He watched silently as the corpse was taken up in a tablecloth by four strapping young men and carried out of the room.
The commander’s car drew up to the rear entrance as they came out and he handed an exhausted Lily into the deep comfort of the back seat, where she dropped off almost at once. She awoke with a start only minutes later as the car came to a halt at a junction. Guiltily she glanced about her, checking that in her unconscious state she hadn’t lurched into his iron shoulder but had come to rest against the padded upholstery.
Joe thought he’d better reassure her that nothing indecorous had taken place: ‘Lord, Wentworth. You drop off faster than my old Labrador. But you don’t slobber and you don’t wuffle as loudly as he did.’
‘So sorry, sir. How shaming! It’s moving vehicles — they put me to sleep. Limousine or old rattletrap — it makes no difference. The conductor of the forty-two bus had to shake me awake once at the terminus. Are we there yet?’
‘No, not quite. We’ve just passed Chelsea Harbour. I thought we’d get out at Westminster and walk along the river for a stretch. Nice night. We’ll get a bit of fresh air into our lungs before we start work. Must stay sharp for the meeting.’ Moments later, he leaned forward and pulled aside the glass. ‘Sergeant — I want you to drop us off here and go home. Call for me at the Yard at six, will you?’
The driver opened the door and helped Lily on to the pavement. A short way downriver, Big Ben boomed half past some hour or other. Taxis sped by full of people in evening dress; ahead of them a knot of shrieking revellers made a dangerous dash across the street to take a closer look at the Thames.
‘Half past one o’clock and London’s still open for business, lit up and roistering. This is an early night for HRH. Poor chap — he was looking quite done in, I thought, towards the end. Still — he played his part with some skill, don’t you agree? Not easy being the mealy worm on the hook at the end of the line.’
‘I thought him skilful, brave and — yes — charming, sir.’
A mist was rising from the river and its deliciously chill breath made her shiver. She pulled her cashmere wrap more closely about her shoulders and watched as his car made a daring U-turn and set off in the opposite direction. She turned her head abruptly away from the road, annoyed but amused at what she saw, then looked up surreptitiously to see if he’d noticed the car tailing them.
‘I won’t offer an arm,’ he said easily. ‘I’ve noticed you like to stride out. Tell you what I will offer though … we’ve plenty of time before the team starts to assemble. In a hundred yards or so there’ll be another comfort available. Tell me when any food last passed your lips, Wentworth.’