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Back Gone Save as PDF
Chapters (77)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Dedication
  4. Epigraph
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. Acknowledgements
  75. Reading Group Questions
  76. Read More
  77. I

‘Don’t be so sure. If she finds I’m seeing someone she’ll have you at every family function and talking babies before you can say second date.’

Sarah raised her eyebrows. ‘OK.’

Jameson mentally kicked himself. Why did this woman make him say such stupid things? ‘Anyway, talking of second dates, would you like to have one? Without the drama of paramedics and ambulances.’

Sarah nodded. ‘I thought we could take a picnic to Hyde Park on Saturday. The weather’s meant to be nice. Do you think you’ll be able to get into the city? I’m not sure they’ll let you drive yet.’

‘I never drive in the city.’

‘Is that a yes?’

‘That is a yes.’

The room suddenly felt smaller, as if a bubble was tightening around them, pushing them closer together.

‘OK, you win the staring competition,’ Sarah eventually said as she looked away.

Jameson laughed. ‘What you lack is a sibling, you see. I was the unbeaten family champion for three years running, ages twelve through to fifteen.’

‘And then what happened?’

‘Claire found boys and make-up and refused to play stupid games with her stupid brother.’

Sarah looked amused. ‘Fair enough.’

‘It must have been boring growing up without a playmate.’

‘I had lots of friends; I didn’t really notice.’ She checked her watch. ‘I should go. I have a meeting at eleven.’ She stood, leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. He caught her wrist and she hovered, her face above his.

Then the door swung open. ‘Right then, young man. Time to get you washed and brushed and ready for the road.’ Nurse Janet had a shock of red hair and a twinkle in her eye. She was oblivious to the tension in the room.

Sarah stood up straight. ‘Saturday then. Midday at the Serpentine Gallery?’

Jameson kissed the back of her hand and then released her wrist. ‘See you there.’

40

The initial meeting with the Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service was wholly frustrating.

‘So you deny any wrongdoing in relation to the interactions you had with twelve-year-old Amy Jones in the period between 12 October 2016 and 4 December 2016?’ said Keith Timms, the badly suited, balding official tasked with briefing Bloom on the misconduct case.

‘Absolutely,’ she replied.

Keith turned his tablet around so that Bloom could see the screen. ‘Can you tell me if you recognize this residence, Dr Bloom?’

‘Of course. It’s my house.’

He flicked to the next photograph. ‘And who is this outside your house?’

‘That’s me. But who took these photographs and when?’

Keith flicked to the next photograph. ‘Some time between 12 October and 4 December 2016.’

Bloom stared at the third photograph. It didn’t make sense.

‘Can you tell me who is in this image?’ asked Keith. ‘The two people walking up the pathway to the door of a residence you previously confirmed to be your own home.’