Private London (Private 4)

Ryan looked at the cards briefly and nodded. ‘Sorry. I have to ask.’

Suzy nodded too, all serious now. ‘Absolutely. And I’m glad you did. God knows, we all have to look out for each other. Especially now,’ she added as Laura Skelton approached the bar.

‘Can I just get a coffee, please, Ryan? Cappuccino,’ she said.

‘It’s on the house.’ The barman beamed at her and hurried off to the other

end of the bar where an espresso machine was set back on the counter.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Suzy said to Laura.

‘For what?’

‘You probably heard us talking. Saying we all had to look out for each other. I didn’t mean to be insensitive.’

‘It’s okay,’ said Laura. ‘I just wish I could have looked out for them better.’ She ran a hand reflexively along her bandaged arm.

‘Do the police know any more?’ asked Lucy.

Laura shook her head. ‘I still can’t believe what happened. Why take Hannah, why leave us behind? God, they could have killed Chloe.’ Her eyes welled. ‘What are they going to do to Hannah?’

Suzy stroked her arm. ‘Hey, it’s going to be all right. I am sure she is going to be fine.’

‘Did you know her?’

Suzy shook her head.

‘So how do you know that she’s going to be fine?’ Laura snapped.

‘If she’s been kidnapped it wouldn’t make sense to harm her.’

‘But she’s not rich. Her father has some money, but he’s just a car dealer back in San Diego. He’s not a multimillionaire or anything.’

Ryan came back with the coffee and Laura nodded at him, not really registering his presence.

‘We were just about to have lunch,’ said Lucy. ‘Why don’t you join us? I’m Lucy by the way.’

‘Thanks.’

‘And I’m Suzy Malone,’ said Suzy, smiling as she held out her hand. Laura took it and held on for a while, and when Suzy looked in her eyes there was a definite charge.

Suzy let Laura’s hand go. She was working. Never mix business with pleasure. Wasn’t that the golden rule?

Chapter 46

ALISON CHAMBERS STRODE forcefully across the car park towards her parked car.

There was very little swish to her hips this time, although her hair tossed a little angrily from side to side. I couldn’t help watching her and grinned a little guiltily as Kirsty came out through the entrance doors and up to me.

‘Enjoying the view?’ she said curtly.

I was standing in the car park of Paddington Green police station, having had my belt and shoelaces returned to me and been released some ten minutes earlier.

‘Isn’t it time you let it go?’ I asked.

‘More to the point, isn’t it time you did?’ she snapped back.

I sighed. I had no burning desire to have another ride on that particular carousel. ‘Thanks,’ I said simply, instead of pushing it.