‘DC Tennison, please come up to the podium.’
Jane flushed as she stepped up to sit beside him.
‘Right, everyone: an update on the Natalie Wilde case. Her whereabouts are at present unknown, but we are actively looking for her. We still need to discuss whether or not we arrest her when she’s found in the hope she’ll tell us the identities of the men responsible for the atrocity at Covent Garden… or whether to keep up surveillance in the hope she will lead us to them.’
Jane listened as various officers discussed the two options, and which was best for the investigation. Some wanted to know why they hadn’t broken into the basement flat to see if they could find any incriminating evidence, or any connection to their bomber. Crowley said it was too risky as the neighbours might see something and tell Wilde.
The doors opened and DS Lawrence walked in. He was holding an envelope, and went straight up to the podium to hand it to Crowley.
‘We’ve got a match… Wilde must have taken a glove off to put money in the coin box when attempting to make a coded call to the press. We found prints from an index finger and part of the right palm on the coin box… it matches Natalie Wilde’s prints from Hendon, but, of course, we can’t date a fingerprint and say it got there on the day of the explosion.’
Crowley was elated. Although the print could be classed as circumstantial evidence, it was still evidence of Natalie Wilde’s connection to the bombing at Covent Garden.
‘Right. You lot get out there and find Natalie Wilde. When you do, contact me and I’ll make the decision as to arresting or tailing her.’
‘Was Natalie’s phone tapped?’ Jane asked, as Church drove her home.
Church shook his head. ‘Problem with phone taps is that they cause a slight click and delay on picking up the receiver. She’d be trained to look out for that and wouldn’t use her landline if she heard it.’
Jane opened the passenger door, hesitating. ‘Do you want a coffee?’
‘You know, I would… thank you.’
Jane filled the kettle as Church made a call to Maynard, who was at the Observation Point opposite Natalie’s basement flat.
‘Any show?’ he asked.
‘Not yet, Guv, it’s all very quiet.’
‘OK… I’ll get you relieved in a couple of hours.’
Church was about to walk back into the kitchen when he saw the ironing board left up outside Jane’s bedroom. Neatly folded on top of it was a man’s T-shirt. He unfolded it and saw the faded design of James Dean wearing a cowboy hat. He knew where he had seen it before, and it was Alan Dexter’s. He checked his watch and went back into the kitchen.
‘She’s still not shown up at her flat.’
Jane handed him a mug of coffee. ‘It’s only instant I’m afraid.’
‘I don’t mind… But I wouldn’t mind a slice of toast if you’ve got some bread?’
‘Of course… how about cheese on toast?’
‘Love it, thank you.’
‘Do you think Natalie was tipped off?’
‘I don’t know. She might have just been a lot better at sussing us out and became wary enough to do a runner. I know my team have been cautious… maybe that caused them to lose her at Oxford Circus.’ He sipped his coffee.
Jane lightly toasted two slices of bread, then put cheese on top. Placing them under the grill she watched the cheese begin to bubble before using a fork to place them both onto a plate. She opened the fridge to take out a bottle of tomato ketchup and held it up.
‘I’ve also got HP or Lea & Perrins if you’d prefer it?’
‘Yes, please, L & P.’
Jane put the bottle down on the counter and was about to sit next to Church when the phone rang. Jane went out into the hall and picked up the receiver.
‘Hello?’
‘Hi there.’
Jane almost dropped the phone and moved closer to the kitchen.
‘Natalie! I was going to call you.’
Church jumped off his stool and turned on the tape recorder they had installed and connected to Jane’s phone. He took a pen out of his pocket, then gestured for Jane to keep talking as he opened his notebook.
‘I’ve been back and forth to Woolwich and have only just got home. I feel bad about not calling to thank you for Sunday. I had a terrible hangover… I didn’t realise how much I had been drinking.’
Church wrote on his note pad: SEE HER TONIGHT?
Jane nodded. ‘I haven’t eaten dinner yet. How about us meeting up and having something at Fratelli’s?’
‘What, tonight?’ Natalie asked
‘Yes… it was good there. Or you can choose somewhere else.’
‘I can’t, Jane. I’ve only just got home myself. We had a lengthy session after the bank closed because there were some discrepancies in the accounting department. I can’t tell you… one slip up and all hell breaks loose.’
Jane had broken out in a sweat. She took the pen and wrote N SAYS SHE’S AT HOME. Both of them knew she wasn’t, and Jane also knew she was lying about having been at the bank. It was unnerving that Natalie could lie so easily.
Church held up another note: GET HER TO MEET YOU.
Jane was now lying every bit as much as Natalie was, and she was finding Church’s closeness unnerving. She waved her hand at him to move away.
‘So, are you all ready for the big dinner dance?’ Natalie asked.
‘Just about, but I wonder… could I ask you a big favour regarding tomorrow night?’
‘Ask away.’
‘You know Pearl has left? I mean, she’s not living with me anymore. So, I really don’t know how I’m going to do my dress up tomorrow, as I was banking on her helping me.’
‘Oh God, yes… all those little buttons,’ Natalie said.
‘It’ll be impossible for me to do it up by myself. Besides, I’d really like you to give me your opinion about accessorising with your jacket, and whether I should wear my hair up or down.’
‘What time will you be getting ready? I have to go to work, but I suppose I could come over to you straight afterwards?’
‘Oh, that would be fantastic! If you could be here for about 5.30pm, or before… whatever suits you. You’ve never seen my flat and I’d love to show it to you and see what you think of it.’
‘What time does your dinner start?’
‘It’s not until 7.30, but there’s drinks beforehand.’
Church finished his cheese on toast as he listened to Jane giving Natalie her address. He was astonished to hear her laughing.
‘No, no! Not Balcombe Street! That was where the siege happened — it’s Melcombe Street… the first turning on the left if you’re coming from Baker Street underground. It’s not far from Fratelli’s.’
Jane replaced the receiver and felt her legs turn to jelly.
‘She’s agreed to come here tomorrow about 5.30 to help me get dressed for the dinner dance.’
Church cocked his head to one side.
‘At first I couldn’t fathom out what the hell you were talking about — Pearl and the dress… Then when you laughed and mentioned the siege… I’m really impressed.’ He took out a lighter and flicked it open to light his cigarette. ‘It’ll be perfect. She’s hiding out, but it looks like she doesn’t know she was under surveillance and her shenanigans yesterday were to see if she was. Our boys may have lost her but they didn’t blow their cover.’