The woman picks up the phone, clearly concerned about protocols.
‘Where are the officers?’
‘Through there.’ She points.
‘Thank you.’ Matthew turns to Wendy. ‘I’m going to speak to them. Keep your phone line open like I said. You got enough battery?’
‘What do you think I am, an amateur? Of course I’ve got enough battery. Does the vest show?’
Matthew shakes his head, still wishing he could step up himself. ‘She may not even turn up.’
Wendy shrugs and heads off through the cathedral to get in position near the clock. Matthew retreats to the centre of the cathedral, out of sight, to brief the two uniformed officers who’ve been discreetly asking visitors to leave – allegedly for a staff fire drill. Fortunately, it’s quiet. Just a few tourists who leave without a fuss.
Now they just have to wait.
CHAPTER 59
THE FATHER – NOW
Ed puts the two coffees on the bedside cabinet and turns to Rachel.
‘Sorry I was so long. Spilled the first coffees. Stupid of me. But I just spoke to the police. There’s a lot going on, apparently. They hope it will be over soon. Ahead of the ceremony, I mean.’
Rachel still looks terrified. ‘Did they check you coming in? Was the door security good?’
‘It was fine. They checked.’
‘Good. Good.’ She’s sitting on the chair alongside Gemma’s bed, her right foot flipping up and down furiously with the tension. She seems to notice him staring at it and uncrosses her legs, putting both feet on the floor, clearly struggling to sit still.
‘So what exactly’s going on? What did they say?’
‘No specifics. Just that there’s a live operation. More arrests imminent, by the sounds of things. It’s going to be all right, Rachel.’
‘Is it?’ She looks out on to the now empty ward. ‘Why’s there no armed guard?’
‘DI Sanders said there should be a team downstairs soon. Just a precaution. I don’t know if they’ll come up to the ward. I don’t know how they do these things. Maybe they’re waiting to see if they pull off these arrests.’
‘What arrests?’
‘I’m not sure. She said they have two strong leads. She’s going to call and update us as soon as anything happens.’
‘Is it Laura? Have they found Laura?’
Ed hasn’t told Rachel about the anniversary; that today would have been his and Laura’s silver wedding anniversary. That Laura had once said they should go back to the place they met to celebrate. He feels so stupid and so guilty for not thinking of it before.
What if this really was the trigger for it all? What if Laura, in her delusions and her illness, somehow latched on to the date? What if all of this really is . . . his . . . fault?
And then he notices Rachel’s expression changing. She’s looking at Gemma’s bed, at first frowning. Next, her whole face darkening. ‘Ed. Look.’
He turns to their daughter, the headphones still in place, and something inside him shifts. Breaks. Gemma’s eyes remain firmly closed. She’s as still as ever. Skin pale.
But trailing across each cheekbone is a haunting but unmistakable line – the droplets catching the light from the fluorescent strip overhead.
Gemma is crying.
CHAPTER 60
THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
Matthew and the two uniformed officers are waiting, concealed behind pillars in the central area of the cathedral called the Quire. They can’t be seen from the clock area, which is off to one side, but it also means Matthew can’t see what’s going on.
The line’s open to Wendy’s phone, tucked in her top pocket, so he daren’t speak, in case Laura’s appeared and he’s overheard. It would all have been so much easier if there had been time to plan with proper comms. Earpieces.
It’s quarter to twelve. He expected Laura to turn up early. It was always a long shot but what if he’s called this wrong? What if he should really be at the other cathedral – Maidstead – helping Mel check all the security? Finding Sam’s wife Lily? One of the uniformed officers, an affable-looking guy, leans forward as if to speak, but Matthew puts his finger up to his lips then waves his other hand to signal that he should stay back. Keep quiet.
And then at last . . .
‘Do you know what happened to the guide?’ A female voice. Soft Canadian accent. He can only just make it out and has to press the phone closer to his ear, adjusting the volume to maximum.
‘Off ill, apparently. I think they’re probably all volunteers. Shame. I always prefer it with a guide.’ Wendy sounds genuinely disappointed. Also convincing. Matthew puts his thumbs up to signal to the two uniformed officers that Laura’s turned up.