STRANGE BODIES (a gripping crime thriller) (25 page)

All the eyebrows went up, amazed at how he had spoken to her and to her credit, Adelaide looked abashed. ‘Sorry,’ she muttered. ‘I’m just worried about Verity.’

They all went into a small cluttered office, the desk piled high with files and paperwork, disk cases, data sticks in a bowl, a computer and an intercom. Under an aircon vent a sagging metal bookcase held dozens of ancient heavy books as well as plastic boxes of what were probably e-text books. A bunch of framed certificates hung on the wall behind the desk, above a battered looking credenza which held a printer and a coffee machine. A small fridge was built in to one side and from one of the half open drawers on the other side of the console more papers spilled out.

‘Sorry, there’s only one chair. No room for more anyway.’

Adams said smoothly, ‘Perhaps Ms Browne would be more comfortable in the waiting room.’

Before he had finished Adelaide had slid into the chair. No one noticed Herbie who had slithered his way just inside the door and was still recording everything.

‘I need to talk to Ms Burne, Verity, as soon as possible. How is she, Richard? Is she badly hurt? In any danger?’

He said, ‘She’s in no danger of dying, if that’s what you mean, Nick. She has what appears to be a slight concussion, a fairly severe stab wound and some minor injuries. Lost a fair amount of blood. Maybe a broken ankle, but probably sprained. All fixable, but she’ll need to stay in overnight, maybe for another day. She went up to bio-scan a few minutes ago.’

Adams said, ‘I’d like to see her before she goes to theatre. She’s aware, isn’t she?’

‘She’s had some heavy pain meds and shouldn’t really be questioned at this stage. Can’t you wait till tomorrow? What about the security cams? They should be able to tell you … of course I’m telling a senior detective how to suck eggs!’

Nicholas looked mutely at Adelaide who could see the misery in his eyes. She said, ‘How about I go up with him, Richard, and I can make sure he doesn’t bully her.’

Dr Wainwright sighed. ‘Adelaide Browne, how does anyone resist you. Go up to the third floor, scanning’s on the right as you come out of the elevator. I’ll ring through and clear it.’

Adelaide argued with the woman at the reception desk at bio-scan. ‘I don’t care who you are, you can’t come in, Ms Browne. It’s a safety rule. Ms Burne is fine. If you’ll just sit over there and wait you can see her when she comes out. She’s going up to theatre so you’ll have maybe a minute until they come for her. That’s the best I can do.’

Adelaide glanced up at Nicholas, standing next to her, as if to say, ‘Your turn,’ but he just shook his head, smiled and said, ‘We’ll wait. Thank you, Mrs Clement.’ He read her name from her ID badge. He pulled out his own ID and showed it. ‘Have you any idea how much longer they’ll be? I only want a minute with her. See if there’s anything else she can tell us about the attack.’

‘I suppose I could pop in and see. Won’t be a tick.’

‘Talk about Mr Slick,’ said Adelaide admiringly. ‘You obviously don’t need the rack and thumbscrews. Just smile and they fall into your lap.’

‘If only,’ he murmured. ‘Now, let’s go and sit down.’

‘Look, Nicholas,’ she said, touching him lightly on the arm, ‘I know how you feel about Verity. I like you and I think you’d be good for her, but she doesn’t trust … mmm … I was going to say, men, but I think it’s more she doesn’t trust her own judgement of men. She … you know she was married? And her husband died, was shot dead?’

He nodded.

‘He was an evil man,’ she burst out. ‘I still can’t help feeling I should have known what was going on, what she was suffering. I was so wrapped up in, I suppose, trying to become famous if I’m honest, I just didn’t think about anyone else. Verity was always there for me when we were growing up, especially when we lost our parents.’ Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears.

‘I don’t know all the details … she told me some, bits and pieces here and there, which I’ve put together, but I find it hard to comprehend what he did. He got what he deserved, but it’s up to Verity to tell you if she wants to.’

