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Chapters (53)
  1. The Source
  2. Dedication
  3. Contents
  4. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  5. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1996
  6. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  7. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1996
  8. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  9. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1996
  10. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  11. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1996
  12. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  13. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1996
  14. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  15. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1996
  16. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  17. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1996
  18. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  19. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1997
  20. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  21. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1997
  22. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  23. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1997
  24. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  25. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1997
  26. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  27. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1997
  28. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  29. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1997
  30. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  31. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1997
  32. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  33. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1997
  34. Carly ~ Warchester ~ 1998
  35. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  36. Carly ~ London ~ 2001
  37. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  38. Carly ~ London ~ 2001
  39. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  40. Carly ~ London ~ 2001
  41. Marie ~ Just outside Warchester ~ 2006
  42. Carly ~ London ~ 2001
  43. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  44. Carly ~ Deptford ~ 2002
  45. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  46. Marie ~ Deptford ~ 2004
  47. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  48. Marie ~ London ~ 2005
  49. Marie ~ London ~ 2006
  50. Marie ~ London ~ Six months later
  51. Acknowledgements
  52. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  53. Copyright

‘We do regular ward rounds,’ she says. ‘It’s part of the job, just as we regularly visit all of our local clinics. Doctors refer us patients with questionable injuries or illnesses so we can follow up in the community. Trust me, I was as surprised as you to see you again so soon.’

She cocks her head to the side, her hair lit up by the overhead strip lights.

‘But why are you helping me?’ I keep hold of her hand as I take the phone.

‘It’s my job, remember? We’re just here to help you. That’s all. We’re here to make sure you don’t have to go through it alone. You can tell us anything you need to, and we’ll try to help you. It’s as simple as that, really. There’s nothing you can’t say to us. You won’t be in any trouble, I promise. I know it’s hard to feel like you can trust people you hardly know. But I can assure you – all we’re here to do, all I’m here to do, is help you. Look after you, when 135you feel like no one else is? Maybe you’d like to talk a little more, once you’ve spoken to Rachel.’

I drop her hand as I punch in Rach’s number, but I can’t drop her eyes, no matter how hard I try. They look straight through mine into my brain, like she knows exactly what she’s searching for.

136

Marie ~ London ~ 2006

I jump out of the throng to wait for Jemima as we all squeeze out of the conference room. My adrenaline starts firing as I spot Thomas at her side. Public humiliation aside, he’ll try to impress her, I’m sure of it, everyone does. He’ll tell her everything if she handles it right.

My grip loosens around the phone in my pocket. Maybe Pegasus, that stupid winged horse, is actually about to get to fly? You know the rules. You can’t afford to make any more mistakes. I fall in step beside them as discreetly as I can, walking through the newsroom towards the main desk.

‘It’s better than you think,’ Jemima says, suddenly coy as Thomas rakes a hand through his perfect hair. ‘You have to let Olivia get it out of her system at times like this. Just nod, smile, agree with whatever story she’s come up with. Once she’s blustered it all out you’ll find she’s actually focused and helpful.’

‘What I can’t tolerate is how unproductive it all is,’ he says, with a sideways frown. ‘Like I’m minded to come up with anything original after being publicly sacrificed at the altar of senior management.’