Somewhere to Hide (The Estate, Book 1) (36 page)

‘Is she conscious?’

‘Yes, but she’ll be in a lot of pain today so I’ve given her something to help. She might not be particularly lucid until tomorrow. As well as the knife wound she has a cracked rib, a dislocated shoulder and a gash on her wrist. Her left foot is badly sprained and three of her fingers are broken. She obviously fought to survive. You have the attacker, you say?’ She looked at Andy for confirmation.

Andy nodded. ‘He’s lying on a slab in the morgue.’

‘Ah.’

‘Can we see her for a few minutes?’

‘No longer than that.’ Dr Morgan stood up. ‘But remember what I said. She may wake up and talk to you but she won’t recall anything.’

They followed the doctor through into the ward and on to where there were four bays. Cathy paused at the foot of one of them, staring at the still figure lying in the bed, wires and tubes coming from her attached to all kinds of machines. Beeps, lines and flashes. It was a sight Cathy would never forget: it would be etched on her mind forever. She stayed at the foot of the bed, not wanting to go any nearer, not wanting to get in the way. The ward had a surreal quietness to it – almost as if no one dared to speak. A nurse checking a chart smiled and urged her to step forward. All at once, she was at the bedside.

‘Hi there,’ she whispered. Her hand hovered in mid-air over Liz’s swollen cheek before she thought better of touching it. ‘It’s me – Cathy.’

‘Most of her injuries are superficial,’ said Dr Morgan. ‘They will heal in time. And now that you’re here, I’m sure you’ll help with her recuperation.’

Back out in the waiting room, Josie came rushing in half an hour later.

‘Sorry, I couldn’t get here earlier,’ she apologised. ‘The traffic’s terrible and it took me an age to find a parking space. Have you seen her? How is she?’

‘She’s going to be okay.’ Cathy burst into tears again.

The two women hugged.

Josie looked at Andy over Cathy’s shoulder. ‘Did you manage to contact her family?’

‘Yes. Kevin’s too. His father hadn’t seen him for years. They’d had an argument when he accused Kevin of mistreating Liz. He was quite angry at first, blaming himself for not doing more. Far different than when I spoke to Liz’s mum. She went on and on about how she’d told her that there was something not quite right about Kevin. And then she started moaning about the time it would take to drive up from Devon and how she wasn’t even sure that she would. Not once did she ask about Chloe. I had to hold my tongue a few times.’

They sat down on a row of chairs. The waiting room was spacious but open. Relatives of loved ones in intensive care sat around too. Young and old. It was heartbreaking to see how everyone held their breath when a door opened and a doctor appeared. Hopes dashed or tears of joy. Fifty-fifty.   

‘And how’s Chloe?’ asked Josie.

‘I have to make cakes with her later,’ Cathy spoke matter of factly.

‘You haven’t told her, then?’

‘Yes, I told her. But she doesn’t believe that Dad has gone to heaven and she wants to make cakes for when Mum is better. I suppose if it takes her mind off things…’

Cathy shrugged, her eyes brimming with tears again.  

Even though she was unable to do much but sit around in the waiting room, Cathy stayed at the hospital for most of the day. Chloe had been looked after by the girls but now she was back to take over, Becky had slipped out to see Austin. They were inside the White Lion, lying on the filthy mattress that she was so used to now. She rested her head on his chest.

‘Don’t you think it’s sad, though?’ she asked him. ‘Chloe’s only eight. I can’t stop thinking about it. What would have happened to her if they’d both died? I –’

‘Shut up with your rattle, will you?’ Austin sat up and reached for his cigarettes. He lit one and took a long drag before lying back again.

Becky cuddled into his side. ‘But it’s such a shame.’

‘How do you know she didn’t deserve what she got?’

‘That’s not a nice thing to say.’

‘I’m not a nice person.’

Becky smiled, even though she was a little unnerved by the tone of his voice. She tried to boost his mood.

‘Of course, you are,’ she replied. ‘I think you’re fab.’

