Captain Varga was not happy to discover Martinez had already visited her prime suspect. She was only slightly pacified by the information he was able to provide to her about the contract killer who preferred to garrotte his victims. Once he looked, he had found another two cases since those on Burra ten years ago. One on Mayia and the other on Capella itself.

"I'm thinking the assassin was the one who came in through the skylight. The second person was the one who stunned the guards and came in through the kitchen window, then proceeded to sabotage the console unit." Martinez faced Varga across her desk, at their temporary headquarters on King's Island.

"I agree," she frowned at him. "I still think Lang is our prime suspect for that. I know he let my officers search his cabin without a warrant, but he had plenty of time to dispose of any evidence."

Martinez smiled, apologetically. "He's not the only man on Moonta who is on that blackmail list we found in Rossi's apartment."

"What do you mean?" queried Captain Varga uneasily. She didn't like that look on Martinez' face.

"Lars Muller, your Lieutenant. He's on the list too."

XXX

Muller was surprised and alarmed to see Captain Varga and another officer at his door on Paradise Island.

"This is Captain Martinez, from Capella," she introduced them. "Lars Muller. Can we come in?"

"Of course, Captain, sir," he ushered them inside, keeping an inquiring smile on his face. What had they found?

"We're investigating the death of Ron Pearce four nights ago," she informed him. "Can you tell us what you were doing that night?"

He allowed a puzzled look to cross his face. "Of course, Captain, but can I ask why? Why you're asking me, I mean?"

The stranger, Martinez, answered smoothly, "Your name has come up in the course of our investigations."

Muller waited but the officer didn't say anything more. "I was here, with my wife. Actually, I had a stomach virus and I was up and down to the bathroom, that night and the night before. I assure you I could barely get to the bathroom, let alone find my way to King's Island."

At that opportune moment Sheila came back from the pool, a bright yellow robe draped around her damp shoulders.

"Darling," Muller called, "Can you tell these officers where I was four nights ago?"

She looked at them in surprise, "Why hullo, Captain Varga. Here of course. We've been here for six days, on our vacation."

"It was the second night I had that stomach virus," he reminded her. He drew her affectionately to his side and turned to Varga. "Sheila was such a help. Although we were in separate rooms, she got up at least three times each night to make sure I was all right, bringing me glasses of water, cleaning me up."

"Is that right, Serra Easton?" Varga sought confirmation.

Sheila nodded. Lars had been so grateful, so affectionate the next day, telling her how wonderful she had been, she hardly liked to confess she didn't actually remember getting up at all that second night. In fact, she thought she had slept rather heavily and felt a bit guilty as a result, but apparently she had acted on autopilot.

XXX

Bari Fanshaw smiled as he poured himself a glass of copper liqueur, and put his feet up on a small embroidered stool. The liqueur was expensive, but he deserved it.

Only four days since Pearce had died and his subordinates were already fighting over who would take over. Personally, he couldn't care less. Whoever came out on top would continue to need his expertise, criminals could come and go but accountants carried on.

It was foolish to underestimate the man who had access to your most intimate financial records. Even records which had been buried for years, amidst thousands of staff payroll details for the mine on Burra. The record of a man who was only occasionally employed, but whose total payments amounted to a small fortune, had been worth remembering.

He thought Pearce had always underestimated him. Just because he wasn't a fighting man, he had assumed he wouldn't act against him. In fact, he felt the nearest Pearce had come to respecting him, was when Pearce had tried to have him killed.

Fanshaw felt no remorse, as far as he was concerned it had been self defence.

XXX

Martinez knew he should have stayed away but somehow he found himself outside Robin Lang's door again. Yesterday, he could have sworn there had been a certain look in his eyes, that hot look of appraisal that had been rather painfully missing since Lang had hit his head for the second time. Was it possible he was remembering their attraction, that kiss they had shared? And even if he was, what was he, Martinez, going to do about it?

