London, May 1, 1945
What is Chet Armstrong doing in London? Is he in the service now? How could he be, with his limp and his cane?
Barbara did not know any of the answers, but knew what he wanted with her. She had never really been afraid of him, until then.
Was his company still making parts for airplanes? Unsafe parts, she was sure. As far as she was concerned, he was just another war profiteer.
Whatever business brought Chet to London, she knew he had unfinished business with her. His note made that perfectly clear. She worried that this time, he would finally get his way with her. And from his note, he was angry.
Should I try to hide from him? How can I?
She had to be back at ATA headquarters at six o'clock to learn about the top secret assignment.
I can't stay here. Chet knows I'm here. I won't give him the satisfaction of finding me so easily.
I have to go somewhere. Somewhere I can at least feel safe. But where? It was as if Stephen spoke the answer to her.
Of course! All Hallows-By-the-Tower!
Where she had gone with Stephen the year before. Was it only last year? It seems like a hundred years ago!
She put on her blue air service raincoat and left the hotel. Riding a bus to London Tower, she was unaware that in the heavy traffic behind it that afternoon, a taxi was following.
When the bus came near All Hallows church Barbara got off. In a cold drizzle, she began running to the churchyard. Entering through its iron gates, she was startled by a bobby's shrill whistle, and then his call to her,
"Here, now! Don't go in there, Miss. It's not safe!"
Was anywhere safe, from Chet? She doubted it.
She entered the bombed-out churchyard with its fallen tombstones without having seen the sign to one side of the entrance that read:
DANGER
STAY OUT!
UNEXPLODED BOMB
Barbara thought she heard the bobby behind her, entering the churchyard. She hoped he would. Then she would feel safer. But an emergency vehicle's shrill siren drew him elsewhere and she was alone again.
Or am I? she wondered.
Anxious moments later, in the glow of a lamplight at the churchyard entrance, she saw Chet. Tall, slender, and incredibly handsome as ever with thick blue-black hair and azure blue eyes. Wearing a dark suit, he limped slightly as he walked with the cane, as he had the last time she had seen him. It had been back in Chicago and seemed like even longer than the three years that had passed.