Chapter 5 #3
“Just away from here.” Kendra leaned back in the seat and drew a deep breath.
“You’re right, very quickly.” She glanced at Jessie.
“I don’t think it’s safe to go back to the flat to pick up anything we’ve left there.
We always carry our documents with us, and we can pick up anything else we need on the way.
It’s almost certain that the card I left with Elizabeth Porter with my address and phone number is no longer in her hands. ”
“And you’re afraid we might have visitors waiting for us?
” Jessie was looking out the window and then suddenly gave a low whistle.
“Correct me if I’m mistaken, but I believe they might have already been there.
That’s our flat about three blocks from here, isn’t it?
Damned if that doesn’t look like the blasted place is on fire, too.
I doubt if the book mart explosion would have caused the sparks to carry that far to ignite that particular building.
It’s more likely a welcoming committee.”
Kendra inhaled sharply as her gaze followed Jessie’s and she saw the rising smoke. “It wouldn’t surprise me.”
Jessie was staring out the back windshield. “Good, because we have an even more immediate problem. A midnight-blue Audi seems to be tailing us.”
Kendra glanced back just in time to see it match their lane change. “I think you’re right.” She leaned forward toward Herbert. “Get us out of here as discreetly as possible. We’ll worry about a destination later.”
“No problem.” Herbert was already speeding up. “Just relax and I’ll give you a tour of the city those blokes following you will never forget. They’ll be so dizzy by the first couple miles, they’ll be puking their guts out!”
“We don’t have to see it. We’ll take your word for it,” Jessie said grimly. “We’ll double the fare if you just make it happen.”
“No, you won’t. I’m proud of what I do,” Herbert said flatly. “It’s been a family business since I was a lad following after my dad when he got his first taxi back in the Blitz. Now hold on tight and watch me do my stuff!”
Herbert spun the wheel and roared across Waterloo Bridge.
Kendra looked at her phone. “Are you sure this is the best way? My phone says—”
Herbert snickered. “Put that thing away. Any London cabbie on his worst day will do better than that gadget on its best.” He winked at her in the rearview mirror. “Go ahead, dear. Put it away.”
Kendra lowered her phone.
They crossed the Thames, and Herbert pointed to a palace on the right. “That’s Somerset House. A nice place to stop for tea, or maybe a skate in the wintertime.”
“I’ll . . . keep that in mind.”
Jessie turned around in her seat. “They’re gaining on us,” she said worriedly. “They’re almost across the bridge.”
“Makes no difference,” Herbert said. “London is the best city on earth if you want to lose someone.”
“But I don’t think you’re losing them,” Jessie said. “They’re getting closer!”
“I want them closer.”
“What?” Kendra and Jessie said in unison.
“That’s the only way this will work.”
Herbert cut the wheel hard left and sped past The Savoy hotel.
“They’re still behind us,” Jessie said.
“Good.” Herbert slowed slightly, allowing the Audi to gain on them.
“What the hell are you doing?” Kendra asked.
“Watch and be amazed.”
As they approached Trafalgar Square, Herbert turned into a roundabout that took them past three turnoffs. At the fourth, Cockspur Street, he sharply pulled the wheel left and barely made the turn. Their pursuers, with no time left to make a similar move, sped past on the roundabout.
Herbert cackled as he sped up. “One more trip around for them. By the time they make the exit, we’ll be long out of sight.
” He turned left on Pall Mall and made three more turns before they finally turned right on Piccadilly.
“Ah, here we are. Those blokes didn’t know who they were dealing with.
Now all we have to do is decide where you’ll be safe. ’ ”
“I believe I can handle that,” Kendra said quietly. “I need you to drop us off at the park across from Devon Chadwick Mall. Are we fairly close?”
“It’s maybe ten minutes off Piccadilly.” He was frowning. “But we might need to discuss this.”
“No, we don’t,” Kendra said. “Get there as quickly as you can.”
“If you say so.” But Herbert was grumbling to himself as he proceeded down Piccadilly.
Jessie was more than happy, though. She smiled as she leaned back in her seat. “Wow. That was awesome. Sorry I doubted you, Herbert.”
“No offense taken, young lady. Just sit back and enjoy the rest of the ride. We’re almost there.”
Kendra was looking out the window at Piccadilly Circus. “I have fond memories here.”
Jessie shrugged. “It seems kind of touristy.”
