‘Any friend of Ed’s is a friend of ours,’ said Trio, and they hugged him too.

‘Welcome to the club, dude,’ said Trey. ‘Always good to have another Twisted Kid around.’

‘That’s enough huggy-kissy crap,’ said Brooke. ‘This is turning into the end of a bad American sitcom.’

‘You’ve got no heart, Brooke,’ said Trio.

‘I’ve got a heart all right,’ said Brooke. ‘But I’ve also got a Yuckometer. What took you so long to answer the door?’

‘We were in the back is all,’ said Trey. ‘The oldsters are having lunch. We weren’t listening out for anyone. We don’t exactly get many visitors. Maybe the odd parcel from Amazon, but that’s about it.’

‘We are just so relieved to see you,’ said Trio. ‘I was, like, we’re never going to see them again. A whole, like, army of the fallen went past.’

‘Tell us about it,’ said Kyle. ‘We nearly got trampled into mincemeat.’

Ed smiled. ‘Today is a good day,’ he said. ‘And we’re gonna make sure tomorrow is even better. I feel it in the air. The tide has turned. We’re gonna roll the sickos out of here. We’re gonna win, Trinity. We are going to win.’

Dr Norman appeared in the doorway, wobbling on his sticks, beaming and jovial. He shook everyone’s hand as they went in, pleased to see them all safe and sound.

As they walked towards the day room, Trey had a quiet word with Ed.

‘What did I tell you?’ he said. ‘Rule of three.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘Three scarred faces. It’s significant. You and Brooke and your friend Malik. It was always going to be.’

Chapter 70

70

The light was washing in through the long windows down the side of the day room, falling on the old people who were enjoying the warmth and the brightness, outlining their faces with silver. Some were sleeping, some were talking, some were reading, some just sat there lost in thought. It was a scene of peacefulness and calm.

Ed spotted Amelia’s sister, Dot, sitting all alone, staring out of the window and talking quietly to herself, her fingers picking distractedly at the arms of her chair.

A thought struck him. There was someone missing.

‘Where’s Amelia?’ he asked. ‘I don’t see her.’

‘Ah …’ Dr Norman sat down at an empty table, seemingly too tired to stand any longer. Ed and the others joined him. The doctor’s skin looked pale and transparent with the sun on it, his skull showing clearly, laced with blue veins, his hair so fine, his eyes like clouded glass.

‘She caught a cold. It went down into her lungs. Got pneumonia. I did what I could. I tried antibiotics. It wasn’t enough. It’s never enough. I’m sorry. She liked you all very much. She asked about you just before …’