Private London

Chapter 45

No wonder the barman had the hots for Laura, thought Suzy.

She liked the look of her herself. And when she did go for women she normally went for brunettes. Dan Carter and she had that much in common.

Ryan stood with his back to them, talking to Laura Skelton for a few moments, then headed to the side of the bar, lifting a flap to swap places with Carol who sketched a wave to Lucy as she left. ‘Good luck,’ she said as she passed.

Lucy nodded back, pretending to be a little flustered and letting the barman catch it. All good cover, she thought. Besides, if the barman was innocent, and single…

Suzy flicked her a half-smile, snapping her out of her reverie. ‘Be interesting to hear what he said to her.’

Lucy nodded to the security camera. ‘Be on tape. Can’t see him incriminating himself if he is involved, though.’

Ryan Williams came across at that moment and gave them a smile of his own, but an almost apologetic one. ‘I don’t believe I have seen you ladies here before,’ he said.

‘No,’ said Suzy, giving it the full tilt with her chin. ‘We’re virgins.’

‘To the bar, she means,’ added Lucy.

‘Can I see your NUS cards then, please?’ he said.

‘What kind of girls do you think we are?’ said Suzy in mock outrage. ‘I’ve never had an STD in my life.’

The barman didn’t smile. He’d heard it plenty of times before. ‘I said NUS. No ID and I will have to ask you to leave, I’m afraid. Particularly after what happened last night.’

‘It’s not safe, you mean?’ asked Lucy, giving a good impression of a nervous woman.

‘No, you’re perfectly safe. We’ve just had a lot of journalists trying to blag their way on campus today. It’s been all over the news.’

Suzy laughed. ‘Do we look like journalists?’ She held up her hand before Ryan could reply. ‘It’s okay, sheriff, you can keep your weapon holstered for now.’

She pulled out an NUS card and held it up as Lucy rummaged in her bag for hers. It had taken them less than five minutes to get them mocked-up back at the office earlier. ‘See?’ she said. ‘We’re both pickers of apples from the tree of wisdom.’

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?