‘Shit.’ I can, of course, get some more photographs from Roma, but these were printed ones and somehow felt more real than digital copies. I mustn’t let myself get hung up on them, though. I need to stay focused and work out what to do next. I begin to return the items to my bag. I gather up the receipts and sort them so they are all up the same way, slipping them into the pocket of my wallet. I check my bank cards and they are all there. It’s only then that I notice the edge of the page I found at Alice’s house, the one with what looks like a UK mobile-phone number, tucked between my driving license and Hannah’s library ticket.
I had forgotten all about it.
With a new sense of determination, I tap in the number on my phone.
The call is picked up at the other end, but no one speaks.
‘Hello?’ I say. ‘Who am I speaking to?’ I can hear their breath and my scalp prickles. I feel a rush of adrenalin coursing to my fingertips. ‘It’s you, isn’t it?’ I say, with a bravery I don’t feel. ‘Speak to me! Stop being a coward.’
A slow tut, tut tut, comes down the line, followed by some sort of derogatory snort, before the line goes dead.
‘Bastard! I shout at the phone and throw it down onto the bed in frustration.
I know, without a doubt, that the person who sent those threatening text messages is the same person I have just phoned. And now I have their phone number. For a fleeting moment I feel elated because if I can trace this phone number, I’m sure it will lead to whoever is behind what has been happening. And Martha will be able to tell me who it is.
Chapter 26
I pad down the corridor in the fresh clothes that Luke had brought back to the hospital, along with my bag, earlier. Fortunately he had the foresight to bring in a loose-fitting top, which I was able to slide my plastered arm into without too much difficulty. The slouchy gym trousers he bought were pretty easy to put on too, as were the slip-on shoes. He may be cross and disappointed with me, but he was still thoughtful in his choice of clothing.
The nurse at ICU looks up and doesn’t seem surprised to see me.
‘I’ve come to see my sister.’ The words stick in my throat slightly. ‘Alice Kennedy.’
She smiles warmly. ‘I had a call from your ward to say you were popping down.’
‘How is she?’
‘Improving,’ says the nurse. ‘She’s been in and out of consciousness, but she is definitely improving and we’re hopeful she can be moved from ICU soon.’
‘Oh, that is good news,’ I say, and I genuinely mean it. I may be able to get some answers if she’s awake.
‘You can’t stay very long, though. We wouldn’t normally encourage other patients to visit someone in ICU, but seeing as you’re her sister …’
I follow the nurse into a private room off the main corridor, which no doubt Mum arranged. The room looks very similar to mine, except there’s rather more machinery and equipment here. Martha is connected up to a heart monitor, which bleeps steadily in the background. A cannula is taped to the back of her hand and a line is linked to a clear bag of fluid.
‘The IV drip is just for hydration,’ explains the nurse. ‘And so we can administer pain relief quickly and directly. There’s nothing to be scared of. They’ve put a special sticky plaster over the hole where Alice’s lung was punctured by her ribs. She’s sustained one broken rib and one cracked rib. It will be painful but it’s not life-threatening now.’
‘Thank you. That’s good to know.’
‘Okay, well, I’ll leave you alone for a few minutes.’
‘Oh, before you go, erm, do you know if her contact lenses were taken out?’
The nurse looks at me with a quizzical expression. ‘I wasn’t aware Alice had contact lenses in. Let me check the notes.’ She picks up the clipboard from the end of the bed. ‘It doesn’t say anything here. I can’t say I’ve noticed any when I’ve done routine obs, which include checking for pupil reaction to light.’
‘You’ve checked her eyes? What colour were they?’ The nurse hesitates. ‘She wears coloured lenses, that’s all,’ I add quickly.
‘Green. I’m pretty sure her eyes are green.’
‘Not blue?’
‘Nope. I don’t think so.’
‘Not bright blue. You’d remember if they were really blue, wouldn’t you? You could, of course, just have a quick look now. Save you asking a colleague to find out.’
‘This isn’t regular procedure,’ says the nurse. ‘But I suppose it won’t hurt if I check now.’ She takes a small light from her pocket. ‘You’re sure she wears them?’
‘Positive.’
The nurse lifts Martha’s right eyelid first and then the other. I try to peer over her shoulder but I can’t see properly. ‘As I thought. Green. So, we’re safe to say no contact lenses in. I’m sure I would have noticed them anyway.’
‘Thank you, I just wanted to check. Peace of mind and all that.’
‘Okay, well, like I say, just a few minutes.’
I draw the seat up next to the bed and wait for the door to close behind the nurse. I lean forward, supporting myself with my right arm. ‘I know you’re not Alice,’ I whisper into Martha’s ear. ‘You need to tell me what’s going on. Who is in this with you? Who am I in danger from?’ Martha’s eyelids flicker for a second. Has she heard me? I try again. ‘Please Martha, I need to know.’