They had a key to her flat. And Suzy was so upset, so hurt. She really seemed to hate her. Enough to have done this, maybe? Invaded her space, stolen from her, hurt an innocent girl who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?

No, she mustn’t jump to conclusions. Suzy was upset, but that didn’t make her violent or a would-be killer. And she was blind, for heaven’s sake. No, she must let the police do their job. They had heard the conversation, all of it, and they would be asking questions, the right questions, not just guessing at things the way she was. Besides, there were other keys to her flat. Too many, when she thought about it. George still had one, even though he’d not used it in years, and that surely meant that his wife had access to it as well – the wife he had fallen out with not so long ago. And Prue had a key, of course. And there was a spare too, that Madi kept in a kitchen drawer. Betty from next door had borrowed that key when Madi had first come home from the hospital after her mastectomy and had just wanted to sleep. Betty had used it to let herself in, not wanting to disturb the patient, when she’d been out to get Madi some shopping or to pick up her prescriptions from the chemist. Had she ever returned it? Madi couldn’t remember. She went into the kitchen to check, and yes, it was there in the drawer where it belonged.

She really must stop trying to be some kind of amateur sleuth. The police would get to the bottom of things soon enough. For now, she had other things to be getting on with. Faith and Stuart would be here soon and she still needed to make up their bed, and change the sheets on her own. Madi just hoped they would be bringing good news with them because it was Prue who mattered the most right now.

Chapter 37

PRUE

‘Prue?’

When she opened her eyes, she felt a lot better, clearer in the head. Joe was sitting beside her, holding her hand.

‘Still here?’

‘Of course.’

‘What time is it?’

‘Ten past eight. Visiting hours are over.’

‘So how come …?’

‘I sweet-talked the nurse, told her I’d come a long way, promised I’d be quiet. Your mum and dad have just gone. They didn’t want to wake you, but they needed a change of clothes and a bit of sleep, now that they know you’re okay. Miss Cardew said they could stay at hers. Your mum’s shattered. It’s been hard for her, seeing you so poorly. They’ll be back first thing.’

‘Great. Could you pass me a glass of water, please?’

He poured some from the big plastic jug on the tray at the foot of the bed, and held the tumbler to her lips.

‘What exactly …?’

‘Happened to you? Look, I know this is a lot to take in, but the police are doing their best to find out who did this. It was someone at the flat where you were staying, some sort of intruder. Someone you let in, or who was already there. Maybe you disturbed him, and he hit you. You’ve already told the police that you don’t remember anything about it.’