Once he’s out of sight, Elle says, ‘Nice one, Em.’
‘All right,’ I say. ‘So the guy who shot Jonny was clearly the associate of whoever was in the house. That must mean—’
Elle interrupts me, and I think it’s the first time I’ve ever heard her interrupt anyone. ‘Al. Seriously. Stop. Just stop for a second. We talked when you were getting the water, and we’ve decided something.’
‘Decided what?’
‘If we get out of the hospital without being arrested, we’re just going to go to ground.’
I’m genuinely confused. ‘You’re suggesting we give up?’
‘Al, we have just – between the three of us – killed someone who turns out to be a British spy. And Jonny’s being cut open right now. You really think we’re getting out of this with one more deduction?’
‘Yes, I—’
She does it again. ‘Juststop. You’re being ridiculous.’
‘Ridiculous would be quitting after everything we’ve beenthrough. We are so close to working it out. I mean, this is huge, it’s …’ I gesture expansively, then tail off, because both Em and Elle have their arms folded and are giving me the same look. Em will back me up, surely. ‘Em, you must see what I’m saying here. We are so close to finding out who killed Davy. And where he left the money. And then—’
‘Al, have things got better for us since we started all this?’ Em gestures at the corridor. ‘We’ve got nothing. We have a vague hunch about who might have killed Davy, a few conflicting theories, and not much evidence. The whole thing has been a catastrophe. You were right, we should have got the ferry to France in the first place.’
‘Yes, but—’
‘Oh, just shut up. I wish I hadn’t suggested we even start along this stupid path. I wish I’d let you go when you were trying to run that first night. All you’ve done is lie, and make things worse.’
‘Em, that’s not fair. I haven’t lied. We have to trust each other.’
‘Trust? You haven’t told us who you are, nor where you come from. Nothing. We don’t even know your name.’
‘I did tell you who I am.’
‘You gave Elle a version of your life that was clearly bollocks. You told me you had a brother, and I only know that’s true because you stole his passport from him. That’s the one fact you’ve given away. You don’t believe in us. You don’t seem to believe in people. You don’t know why you’re doing this either. You just want to stay outsmarting your marks, for ever. Some of us want more than that.’
‘Iwant more than that.’ As I say it, I realise I really do, and the thing I want more than anything is to stay with these guys. But I stumble over the words, and they clearly don’t believe me. They’re wrong,wrong. I must make them see it. ‘If we give up now, it was all for nothing.’
‘I’d rather be arrested and maybe get some police protection than be hunted down by whoever killed Davy.’
‘Hang on, it was anactual spywho shot Jonny. You think we’re safe from anybody from now on?’
‘Obviously not. But if we do get out of here, we can go to ground, find somewhere quiet, and then just live. We’ll take Jonny back to France, do a bit of piscining there until he’s properly better, settle down. And if we’re arrested, we’ll take that. Don’t try to change our minds, Al. Or whatever your name is.’
Em has the look on her face of someone who’s run out of patience. I remember that look from about a decade ago. I’ve worked quite hard to avoid anyone knowing me well enough to look at me like that again, and yet here we are.
‘Why can’t yousee…’ Oh, shit. I stop, because I’ve just seen something much more important.
There’s a uniformed police officer standing at the other end of the corridor. And the clean-cut young doctor who was talking to us before is at his side, pointing our way. That viper.
‘We have to go. Police.’
Em looks round, sees the officer – who is now walking our way – and shrugs. ‘No, Al. We’re staying here, with Jonny.’
The copper is about fifty feet away. ‘Please. We can get away. I know it.’
Neither of them moves. The copper’s moving faster.
‘Please.’ He’ll be here in fifteen seconds. They do not move.
I swear, pitch out of my seat, and hurl myself at the stairwell.
