His phone crackled into life as he climbed back into the Land Rover.
"Sebastian, can you talk?" It was Amy and she sounded excited.
"I'm always ready to talk to you, Trixiegirl."
She tutted, then gave a delighted laugh. It warmed him, just before he noticed the traffic warden looming in his rear-view mirror.
"Don't tell me off, but I've just got out of the Ghost Hunter studios." Sebastian dropped his keys on the floor. She paused. "I got a message and shot down there."
He had to quash down the urge to chastise her. "Your dad would be appalled. You're making me fail in my duties."
"I'm sorry. Please don’t make me feel bad."
He shook his head. "It's too late now, but I'm warning you, I will stick to you like glue when I get you back in my sights." Why did that sound so good?
The fact she gave a sexy chuckle made it sound even better.
"Did you get anything useful?"
"Yes, I managed to track down Jake. He was the only one around. You know, the sound guy?"
"I remember." He fumbled on the floor for the keys.
"Well, he mentioned another location I think might be important."
Sebastian bit back the automatic response he felt rising, which was to suggest she didn't trust someone whose previous 'clue' had turned up the grand total of nil information. He gave an encouraging grunt instead.
"I'll explain later. It's a hotel in Yorkshire called Tall Gables."
That caught his attention back again, because Tall Gables was one of the hotel brochures he'd been looking at in Quentin's locations basket. Interesting, he mused. He'd been thinking the holiday complex might be a more likely destination for someone wishing to escape the scene, for whatever reason, but it was in the right general direction. Perhaps he wouldn't have to tell her what he'd done and what he'd found and instead use the information to guide her without her knowledge. If so, it was a lucky break.
"Another ghost haunt, huh?" He had one eye in the wing mirror. The traffic warden had stopped and started to chat with a woman walking her dog, which gave him a bit of a reprieve.
"Hey, how did you know that?"
Damn it. Concentrate man. She had spotted his slip. She was sharp.
"It's in Yorkshire, I'm a Yorkshire man, remember." Close one.
"Yes, right Well, don't worry I'm not going to be spooked, especially not if you're there by my side." Her tone was playful.
Sebastian had forgotten all about the warden. By her side. His body had begun to signal its approval. "Excellent. When are we off?"
She laughed again. "You're enjoying the perks of this job, aren't you?
"I'm enjoying all my time with you, I won't deny that. Shall I pack an overnight bag?"
"I have to check whether the budget will stretch to it, and I can't leave just yet, but all being well I'll book us a double room for Wednesday and I'll confirm with you when we meet up tonight."
A double room. That was sweet music to his ears.
"I can hardly wait."
As he pocketed the phone there was a loud rap on his window and the leering face of the warden swooped into his field of vision. Yet another parking fine. If there was one thing he hated about living in London, it was this. He shrugged and gave the man a big cheesy grin. What the hell. It had been worth it.
Chapter Nine
Sebastian stood in the foyer of the Fitzroy Street Community Center in Camden Town and looked at the activities listed in chalk on a blackboard. It had been propped up in front of the reception desk, which was closed, and it stated the Tae Kwon Do youth club session was being held in the small gym, but gave newcomers no clue as to where the small gym was. Amy had said she would meet him in the reception but he was early, so he was tempted to search her out. He didn't want to end up in the big gym with the salsa class, or in seminar room number six for conversational French, but he'd give it a go.