‘I’m not what you think I am.’

‘How would I know? You still won’t tell me anything about your parents.’

Austin took his arm from her shoulder and placed it behind his head. ‘There’s nowt to tell. My mother abandoned me when I was born and I never knew who my father was.’

‘Haven’t you ever wanted to find them?’

Austin smirked. ‘You obviously don’t know me at all.’

‘But I want to.’ Becky sat up on her elbow to face him. ‘You just have to let me in. There’s something eating you up. Maybe I can help if you talk about it?’

‘I told you, all right. There’s nowt to talk about. But I will say one thing.’ Austin turned towards her. ‘Everyone will know my name soon.’

The look on his face made Becky’s skin crawl. ‘What do you mean?’

‘It’s my birthday at the end of next week. My twenty-first, my coming of age. The day that I get to be a grown-up.’

‘Why didn’t you say?’ Becky whined. ‘It doesn’t give me much time, does it? I’ll have to go shopping, get something special for you. We have to celebrate.’

Austin nodded, looking happy for the first time that day.

‘Yeah, let’s celebrate,’ he said. ‘The day’s going to end with a bang anyway. One way or another.’

Becky frowned: he was talking in riddles again.

Austin jumped up and pulled on his jeans. ‘Come on, let’s go. I’ve got things to do this afternoon.’

‘Yeah, I’ve got lots to do now.’ Becky stood up and flung herself into his arms. ‘Austin Forrester, I love you so much.’

A bewildered-looking Austin gave her a smile. ‘Really?’

‘Yeah, really. I love you and I’m going to make this birthday one to remember.’

Austin smirked again. ‘You don’t need to go to any trouble. I’m capable of doing that all by myself.’

Josie and Matt were sorting out a store room that had gone haywire at the community house. There were all manner of things stacked on shelves, not to mention the floor.

‘Have you heard off Cathy lately?’ Josie asked. Despite being warned by her, she was determined to get to the bottom of what had happened between the two of them.

‘No.’

Matt stepped up onto a low stool and then handed a box down to Josie. She took it from him and put it on the floor. She looked up at him, willing him to continue but he remained silent. She decided to move things along.

‘What went on between the two of you?’ she asked bluntly. ‘I thought you were getting on really well.’

‘We were.’ Matt handed her another box.

‘And?’ Josie said impatiently as he handed her another.

‘And nothing.’

Josie sighed. ‘Quit messing around, Matt. We sleep with someone and move on to the next conquest when we’re sixteen, not our age.’

‘I never did that!’ Matt sounded appalled.

‘No?’

‘NO!’

‘That’s what Cathy thinks.’

‘Does she?’ Matt ran his hand over his chin.

‘What’s going on?’ Josie questioned gently. ‘One minute you’re whistling all day, can’t wait for your date with Cathy. You sleep with her –’

‘She told you that too?’

‘Yes. She said she had a great time and couldn’t wait to see you again. In the meantime, you go off sick, beaten up by some useless cretin, and you and Cathy are no more.’

Matt sighed. ‘It’s – it’s complicated.’

‘I must admit, I can’t understand why you haven’t contacted her to see how she was after Liz was attacked.’

‘I have! I’ve sent dozens of text messages. I even called a few times, right after it had happened, but her phone either rang out or it was disconnected after a few rings.’

Josie suddenly thought of something. ‘This man who attacked you. You didn’t get a look at him at all?’

‘No, I didn’t.’

‘What about his build? His hair? Even his shoes?’

Matt shook his head. ‘I curled up in a ball. The bastard kicked the shit out of me.’

Josie frowned. ‘Do you think it could have been Kevin McIntyre that attacked you?’

‘Kevin McIntyre?’ Matt paused. ‘You mean he thought I’d been seeing Liz and was warning me off
her
?’

‘What do you mean, warning you off?’

‘The guy who beat me up. He told me to stay away from her.’

‘But he didn’t know that Liz had moved out then so he could have been on the watch for her. Can you recall any tone to his voice? Any accent?’

