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he had been trapped.

I laughed. ā€œThe whole thing, Hastingsā€”calling you to the Ritz, Chiddesterā€™s call to me when you showed up, as you had toā€”the whole thing was planned. And you walked right in.ā€

Chiddester looked gray and exhausted. He said suddenly, ā€œAll right, Green. You may as well come in now. I think we have everything we need.ā€

Hastingsā€™ eyes bulged. He scrambled to his feet and ran for the door. Chiddester was quick for a man his size, and strong. He stood, laid the flat of his left hand on Hastingsā€™ chest and stopped him dead in his track. Then he delivered a right hook to his jaw that sent him reeling back across the room, laid him flat on his back, groaning like Sunday morning after Saturday night.

ā€œThereā€™ll be no Queenā€™s evidence in this case. Youā€™re all going to the fucking wall!ā€

The doorbell rang and the guys whoā€™d brought Sadiq in went to open in. There was a murmuring of voices and a rustling of feet and after a moment, the door opened again and Harry came in with two constables.

ā€œEvening, all. Where is he?ā€

Chiddester pointed and said, ā€œHe tried to get away. Had to stop him.ā€ The constables crossed the room and dragged Nigel Hastings to his feet. He was still having trouble focusing his eyes, and he had an ugly, swollen bruise covering the lower left side of his face. The constables cuffed him and Harry intoned, ā€œNigel Hastings, I am arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Katie Ellison, and conspiring in the attempted murder of Detectives John Stone and Carmen Dehan. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence against you.ā€ He nodded at the constables. ā€œAll right, take him away.ā€

As they walked him past me, Harry said, ā€œOh, by the way, Stone, the DNA results came in last minute. It was Hastingsā€™ DNA, like you thought.ā€

He stopped and stared at me with crazy eyes. ā€œYou tricked me! Youā€™re all the same! Lying, cheatingā€¦ā€

The rest of it was lost as he was bundled out into the hall. Chiddester frowned down at Dehan, who was still sitting in her chair in her sinful black dress. ā€œIā€™m sorry you had to witness that, my dear.ā€

I smiled down at her, wondering if sheā€™d give him a taste of her attitude. But there was only humor in her eyes. She stood and grinned at him and said, ā€œDonā€™t apologize, Chiddie. I just wish Iā€™d filmed it so I could watch it again.ā€

She winked and his cheeks flushed. Harry made a ā€˜crazy Yanksā€™ face and said, ā€œRight, weā€™d better be making a move. Lord Chiddester, Iā€™ll leave a car outside and an armed officer inside. Any problem at allā€¦ā€

ā€œAnd Iā€™ll shoot the bastard, Green, donā€™t worry about that.ā€

I smiled and before Harry could reprimand him, I asked, ā€œWhere is your wife, Chiddester?ā€

ā€œUpstairs in bed. Weā€™ll be fine, now go and do whatever you have to do.ā€

We stepped out into the balmy night and crossed the garden toward Harryā€™s car. The street was oddly peaceful, with the ancient, wrought iron streetlamps casting a gentle, green light through the leaves of the giant chestnuts. His car bleeped and flashed and we pulled open the doors. Then he leaned on the roof a moment and looked at me. ā€œTough old goat, isnā€™t he? Lost his daughter, obviously shattered by it, and yet there he is, in the thick of it, not flinching, and even decks the fellow who did it.ā€

I nodded. ā€œA few more like him, huh, Harry?ā€

He shrugged. ā€œMaybe. Maybe youā€™re right.ā€

EIGHTEEN

The radio crackled in the darkness of the car:

ā€œSubject moving north along Ladbroke Grove. Over.ā€

We pulled away and headed toward Holland Park Avenue. Harry took the radio and spoke. ā€œBravo team, what is the status of your subject? Over.ā€

ā€œBound west along the Acton Vale Sir, seems to be headed home to Ealing Common. Over.ā€

We reached the intersection with Holland Park Avenue and stopped. It was late and there was no traffic. The road was quiet and still.

I said, ā€œCaulfield has gone home. Sadiq is on his way to Villiers Road, in Willesden.ā€

He looked at me sharply. ā€œHow do you know that?ā€

I sighed. I could explain, but it wouldnā€™t convince him. I said, ā€œBelieve me. Leave the tail on Caulfield, there is an outside chance heā€™s not involved. We know for a fact Sadiq is. Even if Iā€™m wrong, which, you know, Iā€™m not, we should stay with him.ā€

He sighed and turned north toward Notting Hill Gate. ā€œCouldnā€™t you be wrong just sometimes?ā€ he said, with not much humor. He turned left then and we started accelerating down Ladbroke Grove, toward the Harrow Road. It is long and straight, and at that time of night, there were few people about. The luminous shop fronts and kebab parlors gave the street a depressing air of hopelessness. We passed under the metro bridge and the radio crackled again.

ā€œSubject headed for Kensal Rise Station. There is no traffic, sir, we are falling back in case he spots us. Over.ā€

ā€œRoger that, Sergeant.ā€

I turned to him. ā€œKensal Rise is on the way to Willesden, isnā€™t it?ā€

He nodded and gave a glance in the mirror. I heard Dehan laugh.

ā€œLeft onto Stavertonā€¦ Heā€™s doing another left onto Willesden Lane, sir. Over.ā€

Harry sighed. ā€œBe advised, he is probably headed for Villiers Road. Alpha One, stay behind him. Alpha Two, take Belton Road and intercept at the junction with Villiers. Over.ā€

ā€œRoger that, sir.ā€

It crackled again almost immediately. ā€œBravo team, sir. Subject has stopped at the Guilded Lilly on Ealing Broadway. All night bar, sir. Over.ā€

ā€œStay with him, Bravo Team, and stay in

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