He was showing Acorn off to a small group of young women who were waiting for a taxi. The guests had almost all gone now. Kelly stood behind him and waited for the cooing to stop.
‘We’ve got a lot to talk about,’ she said. He spun around and gathered himself, draining his tea.
‘Excuse me, ladies, duty calls,’ he said. ‘Pleased to meet you,’ he said, introducing himself all over again. Kelly noticed his sincerity and it dawned on her that the man she’d met earlier wasn’t there now. The realisation saddened her immensely and she thought of Ted and worried about his future. Surely he wouldn’t lose his mind? He used it too keenly.
‘How is your wife?’
‘My wife?’
‘Yes, I thought you cared for her? Forgive me, I was told you looked after her.’
‘Of course. Let me introduce myself.’
The three young women left the table and Kelly sat down. He did too and they shook hands, then as quickly as the mist had descended, it lifted, and Melvin was lucid again. That’s what dementia was like, she supposed. It was dreadfully wretched. She wouldn’t keep him long.
‘I can feel the stares in my back,’ she said. ‘My presence makes people feel uncomfortable.’
It was an ice breaker. An ex-army man would understand. She’d briefly read the notes on him; like all witnesses, their context might come in handy.
‘It doesn’t matter that the dreadful incident was nothing to do with them; you represent the law. Rules. Authority. It puts anyone on edge.’
‘Is that your military training talking?’
He smiled a warm and generous smile.
‘Shall we go to the lake and get Acorn some air?’ she said.
He followed her and Acorn trotted behind.
‘So, you’re in charge?’ he asked.
‘I am.’ She quickly got down to business as they walked, not wanting to lose him again. ‘Where were you when you heard the screams?’
‘Over there.’ They stopped and he pointed to the beach access.
Kelly turned back to the hotel and then back to the lake. ‘It carried that far?’ she said to herself more than anyone else.
‘It was horrendous; I haven’t heard screams like that for years.’
‘What’s your story?’
‘My story?’
‘I can tell you’ve seen your fair share. Which regiment were you in?’
Melvin put his hands in his pockets and stared at the lake. The surface was flat calm, like glass. Not even the trace of a duck’s wing broke the magic. Clouds reflected off the lake and the sun had baked relentlessly into the mud around the edges. They heard a shout and Kelly looked across the lake, making out an almost imperceptible splash as a couple of tourists waded in and frolicked.
Sound really did travel when the world stood still.
‘I started out in the Royal Engineers, but I was attached to different units. I finished in intelligence.’
Kelly side-eyed him. That explained a lot. ‘Do you always walk Acorn this way?’
‘Yes. It’s our favourite route. It is glorious this time of year and they don’t mind me using their beach. I came up here as fast as I could, then I saw the lights and heard the sirens, and I knew it was serious.’
‘You have experience with disaster scenarios?’
‘I do, sadly. I could reel off all the combat zones I’ve been sent to but I don’t want to bore you. Suffice to say that my first aid skills weren’t needed here. The fella was beyond help.’
