Murder Club - Mark Pearson [100]
‘Do you want me to hurt you again?’
Laura opened her eyes and ran her hand down the woman’s long blonde hair. ‘No, Nicola,’ she said. ‘I just want you to hold me.’
‘The other night you scared me, Laura.’
‘I don’t remember it. I’m sorry.’
‘You made me beat you, hurt you. Use toys. You took so many drugs, drink. Punching the wall. I didn’t know what to do.’
‘But you brought me home, didn’t you?’
‘Yes. Maybe I should have stayed, but you told me to leave.’
‘Probably best that you did.’
‘But I don’t understand. What happened? Why were you like that?’
Laura kissed Nicola on the mouth and put her arms around her. ‘Just hold me,’ she said.
‘I only want to help.’
‘You can’t help.’
‘What is it?’
‘I did a very bad thing.’
Bible Steve walked along the corridor. He felt calm for the first time in a long while. He knew that it was due to the Valium they had given him, to help with the severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms he would be experiencing. But he felt calm. Cogs were clicking into place, wheels were in motion. He looked down at his battered, old hands and didn’t recoil with horror as he had previously. He was beginning to understand, and he knew that understanding was the first step to being healed, although he very much suspected it was too late for that.
He stopped outside the room next to the one where he had been treated and looked inside. An elderly lady had fallen asleep by the side of a hospital bed. A man lay there with an oxygen mask over his face. Wires and tubes were connected to his body. The man’s breath was a low, ragged gurgle. Bible walked into the room and looked at the various monitors. Staring down at the man for a moment or two, he returned to the monitoring equipment and turned a dial.
Jack Delaney held Kate’s hand as she lay on the hospital bed. The technician moved the scanning device and Kate smiled as she saw the images appear on the monitor.
‘Absolutely nothing to worry about,’ said the ultrasonographer.
‘Not even a scratch,’ added Delaney. ‘Who did you think you were, Superwoman?’
‘I don’t know about that,’ said Kate. ‘I’m going to need a new coat.’
‘I’m going to need a new screwdriver,’ said Delaney.
Kate grimaced and gestured towards Siobhan who was busy checking the scan image.
‘Yeah, sorry.’
‘You’ve got nothing to be sorry about, Jack. You saved my life. You saved both our lives.’
‘Nah, you’re a tough cookie, Kate. You’d have had his measure. You sure you’ve not got a drop of the Irish in you?’
Kate laughed. ‘Shall we go home?’
‘Yeah, let’s do that,’ said Delaney. ‘We’ve got a tree to decorate.’
‘Yay!’ said Siobhan and clapped her hands. Delaney looked from her and back to Kate and, as he ran his hand over her stomach, he had to blink his eyes, which were suddenly moist.
Part Four
70.
Monday morning …
KATE WALKER WALKED into the intensive-care room. Patricia Hunt was in her usual place by her husband’s side, keeping vigil. Dr Lily Crabbe was writing up some notes on Geoffrey Hunt’s chart, then hung it back on the rail at the base of the bed. She smiled briefly at Kate and stifled a yawn with her hand.
‘Busy night?’ asked Kate.
‘Always is.’
‘Good morning, Kate,’ said Reverend Hunt with a warm smile.
‘You seem much better today, Geoffrey.’
‘He’s on the mend,’ agreed Lily Crabbe. It was only yesterday, Kate remembered, that the registrar was telling her that she didn’t think he would make it.
‘Bit of a scare last night. But looks like we have the infection beaten.’
‘It’s a miracle,’ said Patricia.
The registrar headed off and Patricia stood up. ‘I am just going to get him a cup of tea. Would you like one, Dr Walker?’
‘Why don’t I walk with you, Patricia? Good to see you looking so well, Geoffrey. You take good care of yourself.’
‘I will, thank you, Doctor.’
Kate walked out with Patricia to the vending machine at the end of the corridor.
‘Pneumonia can be a dangerous thing for a man of his age. He’s been very lucky.’
‘I know.’
‘I looked at his X-rays, his chest X-rays.’
‘Yes?’ Patricia fished out