‘Marcus Hamilton told me something about him but said pretty much the same thing as you about it … Verity needs to know me better before she commits herself emotionally.’

‘Didn’t you and she … I mean, I saw you leave her house this morning.’ She looked at him questioningly.

He shook his head. ‘It’s not what you think. I spent the night in her house, not in her bed. We talked a lot and she’s starting to trust me. She showed me a few things.’

‘And are you trustworthy, Nicholas?’ asked Adelaide her head on one side, one hand resting on his arm and squeezing gently.

He patted her hand and grinned at her. ‘Nice try, Adelaide. Gorgeous as you are, you are just not my type or I would have taken up your offer months ago. Too much like my late wife.’

The double doors opened and a wide-awake and very cranky Verity appeared. ‘What the hell are you two doing here canoodling. I’m in bloody agony here and the bastards won’t give me any more pain killers. Oh, stop fussing,’ she flapped her right hand at the attendant who was smoothing a sheet over her. ‘You’re not going to start with the third degree here are you, Adams. This is just bloody harassment.’

‘Now, now Verity. We just came to see you, to see how you are. No one’s going to question you, I promise. That’s right isn’t it, Nicholas.’

‘How cosy you two look there. So what happened to the bloody doctor you had your hooks into five minutes ago. Poor bugger. Well, you can both piss off. I’m fine, I don’t need you. Bloody coppers. Get me out of here,’ she demanded.

Adelaide and Nicholas were dumbfounded. Adelaide, because she had never heard Verity swear like that before, and Nicholas because …
could it be she was jealous?
he thought incredulously. Before they could say another word Verity was whisked away by the attendant.

Nick was drifting off in spite of the uncomfortable chair beside Verity’s bed. His head jerked up again.
Coffee
, he thought.
I need coffee
. He went to the door where a young policeman was standing on guard.

‘Stevens,’ he said reading the ID tag. ‘Take a break, ten minutes and bring me back a coffee, please. I’ll stand guard. Anything happened?’

‘No, sir. Just the usual nursing staff, all with ID. The other officer checks everyone who comes to this floor. How do you have your coffee, sir?’

‘Just black, thanks. Strong as you can get it.’

He took the opportunity to stretch some of the kinks out. He was not going to leave Verity’s side until he had spoken to her. He needed some answers—why had she been attacked? The security cameras had been jammed electronically but no equipment had been found on his person. Even stranger, they hadn’t been able to ID him—no fingerprints on record, microchip wiped; retinal prints didn’t work with the dead. The preliminary DNA results made no sense at all. According to them he had died twenty years before, aged seventy-one. There were no labels on his clothes and he had nothing in his pockets except fluff. Someone was being super-smart, super-cautious.

They were still waiting for cause of death. There were no marks on his body but a rictus twisting his face suggested an agonising death, but that seemed wrong in such a fit looking young man. Adams had his own suspicions … the murderer thought Verity was getting too close. That meant he had had access to the car park and to some very advanced electronics. Maybe Verity was right.

He glanced at his watch … almost four, about time for the hourly check. He saw Stevens talking to one of the two night nurses. And he was carrying two mugs of coffee.

‘Nurse made us a coffee each, sir, as the machine’s broken and their coffee’s better anyway.’ He sent a smile of thanks to the nurse who nodded and smiled back.

Adams opened the door as he said, ‘Thanks, both of you. I appreciate it.’

The nurse ran through the usual checks efficiently, making sure everything was as it should be. Verity moved and moaned a little during the procedures but stayed asleep. When the nurse left he gently placed his hand over hers and looked at her sleeping face. She was very pale, her flawless skin looking translucent in the dim light. She suddenly opened her eyes wide, looked at him and sighed, ‘Nicholas,’ then drifted back to sleep. He finally relaxed and sank back in the chair.

