I nodded to the officers and edged away. Just because this section was cordoned off didn’t mean that all of the park was. There had to be a chink somewhere in the security where I could slip through.
Without looking back, I marched northwards. More police were stationed all the way along. As much as I wanted to yell that I was one of them, I knew it wouldn’t do me any good.
Picking up speed I kept going, scanning for a spot where I could sneak through without being spotted. I rounded the corner, aware that I was now out of sight of Lukas and his vampires. I glanced into the park, my eyes straining through the shadowy trees in a bid to spot Cassidy. She was in there somewhere. I was sure of it.
‘Emma?’
I jerked my head, alarm rippling through me. When I saw who’d called my name, however, I relaxed. I trotted over to Molly, pasting what I hoped looked like a genuine smile on my face.
‘Oh my goodness!’ she said. ‘How the bloody hell are you? I heard what happened to DC Brown. Why are you still with Supe Squad? Barnes should have pulled you out.’
I muttered something non-committal. ‘Good to see you, Moll. What are you doing here?’
She waved a hand behind her, indicating the familiar outline of Buckingham Palace. ‘One of CID’s duties is to make sure that the Palace is kept wolf free during the full moon. It’s ceremonial, really, and it should be Special Branch who do this crap.’ She shrugged. ‘As I’m sure you know, the wolves don’t leave the park, but apparently we’ve still got to be here just in case.’
‘Ri-ight.’ I nodded slowly.
She peered at me. ‘I don’t want to be mean, Em, but you look like shit. Supe Squad must be terrible.’
‘It’s not that bad.’
Molly wrinkled her nose. ‘I heard it’s really boring. And that the werewolves and the vampires are annoying.’
‘Actually,’ I said, surprising myself at my willingness to rise to their defence, ‘they’re more accommodating than you’d think.’
She nudged me. ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ She paused. ‘Is Lord Horvath actually down there trying to get into the park? What on earth is he trying to pull?’
I laughed awkwardly and avoided the question. ‘Molly,’ I said, ‘I need your help.’
Her eyes widened a fraction. ‘Anything. What can I do?’
‘I need to get in.’
‘In?’
‘To the park,’ I explained. ‘I need to get into St James’s Park.’
Her mouth dropped open. ‘Why?’
‘I’m tracking down a dangerous suspect. I think they’re in here.’
‘The park’s been swept already. Nobody’s in there. Apart from one wolf who entered an hour or so ago.’
I drew in a sharp breath. Cassidy. It had to be. ‘It’s a wolf that I’m after.’
She glanced down at the crossbow in my hand. ‘Is that why you’re carrying that thing?’ she said, trying to make light of the situation. ‘Do you know how to use it?’
‘Of course,’ I lied.
‘Em,’ she whispered, ‘I thought we didn’t have jurisdiction over the wolves.’
‘Please, Molly. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. Trust me. I have to get into that park.’
She gave me a long look. ‘If something happens to you…’
‘It won’t.’
‘But—’
