‘They both want a baby. Don’t forget, Adam is unaware of the miscarriage; it’s not too much of a reach to think that he—’

‘So you believe it’s working?’

‘I believe that Anna believes it. I think so. I hope so.’

‘But you can’t be sure?’

Oliver removes his glasses and rubs his eyes. ‘No, I can’t be certain. I still can’t get the computer to record for a start. It’s one thing to capture still images from a person’s mind but the computer can’t cope with images that move at lightning speed the way the subconscious plays things out. I should have done the trial myself and then there’d be no question as to whether it was a success or not. But…’ He sighed and slipped his glasses back on.

‘Clem,’ Eva said softly.

‘I remember what it’s like. That waiting. Wondering. Anna reminds me a little of Clem. A little of myself. That makes it harder now.’

‘How so?’

‘Anna thinks she’s seen something amazing and I have to be the one to take that away from her.’ There’s a burning behind his eyes. He has approached this so very wrongly. He looks to Eva for answers but she doesn’t speak. ‘I think we need to stop. Figure out why the computer isn’t recording. Sofia is actively seeking out another suitable candidate. There’s a woman in St Barnabas’s Hospital we think is ideal. I’m going to talk to her next of kin. I’ll be the one taking part in the trial with the next participant.’

‘What about Anna?’

‘She’s going to take it hard.’

‘Of course, but it isn’t fair to let her carry on if it isn’t working. It’s a form of delusion almost.’ Eva taps her pen against her clipboard. ‘But then it doesn’t seem fair to pull her out of it, if it is working.’

‘That leaves us in a quandary. There’s no definitive way of knowing at this stage.’

‘Yes, there is. You’ll have to do the trial, Oliver. With Adam.’

Oliver pushes his glasses. ‘Even though Anna is against it?’

‘Especially because Anna is against it. Why doesn’t she want you to try it, Oliver? On some level does she know it’s all in her head?’

Oliver mulls this over. ‘You’re right. I’m going to give it a go myself. Let’s find out, one way or the other, whether it’s working the way Anna says it is.’

‘And if it isn’t?’ Eva asks.

It pains Oliver to say it. ‘I’ll have to send them both home.’

Chapter Forty-Nine

Anna

‘No.’ I can’t believe what I am hearing. ‘I told you that I don’t want you connecting to Adam yet, Oliver. I won’t give you my consent.’