Tom’s home was still a mess, constantly invaded by numerous police forensics officers in white coats looking for clues. He stopped by the house to collect a few extra clothes and crossed the road to check how Janet was getting along. She had asked after Melanie and seemed amazingly resilient given how recently she had lost her husband. She also gained comfort from the fact Colin was showing signs of improvement. She felt his survival would give some meaning to her husband’s death. Tom considered he would always be in John’s debt for saving Colin’s life and he intended to help Janet in any way he could. He made sure she understood if she needed anything at all she only had to ask.
Tom was crossing back over the road when Miller telephoned. He was intrigued by Miller’s request for him to come immediately to London. As Melanie was already in London, Tom found it easy to agree despite only the briefest explanation from Miller. The details could wait until they met. He promised to be on the first possible train.
CHAPTER TEN
It was a couple of minutes past five when Tom arrived at the Kingston gate entrance to Richmond Park. He directed the taxi right at the mini roundabout and followed the road tracing the circumference of the park for about a mile, until making a left up the familiar hill to the car park closest to the appointed meeting place.
In his early twenties, after leaving university, he had rented his first flat in Kingston and for a few months even shared it with Rachel, a third year student studying art at Kingston University. They had been good times and the one summer they spent nearly every weekend with a rug and a bottle of wine in the park. She would sometimes produce a sketch of him and somewhere at home in a bottom draw, he still had a sketch she had signed and given to him for his birthday. When the course finished she had returned home to Bath and they had said goodbye without regrets. Six months later he had met Alex and rushed headlong into commitment and marriage.
Paying the fare Tom declined the driver's offer to return and pick him up later. If everything went according to plan, obtaining a lift home would be the least of his problems. He was pleased he had taken the time to purchase the new steel grey wool coat he was wearing. It had an inner lining which he zipped up to his chin and pulled the high collar around his neck. He had paid a price he wouldn’t until recently have ever dreamed of paying for a coat and though he said so himself, he thought he looked smart and fashionable. It was something he would feel comfortable wearing out with Melanie. The old leather jacket had been consigned to the back of the wardrobe for the foreseeable future. The weather wasn’t showing any sign of improving and he felt that without the new coat, he was as likely to freeze to death as meet his end any other way. Tom didn't know if the girl would actually come but she'd sent the invitation and he’d accepted. He just hoped he wouldn't be leaving the park in a horizontal position.
Miller had explained to Tom that it was a good location to meet. With it’s wide open spaces, he felt there was little danger of any innocent bystanders being caught up in whatever might be about to unfold. It would also be impossible for someone to sneak up unawares. The girl had probably chosen it as their meeting place for the exact same reasons.
It was late afternoon and soon Darkness would start to fall. He stepped carefully on the slippery path as he began to walk down the gently sloping hill towards the ponds. He was particularly wary of patches of black ice. He knew he was being watched and didn’t want to end up unceremoniously falling on his backside. He glanced around as he walked. The area to his left was lightly wooded and covered in fern. To his right there was only long grass.
He was shaking a little and it wasn’t just from the cold. He felt he was entitled to behave nervously after everything that had happened. It shouldn't scare anyone away. There were a couple of joggers and a handful of other people taking a leisurely stroll, although what drove them to be out in this weather he had no idea. There was no sign of anyone he could immediately label as suspicious or dangerous.
Tom had agreed without too much pressure from Miller, to meet with the girl who was supposedly able to provide the whereabouts of Connor and had some other vital information she had to impart but wouldn’t share on the telephone. Miller assumed she also would want something in return. He had explained to Tom that she didn’t trust the police and wanted an intermediary. Someone she could trust. That someone was Tom. She had informed Miller that Tom would recognize her because they had met previously in his betting shop. That had made Tom relax. He remembered the pleasant and attractive Irish girl who knew nothing about horse racing. He couldn’t think of anyone less dangerous. What finally clinched
