“They must have taken the Tube,” Tom explained, pointing at the steps leading down into the station. A sign over the entrance announced it was called Gloucester Road.
Melanie didn’t wait for a discussion and headed straight for the station entrance, closely followed by Tom. They descended the steps two at a time and found themselves in an open area which housed the ticket office. Although not overly busy there were a few others milling around looking at maps on the wall and passing through the barriers, which led down an escalator to the platforms.
Tom purchased two travel card tickets that would allow them to travel anywhere within London, as he didn’t have a clue where they might actually be going. He wasn’t convinced they should be purchasing any tickets or trying to follow Simpson and Miller anywhere but he knew Melanie well enough by now that her mind was set and there was no point in arguing.
Now Tom had the tickets, he was faced with the decision of which direction to take. The station served three different lines, District, Circle and Piccadilly. Each of them then went in two directions so they were faced with a ridiculous six options.
For no good reason, he decided to start with the Piccadilly line and called Melanie to follow. They headed to the left and he handed her a ticket and she followed him through the automatic barrier and down the appropriate escalator. As they reached the bottom they could go left or right.
He took a quick look at the left platform which was relatively empty. Then he looked to the right which was heading north via Green Park and Leicester Square. The platform was busy, suggesting everyone had been waiting some time for a train. There was no sign of Miller or any policemen for that matter. It was impossible to see if Simpson was on the platform without closer inspection. Melanie was looking at him waiting for his decision.
Miller hurried down the steps into the tube, followed close behind by his driver. He headed straight for the nearest escalators and flashed his badge at the man standing guard by the ticket barrier, telling him to let them through. He could see the signs saying he was heading for the District and Circle lines. He was reasonably familiar with the line and his first thought was that Simpson might head clockwise, trying to get to one of the mainline stations such as Paddington or Euston.
At the bottom of the escalator, he told his driver to check the anticlockwise platform while he took the clockwise platform. There were quite a number of people on the platform and he went first to his right and made his way along the platform checking for Simpson. He went carefully because Simpson was armed and he didn’t want a bloodbath. Then he went back past where he’d joined the platform and continued to check along the remainder of the platform. There was no sign of Simpson and he returned to meet his driver whose face and negative nod, told him immediately he had also been unsuccessful.
Miller was suddenly worried the car at the top of the station entrance had simply been a decoy. Simpson was a clever bastard. But there was still the chance he had taken the Piccadilly line. Miller told the driver to get outside the station and direct the first officers to arrive to join him on the Piccadilly platforms. If they weren’t armed officers, they should tread carefully. Subsequent backup should start searching the immediate vicinity in case Simpson was on foot. And get a helicopter in the air asap.
Miller then started running back along the platform to where he had seen the exit indicating access to the Piccadilly line. He shouted for people to get out the way but still had to push aside one surprised man who hadn’t heard him. The man swore at him and others followed suite, telling him to be careful. Miller shouted sorry but didn’t stop. He was rushing towards the Piccadilly sign but doing so with no great optimism. He realized that even if Simpson had taken the Piccadilly line, it was very unlikely he would still be on the platform.
Miller was through the exit and at the bottom of a huge escalator. He started running up the escalator but he had to slow halfway. As he neared the top he was breathing heavily and his legs felt like jelly. He cursed the fact he wasn’t as fit as he used to be and slowed to a walk.
Tom and Melanie had joined the Piccadilly line platform at one end and started to slowly work their way along looking for Simpson.
“Remember he’s got a gun,” Tom warned.
“I remember,” Melanie almost shouted, having to compete with the sound of a train emerging from the tunnel and arriving at the platform. She took an involuntary step back despite not being particularly close to the edge.
They looked at each other uncertain what to do. All the passengers had suddenly congregated at the front of the platform, ready to board the train. It made it impossible to move further along the platform.
“Can you see him?” Tom asked.
They were both desperately searching the faces boarding the train but it was a long platform and they could only see halfway along.
“Do we get on?” Melanie asked.
Tom didn’t respond. He had his eyes fixed on someone who had just boarded. The man gave a furtive glance around as he stepped onto the train. Tom only saw him for an instant and was far from certain it was Simpson.
The door on the train started to close and Tom thrust his body in the way. For a second the door pressed on his body trying to close but then the sensors detected his presence and the door slid back open again. He held out his hand to Melanie and pulled her through