Matt tried to remember. He shook his head.

‘Anything else that he said?’

‘He said, “Don’t come back or I’ll be the death of her.” Fuck.’ Matt froze. ‘I could have stopped Liz being attacked, couldn’t I?’

Josie shook her head. ‘No one could have stopped that from happening. You mustn’t blame yourself.’

‘But if I had reported the attack, perhaps the police would have checked up with him!’ Matt stepped back onto the floor. ‘It was my fault!’

‘No, it wasn’t!’

‘I thought he’d hurt Cathy, if I didn’t stay away. You don’t know how much it’s pained me, not being able to see her. I wanted to, so badly. But the way he hammered into me, I was scared he’d beat her too. And, maybe I was naïve in believing him but I don’t know the estate like you do, nor its tenants. I didn’t want anything to happen to her. What a wimp I’ve been.’ He caught his breath while he looked at his watch. ‘I’m going round to see her. Right now, if it’s okay with you?’

‘No,’ said Josie. ‘It isn’t. She has too much to think about at the moment.’ She paused. ‘But she needs someone like you. More than she will ever know. More than she’ll ever admit. You just need to convince her of that.’

Matt nodded fervently. ‘You don’t think it’s too late?’

‘I don’t know. Give her time, yeah?’

While Chloe stayed with Cathy, each day Liz became just that little bit better. She was moved from intensive care to a routine ward shortly after she’d been admitted, where she recuperated well. Finally ten days after the attack, she was on the mend and told she would be discharged shortly. That afternoon, she was sitting by the side of her bed when Cathy arrived to visit.

‘Hello, you.’ Cathy smiled, pleased to see her up and about. ‘How are you feeling today?’

‘I’m feeling good,’ said Liz. ‘I had a better night’s sleep and I’m hoping to go home the day after tomorrow.’

‘Really? Oh, that’s great news!’ Then Cathy’s smile dropped. ‘Are you sure you want to go back to the flat? You can always come and stay with me for a while, until you find your feet again.’

 Liz shook her head slightly. ‘I could stay with you but I want to get back. I –’

Cathy gave Liz’s hand a quick squeeze. ‘You don’t have to explain anything to me. Although I’m always here to listen whenever you need me.’

Liz’s silence told Cathy not to pursue the matter. But it was after they’d settled down to their usual routine of vending machine coffee and afternoon TV that Liz started to talk.

‘I ran out to the garden for ten seconds and left the back door unlocked,’ she said quietly. ‘Stupid, stupid! I can’t believe I did it.’

‘But you weren’t to know he’d climbed over the gate.’ Cathy pulled her chair closer.

‘He must have been waiting for me behind the bin stores. One minute I was changing into a clean T-shirt – I’d spilt orange juice down the one I was wearing – the next minute I turned around and – and he was there in front of me. Well, I went into panic mode. Before I knew it, I was up against the wall and he’d cornered me. All I could think of was that the iron was on and if he reached over and grabbed it…’ Liz shuddered, tears spilling out of her eyes. ‘He had a knife anyway. He covered it up and made me walk out to his car.’

‘Why didn’t anyone help you?’

‘There was no one around – and to the outside world, he was just a man walking down the path with his wife. I hardly know anyone, anyway. Luckily for me, Jackie from next door noticed my distress.’

Cathy sat quietly while Liz cried for a moment. She half thought she wouldn’t be able to tell her any more for that day so was surprised when she spoke again.

‘He drove me across to Finlay Place. He made me get out of the car and took hold of my hand, squeezing it so hard that my fingers went numb. All the time he was hurling abuse at me, shouting at me, saying I shouldn’t have left and that what he was about to do was all my fault. All I kept thinking was that if I didn’t antagonise him, he’d let me go. He tucked the knife in his pocket and covered it with his jumper. Then he marched me across the playing fields. As we were walking up the path, I realised there was no one around to shout out to so I decided to make a run for it. If I could get back to one of the houses behind me, maybe I could get away. So I shook off his hand and ran. But he caught me.’