The machine bleeps and the result must be satisfactory because Nelson is ushered in. The waiting room, like the police station, has been rearranged to allow social distancing. There抯 just one occupant, an elderly man in a mask. Nelson wonders what illness he has that has forced him to leave the safety of his home.
Nelson introduces himself to the receptionist. Normally he would ask to speak in private but the airy room seems the more Covid-safe option. He hopes that the elderly man is deaf.
慖抦 looking for a Zoe Hilton.?
慫oe? She抯 one of our nurses but . . .?
慖s she in today??
慛o. We were expecting her. I hope she抯 not ill.?That抯 the first assumption these days, thinks Nelson. Not skiving off.
慦as she in yesterday??
慪es, and she left at the usual time. Five thirty.?
慖s there anyone I can talk to about Zoe??says Nelson.
慪ou抎 better talk to Dr Patel. She抯 our senior partner.?The receptionist looks scared now.
Dr Rita Patel looks too young to be a senior partner, but Nelson is used to that now. She抯 a slight woman with black hair pulled back into a severe ponytail. Her eyes, above her mask, are dark and watchful. She抯 wearing blue scrubs which makes Nelson think of hospitals.
慣hey抮e the easiest and most hygienic option,?says Dr Patel. 慖 don抰 think I抣l go back to wearing ordinary clothes even after all this is over.?
慚ust be a tough time for you.?
慖t is,?says the doctor. 慦e抮e doing lots of telephone consultations but there are some patients we really need to see. And I worry about the people at home who need medical help but are too scared to ask.?
慡cared of coming in??
慡cared of wasting our time,?says Dr Patel. 態ut people still get cancer in a pandemic.?
It抯 a very lowering thought. Nelson explains that he抯 looking for Zoe.
慡he hasn抰 come in today,?says Dr Patel. 慦e抮e a bit worried about her.?
慔ow long has she worked here??
慜nly since February but she抯 a very good nurse. We all like her.?
慖 believe Zoe Hilton was once called Dawn Stainton,?says Nelson.
Dr Patel gives him a very straight look. 慪es, she was. A very distressing time for her.?
慡he told you about the case??
慡he was completely straight with us. She was found not guilty and the real perpetrator was caught and charged. Zoe was cleared to practise by the General Medical Council.?
慉nd you抳e no idea where she could be today??
慛o. As I say, we抮e a bit worried.?
When Nelson stands up to go, Dr Patel surprises him by saying, 慖s there any news of Cathbad??
慛o,?says Nelson. 慖抦 going to ring Judy, his partner, in a few minutes.?
慣ell her we抮e all thinking of him,?says Dr Patel. 慖 do his yogic breathing exercises every night.?
Chapter 32
How long now? It must be morning although there抯 no change to the light in the room. Or, rather, the dark in the room. She doesn抰 wear a watch any more. She always has her phone with her. The loss of it feel like an amputated limb. She misses it, that comforting rectangle full of people. Even if she couldn抰 reach anyone, she would have a torch, she could play a game, read a book on the Kindle app. But all she has are her thoughts and these are not pleasant companions.
Last night he brought food and water, two biscuits and an apple. He pushed it through a grille in the door so, once again, she didn抰 get to see his face.
慉 nice slimming meal,?he said, before closing the metal flap.