No Way Home

None, she told herself.

She reached for the phone, about to dial a number she knew by heart.

No.

That, she couldn’t do.

She picked up the phone book instead.

CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_c4b0bb7a-d7b3-5ed9-b74d-672b7ad33039)

Her tension increased with each passing second. As the seconds became minutes, she barely knew how she managed to stop herself from screaming or running from the flat in a blind panic.

She alternated between watching through the sitting-room window and watching the clock.

Five minutes passed.

The dispatcher had said ten until the cab arrived. But surely, at this time of day, it wouldn’t take that long? Maybe she should go down and wait outside. It was a bright and crisp day. No doubt chilly out there, but there was no frost. Perhaps the fresh air would do her good? But she didn’t want to be seen pacing out there, and there was no way she’d be able to hold still.

She crossed to the window, looked out. Her stomach lurched, one hand going to her mouth as she turned quickly towards the bathroom.

A taxi was pulling into the parking area out there.

She moaned through the hand clamped over her mouth.

With nothing left to bring up, she swallowed and looked out again.

She could ignore it. Let it go on its way. Have the day off sick.

She sighed. She’d already been through all this. It wouldn’t work. She had to go in. Today, of all days, she didn’t have a choice.

Stomach roiling, legs like jelly, she picked up her bag, checked its contents with shaking hands and headed for the door.

*

‘Bob. Is Tommy here?’

The custody sergeant looked awkward. ‘Yes, but I’m under strict orders. You can’t talk to him. Fast-track was adamant. Called me himself. He’s got to be processed through as if you didn’t even know him.’

Pete’s jaw clamped, teeth pressing together hard. ‘If that were the case, I’d have him straight into an interview room. He’s a material witness in an ongoing case of mine.’

‘I know. But, like I said… my hands are tied, mate.’

The urge to ignore the station chief’s orders and head down the corridor to his son’s cell regardless was almost overpowering, but he knew he couldn’t. Apart from anything else, there was a powerful electromagnetic lock in the way, the release of which was out of his reach, on Bob’s side of the desk. He sighed. ‘He’s OK, though, is he?’

‘Of course. We’re checking on him every hour.’

Every hour? ‘How long’s he been here?’

‘Since three. Five hours, nearly.’

‘Well, dammit, how…’ Pete stopped himself, forcing his body to relax against all his instincts. He already knew the answer to the question he’d been about to ask: orders from Fast-track Phil, DCI Adam Silverstone, station chief until he took the next step in his rapid and illustrious rise towards the higher echelons, whether he deserved it or not.

Which, in the opinion of just about everyone who actually had to work with him, he definitely didn’t.

He tapped the high counter. ‘OK, Bob. Just take care of him, yeah?’

‘Goes without saying, mate.’

‘Thanks. Can you tell him I was asking after him, at least?’

‘Of course.’

Pete nodded to the big man and headed along the corridor towards the centre of the building.

*

Emma’s whole body was quaking by the time she got down the stairs into the foyer. The taxi was parked directly in front of her, just a few feet away from the toughened glass doors that were all that separated her from the outside world at this point.

She stepped reluctantly forward, didn’t even think to check her mailbox as she stared hard at the dark maroon car parked sideways on across the entrance. In the deep shadow of its interior, she could just make out the shape of the driver. She frowned. Something didn’t look as it should.

Then she realised.

It was a woman.

‘Oh, my God!’ She couldn’t help saying it out loud as relief flooded through her. She pushed through the doors and hurried to the waiting car. Climbed into the passenger seat. ‘Hi. Sorry it took me a minute to get down here,’ she burbled. ‘Had to check the front door three times. You know how it is. I’d lose my head if it wasn’t screwed on. At least, that’s what my boss tells me.’ She laughed.

The driver, curly blonde hair covering her ears, but not enough to hide her big hoop earrings, looked at her like she was crazy, but also a customer. ‘No worries. Where to, love?’

Emma had prepared her story. Don’t flunk it now, she told herself. ‘The Old Mill. Early start today. Big party coming in and we’ve a delivery scheduled this morning.’

The woman put the car into gear and set off towards Pennsylvania Road. ‘On a Wednesday? I usually see your deliveries on a Monday and Friday, don’t I?’

Oh, shit. Trust me to get a driver that knows more about my alibi than I do. ‘Uh… yes. That’s why we got the party booked for today. But the suppliers phoned last night. They’ve got some kind of vicious bug going around the depot. Lots of drivers off sick with it.’

Wow, she thought, proud of her quick thinking.

They turned left onto the main road, heading south.

‘So, how come you’re using a taxi this morning, then?’

Oh, crap. Why had she chosen a chatty persona for this journey?

*

Pete had made several calls when he got up that morning and, for once, he was the last of his team to arrive in the squad room. As he approached his desk, five pairs of eyes watched him, waiting to see what he was going to say. And about what, he guessed.

Draping his jacket over the back of his chair, he rolled up his sleeves and went straight to the whiteboard where, last night, he had put up the basic information on the new case.