Page 68 of No Safe Place
‘Maybe the second attack brought home how close she came to losing David,’ Field reasoned.
‘Can we just go back to Mulligan?’ Riley broke in. ‘That blood, couldn’t it have been a nosebleed, or something? It could have been Sam’s blood. It’s not one hundred per cent certain.’
‘If you want to argue with Young tomorrow, Riley, be my guest.’ Field finished her drink. ‘And whether he’s a witness or a suspect, Mulligan isn’t going anywhere tonight.’
Riley looked mollified.
‘So, what’re the odds that we get another phone call at two o’clock in the morning?’ Wilson said darkly.
No one answered her.
‘I know we’re focusing on the five patients,’ Wilson reasoned. ‘And that does make sense. But they went for David first, didn’t they? We need the names of the staff too. The cleaners, the social workers – God knows. They could all be targets.’
‘They specifically left that sheet, at the scene,’ Field countered. ‘It’s about that paper, isn’t it? The people involved?’
‘Or it could just be about Sam and David—’ Riley’s eyes were on the melting ice cubes in his glass. ‘An affair maybe?’
Field exhaled.
They were all exhausted, and they needed to be with it tomorrow. Talking around the possibilities would get them nowhere.
Either there would be an attack tonight, or there wouldn’t.
Chapter 43
Thursday | Evening
Lily
The front door closed with a click, and Lily sat up on Scott’s sofa, switching offEastEnders. The movement made her stomach clench, her throat still sore from the bile she’d spat up while he was gone.
‘Lil?’ Scott’s voice was light, and relief spread through her.
He’d been gone ages, but he must have gone for a walk, to clear his head.
‘Hello,’ he said, poking his head round the door and smiling at her.
There was rustling in the hallway and then he came into the room. He took her hands in his and pulled her to her feet.
‘Hey,’ he said, softly. He moved her arms and put them round his neck.
She let out a low growl and put her head on his chest. He smelled like soap and fresh laundry.
‘I’ve got a surprise for you.’
She didn’t look up. ‘Is it my own door key? Because I’m going to need one.’
He chuckled and planted a kiss on the top of her head. ‘Wait there.’
She waited in the middle of the room, her grubby socks out of place against the polished wooden floors. Scott re-entered, laden with tote bags, holding them aloft like a fisherman with the catch of the day.
She felt sick again. Anxiety-sick or sickness-sick she couldn’t tell.
‘I bought your favourite.’ Scott bounced on the balls of his feet. ‘I couldn’t get sprouts for the bubble and squeak in Sainsbury’s, so I went to M&S and got pre-made stuff. It’ll be better than what I could make anyway, so I thought fuck it.’
Lily pushed past him, back to the hallway.
‘Lil?’
