with her