Jane listened as Sarah talked to Julian as if she wasn’t there. Sarah told him how impressed she’d been by his lecture and couldn’t wait to get details of when and where he was next speaking so that she could attend. He was rather quiet and said he was due to go to the United States to lecture and attend forensic seminars on research and future technology. He was very polite as Sarah rambled on about a television documentary she had seen featuring new forensic tests to detect gunshot residue. It could link a suspect to a crime scene, and even show how close the suspect was to the gun. Harker obviously found it as tedious as Jane as he kept looking at her with an apologetic smile on his face.
At last Sarah finished her second G and T and got off her stool. Putting an arm around each of them she said she would have to love them and leave them as she was off to shower and change into her uniform. There was rather an awkward pause and then Julian tapped Jane’s arm.
‘I remember you were going to be a bridesmaid, isn’t that right?’
‘Yes, at my sister’s wedding.’
‘Well, being so young and attractive, I doubt you will be always the bridesmaid, as the saying goes.’ He gave a soft laugh.
She suddenly wanted to leave and slipped off her stool.
‘It was nice to see you again, Dr Harker.’
‘Ah, leaving me already? Why not stay and have another drink?’
‘I’m on nights as well,’ she lied.
‘Perhaps we could have dinner one evening on your day off? I’m still in London for a couple of weeks yet.’ He peeled away some of the top layer of a beer mat and wrote his contact number on the white bit.
‘Call me when you have a free night.’
She said nothing as he handed her the beer mat. She did not intend to go out with him since she knew he was married, but she smiled and slipped the number into her pocket.
Jane hurried across the road back to the section house, suddenly deciding to ring her parents. Her mother answered in a timid but posh voice.
‘Mrs Tennison speaking, how can I help you?’
‘Mummy, it’s me, Jane.’
‘Oh my good heavens, I was just thinking of you. Your father and I thought you might have come home for Sunday lunch, but we didn’t hear from you and I wanted to ring-’
‘I’ve been really busy, Mum.’
‘You sound a bit down, darling,’ she commented, her voice reverting to its normal tone.
‘I’m fine. I’ve got a couple of days off so I was thinking about coming home.’
The joy in her mother’s voice made her feel tearful.
‘I’m so excited! Pam and her husband will be here for lunch tomorrow as it’s a bank holiday; it’ll be just lovely with all the family together. I miss you, Daddy misses you.’
‘I’ll see you later tonight then. I’ll get the bus and Tube home so should be with you in a couple of hours.’
‘Oh that is good news. I’ll make up your bed right now.’
‘Thanks, Mum, see you later.’
Jane went to her room to get her light denim jacket. She had clothes and nightwear at home so didn’t need to carry anything but her handbag.
She waited at the bus stop outside the section house. It was by now seven forty-five and she realized she had not even thought about what was happening at the station. She gritted her teeth trying not to think about Bradfield, but couldn’t help wondering how the observation on the café and bank were going. The red double-decker bus clattered to a halt at the stop and Jane showed the conductor her warrant card as she climbed on and made her way up the stairs to sit at the back, as usual.
It was very warm. A few windows were open but there were only two passengers on the top deck. Jane felt depressed, staring through the window as the bus stopped and collected a few more passengers whilst some got off. They were just pulling in at the next stop when there was a resounding clash of gears and looking down from the window Jane saw an elderly woman picking up some groceries that had fallen out of her bag. She closed her eyes remembering how she had helped Renee Bentley pick up her groceries, and then assisted her back to the flat on the Pembridge Estate where she had the confrontation with her son John. Jane took a deep breath and felt hurt again, thinking that if she hadn’t recognized John Bentley’s voice Operation Hawk might never have taken place.
She was startled from her thoughts and almost fell from her seat when the bus suddenly jolted forwards and stopped. She pressed her hands hard on the back of the seat in front of her as the gears shuddered and the bus lurched forwards and stopped again. Jane looked down from the window as the bus conductor got off and went to speak to the driver. There were a few shouts and yells from passengers below and one man was swearing profusely.
The conductor got back on the bus and spoke in a loud voice so people upstairs could hear.
‘We got engine trouble so you’re all gonna have to wait for the next bus. Can you come down from upstairs and EVERYBODY OFF, PLEASE.’
