Exhibit A

Exhibit A: A Late Night Conversation
by elfin

Set inside the conversation between Jackie and Robbie at the end of 'Skin Deep'. Robbie's been let off the hook by Complaints and Discipline after they've been investigating him for taking bribes, and later for murder. Throughout, the tension's been growing between Jackie, Michael and Robbie because of their "personal involvement".

Michael calmed a little, "you're too personally involved. We all are."

*

Jackie sipped her orange juice while she watched Robbie finish his third double malt. He looked happier, at least. But there was still something bothering him.

"What did Michael say?"

He lowered his glass, rubbing the side of his thumb across the peeling wood of the table. "Oh, I've been staying out of his way. As much for his sake as for mine."

Jackie sighed softly. She loved both men, but they were so stubborn sometimes it drove her nuts. Michael hadn't been himself the last week, and she knew he'd hated doing what he'd had to do. He was Robbie's friend, but over and above that, he was the boss. He had to act professionally, had to keep his personal feelings buried.

But there was something more than professional etiquette in Robbie's manner, in his expression and the gentle, almost defeated slouch of his shoulders.

"Robbie, what's up?"

For a moment, he just stared into the thin layer of amber liquid gathering in the bottom of his glass. Then he looked up. "He thought I was capable of murder, Jackie." There was no anger in his voice, just a sadness that touched her.

"No, he didn't. He didn't know what to think, and I don't think he had the strength by then to go flying against C&D again. But he never believed it, Robbie. He knows you."

"Aye." With a deep breath, he picked up his glass. "Fancy another?"

"Tell me what's wrong."

He settled back in to his seat. For a minute or two, he seemed to be thinking it over. Then he leaned forward, crossing his arms on the table, not meeting her questioning gaze.

"You remember last year, when that crazy spiritualist guy was delivering messages from Jim Taggart?"

She nodded. "How could I forget?"

"The night you came round to dinner, and then left because Franchesca was there?" Another nod. Something else she wouldn't ever forget. "Well, Franchesca left too. She wasn't buying it anymore than you were."

Jackie couldn't help the small smile of triumph.

"So faced with cold lasange and an empty house, I went back to work, decided to finish up the paperwork from the case. When I arrived, I saw Jardine up on the roof. So I went up there."

"Mike?" Robbie approached slowly. "You all right?"

Michael turned his head and smiled. "Aye. Just enjoying the view."

"It is beautiful." But for a moment, he couldn't tear his eyes from his boss' sunlight-streaked blond hair. Crossing to the edge, he put his hands flat on the low wall and looked out over Glasgow. "I hear he never met Jim Taggart."

Michael cocked his head to one side, obviously waiting for the punchline. But Robbie was no longer in the mood.

Instead, he commented, "Some things can't be explained. They're better left alone."

"You think?"

"Aye. What's the point of questioning everything? It's actually comforting in a way, to think that we maybe do have somewhere to go after we die."

Michael had turned and was looking at Robbie with a combination of suspicion and thanks. "Jim wasn't a great believer in the afterlife."

"Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, does it?"

A comfortable silence fell between them and for a while they listened to the distant sounds of the city. Finally, Michael turned back to him.

"Didn't you have a date tonight?"

"Aye," Robbie confirmed. "But it turned out I had two, and neither of them were amused."

Michael chuckled. "You bring it on yourself."

"Don't I know it."

"D'ya... d'you fancy going for a drink?"

"I couldn't see any reason not to. He drove us to the Duck on the Almer Road. I wanted to know how a guy who never drank knew about the best pub in the city, but I didn't dare ask."

He lifted his head and gave her a little smile. "It was really strange. He was only drinking orange juice yet with each one he had, he relaxed more and more, as if he was on the same as me. Meanwhile I was getting plastered!"

The smile on his face became more genuine, and Jackie watched him, confused a little by his reaction to the memory.

"He told this joke, I can't remember what it was, but I do remember thinking that it was the filthiest joke I'd ever heard! Coming from him! I almost spat my whiskey over the table! I hadn't laughed that much in ages. And it felt great, you know?"

