For Your Own Protection(47)
‘CCTV,’ Natalie stated. ‘At King’s Cross Tube station. Two days ago. Just after the incident on the tracks.’
‘Incident?’
‘Did you not hear about what happened?’
‘I haven’t really been keeping up with the news.’
She pushed back some strands of hair. ‘A woman fell in front of a Tube train at King’s Cross on Tuesday evening. Some of the witnesses claim she was pushed.’
‘By this man?’
‘That’s the person of most interest to the police.’
‘Is the woman okay?’
‘She’s alive, but was badly injured in the fall. There aren’t many details in the articles – the police obviously don’t want to say too much.’
Matt shook his head.
Why the hell would someone do such a horrific thing?
‘That guy was seen running away from the scene,’ Natalie continued. ‘There are four images in all. I’ve got them all there – you can swipe through the other three.’
Matt did so. The images showed the guy at various points within the station, and they were of varying quality. In two wider images of the ticket-barrier area, the man was in the background. But the fourth image was better. It was at closer range than the first one Matt had been shown.
‘They’ve not found him then?’
‘No, not yet. He got out of the station before anyone really realised what had happened, and the last camera caught him getting into a car with another man, just around the corner. The plates were cloned.’
‘I don’t understand how this connects with me.’
‘You don’t recognise him then?’
Matt looked again at the images, swiping through all four. The man wasn’t familiar in the slightest. He reminded Matt of the thugs who turned out at far-right rallies. ‘Why, should I recognise him?’
Natalie hesitated, as if doing one final internal test of her instincts, of her theory, before voicing it out loud. ‘I’m pretty sure – very sure – I’ve seen this guy before.’
‘Where?’
She did a quick glance around, and didn’t seem happy. ‘Come on, let’s talk and walk.’
Matt didn’t argue, and they set off, not speaking, first of all along one of the designated paths that criss-crossed Hyde Park, and then off-piste on to the grass until they were some way from the nearest person.
‘I’ve seen him a couple of times, I think,’ Natalie said. ‘Watching you. A couple of weeks ago, the day we all went to Greenwich, he was on the boat coming back.’
‘He was on the boat?’ As a treat, they’d taken a boat back from Greenwich along the River Thames to Westminster. Charlie had squealed with delight as they’d passed under bridges and passers-by had waved.
‘I didn’t really think anything of it at the time. I was looking out for any suspicious people, of course, all day. But I didn’t see anything until we got back on the boat. Then I noticed this guy. I thought I caught him looking over at us once or twice, but I decided in the end I was letting my mind run away with itself. And then I saw this story, and I recognised him.’
‘It’s definitely the same guy?’
‘Yes. Well, I’m as sure as I can be.’
Matt was about to propose the theory that this man being on the boat, even if he was the same man who had been involved in the terrible event at King’s Cross, might be just a coincidence. And that she might be just jumping to the wrong conclusion. ‘You said you think you saw him another time.’
‘Yes. At the leisure centre.’
‘My God. What the hell is this all about?’
‘I don’t know, Matt, I really don’t.’
‘Where was he?’
‘Up in the spectators’ gallery. To be honest, I can’t be one hundred per cent sure it was him. I saw just a glimpse.’
‘But you’re sure enough to tell me.’
‘Yes.’ Then Natalie turned questioner. ‘Are you sure you don’t know what this might be about?’
‘What? Why this guy might be following me? I haven’t got a clue.’
Natalie had a strange look on her face.
‘What?’ Matt said. ‘There’s something you haven’t told me?’
‘Yes, there is. This is going to freak you out. And I should have told you sooner, I know. But before I saw the image of the man – I don’t know, part of me was still thinking this might all be an overreaction. I wasn’t really convinced he was in danger . . .’
‘He?’
Natalie placed her hands on her hips and gazed down at the ground.
‘Natalie, you said he was in danger.’
She slowly brought her head up until she was looking straight at him. He thought he could see tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. ‘It’s not you who I was asked to protect. It’s Charlie.’
PART THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Sean put up a hand as Matt entered the pub for their lunchtime drink. The Railway Tavern was set within Liverpool Street station and was a comfortable distance away from the UGT offices.
‘I wasn’t sure you’d want to speak to me again,’ Sean said, as Matt took the seat opposite. The table looked out across the station concourse, and Sean’s eyes tracked an attractive woman wheeling a roller suitcase past the window. He turned his attention back to Matt. ‘You know, you looked pretty pissed off when you left the other day.’ He passed across the pint of lager he’d already bought for Matt. ‘That’s why I thought I’d just leave you be for a while. But I’ve been thinking about you, bud – particularly since Gabriel let me know you two were meeting.’