Page 97 of The Stranger in Room Six
‘Thank you,’ I say. It’s nice to feel like I’m doing something right.
Meanwhile, like everyone else, I queue for the post in the morning with my heart in my mouth, desperately hoping that Elspeth has sent another letter or – miracle of miracles – that Gillian sent one too.
There’s a card for me, but the writing isn’t Elspeth’s or Gillian’s. That small, neat script in real ink takes me back to all those years ago at university.
I cannot tell you how my heart leaped when I received your letter – and then sank when I read it. I wish you would let me visit you. I know you too well to believe bad of you.
Love Imran.
How wrong he is, I tell myself, ripping up his letter.
Then, just as I’d given up hope, a visiting request comes from Elspeth.
I’m so glad to see her that I throw my arms around her in the visitors’ room, and then immediately step back, knowing that I’m breaking the ‘no touching’ rules.
‘I would have come earlier,’ she tells me. ‘But it’s difficult. Uncle Derek said I shouldn’t.’
‘I understand,’ I say, not wanting to ask if he’d told her about visiting himself.
‘And the police outside the house have made it so difficult to live a normal life. How long do we have to have them there?’
‘I’m not sure.’
‘Well, I don’t want them any more, Mum. People are asking questions. I can’t see my friends properly.’
‘It’s better than being hurt,’ I whisper.
‘What did you do to make this happen?’ she asks.
‘I can’t say,’ I whisper. ‘But trust me. I meant no harm.’
She gives me a sad look as if she doesn’t believe me. When she leaves shortly afterwards, I almost wish she hadn’t come.
I could kill Karen for what she’s done to my family. If only I could find her. It’s definitely time for revenge.
66
Now
‘Did you find Karen in the end?’ Mabel asks, finishing the last chocolate ginger biscuit.
I hesitate. I could pretend. I could keep my secret close until it’s time to act.
What good would it do to tell anyone?
But Mabel isn’t ‘anyone’. I have become truly fond of her, which makes Mouse’s demands all the harder.
‘Did I ever find Karen?’ I repeat. Then I throw back my head and laugh, as though this is one huge, mad joke. ‘Oh yes,’ I say. ‘I did.’
Her eyes widen. ‘What did you do to her?’
Before I can answer, there’s a knock on the door. It’s the deputy matron. ‘Belinda, you’re wanted on the second floor.’
‘But I’m the boss here,’ says Mabel. ‘I want Belinda to stay with me.’
‘And I’m the matron. As we’ve said before, Miss Marchmont, we need to take all the patients’ needs into account. Right now, Belinda is needed elsewhere.’
The Stranger in Room Six
