Page 79 of Traitors Gate

‘Yes, please!’ said Jojo, jumping up and down.

‘First you need to know where the Martin Tower is …’ began Artemisia, pointing to the letter A on the map.

• • •

The last time Ross had visited San Lorenzo, he was still Princess Diana’s protection officer. In those days, he would stand a discreet distance away while she had lunch with someone he didn’t always approve of.

He’d arrived a few minutes early and been welcomed by Lucio as if he’d never been away. Ross was flattered when the head waiter took him to Diana’s old table. He sat waiting for Alice to appear, occasionally glancing at a menu he was familiar with. He couldn’t help remembering that San Lorenzo was where he’d taken Josephine on their first date.

When Alice walked in, he had to take a second look to be sure it was her. She was wearing a black and red dress, a black silk scarf, and carrying a fashionable leather handbag that he suspected no one at St Luke’s had ever seen. Was this the same young woman who rang the school bell at five to nine every morning to make sure her charges were sitting behind their desks on time? He stood up, greeted her with a kiss on both cheeks and held back her chair so she couldsit down.Wow, he wanted to say, but remained speechless as Lucio reappeared by her side.

‘Can I get you a drink, madam?’

‘No, thank you,’ she said. ‘Just a glass of water.’

‘Still or sparkling, madam?’

‘Sparkling please.’

Something else she had in common with Princess Diana, who’d once told him if a girl asks for a glass of champagne on their first date, don’t go shopping with her.

Alice studied the menu for a little while before saying, ‘Should I assume you’re claiming this on expenses, Inspector, or have you won the lottery?’

Ross smiled. ‘Neither,’ he replied. ‘But when Josephine died, she left me everything, which turned out to be far more than I’d expected. In fact—’

‘I’m so sorry,’ said Alice, looking embarrassed. ‘I didn’t mean to imply …’ she began as Lucio reappeared by her side.

‘Madam, have you decided what you would like to order?’

‘I’ll have the endive salad followed by the monkfish, please,’ she said, handing him back the menu.

‘No wonder you’re so slim,’ said Ross. He flushed, wondering if he could have delivered a cornier line, although she still rewarded him with the same warm smile.

‘And for you, sir?’ said Lucio, turning to Ross.

‘I’ll have the same. I need to lose a few pounds,’ he added, compounding his error.

‘Do you know—’ she said.

‘Can I ask—’ he said.

‘You first, Ross,’ she insisted.

‘When I spoke to you on the phone before the trial andwarned you if I was convicted you’d have to visit me in Wormwood Scrubs, you told me it wouldn’t be the first time.’

Alice sipped her water before she responded. ‘My father spent ten months in the Scrubs. And before you ask, for shoplifting.’

‘How tactless of me,’ said Ross. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘No, I wanted to tell you,’ admitted Alice, taking another sip of water. ‘It was his first and last offence, and I suspect it didn’t help that he was Caribbean and out of work. However, as that was thirty years ago, let’s hope things have finally moved on in “Cool Britannia”.’

‘Not in the Met, they haven’t,’ said Ross. ‘I have a colleague, Paul Adaja, who’s Ghanaian by birth, and another, Rebecca Pankhurst, a remarkably able woman, both of whom ought to reach the highest ranks, but it will still be some time before less qualified men don’t assume they’ll be promoted before an immigrant or a woman, however bright.’

‘And you don’t have any prejudices, Inspector?’ teased Alice, raising an eyebrow.

‘Can’t afford to when you’re Irish and have been married to a French woman.’

‘My mother’s Irish,’ said Alice, taking him by surprise.

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