BooksBarbecue
Back The Dead Line
Chapters (87)
  1. Cover
  2. By the Same Author
  3. Dedication Page
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. 60
  64. 61
  65. 62
  66. 63
  67. 64
  68. 65
  69. 66
  70. 67
  71. 68
  72. 69
  73. 70
  74. 71
  75. 72
  76. 73
  77. 74
  78. 75
  79. 76
  80. 77
  81. 78
  82. 79
  83. 80
  84. 81
  85. Acknowledgements
  86. Also Available by Holly Watt
  87. The Hunt and the Kill

‘Seems to be.’ Hessa sounded more enthusiastic about her work now.

‘GMC register?’

‘Yes.’

‘Cuttings?’ Casey’s voice was quiet.

‘Nothing,’ said Hessa. ‘He has no profile at all. There are whispers on the chatrooms though. They say he can work miracles.’

‘How much does he charge?’

‘If you have to ask . . .’ Hessa shrugged. ‘“It’s a baby,” I found on one forum. “I’d give anything. Everything.” It’s a good industry to be in, when the customers have that sort of mindset.’

‘Can’t put a price on life,’ Casey said flippantly.

‘Well, it turns out,’ Hessa replied, ‘that you can.’

‘And I suppose babies,’ Miranda said almost to herself, ‘are the closest thing you can get to immortality, even with all of Harley Street at your disposal.’

‘Did you scout out the building?’ Casey glanced at Hessa.

‘Yes,’ Hessa’s mouth twitched. ‘I went along and rang the top bell, and then I had a good look at each floor, before – oops – realising I was in the wrong building. There’s a big basement, in those buildings, and then four floors of doctors. Smaller rooms in the attic. There’s a plastic surgeon on the first floor of Greystone’s building, and then a dentist. Greystone is the next storey above, up a couple of flights of stairs. There’s a secretary on the landing, who shows people into a big waiting room. Greystone’s office is to the left, and there’s another room on the same floor too. A lab, maybe? Or perhaps a small surgical theatre.’

She stopped.

‘Well done,’ said Casey. ‘Great work, Hessa.’

‘I suppose,’ Miranda said, ‘that it’s time for a visit to Dr Greystone.’

16

16

It was immaculate: the shiny grey door, the grape hyacinths spilling out of the window boxes, the polished brass door number and the glossy black railings. A Harley Street townhouse impeccably repurposed. Miranda paused on the marble steps, and rang the doorbell.

‘After all,’ she had said to Casey as she left the office, her mouth twisted to the side, ‘I am the right age for a visit to Dr Greystone.’

Miranda was wearing a sensible skirt and a fawn silk shirt. ‘Drab,’ she had moaned to Casey. An upside-down Cinderella.

The shiny grey door unlocked with a purr. On the second floor, the receptionist was beautiful in a black linen suit, half-hidden behind a sleek computer and a huge bunch of lilies.

‘Miranda Lancaster.’ She gave her married name, almost unfamiliar. She was Miranda Darcey in her head; she forgot that Miranda Lancaster existed, too often. That Miranda Lancaster was brought out for the lie. ‘I’m so sorry, I’m terribly early,’ Miranda went on. ‘My previous appointment was cancelled. Would you mind awfully if I just sat in your waiting room and read my book?’

‘Not at all.’ The professional polish gleamed. ‘Can I bring you a cup of tea?’