This conversation would have been so much easier if she hadn’t asked that question. His facial expression doesn’t change in the rear-view window, but behind the sunglasses the spectacular glare of his eyes have gone away.

With any other woman he would play the confident, cocky, indifferent man of mystery and lie, saying he’d be right back when he didn’t even know if he’d walk out in one piece. With Sarah Jane, the woman who knew exactly who he was both professionally and personally, he couldn’t play that role. She’d see straight through that lie and give him hell for it.

He looks down and answers honestly, “I’ll try to, Sarah.”