Friday's Child (22 page)

Afterwards, Jared caught Patrick’s eye. “Let’s get another round of tea in.”

Patrick got up. “OK.” As he headed across the room with Jared, he heard his Mum start asking Elle about Abbie.

Jared picked up a couple of trays. “I thought I should bring you up to speed on the lift incident investigation. There was no stair cleaning scheduled for this morning. Or lift maintenance for that matter.”

Patrick stopped dead. “What?”

Jared handed him a tray. “The cables to all three service lifts had been tampered with. As had the brakes. It was providence that neither of you were killed today. God must have sent an angel to watch over you both.”

“You have proof?”

“Cast iron. I’ve already handed copies of the file to both DS Nate Holmes and your boss. Just thought I’d give you a heads up.”

They rejoined the others and Elle looked at him. “I was thinking about Mum’s funeral. After all that’s happened, I can’t get my head around it. I don’t—”

“She was your mum,” Patrick said. “She loved you in her own way. Deep down, you know that.”

Elle nodded. “I thought just at the crematorium and before the surgery if possible. Otherwise, it can’t be for months. It’ll only be me and Abby. We moved so often, we never really knew anyone.”

Dad nodded. “I can sort that for you. I’ll give Pastor Jack a call. We’ve done services there before. Let me know what hymns you want and I’ll do the rest. And it won’t just be you and Abbie. Like I said, we’re your family now. We’ll all be there.”

****

Two days later, Elle sat in the crematorium, Patrick on one side and Abbie on the other. Patrick’s family sat in the row behind them. An email had gone around the congregation and several of the church folk had also come to support her. But mostly everyone else in attendance were either police or spooks. Pastor Jack led the short service.

Elle sat wishing she could feel something, anything, some shred of remorse or grief, but there was none. Patrick assured her it was normal and that grief would come. But she wasn’t sure. All she could think of was the lies that had been told to her over and over again.

Abbie sat beside her in a wheelchair, pale and drawn, tears running down her face. She still didn’t know the truth and it was going to stay that way for a while longer. Until she was well enough to deal with it and accept Patrick, things had to stay as they were.

Elle looked down, tears filling her eyes. That made her guilty of the same sin she was blaming her mother for. Huge sobs welled up and overwhelmed her.

Patrick wrapped an arm around her, pulling her towards him. She buried her face in his black overcoat, crying for what she had lost and the secrets that now threatened to overwhelm her and steal what little she had left.

20

Patrick glanced up as Abbie padded into the kitchen of his small flat. Nahum hadn’t liked the idea. He’d wanted them back in the safe house, but Patrick had talked him around. The girls had his bedroom and he slept on the sofa. Shay was around all day, and another two agents sat in the kitchen overnight. Three days out of hospital and still Abbie looked awful. Why hadn’t anyone noticed this mass on her liver before?

Elle had said she’d wanted to take Abbie to the doctor’s but her mother wouldn’t let her go, saying Abbie was faking. Liam assured him that kids were notorious for having stomachaches or headaches in order to get out of P.E. and any other classes they didn’t like at school. Maybe if the Harrisons hadn’t moved every few months the school would have picked up on Abbie’s constant absences and the same doctor would have realized something was wrong before now.

He was glad they had been able to have a funeral for Mrs. Harrison. That part was over. But the day had been a strain for both Abbie and Elle.

He smiled at her. “How are you feeling this morning?”

Abbie shrugged, slowly sitting down. “I hurt. Ellie’s sleeping. She woke me with a nightmare. But I guess it’s time to get up anyway.”

He took her over a glass of juice and sat next to her. “You sure you’re OK?”

“Yeah. Ellie was talking in her sleep. She does that a lot.”

“I learnt a lot of my brother’s secrets like that,” he said, winking at her. “Learn anything interesting?”

“Other than a lot of weird stuff? She’s scared of someone called PJ. Kept saying she didn’t want to do it.” She paused. “And she mentioned you as well.”

He raised an eyebrow, and picked up his coffee. “Really?” He tried to sound as nonchalant as possible, but still knew Elle wasn’t telling him everything. DI Nemec was flying in today. Hopefully, his intel would fill in some of the gaps in this operation. Patrick swallowed the hot coffee and replaced the mug. “Do I want to know what she said?”

