Patrick went past Harper and out of the room towards the cafeteria, disappearing around a corner. Harper stepped into the corridor, wondering what she ought to do about what she’d just seen. Should she report Lauren for avoiding her meds? Should she go after Patrick and tell him? The more she thought about it, the less sure she was about what she’d seen. Hadn’t the nurse checked Lauren’s mouth, to make sure she’d swallowed? As the door started to close, she heard the dreamy young woman start to sing. The tune was ancient, sad, and heavy with feeling.

I’m a four-loom weaver as many a one knows

I’ve nowt to eat, and I’ve worn out me clo’es

Me clogs are both broken and stockings I’ve none

They’d scarce give me tuppence for all I’ve got on

Harper listened. And then she thought she heard more voices, a high harmony. She put her hand on the door to stop it closing completely, and through the gap she looked at Lauren to see if the sound came from her, but her mouth was shut. It was the babies; she could see the twins in profile, their mouths taut and open as if they were crying, but the sound, in that split second, was like singing. The police officer’s eyes raced between the young woman and the two babies, an impossible trio. Impossible. She pushed the door wider and looked in desperation over at the nurse, who’d fallen asleep again, the magazine on her chest.

Lauren gazed at Harper, shining eyes triumphant. “You see, now, don’t you?”

Then the nurse snorted awake and the young woman stopped singing and the babies were crying, long, sorrowful screaming cries of the kind that cannot be ignored.

Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

The visit to the unit was very troubling. Harper had been hoping that Lauren would identify Natasha as the woman who had been harassing her, so that she could build the case against Natasha, but it seemed Lauren didn’t know her at all. After the conversation, Harper’s conviction that Lauren wasn’t as mad as everyone thought was disappearing fast. But, just imagine if your babies had a cry that sounded like singing. That would be enough to make anyone question their grasp on reality. Such an eerie moment, she shuddered to think of it.

When Harper returned to the office, her phone showed a missed call from Amy, so she rang back. The journalist picked up immediately.

“You weren’t as friendly as usual yesterday, Joanna,” said Amy, by way of hello.