Page 43 of Ticket Out

Lenny nodded. “But no one came near me that night—at any of the clubs. I told Patty she was worrying for nothing. I told her to go home and stop fretting.” He looked up with red eyes. “I could have given her a lift home, but I wanted to sell more stuff, to make up for the two days we’d paused things.” He stared down into his cold cup of tea. “She only went to Dance-A-Go-Go to try to stop me. And instead, someone stoppedher.”

chaptertwenty

Gabriella staredafter DC Hartridge in dismay.

He’d rushed off to make her a cup of tea she didn’t want, and she suspected it was to keep her in DS Archer’s office when she really just wanted to leave.

She fiddled with the statement she’d brought with her, having typed it up in the Kensington and Chelsea Traffic Warden Centre after work. Hartridge had looked extremely pleased to see it was already typed up, but that hadn’t stopped him from trying to keep her at New Scotland Yard.

He took a long time to come back, so she started reading the front labels of the files on Archer’s desk, none of which were open, unfortunately for her curiosity.

“Miss Farnsworth.” Archer’s surprised voice from the doorway gave her a guilty start.

“Mr. Archer.” She got to her feet and held out her statement to him. “I typed it up at the office for you.”

He took it, glancing down to read it as he moved around to sit at his desk. The late afternoon light coming from the window behind him illuminated the dark blond of his hair, and cast interesting shadows under his cheekbones.

She’d slid back into her chair while he read, and she waited there, perched on the edge of her seat until he looked up again.

“Thank you, this is very comprehensive.”

She stood again, and he stood with her. “Have a good evening, Mr. Archer.”

“James,” he said.

She paused. “Better not, surely?”

Before he could answer, Hartridge appeared in the doorway, holding a mug of tea. “Here you go,” he said to her, holding it out.

“Thank you.” She looked down at the dark brown liquid, and tried not to grimace. “I should be going. Maybe you could have it,” she said to Archer hopefully, and put it down on the desk.

“Of course.” He looked amused.

“Will Mr. Fischer be all right?” she asked after an awkward pause.

“We’re going to the hospital to interview him now. The doctors wouldn’t have given the go ahead for an interview unless he was doing well.” Archer moved around his desk and picked up his coat. “Why don’t I walk you out? I’ll meet you at the car, Hartridge.”

The constable backed out into the corridor. “Good evening, Miss Farnsworth.” He gave a little salute as he disappeared off down the passageway.

They walked down the stairs side by side, and when Gabriella glanced over at him, she realized he was watching her with a hooded expression.

“What impression did you get of Lenny when you stepped into that lab?” he asked.

“He was dismayed to see me. It was like he hadn’t expected anyone to come in response to the shouting and smashing.” She shrugged. “That seemed pretty short-sighted to me, like he was acting purely on emotion, smashing things up like a child.”

“He claims to be upset about Patty.”

“Then he should have kept her safe,” Gabriella said. “I’m guessing she didn’t have a thing to do with that lab, but she’s the one who ended up dead in the alley. Not him. Or Fischer. Or Devenish.”

“Lenny says the first victim, Sam, was approached in Dance-A-Go-Go and warned off selling the drugs he and Devenish were peddling. It might be the same person was watching Patty and Lenny the night she died, and got the wrong end of the stick and assumed she was involved. Have you ever seen anyone acting suspicious there?”

Gabriella shook her head. “It was my first time there.” But Melvin would know. She could ask Solomon about it.

“I don’t have the right to tell you where to go, but I’d avoid Dance-A-Go-Go until this is sorted.” Archer held the door into the reception area open for her.

She stopped in the doorway, so close to him she could see the gold flecks in his gray eyes. “I appreciate the advice.”

He blinked slowly, and she felt a flush rise up from her chest to burn her cheeks.

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