Page 135 of Carbon

“How about you?” I asked Roxy. “Are you staying on here?”

She nodded. “They said it’s okay, and I feel safe for the first time in two years.” She gave me the shy smile I knew drove Gideon nuts. His tongue practically hung out every time she turned it on, although she seemed oblivious. “I’m going back to medical school in the autumn. Black helped me to arrange it.”

“In Poland?”

“There’s nothing left for me in Gdansk.”

Her smile disappeared, and I knew she was thinking about her father and the man who’d taken her from him. The man who forced her into this position in the first place. He still lived there according to Ben. Gideon had broken the news of her father’s death a few days ago, and she’d sobbed in his arms for the whole evening.

“You’re staying in London?”

“I’ve got a place at UCL, starting in September.”

“Congratulations!” I slid off my chair and gave her a hug, which she returned hesitantly. “You’ll make a wonderful doctor. Plus, if you’re staying here, you won’t be so far from Gideon.”

Oh, now she went pink. “He’s been very kind, but he’s going back to Paris soon.”

“It’s only two and a quarter hours on the train.”

“That might as well be a lifetime away. At the moment, I’m scared to go as far as the university, and besides, he hasn’t asked me to visit.”

“He will.”

“I don’t think so.”

My phone rang before I could point out just why she was wrong in that assumption. I was expecting Ben, who’d gone into Blackwood’s office for orientation, but instead, I saw an unknown number calling. My heart leapt into my mouth, and I forced myself to swallow it down again. It couldn’t be Leroux. Leroux was still under arrest in hospital.

“Hello?”

“Miss Fordham?”

“Yes. Who is this?”

“Sergeant Nash from the Metropolitan Police. I’m afraid I’ve got bad news.”

Not Ben. Please, say Ben was okay. “What is it?”

“We’ve had a security breach, and Guy Leroux has escaped from the hospital.”

My knees buckled, and I landed on one of the kitchen chairs with a bump. He was kidding. He had to be. “Is this some sort of sick joke?”

“Afraid not. I’m aware he came after you personally last time, and if you’d like, I can arrange protective custody.”

“I’m not going into custody.”

The phone slid out of my grasp as panic welled up inside me.Breathe. Just breathe.Leroux couldn’t get me in here, not with the security system and the guard by the front door.

“Ma’am?” The policeman’s voice crackled.

“I’m here. Thank you for letting me know.”

“If there’s anything we—?” he started, but I’d already stopped listening.

Ben. I needed to call Ben.

“Are you okay?” Roxy asked.

“Leroux’s escaped.”

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