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“Someone threw me under a bus.” Gabriella laughed as she said it. “Fortunately the bus driver was able to brake in time.”

“What?” Ruby crouched in front of her. “Who did that?”

“I don’t know. Someone in the crowd waiting for the bus with me. But really, I wasn’t that hurt afterward. It was later, while I was on duty, going back to headquarters, that someone on a moped shoved me into the traffic on Kensington High Street. That hurt more, although a lady managed to brake in time, too.”

“The same person?” Teddy Roe asked. “Because twice in one day is a bit of a stretch if it wasn’t.”

“It could be the same person.” And Teddy Roe was right, the chances were just miniscule.

“You think you know who.” Ruby sat at the table and held her gaze.

Gabriella shrugged. “It might be a thug that my landlord uses. We’re trying to get him to fix the house, because it is falling down around our ears, and he did send a couple of blokes to beat up Solomon and Mr. Rodney the other day. I wondered whether he was nervous that I’d be able to make more of an issue about the problems because of my job and because, well . . .” She held out her arm and pushed up her sleeve to show her lily white skin.

“Because of your job?” Teddy Roe was still on the floor, stroking Scotty as he lapped up water.

“A lot of people see the uniform and think we’re part of the police,” Gabriella said.

“That could be it.” Ruby leaned back. “But that’s quite an escalation when surely even just promising he will do something, even if he doesn’t do it, or slow walks it, would probably work as a way to stop any official trouble.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know if the landlord is the one making the decisions, or whether he’s left it to his standover man, Ambrose Ashe, and Ashe is doing this because he doesn’t like Solomon.”

“Ah.” Ruby nodded. “Surprising how often things like this are run on emotion.”

“Jerome and the others will keep an eye out,” Gabriella said. “And James wants to help.” She looked down at Scotty. “Moving on to Jerry and Scotty, I think whatever happened to Jerry happened near to where I last saw him, because Mrs. Carey heard Scotty barking from Tuesday onward, and she’s on the next street over.”

“Well, he looks all right. A little thin, and a bit dehydrated, but that would be from being locked in the shed. We’ve got two days before his owner gets back from visiting her sister, so thank goodness that’s one huge worry dealt with. Now we just need to find Jerry.” Ruby bent and rubbed between Scotty’s ears.

“I don’t understand how he could have just disappeared so thoroughly.” Gabriella forced herself back to her feet. “I’ll keep looking. I have to go back to my rounds. It’s only a half day for me, and I’ve done absolutely nothing work related today yet.”

“I’m so please you found Scotty. I can’t thank you enough,” Ruby said.

“You’re welcome, but you know it’s my pleasure.” Gabriella walked toward the door, trying to suppress a wince.

“Take it easy,” Ruby urged her. “And then get home and rest. You look like you need it.”

“And watch out for buses,” Teddy Roe called after her.

Gabriella waved as she walked down the path to the gate. “I will.”

It was her number one priority.

chapter

twenty-one

James knocked on DI Whetford’s door.

“Wait,” Whetford shouted.

James gritted his teeth and stepped back. Whetford had obviously decided to play games and make him stand around in the corridor.

He glanced at his watch, then moved back to rest against the wall opposite the door, took out his notebook, and began to go through it.

“Archer. Just the man I want to see.” Detective Superintendent Halberd stepped out of his office further down the passageway. “What are you doing up here?”

“Waiting to speak to DI Whetford, sir.” James straightened up. “I got a message he wanted to see me.”

“Did you knock? I’m sure he’s in.” Without waiting for James’s response, Halberd gave a quick knock and opened the door.