Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers is Lynley's long-time partner. Barbara is single, and she lives with her widowed mother in Acton. Her mother is sixty-three-years-old, and she suffers from dementia. As a result, Havers is often overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for her mother alone. After going through a number of different caregivers, Havers considers placing her mother in the care of an assisted living facility. The demands of her job make it difficult to spend time at home, something that causes her great guilt.
For the Sake of Elena