Chapter 35

Nicholas came to pick Verity up from the hospital and over her objections, carried her through the underground garage and into the living room. ‘Whew, I don’t want to do that every day,’ he said as he placed her on one of the big couches, her head on a cushion and her strapped ankle resting comfortably on another one.

‘I’ll just get my breath back and then go and get your stuff out of the car. I’m glad you sent all those flowers away—they wouldn’t have fitted in the car.’

‘I appreciated the thought but I really don’t like cut flowers. They die and smell foul. This,’ she gestured to the greenhouse and her indoor water garden, ‘this is what I like.’

Nicholas stood up then and said, ‘How about coffee? I’m sure you’d like a real coffee after that hospital crap. And I want to go over your statement again.’

She raised her voice slightly. ‘Jeannie, coffee please. There. It’ll be ready in about five minutes. My statement … yes, I’ve had time to think about it and I’m sure it was the same man, the one who tried to break in here. Could be the same type of bomb too.’

‘Can you run the recording that Toby made again, get a close-up of the bomb before it went off?’

She sent the order through and requested a hard copy of the bomb image. ‘Do you want it sent to your
Tyle
, too?’ she asked, with a suspiciously innocent look.

He shook his head. ‘Why don’t I just put the handcuffs on you now. Yes, okay, but you’d better send it to the main office computer too, and as if it came from me. I’m sure you can do that. Now how’s that coffee.’

‘Sit, Nick. Just wait another minute or two and I predict, you won’t have to lift a finger.’

He suddenly realised she had called him “Nick” instead of the formal “Nicholas” or “Commander” she usually used. He smiled to himself and sat back, perfectly relaxed now.

‘Just push it open with your hip, Lucy. Careful, don’t spill them. Yoohoo, Verity, we’re here. Welcome home, sweetheart. Look what we’ve brought you. Sunday brunch is coming to you. Here we are. Just drop that on the coffee table. Can you see that trolley around somewhere?’

Adelaide swept in with Amy, Lucy and Richard Wainwright bringing up the rear. She flung herself at Verity and hugged her, kissed her on both cheeks then said, ‘Let me look at you. Mmm, good colour, sparkling eyes. How’s the shoulder? Hello, Nick.’

‘Adelaide, do shut up. Let the poor woman breathe. And I think your hand is perilously close to her damaged shoulder.’

There was an audible indrawing of breath after Richard spoke, as they waited for Adelaide’s response. ‘Oh, God, I’m so sorry. Did I hurt you? I didn’t …’

‘Adelaide,’ warningly.

She walked over to the doctor, grabbed his face with both hands and said, ‘Kiss me, you fool.’ Which he did, but lightly. She smiled warmly at him and patted his cheek.

‘Look, I’ve got all this lovely food. No invalid rubbish … smoked salmon, lovely little chicken and asparagus rolls, hot scones, raspberry tarts, dah dah. Thanks to Lucy, marvellous, she and Amy did it all. And all this other stuff. Where’s Bob, Amy?’

‘He’s getting the ice bucket and some ice. Here he is now.’

Fraser came in pushing the drinks trolley, wearing shorts, a thin shirt covered in gaudy tropical flowers and flip-flops on his feet. A ragged straw hat covered his sandy hair and completed the look. Nicholas blinked and said, ‘It is you under there, Bob?’

‘Too much talking and not enough drinking.’ He poured a glass of wine and handed it ceremoniously to Verity with a slight bow. ‘So pleased, Ms Burne, to have you safely back with us again. Now you just say if it’s too much and I’ll get rid of this lot for you.’

Verity laughed and raised her glass to him, ‘Thank you, Bob. I think I can put up with them for a bit longer. I’m starving anyway.’

Adelaide looking a bit embarrassed said, ‘Um look, Verity. It’s … er … we … I … ‘

They all looked amazed. Adelaide lost for words!

