Page 61

She turned to him. “I know. It’s bad. I was very careful today, and I didn’t have any trouble. Well, except for seeing that van being chased by police. I ran after it, and after yesterday’s road rash, I’m rather paying the price.”

James ran a hand through his hair in frustration, the dark blond strands sticking up a little. “I have to go back. I took off after you as soon as Layman told me he’d spoken to you. The men in that van hijacked the delivery of the weekly wages for a factory south of the river, so I have to get back and help.”

“I’m going to meet my Aussie friends tonight at the usual pub on the Embankment. It isn’t far from the Yard. If you want to come by, to have some dinner, or just to say a quick hello, I would love to see you. But I know you’re in the middle of something big, so only if you need a break, or can even get away.” She ran her own hand over his hair to smooth it out.

“I’ll be there,” he said. “Don’t leave without me.”

She eyed him. “What if you can’t⁠—”

“I can. I will. Don’t leave without me, Gabby.”

“I won’t,” she promised, touched. “I’ll see you later, then.”

“You will.” He said it like a vow, and then kissed her lightly and left.

“Ooh, la, la. So romantic.” Liz emerged from the shadows by the stairway. She looked a little wistful.

Gabriella grinned at her. “I know.”

“I was getting worried about you, Gabs. You should have been back over half an hour ago. I thought someone had sent you for a header into the Thames this time or something.”

Gabriella could see the real worry on Liz’s face.

“No, the police were after a van on the high street, a real high speed car chase, and to get away, the van went straight across into the oncoming traffic, up on the pavement, and then back into the road. There’s crashes and injured drivers all over, and I ran after the van to see which way it went, then I had to stay and let the police know.” She sighed. “Now I’m paying for it, because I feel worse than I did yesterday.” She groaned as she headed for the change rooms.

At least the work day was over.

chapter

twenty-three

“Did you manage to catch Miss Farnsworth?” Layman asked as he bent down to look at the oil trail the van had left.

“Thank you, yes.” James was so churned up about what she’d told him, he realized he wasn’t taking in as much as he should right now.

“The grocer who brought her some water said something happened yesterday, and she brushed it off, but is it relevant?” Layman asked. He rose and shaded his eyes against the sun as he looked down the prosperous, well-kept street.

James was forced to squint in the late afternoon light and did the same. “She was shoved into the evening traffic by a man on a moped.”

Layman’s head swiveled around in shock. “What? Right where the van climbed the pavement today?”

“Apparently.” James didn’t want to talk to Layman too much about it, because he planned to speak to Solomon. Planned to go off the books with this one if Sutcliffe was behind it.

“I thought she looked like she was hurting,” Layman shook his head. “Unbelievable. At least she wasn’t seriously hurt.”

James wasn’t sure about that. She was hurt enough for it to be affecting her, and as far as he was concerned, that was serious, but he understood what Layman meant, and gave a grunt of assent. “No matter how late we have to work tonight,” he said, “I’m going to make sure she gets home safely from something she has to attend later. Even if I just step out to take her home and then come back to the Yard.”

Layman glanced over at him. “That’s fine with me, Archer. You’re running a parallel investigation, not answering to me.”

James just nodded, because they both knew that as the senior officer, Layman could make his life difficult if he chose to.

They started walking along the road, following the oil trail, and Hartridge ran to catch up with them before they reached the next side street.

“Seven injured, one seriously,” he said, giving a run down. He slowed and got into step with them. “Some damage to vehicles, obviously.”

“It’s a relief no one died.” James thought things could have been much worse. “At least they didn’t start shooting.”

“Good Lord,” Layman said, and rubbed his forehead. “Don’t put these things in my head. I wake in the night sweating as it is.”