Page 79 of Ticket Out

“Gawd,” the bobby breathed out.

“Gabriella.” James called out. “It’s James, are you here?” He moved to the front of the house, eyes tracking the blood drips and smears to the front door.

He turned to the left, saw a comfortable sitting room, but there was no blood in that direction.

He turned slowly, looking for where the trail led. Stepped up to the door with blood on the handle. “Gabriella.”

“James?” He heard her voice and relief had him leaning against the wall.

“Yes.” His voice cracked a little. “Can you open up?”

He heard the lock turn, and she stumbled out. He wanted to take her in his arms, but she turned away, pointing into what turned out to be the water closet. “We need an ambulance. Mr. Knife has stabbed Mrs. Everett.”

chapterthirty-four

Gabriella dozed,the sun filtering through the hospital window warming her back and shoulders, piercing some of the icy cold she had felt since she and Ruby had taken refuge in the loo. She had been holding Ruby’s hand, but must have released it at some point, her hand resting beside Ruby’s on the stiff white linen of Ruby’s hospital bed.

The door opened suddenly, and Ruby started, half-lifting from the pillows, and Gabriella’s heart began to gallop as she sat straight up in her chair.

James stepped into the room, saw he had startled them, and winced in apology.

“Just me.” His voice was soft, as if not to spook them.

Gabriella cleared her throat. “Any news?”

He shook his head. “PC Wilson didn’t catch him.”

He looked strained, and she reminded herself he’d been in this same hospital not two days ago.

She looked down at her hand, which some kind nurse had rebandaged for her.

They were all the walking wounded.

“He’s caused quite a lot of damage.”

“Yes.” James looked pained even admitting it. “Are you both up for an interview?”

Gabriella looked over at Ruby, who had settled back against her pillows.

She looked more alert than she had before.

“Yes.” Ruby’s voice was calm and steady.

James studied her a moment, then gave a nod. “Thank you. I’ll fetch my constable.”

He moved back to the door, murmuring to someone in the corridor.

DS Hartridge stepped in, his gaze going to Ruby, then to her. He gave a respectful nod. “Mrs. Everett. Miss Farnsworth.” He lifted a notepad and a pencil.

“Tell me what happened.” James took the second chair, which was neatly pushed up against the wall, and sat. He glanced at Gabriella across the bed, and then his focus moved to Ruby.

“It was so silly,” Ruby said. “I was expecting a parcel today. So when the knock came, I didn’t think twice. He called ‘delivery’ and I thought, that’s wonderful, right on time.”

“Right on time, as in, that’s when your postman usually stops by?” James asked.

She shook her head. “No, I mean the parcel was due today, so it was on time. Mr. Hawthorne usually comes either first thing, or last thing, so that should have alerted me to something being off, I suppose.”

“So you opened the door?”

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