making progress,’ I said cautiously, thinking of the absolute lack of any forensic evidence to link Paige to the Chiron Club currently, and how frustrating that was.
‘That’s good.’ She was frowning though. ‘Are you sure you’re all right? You do look pale.’
‘I’m fine.’ I thanked her, and said goodbye, and waited until she had gone inside before I took out my phone to make one more call, even though it could only cause me trouble.
42
As the car drew up on double-yellow lines outside the café the hazard lights started to blink, the universal acknowledgement that the driver is doing something unacceptable and knows it, but is going to do it anyway. Derwent opened his door into the path of a scooter that tooted indignantly as it swerved. As he got out, his jaw was tight with irritation. I slid down a few inches in my seat as he slammed the door. Temper, temper. He shouldered his way into the café, yanked his sunglasses off and glared around, visibly unimpressed with the charms of Carlo’s. I lifted a hand and waved to attract his attention. The sight of me did nothing to improve his mood.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’
‘Having a break?’ I slid a coffee across the table. ‘I got you this.’
‘I don’t want it.’ He slid it back. ‘I want to know why you’re in Greenwich conducting enquiries instead of at home with your feet up.’
‘I got bored. I wanted to work.’
‘I thought you’d had enough of that on Monday. I only let you come to arrest Gley because I knew I’d be there to keep an eye on you. When you come back to work officially – which should be when you’re fully recovered, and not before – you’re supposed to be on restricted duties. That means paperwork. That means being in the office, not wandering around using your own initiative to get yourself into trouble.’
‘I know,’ I said quickly, ‘and I’m absolutely going to take things easy from now on. But I had an idea.’
He frowned. ‘What kind of idea?’
‘How to find out who impersonated a police officer at Paige’s address and removed her computer and notes. But I need you to help me.’
‘Go on.’
I passed him my set of photographs and explained how I’d shown it to Mila Walsh. I tapped the top one. ‘This is the guy she picked out, which is exactly what I thought would happen. I want to go and see him. I think if we confront him, he’ll admit it.’
He picked the page up, then held it to one side as the picture below caught his attention. ‘Is that …’
‘That’s Luke.’
He stared at the picture intently, almost hungrily, as if he hadn’t had the chance to look at him properly before.
‘Did you look like that when you were twenty-five?’ I asked eventually.
‘I was better looking. Obviously. Like now.’
‘All right, handsome.’ I nodded at the window. ‘Let’s see if your looks can work some magic on the traffic warden that’s about to give you a ticket.’
Ticketless, because Derwent was jammy like that, we drove across the river while I explained who we were going to see and why I thought he had taken Paige’s notes. When I got to the end, Derwent nodded.
‘Makes sense. Were you planning to do this by yourself before you had a funny turn, as a matter of interest?’
‘No, I was going to ask for help even before that.’ I looked at him sideways. ‘I’m not reckless. Besides, this is right up your street. You’re far more intimidating than I am.’
‘You have your moments.’
‘I would have to say now is not one of them.’ I leaned against the headrest and shut my eyes. ‘I’ve felt perkier.’
‘Are you sure you want to do this now?’
‘Yes. I don’t think we’re going to find out what happened to Paige otherwise.’
‘And that’s more important than how you feel.’
‘Of course.’ I looked at him, surprised. ‘You’d be the same.’
Derwent shook his head, but said nothing more to try and put me off.
When we arrived in Whitechapel, he looked up and down the street. His lip curled. ‘I don’t know how any coppers patrol around here. You wouldn’t get five feet before you had to nick someone. How would you even pick which criminal to arrest first?’
‘Don’t arrest anyone yet.’ The intercom crackled beside me. ‘Bianca? Maeve Kerrigan.’
‘Come on up.’ She sounded cheerful and Derwent raised his eyebrows as he followed me into the hallway.
‘What did you tell her?’
‘Not much. She thinks I’m here