Page 74 of Ticket Out

“Are you wanting to tell me you were kidnapped along with a Met detective, held overnight by a murderer and escaped?”

She leaned back in her chair, weak with relief. “Yes.”

“I was worried about you, Miss Farnsworth, and given the situation lately, I called an old friend at the Met and asked if he could check if you were in any danger. I got more than I anticipated in answer.” He gestured. “Your hand is injured?”

She had rebandaged it herself, badly, this morning, and lifted it up between them. “It got caught in a van door. It’s only bruised, and it’s my left hand, so I can still write tickets.”

Mr. Greenberg studied her. “You think it’s safe to go to work today?”

She lifted a single shoulder. “They’ve caught the man who tried to kidnap me. I don’t think it’s completely wrapped up—his boss is still at large—but I can’t see how I’d be in danger. I can’t understand why I was to begin with.”

“His boss would have been the one who instructed him to go after you, surely?”

Gabriella nodded, her lips twisted in a wry smile. “Yes. The boss is still theoretically a threat to me, but he doesn’t know my new route, and he must surely have the sense to keep a low profile now someone who can identify him has been taken into custody.”

“You’re sure? I marked Saturday as sick leave for you, and I can do the same for today.” Mr. Greenberg’s kindly eyes were steady on her face.

She was living by the skin of her teeth here. She couldn’t afford to take sick leave if she didn’t need it, in case she actually did get sick and needed it some time in the future. She didn’t want to owe anyone any favors and she didn’t want what was happening to make her a problem at the traffic center.

“I’m comfortable with going out.” It was hard to tell who was who under the uniform, anyway. The uniform was anonymizing. Unless Mr. Knife came right up to her, he wouldn’t know her.

Greenberg studied her for another moment, then gave a nod. “As you like.”

She stood. “Thank you for all your help, Mr. Greenberg.”

He smiled. “Keep safe out there, Miss Farnsworth.”

She had every intention of doing that.

She went to change into her uniform, and found Liz already dressed and doing her hair.

Her friend eyed her as she smoothed her blonde hair into a regulation bun and clicked her tongue. “You don’t half look rough, love. And you weren’t here on Saturday. I was going to come looking for you if you didn’t come in today.”

Gabriella laughed. It felt good. “It’s a long story. Come over for dinner one night and I’ll tell you.” She began getting into her uniform.

Liz stood, straightened her skirt, and gave Gabriella a grin. “You’re on.” Then her face turned serious. “I knew the man you found dead in that car. His face was on a poster I saw on Saturday night. I didn’t know his name, but he was in Dance-A-Go-Go often. You want to pass that on to that copper of yours?”

“I’ll tell him.” Although she thought he probably already knew all that by now. She laced up her shoes and picked her hat off the hook.

“So heisyour copper.” Liz’s grin had turned sly.

Gabriella huffed out another laugh. “Maybe.”

“Ooh-la-la.” Liz was chuckling as they left the change room and went their separate ways.

It felt good to be out. The weather was perfect—sunny and warm—and her new route was a little closer to the traffic center than her Chelsea route had been.

Despite that, her hand was throbbing like a second heart beat by lunch time and she wondered if she should take Mr. Greenberg up on using a half sick day. She was still considering it when she turned into Mrs. Everett’s street and looked out for the abandoned car.

It was still there.

Mr. Nelson’s connections would have led to a quick removal if he’d wanted it gone from his old route. That it was still here told her all she needed to know about things.

When she reached Mrs. Everett’s house, she paused for a moment, then decided it wouldn’t be a huge breach of the rules to visit. After all, the woman had saved her life.

She had just opened the gate when someone whistled to her right.

She paused, looking around.

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