After Chad leaves, the lawyer sits, deep in thought for a few minutes, then taking the card, picks up his phone and taps in the number of an acquaintance.
“Hello? Douglas? Yes, Lucan here. I wonder if you can help me out with something. It’s just a quick one. Do you have an Officer Corby on the force there? You do? No, that was all, thanks. I just needed to check. Are you still on for that round of golf on Saturday?”
*****
James
I’m so tired. Passively, I lie in the dark, unable to sleep, haunted by the waking nightmare of something that I can’t quite remember.
Charlotte lies next to me, I think asleep, but as the door clicks open and then closes again, she stirs.
Her voice is sleepy. “Hi.”
Michael’s voice is low, “Hi, how are you? Feeling better now?”
“I’m fine. I just needed some sleep.”
“How is he?”
“Asleep too I think. He seems okay. Certainly on the mend.”
“Good.” There is rustling and then movement as he gets into the bed beside her. Then the small sounds of intimacy, sighs, murmurs, a kiss.
“I'd like to hold you for a while. Is that okay?”
“Of course it is. Michael, I wanted to say thank you and sorry.”
“Sorry? What do you have to be sorry for?”
“For.... I've been so awful, and I couldn't have coped without you. I thought I'd lost him and I ignored you.”
part of the
he can't be there
churn and the
keep my eyes closed and try to
*****
mad. Despite the painkillers, there is a constant ache. Even through the mist of drugs, my body is at some level, still aware of the pain. I'm well enough to want to be up and about,
I try to read, but the drugs fog
a pod loaded with music, podcasts and audio-books, but whatever I choose simply irritates. I’m snappy without meaning to
and Beth arrive, bearing more of Ross'
us.” She dishes up a plate for me. “It's steak and salad
not even to walk to the bathroom because the nurse insists on
weary. “I don’t want
tucks into his. “Come on, James. You love steak, and this is a beauty. Perfectly
“Just a little, Master. I'll cut it
out of my mouth
and
day and you're spending too much
I’d like
Oh, crap….
two out
You're a fucking hero. But that's no excuse now for being a shit to the people who care about you. They'll not say it, so I
he’s right of course. One hundred
know. I was sorry as soon as
looms over me. “You might tell
I'm just.... Not good at inactivity…. Richard, how serious was it? Everyone says I
press flat as he parks a
?
?
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