Abbie grinned, her newly-cut hair making her look like a pixie. Elle had restyled it at her request. “She wanted you to kiss her. Or was she scared of you and wanted this PJ guy to kiss her? Could be either.”

He pulled a face at her.

She tilted her head. “Do you like Ellie?”

“I always have, but it’s up to her who she sees and who she doesn’t. And anyway, I’m working right now. Have to keep the two of you safe.”

“Why? Because of the bad guys after her?”

“Yes. If she wants to carry on seeing me after we’ve caught and locked them up, then that’s up to her.”

“But do you want to see her again?”

“I’d like to know that, too.” Elle’s voice made them both look up.

Patrick grinned. He put a hand over his mouth to shield his words. “I think we’ve been sprung,” he said in a stage whisper.

Abbie returned the gesture. “Oops.”

Elle winked at her and sat down. “Well, I’m waiting. I mean, it doesn’t matter what I want, if you just want to run away and hide once this is over.”

“I’m not the one who ran away,” he teased. “But yeah, I’d like to keep in touch. Tea?”

“Sure.”

He got up, giving his hands something to do. “I still feel the same as I did all those years ago. I never stopped loving you, Elle.”

Abbie wolf whistled.

Patrick grinned as Elle shushed her. “But, like I told Abbie, the balls in your court.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Did you sleep OK?”

She nodded slightly. “Didn’t expect you to have a double bed though.”

He laughed. “I always have done since I got my own place. I prefer the room. Sides, it makes it easier when I have guests sleeping over like I do now.”

Abbie stiffened. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Nope. I just like lying diagonally across the bed, which I can’t do on a single one.”

“No, cause you’d fall out or your head and feet dangle off the edge.” She paused “But then you’re so tall, you’d fall out anyway.”

He chuckled. “Exactly.” He brought over Elle’s tea. “Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

He sat and winked at Abbie. “So, once we’ve run around the block, what shall we do?”

“Neither of you are running anywhere,” Elle said shooting him a fierce look that had Abbie doubled over with laughter, before it turned into a wince and a gasp of pain.

“I’m OK…”

“Fine, no running for you,” Patrick said, unable to hide his huge grin. “Being serious for a moment, can I add my mobile number to Abbie’s phone? That way she can contact me should the need arise.”

“Sure.”

“Cool.” Abbie pulled her phone from her pocket. “I’m almost out of credit though.”

“I’ll top it up for you.” Elle put the cup down.

Patrick took the phone and scrolled to contacts. He added his name and number. “OK, send me a text so I can add you back.”

Abbie tapped rapidly. “OK, sent.”

Patrick winked at Elle. After a couple of seconds his phone chimed. ‘
I’ve got a text and you can’t see it.’

Abbie screamed with laughter. “Oh, send it to me.”

He grinned and added her number to his phone. “Or do you want this one.” He pressed a few keys and his phone screamed
incoming, pnueeeeeeeeeewwww, banggg.

“Oh, that’s brilliant. Can I have them both?”

He laughed. “Sure.”

Then her face grew serious. “Can you grant wishes as well as save people?”

“What kind of wishes did you have in mind?”

“If Ellie’s going to be my stand in mum, I want a dad, too. Only I’d like one like you.”

He tilted his head. “Like me? I’m not perfect, you know.”

Abbie nodded. “I know that. But you’re tall, you have the same color eyes as I do, the same blood type, and you make me feel safe. And now I don’t have a mum or a dad. Just Ellie.”

He didn’t know what to say. What could he say? Patrick held Elle’s gaze for a moment. “Well, now you’ve got my number, any time you need me you can call. I’ll be your stand in dad for a while. How does that sound?”

“Sounds good.” Abbie smiled at him.

Elle smiled. “Abbie, go do that English assignment your teacher sent over. Let me talk to Patrick for a few.”

Abbie stood and took her juice from the room.

Elle’s expression changed to ice. “I don’t want you making any false promises to her.”

“I meant what I said. She needs someone and I’ll be there. And that goes for you, too.” He rubbed his fingers over the back of her hand. “Don’t hide any more. And you don’t need to run from me anymore, either. Let me in, Elle. Let me care for you and Abbie. She’s my daughter…”

“Shh.” She put her fingers over his lips. “I haven’t even told her about me.”

