Page 98 of A Long Way Back
Ink smiled. “See you tomorrow. ‘Night.”
“’Night.”
INK SLEPT FITFULLY. NURSES CAME and did stuff and left again, but in the morning, the IV drip was gone and so were the monitors. He was helped to the bathroom and though he wasn’t strong enough to walk out of there, they were going to transfer him to a less intensive ward that afternoon. A doctor examined him, explained what damage the stabbing had done and told Ink he was lucky. Take it easy for a while and he’d be fine.
Physically, maybe, he thought, but mentally, never, though that had nothing to do with what had happened at Covent Garden.
He fixed his gaze on the entry into the ward willing Tay to come. But when he caught sight of the visitor first through the doors, Ink slammed his eyes shut. If the monitor had still been attached to his chest, the nurses would have rushed over because his heart had moved from a steady beat to a sprint in a split second. Ink’s mouth had lost all moisture and he had to fight not to clench his fists. Goose bumps erupted all over his body.Calm, calm, calm.He couldn’t even take deep breaths or he’d give himself away.
“Hello, Ink,” Carter said.
Fuck off.Ink didn’t move.
“I’ll just sit here and wait for you to wake up.”
Shit.Ink needed him gone before Tay came. He opened his eyes.
“And there you are.” Carter smiled at him.
I hate you so much.Ink didn’t want to hate anyone, but Carter was fucking relentless. His smile was unnerving.
“How did you get in?” Ink asked.
“Told them I’m your father.”
“And when I tell them you’re not?” Ink opened his mouth and Carter slapped a hand over it.
Ink let out a muffled yelp.
“Shut up and listen or I’ll tell everyone who you really fucking are. They won’t be so careful looking after you then, will they?” He removed his hand.
Ink shuddered. “How did you find me?”
“You’re a slippery little bastard, but you’re all over the news. Well, your face is. You think playing the hero makes up for what you did? Think people will forgive you?”
Ink stayed silent and still. He felt as if a snake was slithering next to him and if he moved, he’d get bitten.
“You can help yourself if you talk to me. Give me your side of it all. I’m being fair in my book, looking behind the misinformation and misunderstanding, and beyond the sensational reporting. I want to give an honest account of the whole thing, start to finish.”
Did he actually think it had finished? Silence was Ink’s best weapon.
“The media circus that surrounded what happened is a big issue. Fair or unfair? Well, I know which side of the fence you’re on.”
The press, including Carter, had hyped up public hysteria by their reporting. There was no hiding Ink’s identity. Even if he’d still had a home, he wouldn’t have been safe there.
“Tell me what happened that day. Give your side of it. I want to show in the book that people can change. By what you did yesterday, you proved that.”
Ink didn’t speak and Carter’s face hardened.
“You have a new life and a new identity courtesy of the taxpayer. I’m not going to say anything that leads to you being found.” He gave a short laugh. “You seem to be doing a good job of that all on your own.”
I had to save Tay. I took a risk and this is the price.
“Talk to me.”
No.
Carter leaned in. “If you don’t give me the story I want for my book, maybe I’ll give the public another story. Hero to less than zero in the blink of an eye. You haven’t been recognised—yet, but that doesn’t stop me spreading the rumour of who you are. You know how fast social media works. No matter how quick they are to take it down, it won’t be quick enough. There won’t be medals in your future. There are still people who think you should be dead.”
