The Nurse by J. Corrigan (list of ebook readers txt) 📕

‘Maybe he was there for another reason, not just the walking?’ Theo conjectures.

‘I think he was. To see Ed Madden.’

‘Ed Madden?’

She nods. ‘Ed Madden, yes. Back in the nineties, he and Daniel were as thick as thieves, although he was close to Abe’s mother too. He lives in Derbyshire now. but he lived near the Deanes in Herefordshire until around 2003, maybe 2004. Looking through Abe’s stuff after he died, I found Madden’s address in Derbyshire. He didn’t like Madden, but he probably thought he could tell him something about his mum and dad. Madden knew everything about his parents.’

‘I see.’

Natasha picks up her bag and rummages inside, pulling out a clean handkerchief. ‘I think Abe was on a mission to find out things about his childhood, his parents, and he believed Madden might be able to help.’ She dabs her eyes.

‘And that might be the reason why he returned to the B&B so upset that day… that’s what the B&B owner told me, that Abe was upset.’

‘Possibly.’

‘Did you come over to the UK when he was admitted to hospital?’

‘I planned to, but I couldn’t get here immediately. I was quite ill in the latter stages of pregnancy; it was almost impossible for me to travel. And then when I called the hospital and they told me he had been taken out of the coma and was going to be okay, I relaxed a little.’

Theo takes a sip of his beer. ‘Did you speak to either of Abe’s parents during Abe’s time in hospital?’

‘I don’t communicate with Daniel. I did speak to his mum on the phone several times, though. It had been touch and go for a few days, but once he was stable, she assured me I didn’t need to come over.’

Natasha folds her arms tightly around her chest. ‘There’s something else. Abe was in hospital for ten days before he was brought out of the coma and moved to the high dependency unit. The last time I spoke to his mother on the phone, she sounded different. Distressed. I didn’t think much of it at the time because I was so worried about Abe. But now I wonder. Why was she distressed? What had changed? After what you’ve just told me about Rose Marlowe’s connection to Daniel, could it be a reaction to seeing Rose?’

‘It’s certainly food for thought.’

‘Another thing. Abe recounted an incident to me that happened in his childhood, when he was staying with Zakaria in Morocco. He heard an argument between his grandad and his mum. Abe had been sleeping; he was ill with a temperature. He said he thought he heard them discussing something about him, but he could never remember what, and afterwards he thought it might have just been a nightmare. He was only six and he’s mentioned the incident only twice, the first time soon after we met and the second time was the night before he flew to England. I’m sure that whatever it was that had happened in Morocco was the reason he came here. To speak to his father and go to see Ed Madden.’

Theo tips back the last of his beer. ‘Abe knew something, didn’t he?’

‘I think he did.’ She scrutinises him. ‘It’s Daniel Deane and his wife you should be talking to.’

‘Rose has emphatically told me not to contact Deane. Not yet. Not until she’s told me her story in full.’

‘Then I think you must do as she asks.’

‘I agree… Natasha, do you mind if I ask you a question?’

‘Fire away.’

‘How do you feel about Rose Marlowe?’

She sinks into the leather sofa. ‘There’s a small part of me that feels sorry for her. Stupid, eh?’

Her response tells him a lot about the woman sitting in front of him.

13

1 April 2016

The next morning, Theo takes the 8.05 train back up to Manchester and is in his flat in Chorlton by lunchtime. He spoke with Natasha for four solid hours the night before and she gave him much more information about Abe and his early life, although it’s their conversation about Ed Madden that continues to preoccupy him.

He flicks on his computer and googles Madden, which leads him to Companies House. Madden is a managing director of Bliss Interior Designs. The other director is Hugo Bliss. The company has a very nice website and a small showroom in a village on the outskirts of Derby, an image of which sits in the left top corner of the page. Theo jots down the email and telephone number.

He turns his attention away from the computer screen and picks up the opening pages of his book from where he left them the day before. He sits back in the chair and scans through the words. Not at all like Capote. Putting the sheets of paper back on his desk, he grabs his notebook where he jotted down reminders of what Natasha told him last night; events and thoughts Abe had shared with her.

Abe had certainly never adored his father, but in his early years he had admired him – until he was old enough to question, which was around secondary school age. It was around that time too that Ed had left the farmer’s cottage near their house where he had been living. Abe had been glad when Ed disappeared from their lives. His mother had tried to persuade him to stay, but Ed’s mind was made up. Ed held a power over his parents that Abe was unable to fathom.

Theo rests the notebook on his lap and then pulls out a file from the top drawer of his desk and reads its contents. He’s written down everything that Rose recounted regarding her first meeting with Daniel Deane, and also everything she said about Miles and Ed. These are the main players in the story, though Theo strongly suspects that Abe’s mother is also crucial.

Tomorrow Rose will hopefully carry on with her story, a tale that together with Natasha and Marion’s input will form the solid basis for