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“No.” He didn’t have an umbrella, and his flat cap was soaked through, and water was running in rivulets down his cheeks. His light blue eyes looked almost deranged. “The police didn’t want naught to do with looking for Jerry. They told me to stop bothering them, and they didn’t do a thing to help.”

“PC Evans kept an eye out.” She knew she was on a hiding to nowhere as she said it, and Teddy Roe scoffed at her. “All right, they weren’t helpful, but they’ll help now, because the note mentions the post office robbery.”

“I’m not waiting for them to hum and haw and think about it and have a meeting. I’m going in to get Jerry, and I’m going in now.”

Double shit. “All right, but just wait a minute while I go across the road to Mrs. McKenzie and ask her to telephone the police for us. I’ll come back and help you.”

“If I find a way in, I’m going in,” Teddy Roe said. “You can come after me and lend a hand if you want, but I’m not waiting for no one or nothing.”

Argh. She turned and sprinted back to the front gate and left it open as she crossed the street and ran up to Mrs. McKenzie’s front door.

Mrs. McKenzie answered her knocking in a thick jumper and slippers, looking a little annoyed.

“I’m so sorry to bother you, Mrs. McKenzie, but it turns out the Jamesons are the post office thieves the police have been looking for.” She felt like an absolute fool even saying it, and to back herself up, she pulled the envelope out of her bag and held it out. “Remember I was looking for my friend Jerry? It seems as if they’re holding him hostage inside there.”

Mrs. McKenzie took the envelope, lifted her glasses, hanging from a bead necklace around her neck, and set them carefully on her nose. Gabriella wanted to scream at how slow she was being.

“I knew it.” Mrs. McKenzie tapped the envelope and then gave a nod.

“You were right. Unfortunately Teddy Roe found an envelope with the same message and I’ve just seen him going into the Jamesons’ back garden. He won’t wait for the police. I’ve already begged him to come away and he refuses. I’m afraid he’s going to get himself hurt, or worse. Can you please call the police and let them know about this?” She pulled out her notebook and pen. “I need them to come immediately.”

“My nephew’s in the police,” Mrs. McKenzie said. “I can ring him up and tell him.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Gabriella said, not sure it was, but she was asking a big favor here and wasn’t in a position to complain. “I suggest you phone New Scotland Yard and tell this all to DI Layman, who’s in charge of the post office case. If you can’t reach him, try DS Archer.” She wrote the names down on her notepad, and tore off the sheet to give to Mrs. McKenzie.

“That’s fine, dear. It’s actually quite exciting.” Mrs. McKenzie took a step to her telephone, which was right by the front door, and Gabriella felt a little lightheaded with relief.

“Thank you ever so much.” She stepped back outside, closed the door behind her and dashed down the garden path back to the street.

As she looked right and left, she noticed a woman running toward her in the rain with no umbrella.

She took a step toward the road, and then paused. “Ruby?”

“Oh, Gabriella.” Ruby reached her, panting with exertion. “Teddy Roe found an envelope flying about that said Jerry’s being held at a house in this street. He left me a note to say he’s gone to break him out.”

Gabriella held out her umbrella so Ruby could get under it. “I know. That’s the house there, and he’s already gone round the back. I begged him to wait for the police but he’s got it in his head they won’t help in time.” She tilted her head behind her. “I asked Mrs. McKenzie to call the police for me and I was about to go back and try to keep Teddy Roe out of trouble.”

Ruby drew in a breath and straightened up a little. “You’re right, of course. We need to keep a cool head. Let’s go.” She headed straight for the open gate at a march.

Gabriella hurried after her, hoping that the Jamesons really weren’t home, as it appeared.

If they were, they must have noticed the strange comings and goings by now.

“The way to play it is to delay,” she whispered to Ruby. “Teddy Roe is going to get himself, and possibly, Jerry, hurt if he blunders in.”

Ruby didn’t answer, and when Gabriella reached her side she saw the reason why.

Teddy Roe’s profile was clear through the kitchen window.

Somehow, he’d broken in.

chapter

thirty-two

“Archer?”

James looked up from his desk to find Detective Superintendent Halberd at his door.