Page 86 of Return Ticket

chapterthirty-four

James keptan eye out for Robbie as they turned off Holland Park Avenue into Ladbroke Grove.

The surprise on his face when he’d realized Gabriella wasn’t alone had chilled James. Robbie had planned to do something to Gabriella, and James had a sick feeling he had lain in wait for unsuspecting women before.

It seemed Robbie had kept going, though, because he wasn’t following them that James could see.

He walked Gabriella all the way up the stairs to her flat, and stepped inside with her when she unlocked her door.

“Can I make you a coffee to take with you?” she asked. “I think I have some paper cups.”

He had planned to go right away, because the temptation to stay was already tugging at him, but hot coffee on a night like tonight would be a life saver. “Thank you.”

She got started, and to keep his distance he walked to the window and looked out, watching what little of the street he could see.

Even if Robbie had wanted to follow them, he’d have had a difficult job of it, James realized. The fog tonight was a true pea souper, and suddenly, he was itching to get going. Because the killer was out there, James was sure of it.

Tonight’s conditions were perfect for him.

When Gabriella turned away from the stove, James left the window and walked back to her, waited while she opened a cupboard and took out some paper cups.

When she straightened, he took them from her, set them down, and drew her close.

She slid her arms around his waist with a sigh and rested her head against his coat, which he hadn’t even taken off.

“Please be careful tonight.”

“I will.” He ran a hand down her back, smoothing her long, dark hair. He forced himself to stop when he got to her waist.

Since they’d spoken of sleeping together, he had not been able to get it out of his mind, and the box of condoms he’d found the time to go and buy had been in his coat pocket ever since.

The coffee pot rattled on the stove as it began to boil, and Gabriella turned away and set about making him strong, Italian coffee in a paper cup. She put it inside another cup so it wouldn’t burn his fingers, and he took it gratefully.

“Don’t open the door to anyone. Tanner’s still out there.” He spoke from the top of the stairs, waiting for her to close and lock her door.

“He won’t be back, surely?” she asked, pausing with the door half closed.

He shook his head. “It would be crazy for him to do it, but I never discount crazy behavior.”

She shot him a grin, then closed up and locked, and he walked out, careful not to spill his drink on the stairs.

As soon as he was outside, he headed for the telephone booth on the corner and phoned the barracks, sending the officer on duty to rouse Hartridge. While he waited, he sipped his coffee and looked out into the fog.

A man walked past, hat low, collar up against the weather, and something about him made James straighten and take notice.

“Hello? Sir?” Hartridge’s voice drew his attention, and when he glanced back, the man was gone.

“Sorry. Someone just walked past who reminded me of Tanner.” James hadn’t seriously considered the private detective would come back. He’d told Gabriella he never discounted crazy, but in this case, there really was no reason for Tanner to return.

And it may well not have been him.

“What would he gain?” Hartridge asked.

“Agreed.” But still, he didn’t like it. He explained his plan to watch the Holland Park house, and heard the eagerness in the detective constable’s voice at the thought of action.

“I’m just going to walk past Gabriella’s, make sure that wasn’t Tanner and he isn’t hanging around, and then I’ll walk back to Harborne Close. It will take you some time to get from the barracks to Holland Park, especially with the chaos the smog is causing on the roads, but try to hurry and I’ll meet you there.” James hung up and stepped out of the booth. He stood quietly, surrounded by dense white, listening for any suspicious sounds, and then headed back to Gabriella’s.

When he got close, he slowed, walking as silently as possible.

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