‘Break the door down?’ He sounded befuddled but then his voice changed. ‘Yes. There’s a key safe near the front door. It’s partially hidden by the hydrangea bush. The code is–’
‘Hold on. I’m round the back but I’m dashing to the front right now. Behind the hydrangea bush you said?’
‘Yes. The one on the left.’
‘Right. I’m there. What’s the code?’
‘No! The one on the left.’
‘That’s where I am. I can see the key safe. Give me the code.’
‘One, seven, one, one.’
Lara entered the numbers and turned the knob. The safe pinged open and she grabbed the key.
‘Got it. Ah! The ambulance is coming up the lane right now. I can hear the sirens and now I can see it. Listen. I must talk to the paramedics but if you want to stay on the line, I can put you on speaker so you can hear everything. Or I can call you back as soon as we know what’s happened.’
‘I’ll stay on the line.’
‘I’ve got the key,’ Lara called out.
‘I know,’ Tom’s grandson said.
‘I was talking to the paramedics.’
‘Sorry. Is Gramps okay?’
‘We’re not inside yet. I’ve just opened the door. I think he’s in the kitchen.’
‘That’s at the back,’ Tom’s grandson informed her.
‘I know. That’s where I thought I saw him. I was telling the paramedics. Look. I know you’re worried but let’s just say you stay quiet until we find him.’
‘What! He’s my granddad.’
‘I know but … Oh!’
‘What?’
‘Nothing. He’s here. And he’s on the floor.’
‘We could do without the running commentary,’ one of the paramedics said, bending over Tom and feeling for a pulse. ‘I don’t want to be rude but if you can let us do our job, we’ll get this young chap up and out of here a lot faster.’
‘Of course,’ Lara said, turning the speaker off. ‘Is he…?’
‘He’s alive and he’s got a surprisingly strong heartbeat. But he’s had a bang on his head by the look of it. We’ll get him to the hospital and they’ll do tests. You said his name is Tom?’
‘Yes.’
‘Tom? Can you hear me?’
A soft whimper, similar to the one Nicodemus had made came from Tom’s lips, followed a second or two later by a slightly louder, ‘Yes. But … I can’t … get up.’
Lara breathed a huge sigh of relief and then, trying to keep her emotions in check and her voice low, she whispered into her phone. ‘Tom’s heartbeat is strong, he’s responsive, and he’s said a few words. They’re taking him to the hospital.’
The sigh of relief on the other end was even louder than hers. ‘Thank God for that. I’m leaving now. I’ll be there in about an hour or so.’ With that, Tom’s grandson rang off.
‘Oh,’ Lara said, staring at her screen in disbelief. ‘That was Tom’s grandson. How will he know which hospital to go to?’
