Page 52 of Return Ticket

“There seems to be no link between the places, so it could just be convenience, a handy place to put them without drawing immediate attention, but something about it seems more deliberate than that.” James rubbed long, broad fingers over his mouth.

“Teddy Roe said he knew the place where I found the woman in the rubble. He helped evacuate that building when it was originally bombed.” Gabriella thought back to what he’d said. “He said one of the bodies they recovered was murdered, not killed by the bomb strike.”

James straightened. “What?”

She shrugged. “He said the one woman he pulled from the wreckage had been deliberately killed. But no one would believe him, and it was never reported as a murder.”

“He’s sure?” James asked.

“It’s Teddy Roe, so who knows,” Gabriella said. “But yes, he seemed pretty sure to me. And sad. I think he knows his erratic behavior meant no one took him seriously.” The first World War had done a number on Teddy Roe, and he’d never been the same.

“I’d like to talk to him.” James tapped the table, his gaze unfocused, as if he was planning in his head.

Gabriella pushed her mug away. “I only just remembered what Teddy Roe told me because the vicar at the church this morning said they found a woman beneath the rubble when the church was bombed during the war. The bomb never exploded but it crashed through the roof. The next day they found a woman dead inside the church. They said she’d probably taken cover inside when the air sirens sounded, and was very unlucky to have been in there when the bomb hit.”

James looked up, eyes suddenly very focused. “They didn’t suspect foul play?”

Gabriella shook her head. “Why would they? She was found under the debris from the roof.”

“Did they identify her?” James asked.

“Yes. It took a month, but they did eventually, using dental records. The vicar told me there’s a commemorative plaque to her inside the church.” She tilted her head. “Do you sense a pattern?”

“The allotment.” James was back to tapping his fingers. “They told us it used to be a factory that burned down during the Blitz. They found a woman inside it, as well.”

“And the first site?” Gabriella asked. She could feel her heart rate increase. The horror of what she was thinking had her in its grip.

“I don’t know.” James stood. “I’ll need to find out.”

“And if it is?” Gabriella got to her feet as well. “Are you thinking someone who killed women during the Blitz and hid their bodies in a way that made it look like they died in the bombings is back, and leaving his new victims at the same sites he used before?”

His gaze snapped to her. “That’s exactly what I’m thinking.” He ran a hand through his hair again. “God, Gabriella. This is huge. If we’re right, he’s killed at least eight women since the Blitz, maybe more.”

“Why now? Why again after all this time?” she wondered.

“I don’t know what set him off again, but I think he’s using the heavy fog to hunt them down.” James stood with fists clenched.

“Or, is the heavy fog what sets him off?” Gabriella wondered. “Like the blackouts during the Blitz, he’s got the night to himself.”

“Maybe.” James looked down at the ground, his whole body held tight and ready.

She moved to him, took his hand with both of hers. “Even if you’re right, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it now.”

“I know.” He blew out a breath. “I’m not sorry for discussing it with you, because you telling me what Teddy Roe and the vicar said has made it fall into place. But it’s not fair to put this darkness in your head.”

She let go of his hand, slid her arms around his waist. “I’ve found two of his victims personally,” she said. “The darkness was already there.”

He bent his head, brushed his lips against her temple. “I want to sleep with you.”

He went suddenly still, as if he hadn’t meant to say that out loud, and Gabriella leaned back, smiled up at him.

“I know.”

He grinned down at her. “Do you, now?”

She lifted up on her toes, kissed his neck, his chin, his cheek—little touches of her lips on his scruff-shadowed skin. “I’ve known for ages.”

“And what are your thoughts on the matter?” He tried to keep his voice lighthearted, but she heard the slight rasp of tension in it.

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