“Don’t you think you should?”

“I know I should, but what do I tell her?”

“The truth. She deserves that.”

She took a deep breath. “I will, just not today. Once she’s better, I promise.”

“So, shall we spend the day doing nothing, then? As we can’t go running.”

She laughed. “Go help Abbie with her English. I’m going to go have a bath. She can bring it in here and do it at the table.”

He stood, and kissed her cheek before heading from the room.

****

Elle watched the two heads bent together. They’d passed the morning with Abbie’s school work, doing first her English assignment and then doing her online maths homework. They’d eaten a sandwich lunch on the floor on a rug. Now Abbie listened as Patrick read aloud from the novel her literature class was reading. One dark and the other fair, but both with matching eyes and senses of humor.

Lord, is it presumptive of me to ask a favor of You? I love him. I always have. Please, work things out so we can be together. I’ll do whatever it takes. The first thing being to stand up to Zeke and tell him no more. Make him listen this time. And find out from PJ the truth about Dad. I know that’s really Patrick’s job, but I’d rather him not know. I’ll go in tonight. Tell PJ no more deliveries as well as give him the package back.

The chapter finished, Patrick smiled up at Elle. “Your turn.”

“To do what?”

“The maths homework we couldn’t do for a start. Then you can read the next chapter. Or… Oh, I know, you could write something.”

Abbie nodded. “That’s a way cool idea, Ellie. Write a song for Patrick.”

Elle sighed. “I told you both, I gave up writing a long time ago.”

Patrick winked. If she didn’t know better, she’d say it was a conspiratorial wink. “Maybe she’d agree to write one for you instead, Abbie.”

“Why me?”

“Because, squirt, A comes before P.”

Abbie laughed. “Please, Ellie. Write me a song.”

Elle put her hands on her hips and pretended to be shocked. “He called you squirt and got away with it. How come I can’t do that?”

Abbie shrugged. “So write me a song.”

“Agent Page he had a squirt…” Elle began to the tune of old Macdonald, then broke off laughing realizing what she’d just said.

Patrick threw a cushion at her. “Way TMI,” he complained in between laughing.

Abbie held her good arm across her stomach as she giggled. “Please a proper one, a song to sing in church.” She tilted her head. “I know you worked it out with God. You settled things, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” When had Abbie gotten so astute?

“Then write one for Him, that we can sing in church when I’m better.”

“OK, I’ll try.”

“Do it to the tune of
Danny Boy
and I can play that on my flute. Shall I show you?”

“I’d like to hear you play.”

Patrick stood. “I’ll go and get your flute.”

Abbie waited until he’d left the room before gripping Elle’s arm tightly. “He’s nice. You really should date him.”

“What is it with you and dating today? Patrick and I were together a long time ago.”

“He likes you.”

“He likes you, too, Abbie.”

“Yeah, I know but...”

Oh, she was her father’s daughter to a tee. “But?”

“I saw you kissing in the hospital. He really, really likes you. Go ask him out. Or are you chicken?”

“Noooo.”

Abbie clucked like a chicken and flapped her arms like wings.

Elle grinned and threw a cushion at her. “Not chicken.”

Patrick came in with the flute case. “Who’s chicken?”

“Ellie is.”

“Oh really? I like chicken.”

Elle sighed. “I’m being ganged up on.”

“Ask him.”

“Ask me what?” Patrick asked, handing Abbie the flute.

“Can I speak with you? In the hall?” Elle poked her tongue at Abbie and went into the hall.

Patrick followed her. “What’s up?”

“Abbie saw us kissing in the hospital and has it in her head that we should go out and said I should ask you.”

Patrick grinned and put his hands on his hips. “And are you going to ask me?”

“No she won’t, cause she’s a chicken,” came Abbie’s voice from the lounge.

“Abbie…” Elle started to shut the door.

Patrick took two steps towards her “Kid sisters tease all the time. She’ll get over it. So ask away.”

Instead she grimaced. It wasn’t her place to ask him out and she needed to sort everything else out first. And it was better to just out and say what she had to quickly. “I need to go to work at some point tonight.”

The smile left Patrick’s face instantly and Elle’s heart sank. Then she steeled herself for a fight. She had to do this.