"Who told you that?"

Laughing, shaking his head, Michael sat forward. "Jim did. He knew the most disgusting jokes. He was telling them to me when I was ten years old."

Robbie collected himself. "I can understand why you miss him so much."

"He was the reason I joined the police. My Dad... didn't inspire me to any career, but Jim told me I'd make an excellent detective."

"You've got the mind for it."

Michael's eyebrows rose. "Oh, aye? And what mind would that be?"

"A bloody suspicious one."

"I was taught by the best. Jim didn't trust anyone, not even me."

"But you carry yourself. You're level-headed."

Smiling, Michael shook his head. "That didn't sound like a compliment."

"But you are."

"I am now. Didn't used to be." He finished his juice. "I remember one afternoon, I was going after a woman who'd screwed me then dumped me for some art, ended up in Jim's office opposite a revenge-seeking madman with a gun to my head."

Robbie couldn't help but laugh. "Sorry," he apologised through chuckles.

"Don't be." Michael was obviously amused by the memory. "He tore a strip off me afterwards."

Nodding in sympathy, "He came round to Glenside one afternoon when I was a sergeant. Went to see McDonald, in fact. Couple of minutes after he arrived there was this massive row between them. Everyone just kept their heads down. I didn't know someone could shout that loudly for that long!"

"He had a temper like a caged lion. Usually aimed at me. When he thought I was after Jackie he threatened to have me transferred. He'd have probably sent me to Glenside and I'd have been eaten alive."

Robbie was quiet for a few moments. "McDonald did the same thing to me. Caught me eyeing up this gorgeous blond on the front desk a couple of times. Threatened to rip my dick off and post it to my parents."

Michael frowned. "A bit strong, wasn't it?"

Robbie shrugged. "Aye, well... it was guy."

Mouth dropping open for a moment, Michael struggled to comprehend what he'd been told. "A guy?"

"A guy?!" Jackie was staring. "You're winding me up."

"I'm not, I swear."

"But you're...." A smile broke out over her face. "I don't believe it!"

"I play for both sides, Jackie. Since becoming a cop, I've stuck with women. Safer all round." Jackie was still grinning. "Stop it."

"I just can't believe it. After everything you said to Stuart when you found out he was gay!"

"Yeah, well. Had to cover my own surprise, didn't I?"

"Robbie, believe me. No one is going to guess." She shook her head, still reeling from the shock. "What did Michael say?"

"Mike... Mike said something that turned my world upside down."

"Aye. A guy. Gorgeous. Blond hair, blue eyes. Always been my type."

Robbie glanced up, expecting anything but what he saw in the deep, dark eyes regarding him.

"So..." the corners of Michael's mouth turned up into a wry smile, "...your place or mine?"

Jackie's grin faded. "Now I know you're winding me up."

Robbie shook his head. "I'm not, Jackie. My word on that. We went back to my place, and I thought he'd bottle. I made a pot of coffee, we settled on the sofa. Three hours later the coffee was cold and Mike and I were in bed."

Jackie was still staring. "Together?" She didn't believe him.

"Oh, we were together all right. Several times. And a couple of times the next morning."

Lips curving into a smile, she shook her head. "I don't believe you."

"Robbie?" They both looked up at once. Michael was standing a little way from them, head bowed slightly.

And Jackie knew, without the shadow of a doubt, that Robbie had been telling the truth. The expression on Michael's face was a barely hidden mix of fear and desperation. He glanced at Jackie, but he'd obviously heard the end of their conversation and was unsure now.

"I think... we need to talk."

She wasn't used to seeing Michael so uncertain and it moved her. To think that all the time she'd been yelling at him over his treatment of Robbie this last week, he'd been in turmoil, made her feel achingly guilty.

Robbie was gazing steadily at Michael, their gazes locked for a few heartbeats. Then he looked away, at Jackie.

"Remember what you said, Robbie. It's just a job, it's not your life."

She slipped off the seat, smiling affectionately at Michael. "There's someone I need to talk to."

Leaning over to kiss Robbie on the cheek, she left them alone in the crowd of the bar.

fin
elfin

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