I glance sideways and see a police officer, another woman.
“I’ve got that recorded. We might need to ask you more questions later. Do you know where we can find your father?”
“He was taking a break away but I’m not sure where. Retirement means he’s constantly away.” The paramedic and her colleague help guide me up and lead me to the front door which is wide open. Whoever hit me came in this way.
“Do you remember if you left this door open?” The officer asks.
“I closed it behind me when I entered. The alarm was disabled which was strange. I figured someone from my father’s staff had gone in to organise something for his return.” My voice sounds crisp and the lies are easy, although my speech is sounding slurred.
“I’ll come and get a full statement from you tomorrow, Mr Everleigh.” The officer steps away. “Is there anyone you want us to call?”
“My sister.” I list her phone number. “Ask her to meet me as soon as she can.”
* * *
I discharge myself with Ivy’s agreement and she badly drives me to my house which someone has tried also to enter. Nate’s already there, two members of his team with him and he’s in a cheerful mood. This is small fry for him; he’s usually mingling with the people who really ran the world, the arms dealers and mob bosses.
“Good job on the security,” he says as we enter, my head banging.
I need to go to bed and sleep, which apparently is okay to do as long as my sister wakes me up every few hours which she’ll really enjoy doing.
But first, I need to pass on what I’ve found. The picture is still in my back pocket, hopefully not damaged or to too creased. Nate closes the door behind him and it’s just the three of us.
I don’t say anything, just pull the photograph out and pass it to Ivy. She unfolds it and her jaw drops slightly before handing it to Nate.
It’s a photograph of Franklyn and my father in bed, the covers around their waists and both are bare chested. Franklyn holds a Valentine’s card and is about to kiss my father on the side of his face.
“Did you suspect this?”
I nod. “Saw him outside my father’s house a few weeks ago. Figured something weird was happening then. I need to sleep, Ivy. Can you and Nate contact Micky and Ben? Do it now.”
“Consider it done.”
I lie back on the sofa and fall asleep, my head banging enough to keep away the dreams.
* * *
When I wake up, I’m not on the sofa. Someone, probably Nate, has managed to get me upstairs and into bed. Someone, probably Ivy, has pulled my shoes off and almost made me comfortable. I don’t feel sick. The headache is minimal compared to how it was although I’m aware of a lump on the back of my head that’s as big as an egg, or it feels that way. It also feels as if it’s crusted over with dry blood.
When I wake, I’m not alone, but it isn’t Ivy and Nate who are there.
I open my eyes to see Blair and Ben sitting on the bed, playing cards. It’s at this point I wonder whether I’m under sedation or the bang on my head was far more serious.
“He’s awake.” Ben’s accent is thick and there’s a husk to his voice I wasn’t expecting.
“Don’t sit up yet.” Blair hutches further up the bed. She’s not wearing make-up and her hoodie and sweatpants look like they probably belong to my sister.
“You got the message?” The words are still slurry.
“We saw the picture. Franklyn’s on a week’s leave. Ivy’s headed off on a short break. No illegal hacking of bank accounts or emails was involved.” Ben wraps his fingers into mine. It’s the first contact we’ve had since Blair found us in the cabin.
I grip back. He’s real.
I’m real.
Is she?
“How did you get down here?” I look at Blair and remember where her hand was the last time I saw her. She looks well. Better than the last few weeks when she’d been wracked with grief.
