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“Go get the police,” Jerry shouted back. “Don’t let them get you, Teddy Roe. Get the coppers.”

Something was muttered beyond the door that Sarah couldn’t catch, but it sounded like Teddy Roe didn’t think much of coppers.

The problem was, she didn’t see how they’d be getting out without them.

chapter

thirty-three

The back door was bolted shut.

“What’s Teddy Roe doing?” Gabriella hissed. “Why’s he locked us out?”

Ruby stepped up beside her and rattled the door, then banged on it. “I don’t know.”

“Let’s go around the front. Who knows, maybe the front door is open.” Gabriella whirled round and ran down the back steps and headed around the side of the house. The rain was still coming down and she lifted her umbrella a little higher to peer inside the windows she passed on the way, but the house was dark and gloomy, with no signs of life.

When she rounded the corner to the front of the house, Ruby close behind her, she saw Mrs. Jameson standing on the pavement, staring at the open gate.

She held an umbrella over her head with one hand, and her shopping cart with the other.

Gabriella glanced back at Ruby, wondering what they were going to do.

Delay, delay, delay until the police arrived, was all she could think of.

“Who’re you?” Mrs. Jameson asked, finally noticing them standing by her front door.

“I’m a concerned citizen,” Ruby said, stepping in front of Gabriella. Because she didn’t have an umbrella, her gray-streaked hair was plastered to her head and her red jacket was dark with rain along the shoulders. “I found this officer on her rounds and asked her to come with me, because I was given this address as the place a friend of mine is being held as a hostage.”

Mrs. Jameson took a step back onto the pavement. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do. The information is very reliable.” She pointed at Mrs. Jameson. “Officer, please arrest this woman.”

Gabriella looked over at Ruby, wanting to ask her what on earth she thought she was doing, when suddenly Mrs. Jameson turned tail and scurried off back toward the high street.

Gabriella moved to the front door, under the shelter of the small porch roof, and waited for Ruby to join her. “Well, that worked.” Her uniform was definitely both a hindrance and a boon.

Ruby squeezed some rain out of her hair and sent her a smile. “I didn’t know if it would, but there wasn’t much else to try.”

Whatever Ruby’s skill set had included during the war, it came with a great deal of confidence.

Gabriella tried the front door, but it was locked, and so she used the door knocker and pounded on it. “Teddy Roe, come out of there.”

“Jerry’s here. Locked up in the attic.” Teddy Roe’s answering shout echoed a little. “But I can’t find the key to get them out.”

“Teddy Roe, it’s Ruby. Please come out, especially if you can’t find a key. Let’s wait for the police to arrive.” Ruby crouched down and pushed the flap of the letterbox inward and tried to see inside.

“The coppers aren’t coming, Ruby. They don’t care about Jerry, and I’m inside now. I’m not wasting my chance.”

It sounded like Teddy Roe was rummaging through drawers, probably looking for a key.

“Why did you lock us out?” Ruby asked.

“I wasn’t locking you out, it’s a deadbolt, see? It means they can’t come in. I was giving myself time to do a good search.”

“They can come through the front door,” Gabriella said.

“They definitely can.” The voice came from behind her, and Gabriella slowly turned around.