Bloom recalled a press article that Karene had sent her when they were first looking for Harry. It had seemed irrelevant at the time, simply a way of demonstrating what a great guy she had fallen for. But in light of the postcard Bloom opened it and re-read the editorial. It described the decision taken by the newly promoted Captain Peterson to airlift migrants from a stricken vessel off the coast of Italy even though no one had agreed to take them in. He was quoted as saying, ‘No man, woman or child is expendable, not one single one, no matter who they are or where they are from. As a nation, we have a responsibility to save any and every life.’

The plane began its descent. Bloom saved her files, sat back and closed her eyes.

To help or to hinder?

Your choice.

She sat up. Jameson looked over and raised an eyebrow, asking if everything was OK. Bloom nodded and sat back in her seat again, but her mind raced as she connected the pieces together and firmed up her theory, or rather, her fear.

27

The window opposite Harry’s bed looked out on to a partially landscaped garden. He could see raised beds, some with hardy perennials, the others still bare. There was a lawn with a circular seating area surrounded by a neatly cut privet hedge. The path leading towards it was bordered by pairs of box-cut trees. Beyond that, there was another building still under construction and heavily scaffolded.

One of the porters, a skinny, balding chap called Freddie, carried a box of supplies into the room.

‘Afternoon, Sir,’ he said.

‘Afternoon,’ said Harry. He had encouraged Freddie to call him Harry but the porter was having none of it. Harry was one of the first patients here, but many more would be transferred from the military rehabilitation centre in Surrey in the coming months and Freddie had said he was expected to treat all of them with the respect they deserved. It was no good starting bad habits now. ‘Busy day?’

Freddie placed a box of latex gloves in the cabinet and carried a few toilet rolls into the en-suite. ‘I’m all done, Sir. Shift change in ten. This is my last job of the day, then two days off.’

‘Very nice. I wish I could escape for a few days.’

‘You’ll be out of here soon enough.’