An Act Of Detection, page 23
“Yes and no. It frustrates him at times but there’s an advantage to the public believing the authorities are quite so feckless. Makes the criminals reckless. That rhymes!”
Alasdair chuckled. “You’re incredible. If eminently beddable. That rhymes too. Almost.”
“You’ll have to remember that rhyme for when we’re home. No chance of anything happening here. These modern hotels. Paper thin walls.” Toby paused, perching on a convenient rock to better admire the view. “This is lovely. Perhaps we should return, if we could find a place with better soundproofing.”
“We could rent a cottage, with Ronnie and Jonny—they rhyme too, perhaps we should persuade them to get involved with each other–and pretend we’re all down here for the fishing.”
“And a break from women. The old codgers in the pub would appreciate that.” Toby gave him a rueful smile. “Always acting, aren’t we?”
Alasdair brushed his arm. “Except in bed. I hope you don’t act there.”
“I sometimes think it’s the only place I don’t put on a show.” Toby pushed back his shoulders, stretched then began walking again, Alasdair in his wake.
If his bed was the only place Toby could be himself, then the world wasn’t that bad.
Charlie Cochrane, An Act Of Detection
