Page 68 of Ticket Out

James suddenly seemed to remember his constable was there. “All right. Thank you, DC Hartridge.” He sat back down on the bed as if his legs had given way. “Gabriella, please don’t go anywhere alone. This man is out to get you.”

She hadn’t really thought beyond getting away from the man this morning, but James was right.

At least it was past midday now, on a busy Saturday. He’d have to be brazen indeed to attack her today.

“I’ll be careful.” She would contact Neeky, apologize about the shopping trip, and tell her she couldn’t see her for a bit. She didn’t want any of her friends hurt like Mr. Rodney had been.

At least the killer didn’t know about her new route.

She would have to keep it that way.

chaptertwenty-nine

DI Whetford was a dirty copper,but he was also an incompetent one.

James had thought he was lazy, but now he knew his boss was also incapable of doing a good job.

It made his rise in the ranks at the Met more suspicious still. The people above him had promoted him for some reason. Now, James suspected it was because he could be counted on to keep his mouth shut and take a cut of the profits.

If his boss had thought about it for even a moment, he’d have realized Gabriella Farnsworth was in danger from the man who’d organized the kidnap of a police officer. The fact he hadn’t put a constable at her door for safety was staggering.

He’d let her leave his interview room without any thought to her well being. He hadn’t even, according to Hartridge, noticed her swollen hand until she brought it to his attention.

Even if he’d had no thought to her safety, he hadn’t considered setting someone to watch Gabriella in case their suspect tried to kill her again, as a way to catch him. He had simply not given it any thought at all.

James walked up the path to her building, and found the door was at least locked this time. That was good, but presented a problem as to how to get her attention.

He looked around for a door bell, but the door opened and a young Trinidadian man stared out at him, eyes hostile.

“Yes?”

“DS Archer. I’m here to speak to Gabriella Farnsworth.” He held out his warrant card.

“You the one got locked in that garage with Gabby?”

James blinked, then nodded. “Yes.”

“Come on in, man.” The door opened a little wider. “I’m Jerome, Gabby’s neighbor. No worries, we got our eyes peeled for the bastard wot knifed Mr. Rodney, and his boss.”

“Gabriella gave you a description of them?”

“Sure.” He pointed up the stairs. “I’m doing some stuff in Mr. Rodney’s flat, but Gabby’s home. Go on up.”

James climbed the stairs slower than usual, aware the headache that sat just behind his eyes could flare up under the slightest provocation.

The doctor told him it would take a few days before he was back to normal, and if he pushed things, it would take longer than that.

He didn’t want it to take longer. He needed to be ready for whatever came next.

He was slightly lightheaded by the time he reached Gabriella’s door, and he waited a few beats before he knocked.

“It’s James,” he said after a moment’s silence.

The door swung open, as if she’d been standing right beside it, and she studied his face. “You look pale.” She stepped back and he walked in after her, closing the door behind him and making sure it was locked.

It was a strange feeling, being alone with her again. As if he should take her in his arms. He didn’t know if she would appreciate that, or not.

“When did you get out of hospital?” she asked.

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