Chapters (67)
- Cover
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
‘I’ve had a vicious migraine all evening, thought it would clear and I’m maxed out on meds. I’d call Clemmy but she’s going to a wedding tomorrow.’
‘Has anything come in?’
‘No, it’s very quiet and if this clears up sooner I can take over.’
‘Of course. Switch the phone over to me and let’s pray no one rings.’
‘I’m really sorry, Cat, but I wouldn’t be fit to drive, I can hardly see and I’m dosed up.’
‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll call to see how you are tomorrow.’
‘I owe you.’
‘Forget it.’
She fell asleep still holding the phone and when it buzzed her half awake again she thought for a moment that she was still on the call to Luke.
‘Oh, Dr Cat? This is Sadie Logan, at the almshouses. I know it’s an awful time, I am so sorry, but it’s Mr Brown.’
*
The warden was standing at the open door of Lionel Brown’s almshouse, in her dressing gown.
‘I looked in on him about ten last night and he was settled in bed, not asleep but he said he was fine, though I’ve been a bit worried about him this week, he’s complained several times of a sore leg, but he wouldn’t let me look at it or send for you or anyone, so I thought he’d just banged it on a chair leg or something.’
They were standing in the hall, and Mrs Logan was whispering.
‘But not long ago, he rang the bell and went on ringing it so I didn’t even use the intercom to speak to him, I just came straight round. He was shivering, he said he hadn’t been to sleep for the pain in his leg, it had got worse. I think I did right to call you, Dr Cat, and I’m sorry it’s so late.’
‘Don’t worry.’ Feeling as she did, Cat might have suggested an earlier call would have been better but she said nothing, knowing that it was a fine line between calling unnecessarily, and waiting too long.
There was a faint smell in Lionel Brown’s bedroom, one Cat recognised instantly. He was lying in bed on his side, and his left leg was half out of the covers. She could feel the heat coming from him as she went near.
‘You poor thing, you’re feeling rough, aren’t you? I can see.’
He sighed and half looked at her, but his eyes were dull and his face seemed to have sunken in under the cheekbones. The smell was stronger, the heat from his body greater.
‘What happened to your leg, Lionel? Did you fall, or bang it on something?’
He seemed to be gathering his strength in order to focus and then reply.