“If you hadn’t pulled that stunt in Leeds, you’d have found out then.”
River came to his side, mask in place. Newt wished he’d stayed back.
“He has cancer.” Sean held out a card. “He’s in this place until it’s over. He wants to see you.”
When Newt didn’t take the card, River did.
“He’s not got long. If it’s the last thing you do for anyone in the family, go and see him.”
“No.”
Sean bristled. “You’re all he fucking talks about. He wants to see you before he dies. He wants to say he’s sorry.”
“What good is an apology now?”
“I’ll drag you there if I have to,” Sean snarled.
“Do you think I owe him or you anything?” Newt asked quietly.
“He was a good brother to you. Better than me.”
“Until he wasn’t.”
Sean glared, then glanced at River. “Does he know?”
Newt shook his head.
“He’s fucking dying, Newt. Have some compassion.”
Newt clenched his teeth. Where was his family’s compassion when they set him up?
“How did you find out where I was living?”
“I persuaded someone to tell me. Don’t waste the effort it took to find this address. Go and see Phelan. Please.” He looked as if saying that last word had horrified him, then turned and headed for his car.
River pressed the remote to shut the gate, then tried to give the card to Newt. Newt wouldn’t take it. When he heard Sean’s car start up, Newt walked towards the garage.DamnSean. Damn Phelan. Damn all of them.And damn his probation officer, because it had to have been him who’d told Sean his address. He could guess what persuasion Sean used.
Back in the house, River made him a coffee and sat down next to him on the couch. Newt hadn’t wanted to tell him yet. He’d wanted things to stay the same a little longer. It wasn’t that he didn’t think River would believe him, though he didn’t know that he would, but he didn’t want River to look at him differently.
When River put the card on his knee, Newt exhaled. Mountford Hospice in Harlow.
“I come too,” River said.
Newt wanted to say that wouldn’t happen because he wasn’t going to go but he already knew he would. And he’d have to take River with him rather than leave him alone all day.
“How did he…find you? Dila’s f…fault? My fault?”
Newt could have said yes, could have delayed this ever-approaching moment a little longer but he felt like an old balloon with a slow puncture, air slowly seeping out of him.Just say it.
“I suspect he blackmailed or threatened my probation officer.” Newt looked at River as he spoke, waiting for his reaction.
River blinked once, then pressed his lips together.
“I’m out on licence, which means I’ve served part of my sentence and if I don’t break the conditions of my release, I’ll stay out of prison.”
River gave a quiet gasp. “Pri…prison?”
He took hold of Newt’s hand and held tight. Newt had to swallow back a sob.
