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

‘That, I’m really not sure about, DI Greenwood.’

‘What are you sure about?’

‘It’s come to my attention that events in 1992 at Bluefields Hospital in Nottingham, more specifically…’ he pauses, bites his lip and tastes the iron, ‘what happened to Rose Marlowe in Bluefields, are very pertinent to this case.’

He has to tell her about Hugo’s revelation. He has to tell her about Abe going to see Madden in the spring of 2015 when he came to England, and what he believes Madden told Abe during that visit.

He weighs up what he knows. He needs time to think. ‘Sorry, DI Greenwood, someone at my intercom. Give me a minute.’

He presses mute and lays down the phone. He has to gather his thoughts. Hugo was telling the truth, he’s certain.

Why didn’t Rose tell DI Greenwood about the fiasco in Spain, and afterwards? Has she taken the rap for her husband? Why would she do that? Rose wanted to be put in prison – this is how much she values her life and how incredibly broken she really is. She sacrificed her own freedom for Miles. Christ, is Marion aware of what Daniel Deane and Abigail orchestrated?

Alison Greenwood is still on mute, and Theo is still mulling. It’s time for the police to know everything. The letter delivered to his flat has moved the goalposts. A chill gathers around him in his overheated study, and it’s not only connected to Abigail and Daniel Deane, but also to Ed Madden. Madden was behind the letter, and he’s sure the act was carried out at Daniel Deane’s request.

Theo should have alerted Alison Greenwood to Natasha’s retrieved email. A bone-biting guilt spreads through him.

When the truth about Abe Duncan is revealed, Rose will disintegrate, shatter, and the only thing that might save her is the existence of a little girl in San Francisco. Natasha and Abe’s daughter. Despising himself, Theo quickly writes this line down on a notepad, and then finally presses un-mute.

‘Hi, DI Greenwood, sorry. Big delivery, signed-for only.’

‘I’m waiting.’

He gives her the facts as he knows them, including Hugo’s revelation. Silence follows, and it’s Theo’s turn to wait.

Finally Greenwood replies. ‘I see. I was planning on coming to Manchester in the morning to liaise with DS Mulholland, but I need to come as soon as possible. I will be there late this evening, when you can give me a formal statement in person.’

Theo looks at his watch. ‘You won’t get here until ten at the earliest.’

‘Is that a problem?’

‘No, but I really think you should be taking me seriously and finding Ed Madden.’

‘Units were dispatched to Edward Madden’s property soon after your earlier call, Mr Hazel. And forensics are, as of a few minutes ago, checking DNA.’ He hears her shout an instruction and imagines her sitting in a busy office. ‘I’m a woman. I multitask. I’ll be in Manchester sometime after eight tonight.’

56

29 April 2016

DI Alison Greenwood and her sergeant arrived just after 9 p.m. last night and stayed for two hours. Theo gave a formal statement, although he’d made a conscious decision not to mention Marion in any context. Rose wanted him to find out the extent of Marion’s involvement, and despite the fractured relationship between them, Marion is Rose’s mother, and Rose loves her regardless of her suspicions. He suspects this is why she asked him to investigate, rather than going directly to the police; he’s understood this from early on in his visits. Whatever Marion has been up to, it’s something that Rose has no desire to share with the police.

Theo contemplates whether the tables might be in opposite alignment for Marion compared to the blackmail Daniel Deane used with Miles. Is Marion blackmailing Daniel? Or is there an agreement between them that’s been in place from the beginning, going back to the day Rose went into labour? Why, though, he wonders, did Marion agree to speak to him? So that she, and therefore Daniel Deane, could gauge the progress of what he was discovering?

He leans against the kitchen counter sipping a cold coffee and eating a Mars bar. His mobile vibrates on the unit and he answers.

‘Just to let you know, we’re acting on your information, Mr Hazel,’ DI Greenwood says.

‘Ed Madden?’

‘I can’t discuss anything with you. But I can put your mind at rest and tell you that we are now aware of the letter sender’s identity.’

‘And the Deanes?’

‘I can see what you’ve been doing, but it’s time to leave it with us. I don’t want you speaking to Rose Marlowe until we’ve followed this through. I mean it.’

‘Okay.’

‘Have a good day, Mr Hazel.’

Theo puts the Mars wrapper in the bin and then calls Sophie. ‘You all okay?’ he asks.

‘We’re fine. I’m sorry I barked at you.’

‘Have you told Nick?’

‘Yes, he’ll be home tomorrow night,’ she replies. ‘Theo… Rose Marlowe?’

‘She’s not guilty of murder, Soph.’

‘You still going to write the book?’

Theo sees the money pass him by. He doesn’t answer.

‘You’re in love.’ Although he can’t see her face, he sees her smile. ‘What about the money? The advance? What are you going to do?’

‘Probably move out of the flat. Rent a room somewhere. I don’t know, Soph, but I can’t write about Rose.’

‘Nick said we can lend you money, with no time frame on paying us back.’

‘Aw, you didn’t tell Nick, did you?’ He doesn’t know what’s worse, Sophie knowing he’s a failure and skint, or her husband knowing.

‘We don’t have secrets between us, Theo. He knows I’ve been worried about you.’

‘It’s okay. I don’t need your money. Or Nick’s.’

‘Offer’s always open.’

‘I know. Speak soon.’ He disconnects.

Within ten minutes he’s in his car and trying not to like Nick. But it’s impossible. He does, and always has. He glances at the dash clock: 7.32 a.m. He could be at Marion’s by late morning. He needs to discover if she knows the whole story. If she does, it’s easy, he’ll inform Alison Greenwood. If she doesn’t, he’ll say nothing. Perhaps he – and Rose –