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A car roared past in the street outside, and Mike jumped, twisting round. When he turned back to Gabriel his hand was shaking.
‘I know. It’s not the best idea I’ve ever had.’ Mike said it before Gabriel could. ‘Not much use for a security guard who can’t deal with sudden noises.’
‘Look at what you’ve done already, you have the guts to do whatever you set your mind to. Maybe the security thing could wait for a while, though.’ Gabriel reinforced the theme that had run through much of Mike’s counselling in the last months.
Mike nodded. ‘Well, Clara asked about my qualifications and she said I was setting my sights too low, and that if I was interested in security work then going for something like consultancy might suit me better.’
‘That sounds a bit more like it. If it’s what you want to do, I can make some enquiries...’
‘Thanks. Clara’s given me her number and said I could call her whenever I was ready. She’s got contacts who can show me the ropes, and if things work out she’ll try and swing me an interview. I reckon she’s not working with you as a paramedic, is she?’
Gabriel chuckled. ‘No, she isn’t. And that’s a good offer. The company she works for is the best in the business. She gave you her number?’ He realised that he didn’t have Clara’s number.
‘You haven’t got her number yet? You must be slipping, mate.’
‘Suppose I must be. I’ve had things on my mind.’ Clara, mostly.
Mike nodded. ‘You’d tell me if there was a reason to worry about this?’
Maybe Gabriel would, and maybe he wouldn’t. Mike had worrying down to an art. But, then, despite the paranoia and the sleepless nights, his bravery and common sense had still stayed intact. He was the same person, just living under intolerable pressure.
‘I leave the worrying to Clara.’
‘I imagine she’s the kind who has things under control.’ Mike’s grin implied that he included Gabriel in that.
‘Yes, she does. And what about you? You’d tell me if there was any reason to worry?’
‘Yeah. I just got to the point where if I didn’t have something more to aim for I’d go crazy. Now I’ve got two things.’ Mike jerked his thumb at the notepad that contained Clara’s number.
‘And you’ll call me if that changes.’
‘Yes. Thanks, I’ll call.’
* * *
Clara had been silent again during their drive home, but not so tight-lipped. Gabriel supposed that she was just concentrating and it occurred to him that she was doing the work of two. Normally a driver wasn’t expected to also cover protection.
‘So what’s this course that Mike’s going on?’ With the departure of the caterers the bustle in the house had subsided considerably, and when they walked through to the kitchen together, they found it deserted.
‘It’s a place in Hertfordshire. They run crisis courses, but also do various different follow-up courses for people with PTSD, which a lot of our patients have found valuable. Mike told me you left your number with him.’
&
nbsp; ‘I hope that was all right.’
‘It’s fine. He’s talked about security work before, but I think consultancy is a much better use of his skill-set. He’s lost a lot of confidence.’
Clara nodded. ‘He seems like the kind of guy who deserves all the help he can get. He’s held the line, and paid a high price for it.’
Clara had held the line too, and from what she’d said to Mike she’d also paid a price. Last night, up in his study, Gabriel would have asked about that price but now it seemed impossible. She’d come out from behind her barrier of professionalism for Mike, but that had been out of respect and in response to a need. Gabriel wondered what her motive had been last night. Respect or need?
He watched as she drifted over to the counter top, lifting the edge of the foil that covered one of the platters that the caterers had left.
‘They look nice.’ She’d managed to peel the foil back without tearing it.
‘They are. I tried them earlier on. Have one.’
She was tempted. And she resisted the temptation. ‘It’s all arranged so beautifully. I don’t want to spoil the pattern.’ Clara closed the foil again, squeezing the edges to secure them.
