Page 4 of Return Ticket

“Some boys found a dead woman and approached me, because of the uniform,” she said.

“Where?” He turned to the massive map hanging on the wall behind him.

She stepped around his desk and pointed.

“The old Billick building? The bomb site?” He sounded astonished.

“She was half hidden under the rubble.” Gabrielle realized she was gripping her satchel extra tight.

“What did you do?” Greenberg asked.

“Fortunately Constable Evans was walking his beat and I hailed him. He stood guard and I went to get help from the nick. Then I carried on with my route.” She had been relieved that they didn’t think she needed to go back. Almost embarrassingly relieved.

“Well, I’m sorry for that. Did you see the body?” Mr. Greenberg tapped the spot on the map, and then picked up a red pin from the little shelf below the map, and stuck it in.

“Briefly, just to check the boys weren’t mistaken.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and began to reverse out of the room. “I just thought I’d let you know, sir.”

“Appreciate it, Miss Farnsworth.” Mr. Greenberg was still studying the map.

She left him to it, going back to the change rooms and getting out of her uniform.

She was pulling on her boots when Liz came in.

“I see Mr. Detective is out there waiting for you,” she said as she flopped down on the bench. “Haven’t seen him for a while.”

“He went home to see his parents. His mother is ill.” She hoped Mrs. Archer was better. She knew it worried James that he was so far away.

“And now he’s here, waiting for you straight after work.” Liz grinned. Then she gave Gabriella’s outfit a good once over. “It’ll do,” she said with a nod.

It forced a laugh out of Gabriella. Liz had a knack of doing that. “Ta very much.” She mimicked Liz’s favorite saying.

“You have a good evening.” There was no subtlety in Liz’s eyebrow waggle.

There was no subtlety in Liz, full stop. Gabriella liked her all the more for it.

She gave a wave and left out the front for a change.

James was still leaning against the wall, eyes closed, one foot up against the bricks.

He opened his eyes as she ran down the steps.

“You look tired,” she said, hooking her arm through his. “Take me to a grocer’s and I’ll make you dinner.”

His eyes lit up at that. “You’re sure?”

“I never joke about food.”

* * *

Mr. Rodney was at the Calypso Club, Gabriella guessed as they arrived at her building. All the lights were out in his ground floor flat.

She led the way up the stairs, with James carrying the bag of groceries. Jerome’s flat was silent, too, and Gabriella guessed he’d probably walked Mr. Rodney over to the club.

“How’s your mother?” she asked when they were through the door. James set the groceries down on her little table and she began to lay out the ingredients she needed for the meal. She had wanted to ask him earlier, but something had made her wait until they had some privacy.

“She seems to be better,” James said. “It wasn’t as bad as I imagined, although she could have been putting on a good front for me so I wouldn’t worry.”

He stood beside the table, looking a little unsure of himself.