Scotch is the evening's drink of choice, and though Kalinda Sharma will never admit it, it makes her a little homesick. One of the better remedies for melancholy is sugar, and it doesn't take an investigator of her calibre to spot that pie over where people are watching It's a Wonderful Life.

The movie? Not her cuppa, generally. But she'll pretend to be interested in watching it for a short while if only so she doesn't get dirty looks for stealing their food. Setting her glass aside, she cuts herself just a sliver of the dessert to transfer to a small plate.

That done, she lifts her gaze and offers a smile (that doesn't quite reach her dark eyes) in Alan's direction. "The comforts of home, huh?" She tilts her head toward the television to indicate the classic playing. She doesn't realise they've spoken before. Not just yet.