Independence Day.

Laura sighed and looked at Murphy's frown. "Another couple of hours and this will be done. I'll be there in time for the fireworks."

"Laura, this is a public holiday." said Murphy, "It's the big one. Even the bankers and Wall Street whizkids will be away from their desks."

"When death takes a holiday, so will I." said Laura.

"If you give the movie notation, I'm gonna resign." he said.

"I need to finish the paperwork on this one." she said, "The sooner you leave me in peace, the sooner it will be done."

"If there were a body on the floor, you know I'd work with you, whatever the day, but this is paperwork on a closed case and it's just a way of avoiding any prospect of fun. You think our titular boss is planning to spend the afternoon working?"

"He's in his office. He might be working." she said, knowing that he wasn't. He had been asleep the last time she went in there.

Murphy opened the door to Steele's office and yelled, "Mr Steele!"

Steele woke sharply and sat up straight. "Murphy, sorry, I was deep in thought."

"Yeah, right." said Murphy, "What exactly are you doing here?"

"This is where I work." said Steele.

"Where you what?" said Murphy.

"Do I detect a note of cynicism?" said Steele.

"Perhaps just a tad." said Murphy, "I'm assuming your plans for the day do not start and end here."

"Of course not. In a couple of hours, I have an invitation to an Independence Day bash."

"To which we were also invited." said Murphy, "Only Laura has decided to catch up on paperwork."

"Good Lord!" said Steele, "That is completely unacceptable."

"Unacceptable?" said Laura as he came into her office.

"And tantamount to treason, wouldn't you say, Murphy?"

"I'm not sure I'd go that far." said Murphy.

"I mean, this is the Fourth of July we are talking about. Fireworks, apple pie, declarations and flags. Eagles!" he shouted as an afterthought.

"I had no idea you were so patriotic, Mr Steele." said Laura, amused.

"Was the whole dreadful war fought for nothing?" said Steele.

Murphy smiled. "I think we fought it so English guys didn't get to tell us what to do." he said.

"Indeed you did, Murphy and that is why it is imperative that Miss Holt cast aside her wonderful work ethic for this one day and accompany me to the party."

"Is that why you're hanging around here?" said Laura, "Because you don't have a date and assumed that I wouldn't either?"

Steele almost answered, then smiled and shook his head. "Miss Holt, you misjudge me. On a day like today, it never occurred to me that this might be a time to think about dates. I was seeing it more as a professional engagement, increasing the visibility of the agency, getting out there and pressing the flesh, pushing the brand."

"Pressing whose flesh?" said Murphy.

"I perceive that Murphy has also gravely misinterpreted my motivation." said Steele, wounded innocence personified.

"You have both misjudged this badly." said Laura, "Do you think today, of all days, I am going to let either of you tell me what to do? Let me make it quite clear, gentlemen: for me, every day is Independence Day and I am not interested in whether or not you approve of how I spend it."

Steele nodded. "You are absolutely right, Laura. I stand chastened and ashamed. You are the sovereign of this little statelet and the unquestioned commander of our corps. Forgive my arrogance. Forgive my sexist and unreasonable behaviour. I am mortified that I have offended you."

She sat on the corner of her desk. She said nothing for just long enough to make him uneasy, then she smiled and said, "Mr Steele, if you think I am about to fall for that insincere and transparent pseudo-apology, you are mistaken."

Murphy was smiling. She turned to him. "Go and take Bernice to the party." she said.

"What about you?" said Murphy.

"I have work to do." she said.

"All work and no play ... " he said.

"Keeps the debt collectors away." she said.

"You'll burn out before you are thirty." he said.

"Maybe, but it'll be a hell of a blaze." she said.

He smiled. "Yeah, it will. Try to make it for the fireworks."

When he had gone, she looked at Steele, who was poking at the paperwork with one finger as if he expected it to bite.

"Well?" she said, "No new approach, no clever line?"

"If history has taught us anything, it is that Brits who push their luck end up with their tea chucked in the water and frankly I like my tea without salt. I have no power over you and you have no idea how much that pains me. Then again, I think I would be disappointed if you had fallen for any of my lines."

"Including that one." she said.

"Including that one."

She looked at the pile of papers on her desk. "You could try asking me, like a normal person."

"Laura, neither of us is a normal person. Besides, that approach didn't help Murphy, did it?"

He headed towards the door to his office.

"Where are you going?" she said.

"To get my jacket and go." he said, "I have no wish to slight your Founding Fathers."

"Or you could wait." she said, "I could get this done in half an hour. Less, if you can find some coffee."

He grinned. "Which of my transparent lines convinced you?"

She lifted the pile of papers revealing both their invitations. "Mr Steele, I decided to take you to the party when the invitation arrived."

The End.