Page 22 of Ticket Out

“What time did you find the body?”

“Two minutes before I phoned you.” She clenched her fists. “I was walking my route, and heard rats fighting. I just looked down the alley to see what they were doing, and I saw her shoe. Her . . . foot.”

She swallowed.

“You said you thought she’d been there since Saturday night? How could you know that?”

Gabriella heard an edge to his voice, and looked up to meet his eyes. His suspicion grounded her, strangely. Gave her the backbone she needed.

“Because I was at the same dance club as her on Saturday night. I didn’t speak to her but I saw her leave. And she was wearing the same clothes she’s got on now.”

Archer leaned back in his chair in surprise. “Which club?”

“Dance-A-Go-Go. I left just after her, and I saw her accept a lift in a van just outside the club.”

“Who was driving?” Archer asked.

She shook her head. “I didn’t see him. Or her.”

“What can you tell me about the van?” Archer leaned forward, intense and focused.

She hesitated. Wondered if she should say something about the incident in Clematis Lane she’d witnessed earlier. “It was white. I don’t know the make, but if I was shown some pictures, I might be able to point it out.”

Archer leaned back with an explosive exhale. “That’s not much to go on.”

That wasn’t her fault. She forced herself to her feet.

“You bothering the girl?”

She looked over, saw Gennaro standing in the doorway of his office. She wondered how long he’d been there.

“Just questioning my witness.” Archer got to his feet, as well.

“I need to do my rounds.” Although it was the last thing she felt like.

Archer studied her. “You look like you’re about to collapse.”

That made her stiffen her spine a little more. “I’ll walk it off.”

She stepped around him, reached for her umbrella.

“Give me your home address, please, Miss Farnsworth. I might need to speak to you later.”

She gave it to him reluctantly, something he picked up on, if the quirk of his lips was anything to go by.

“Call me if you remember anything more.” He opened the door for her.

She stood just under the awning, then turned back to look past him to Gennaro. “Grazie di tutto.”

She gave a small wave, and forced herself back out into the rain, lifting her umbrella and fighting to open it in the wind.

This was going to be a hard day.

chaptereleven

James lookedafter Miss Farnsworth in surprise.

Her Italian had sounded completely fluent.

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