“That never bothered me. It’s where I got my sight for the first time.”
Jessie gazed at her in surprise. “Really?”
Kendra nodded. “I’d had the procedure a few weeks before, and I was scheduled to have the bandages removed the next morning.
I guess I was afraid of disappointing the doctors and my mom if it didn’t work.
So I came here and took them off myself.
It was nighttime, Christmas week, and all the lights and decorations were up.
It was beautiful. I was twenty years old, and it was the first thing I ever saw in my life. ”
Jessie put her hand on Kendra’s arm. “Definitely fond memories. I get it.”
Two minutes later, Herbert pulled over in front of a park, across from a large shopping center.
He was frowning as he looked back at Kendra.
“I don’t like the idea of dropping you off anywhere in town.
Not wise. Those blokes following us weren’t exactly amateurs.
Fitz said he wanted me to keep you safe.
I have a place in mind that’s much more secure, a nice little hotel outside the city. ”
Kendra firmly shook her head. “I have a few things I have to see and do before I leave here.”
Jessie frowned. “Are you sure, Kendra? Herbert seems to know what he’s doing.”
“I’m certain he does.” Kendra reached for the handle of the door.
“But in this case, so do I, Jessie. Now stop arguing and come with me. I’ve let you practically run the show since you plopped down in that seat beside me on the plane, and I’ve been very grateful.
But it’s my turn.” She got out of the cab.
“Thank you, Herbert. If we need you, we’ll call.
” She was walking toward the path to the park. “Jessie?”
“I’m coming.” Jessie was scrambling to get out of the cab and catch up with her.
“You just surprised me.” She waved goodbye to a very disapproving Herbert before they were lost amid the park’s lush stands of trees and greenery.
“I take it we’re not going to discuss this?
” Her eyes were narrowed on Kendra’s face.
“You seem to know exactly where you’re going. Correct?”
“Correct. We take the next path that leads us toward the mall. I’ll tell you the next direction after that.”
“You lead. I’ll follow. But didn’t you tell me you weren’t at all familiar with London?”
“I’m not. I told you the truth. But I learn what I have to learn.
I had a twenty-four-hour stopover here when Lynch and I were on our way to Spain last year.
Lynch had to attend to one of his usual emergency contacts and he took the opportunity to show me a few things that might come in handy for me here in London.
He said that you can never tell when you might need a safe and discreet place to hang your hat.
” She grimaced. “He decided to share his home away from home with me while we were here since he had to attend to business for the Justice Department anyway.”
Jessie chuckled. “First he decided to share his wizardry with cards, and then he gave you a safe house to keep you secure while you enjoy your games of chance? You can’t say Lynch doesn’t have unusual tastes in gifts.”
“He gives what his own life experience tells him has the most value,” Kendra said soberly. “And I’ve found him to be right most of the time. I admit I had my doubts about my need for a safe house in London, but here we are.”
“What do you expect to find?” Jessie asked quietly.
“I doubt if Lynch is hiding out there. If he’s here in London, he’ll be out scouring the city looking for you by now.
If he sent a message to Olivia that he knew might bring you to him, he wouldn’t just wait for you to show up.
” She paused. “Or are you hoping you’ll get lucky and he’ll actually be there? ”
“Of course I am.” Kendra’s lips twisted.
“But he’s smart, and he wouldn’t be that simplistic.
He’d wait and find another way to make contact.
Still, I hope he’s left me some clue to follow.
” She shook her head. “But who the hell knows. Things are starting to get crazy and we just got here yesterday. We’ll just have to see what we find and then run with it.
” She was leading Jessie down the hill toward an enclosure that disappeared into a brick wall adjoining one of the mall warehouses.
“We’re almost there. This warehouse connects to a two-story furniture shop right around the corner.
It’s not very big but it has a couple of bedrooms and a decent kitchen.
There are two street exits if necessary.
” She pressed the lock combination and swung open the door.
“Come in and help me look around.” She lit the flashlight on her phone.
“No lights except the ones on your phone. I’m fairly sure this place is safe, but I don’t want to take any chances.
We’ll do a quick look around and then take off again. ”
Jessie was playing the beam of light of her phone around the flat. “Not a bad place,” she said. “More cozy than grand. It doesn’t compare to Lynch’s safe house in San Diego. Tell him the next time you see him that I’m not impressed.”