Alderman joined James outside on the pavement, his hands were on his knees and he was breathing heavily.
'I'm sorry, Alderman, I had to try something' he said in-between breaths.
'It's ok. Did you get the license number?'
'No, he had it obscured.'
'Then we'll check with the Congestion Charge. He can't drive around London with a number plate like that.'
James stood up straight and looked back in to the restaurant. The manager and the waitresses were all looking at them.
'We put on quite a good show for them' Alderman said, then turned to James. 'I'm sorry for being rude in there. I have... a lot of things on my mind. I'll tell you when this is over.'
'I understand. It was a pretty tense situation. But we're almost there-'
Alderman cut him short.
'Look, James. I think I'm going to do this on my own now. Thanks for your help so far. Well, I paid you, but thanks, and I'll handle it from here.'
'What are you talking about?'
'He's seen us, and we've seen him. This isn't safe anymore. I can't ask you to follow me down this path. This is where it gets serious. We are on the edge of an abyss.'
They held each other's gaze for a long while before James slowly replied:
'You're not dropping me, Alderman. I don't care about writing a story anymore, and you don't care about paying me. This is serious, and I'm going to help, no matter the cost.'
Alderman looked away but did not move. Again they stood in silence. At length he took a step back from the restaurant and looked around.
'We need to start finding out what happens in all these other buildings. Our killer has been waiting here for the woman, but he's had no luck. What if she didn't come to the sushi bar? What if she was merely passing? She could have been visiting anyone of these other places.'
'I'll get right on to it.'
'Then I'll see you tomorrow.'
'Where?'
'Covent Garden, the balcony' Alderman replied.
'I know it' James said, smiling.
The two men looked at each other for a second more, shook hands, then walked off in different directions.
'I'm sorry, Alderman, I had to try something' he said in-between breaths.
'It's ok. Did you get the license number?'
'No, he had it obscured.'
'Then we'll check with the Congestion Charge. He can't drive around London with a number plate like that.'
James stood up straight and looked back in to the restaurant. The manager and the waitresses were all looking at them.
'We put on quite a good show for them' Alderman said, then turned to James. 'I'm sorry for being rude in there. I have... a lot of things on my mind. I'll tell you when this is over.'
'I understand. It was a pretty tense situation. But we're almost there-'
Alderman cut him short.
'Look, James. I think I'm going to do this on my own now. Thanks for your help so far. Well, I paid you, but thanks, and I'll handle it from here.'
'What are you talking about?'
'He's seen us, and we've seen him. This isn't safe anymore. I can't ask you to follow me down this path. This is where it gets serious. We are on the edge of an abyss.'
They held each other's gaze for a long while before James slowly replied:
'You're not dropping me, Alderman. I don't care about writing a story anymore, and you don't care about paying me. This is serious, and I'm going to help, no matter the cost.'
Alderman looked away but did not move. Again they stood in silence. At length he took a step back from the restaurant and looked around.
'We need to start finding out what happens in all these other buildings. Our killer has been waiting here for the woman, but he's had no luck. What if she didn't come to the sushi bar? What if she was merely passing? She could have been visiting anyone of these other places.'
'I'll get right on to it.'
'Then I'll see you tomorrow.'
'Where?'
'Covent Garden, the balcony' Alderman replied.
'I know it' James said, smiling.
The two men looked at each other for a second more, shook hands, then walked off in different directions.
No comments:
Post a Comment