Abigail: Chapter 50
Ten minutes later and we were circling another car park looking for a space. This time I didn’t worry we’d get in trouble for leaving the car there, the signs advertising it as a visitor’s car park were impossible to miss. We found our way to the main entrance and gave Muriel’s name.
“Are you family?” the lady behind the counter asked.
“Close family friend,” I said.
“And him?” she asked, nodding to Rob.
“My husband.” I took Rob’s hand and he smiled sweetly at me.
I did my best to pay attention as she rattled off a shopping list of directions then thanked her for her time and headed towards Muriel’s ward. When we were out of sight I let go of Rob’s hand, my face flushed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. Was it a good day?”
“What?”
“Our wedding. It’s all such a blur to me, I can’t really remember.”
“Oh ha bloody ha!” I smacked him round the head then ducked out of reach when he tried to get me back.
One quick ride in the lift later we were walking onto Capener Ward. We cleaned our hands using the alcohol gel, despite Rob’s protestations that he was allergic, and said hello to a smiley looking nurse who led us down another corridor to the room Muriel was in. She was asleep when we walked in, her face barely recognisable under the sea of bruising and I heard myself gasp.
Rob took my hand again. “You okay?”
I shook my head slightly. “Look what he’s done to her. She looks so small.”
“You told me Roland said she was bad.”
“I know. I just wasn’t expecting this.”
We spoke in whispers, keen not to wake her, but it didn’t take long for her to open one eye. She tried to smile but then winced. Her other eye was shut tight from all the bruising. I found myself shaking. I just couldn’t believe one scrawny kid could do so much damage to a person. And all because she told him off for behaving badly.
I reached out and gently took hold of Muriel’s hand. “Hello Mrs F.”
She opened her mouth to try and speak but her voice came out all croaky.
“Shhh, just rest.”
I found myself wondering what good we could really do by coming. She seemed glad to see us of course but she couldn’t talk and there was nothing either of us could say to take away the pain. It all just felt so hopeless. We sat in silence for a few minutes but when I couldn’t stand it any longer I decided to tell her I’d seen the police and the latest news about Toby. She listened, doing her best to react, and when I’d finished she gestured for me to come closer.
“Thank you.” Her voice came out in a whisper, barely audible, and I felt tears prick my eyes.
“I promise we’ll find him. He won’t get away with this.”
She squeezed my hand before closing her eyes to rest. We sat watching her for a few minutes but then Rob gestured for me to follow him out of the room.
“Best to let her get some rest now Charlie.”
I nodded and followed him out of the ward, promising myself that the next time we saw her we’d be bringing better news.
We walked in silence back to the car. There didn’t seem to be anything left to say. We’d come to Barnstaple, told the police what we knew and now we’d seen Muriel. I’d toyed with the idea of going back to Roland and knocking on Ryan’s door but the police would have the place surrounded. There was no way he’d be stupid enough to go back there right now, so I was all out of ideas.
“Where to m’lady?” Rob asked as he started the engine.
“Hotel I guess.”
Maybe if we got checked in and went for a bite to eat I’d have a flash of inspiration. We couldn’t come all the way here just to turn round and go home again but with the police investigating Muriel’s attack, there wasn’t much else we could do right now. That didn’t stop me feeling guilty though when an hour later we were sitting in a bar in town having a drink.
“What’s that face for?” Rob asked.
“Nothing.” I didn’t think Rob would understand the concept of guilt. He was a police officer. Detachment was his middle name. “I was just thinking about the case.”
“And?”
“I dunno. It just feels like we’re at a bit of an impasse.”
“You know what you need don’t you?” He smiled.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to know but I asked the question anyway. “What’s that?”
“You need to get totally rat faced and eat dodgy takeaway food until you feel sick and then, when you think you can’t possibly take another step without falling onto your arse, dance until 2am in a dodgy nightclub.”
“Well when you put it like that …”
“Really?” Rob’s face lit up.
“No, not really. How old do you think we are?”
“I still think it would do you good. When was the last time you got properly wasted?”
I gave the question careful consideration. “I think there might have been that one time, in about 1996.”
“See? You’re totally overdue a blow out. I’d look after you,” he added.
“Well that’s very generous of you but no, if you must know, I’m feeling a bit lost. Seeing Muriel today, it scared me.”
“Why?”
I took a large sip of wine. “What if they catch him?”
“That would be great!” He looked at my face. “Why wouldn’t it be great?”
“What happens to Toby if they catch Ryan? If Ryan’s got Toby locked away somewhere I mean. What if Ryan refuses to play ball? Can the police make him tell them?”
“They’ll have certain persuasion techniques.” He hesitated. “But you’re right. If they nick him and he gets it into his head not to tell them, there’s not a lot anyone can do about it.”
“And that’s my dilemma. I want to see Ryan brought to justice, of course I do, but at what price?”
“You can’t think like that Charlie. All you can do is trust the process. And keep doing what you’re doing. You’ve got us this far. Don’t start doubting yourself now.”
I smiled and was about to thank him, he always knew just what to say to make me feel better, but my attention was grabbed by an unfamiliar sound coming from my handbag.
“Crap!”
“Is that yours?”
“It’s Abigail’s.” I scrabbled around in the bottom of my bag trying to get my hands round the phone.
“Why do you have …”
“I’m looking after it for her, until the kidnapper calls.”
“And?”
“And that’s the kidnapper!” I grabbed the phone, took a deep breath and then pressed the button to answer it. “Hello?”