The door opened while he was still shuffling his feet, building up the courage to knock. Lang stood there, wearing cut-off shorts and nothing else except for a chain of small shells on a string around his neck. He had an orange towel draped over one smooth muscled shoulder. Martinez couldn't help noticing that the sprinkling of hair on his chest was still dark blond, not silver like his head.

"Martinez? What are you doing here?" Lang asked in surprise, giving a quick look around to see if Captain Varga or another officer was with him. His face changed subtly when he realised he was there alone, wearing civilian clothes, faded jeans and a khaki teeshirt. Still, better check.

"Are you here officially?"

"Uh, no, I just wanted to ..." The other man paused.

What was Juan going to say? Kiss you? Make mad passionate love to you? Yeah right.

"Uh, talk to you."

Oh well, talking was a start, right?

"Come in," Lang held the door wide. He stepped back a couple of paces, his heart already beating faster. Martinez was still hovering uneasily on the doorstep. His fingers twitched to grab his arm and pull him inside. Instead, he tossed the towel on a chair and moved towards the kitchenette. "Coffee? Or a beer?"

Martinez finally stepped into the cabin, and followed him. "I'll have a beer, thanks." He stood uneasily looking around the small room while Lang got two bottles out of the small cooling unit and handed one to him.

"Have a seat," Lang gestured to the living area, hoping Juan would choose the couch, but hardly surprised when he chose one of the bamboo chairs. Juan took a large swig of beer before he spoke. "So, am I right in guessing you've got your memory back? All your memory, I mean?"

"Yep." Lang smiled, holding eye contact, letting Juan know exactly what he remembered. "I remember wanting to kill that taxi driver!"

Juan smiled back for only a second before standing up. "I think I'm ready, ready to see where we go with this ... this, whatever we have, but ..." He held out a restraining hand as Robin got to his feet and went towards him. "God! This is even more awkward than I expected!" he burst out.

"It doesn't have to be," Robin said softly. "Just tell me."

"It's just-" Juan stopped.

Robin moved a fraction closer and waited. Juan seemed to be struggling to find the right words, but he wasn't backing away.

" 'It's just?'" Robin repeated.

"... that recording ... I couldn't do any of the things on that, even if you wanted me to, I just couldn't." There, he'd finally got it out. His eyes searched Robin's.

"I wouldn't ask you to. That – well, that's all behind me now. It was a dark period in my life and I never want to go back there. Believe me, our relationship, if we have one, will be nothing like that, I promise." He reached out and kissed him, lightly on the mouth. "Do you remember when I told you our kiss was a first for me, as well as you?"

Juan nodded, still tense, holding back from the embrace.

"Well, I've got my memory back now, all of my memory, and it's still true. You're the first man I've ever kissed." He pulled a face of disgust, "I never kissed Rossi, I swear."

Martinez wasn't sure if he believed him. "Not even Alan Stewart? I thought you and he ..."

Robin was shaking his head. "No. Never. To be honest, I think part of me would have liked to, but I couldn't get past the denial. The timing was never right and now we've both found someone else, someone we each want a lot more."

He put his arms more firmly around Juan, holding him so their bodies were pressed hard against each other and smiled, "This, what's happening between you and me, is a first for both of us. Shall we just take it one step at a time and see where it leads?"

Juan gave him another searching gaze, then relaxed against him, his body moulding itself to fit his contours. "Alright."

Robin bent his head and kissed him again. This time Juan opened his mouth to take his tongue inside, his fingers running through the soft hair on the nape of Robin's neck. His other hand slid around to stroke the warm bare skin of his back, following the flat planes and curved muscles, but stopping at the waistband of his shorts. He shifted his hips slightly to fit them more comfortably against Robin.

Robin groaned, his hands were caressing as much of Juan as he could reach through the soft material of his teeshirt. God this felt good, it felt right. He wondered how far he should go this first time. Actually, it felt really good just kissing and holding each other, knowing that Juan wanted him. Today, that would be enough.