Eric stopped dead; her cold, flat words were now pissing him off. ‘Okay, Zara. I’ll wait in the car.’

Without bothering to reply, she marched ahead, wondering if she’d been too sharp for no real reason other than his affections for her.

After asking at reception for the Lambeth Wing, she followed the route and stepped inside the lift. As she looked at the map on the wall, a heavily built round-faced doctor, holding a file under his arm, joined her and asked if she needed the prosthetics department. For a moment, she was stunned.

‘Pardon?’ she said politely.

He looked at her wrist. ‘Prosthetics?’

‘Oh no. Sorry, I’m visiting a friend.’

‘Oh, I’m very sorry, I thought . . . Well, look, I can see you don’t wear a prosthetic. Is there any reason?’

‘Well, no, I mean, can I . . . er . . . is it possible to have . . . ?’ She held up her arm and instantly saw the shock on the doctor’s face.

He stared for a moment and then gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘I’m Doctor Hussain. I work on the fourth floor. Come and see me. I’m sure I can help you.’

He took another look at her scars. ‘Please do come. I really think I can make a difference.’

‘Thank you. I will do.’

With that, he exited the lift, leaving Zara with ideas of a prosthetic hand. Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

***

Davey Lanigan looked exhausted, old, and haggard. Zara almost gasped when she saw him slumped in the chair half-asleep. The last time she’d seen him, he was a picture of health with a mop of black hair. Now he was grey and half the size. Startled by a presence in the room, he nevertheless smiled in relief when he saw who the visitor was. He rose from his chair. ‘Zara!’ his voice cracked.

Unexpectedly, Zara fell into his arms and hugged him tightly. Who would have thought it? Ten years ago, she’d nearly killed him by bludgeoning him with a rock. Yet she very quickly learned that he was the most faithful and trustworthy man she’d ever met. For five years, their businesses thrived, and they’d split the profits with not even a squabble. Even after she’d gone missing for all that time, he’d still put her share of the profits in one of her offshore accounts.

So much was said in that embrace, though none of it spoken.

As he held her away to get a proper look, she smiled and then her expression changed as she peered over at Neil lying in the bed, wired up to monitors. Surprisingly, Neil looked good, although he was very pale. He always was a handsome man; a few streaks of grey were apparent in places, showing his age, yet his body was still ripped with muscles.

‘How is he?’ she uttered through tears.