Robin’s finding it hard to believe it himself. It makes him feel slightly sick – the idea that someone could stick a penknife in their own throat so they could survive. But, as he well knows, people do strange things when they’re pushed to the edge.

And the tussle. The fingertip bruises on Simon Sharp’s arms. Finn had been trying to stop him.

A quiet knock interrupts the stunned silence, and Josie puts her head round the door.

‘Robin,’ she says. ‘Finn’s asking for you.’

60

Robin follows Josie out.

‘Listen, Josie—’ he starts, but she stops him, her hand in the air.

‘No, Robin. I can’t be dealing with you now.’

‘I just wanted to apologise—’ Robin tries again, but there’s a shout from Finn’s room.

‘Not now,’ Josie repeats and leaves him, going in to see Finn. Robin follows, chastened.

Finn’s sitting up in bed, his glasses on. It’s the first time Robin’s seen him in days, and he looks healthier: his cheeks have a pink hue, his hair washed and brushed. He smiles as Robin comes into the room.

‘Rob! It’s been ages!’

‘I know, I—’ Robin begins, but Finn cuts him off.

‘I haven’t seen you since that night we went out, you know, when we got wasted.’

Robin’s uncertain what he’s talking about and glances to Josie.

‘Don’t worry about me being in hospital, Rob. Honestly,’ Finn continues. ‘Doctors say they’ll have my appendix out in no time. Routine op.’

Josie pulls Robin to one side. He’s aware that Steph and Freya have come into the room behind him and are watching the exchange with interest.

‘He’s been like this since the weekend,’ Josie whispers. ‘He keeps on coming up with these random explanations about why he’s in hospital. Like he can’t remember and he’s making something up to cope with it.’

‘Has he done this for other situations?’ Steph’s been listening to Josie and now joins them. ‘Other questions he’s been asked and can’t answer?’

‘Yes. Constantly.’

Steph frowns. ‘Do you mind…?’

Josie nods and gestures towards the bed. Steph approaches Finn.

‘Finn?’ she says. ‘My name is Dr Steph Harper. Do you mind if I examine you?’

‘Go for it,’ Finn agrees. ‘I remember you from last week.’

Robin, Josie and Freya stand back and watch as Steph examines Finn. She looks into his eyes, asks him to stand up, get out of bed and try to walk. His movements are uncoordinated, his shuffling slow, with a wide gait.

‘What day is it, Finn? What date?’ she asks.

‘December, nearly Christmas.’

‘How old are you?’

‘I was born in February 1978.’

‘So that makes you…?’

‘Forty-two.’

Josie glances at Robin. Finn’s missed a birthday – he was forty-three in February.

‘And where are you?’

‘Hospital, clearly,’ he laughs. ‘Doc says I’ll be out in a few days.’