Amy came to the rescue. ‘What she’s trying to say is that there are more people coming. Some of the RAZZ! crew, Milton and Irlana insisted on coming to make sure you were alright, um … Jet Blanchard, Gabe Thomas and of course, Marcus. Oh, probably his bodyguard, the quite obnoxious Madam Lash, oops, Nash and the boring Mr Gray. Oh, that’s right, they’re away, goody. I’ve probably forgotten some but that’s a good start. Oh, your Professor Oscar … he rang to see how you were so she invited him too.’

Verity sat up, wincing slightly. ‘Adelaide, how could you? You know my house rules.’

‘Oh, they aren’t coming in here, my love. No, no I wouldn’t do that to you. We just brought a few nibbles and drinks to say welcome home and to keep us going, then we’ll pick you up and whisk you next door. They aren’t due for another hour. This is just for family.’ She smiled happily at Nicholas as she said that, and, for the first time since he had arrived in Australia, he suddenly realised it felt like home. He moved then to sit next to Verity on the couch and took her hand. She looked down at their joined hands then raised her eyes to his and smiled happily.

They all had full glasses now. ‘Welcome home Verity.’ They drank the toast, ate all the nibbles, chatted about this and that then got ready to decamp.

Verity was exhausted by seven o’clock. She hadn’t said much for the past hour or so but as the last of the guests left she murmured to Nicholas, ‘Take me home, please. I really need to lie down.’

Nicholas caught Richard’s eye and signalled him over. ‘Verity’s in a bit of pain. I’m going to take her back home. Can you give her something?’

‘I’ll just get my bag. It’s locked in one of Adelaide’s cupboards.’

Amy said, ‘Why don’t you let me look after her? I can use some of my salve on the wound and a wrap for her ankle.’

Richard looked at her and said, ‘Well, I have to admit it did wonders for Adelaide’s forehead so why not. And I think it would be a good idea to get her to bed. She’s had enough for one day.’

Verity said, ‘Do you mind not talking about me as if I were invisible, please.’ She went to stand up, but before she could make it upright, Nicholas had scooped her up into his arms. She was too weary to object this time. She looked fragile enough to snap in two at the slightest pressure.

Richard and Amy followed, having discouraged the others. ‘She really needs to rest and would be best in bed I think. Okay, Verity?’ said Richard. ‘Amy will look after you.’

She nodded.

‘Can you stand, Vee? Here, I’ll give you a hoist up.’ The strapping Amy half carried her up to her bedroom. She leaned over the glass balcony rail and said, ‘I’ll get her bathed and into bed. Nicholas, would you bring my basket up in about ten minutes, please. I’ll give you a call.’

‘I’ll head back to Adelaide’s. They don’t need me here,’ said Richard.’

‘Are you alright with this, with Amy taking over your medical duties as it were?’ Nick gestured to the couch. ‘You might as well stay till she calls me.’

‘Well, strictly speaking she’s not my patient, I just saw her in A & E. Anyway, Amy has a magic touch. The stuff she used on Adelaide was amazing. I’ve never seen a wound heal that fast without regeneration therapy. We don’t use cell regen or nanobots for minor wounds and her herbal stuff could make her a fortune marketed properly.’

‘What’s in it, do you know?’

‘No, and she won’t tell me. Some Chinese herbs is all she’ll say. Richard pointed upstairs. ‘If you don’t mind my asking, what’s with you and …?’

Nick sat forward, dangling his arms between his legs and said, gloomily, ‘I don’t know. Sometimes I think I’m getting somewhere then she shuts down. I think she’s …’

Amy called down, ‘My basket, Nicholas, can you bring it up now, please. You still here, Richard? Tell Bob I’ll be ten minutes, please.’

‘Yes, just saying goodbye.’

The two men shook hands and the doctor left. Nick grabbed Amy’s basket and wound his way up the circular staircase to the next floor. ‘Amy, where are you?’

Amy, astonished, said to Verity, ‘Hasn’t he been up here before? I thought he stayed the night once before.’

‘He did, but in Marcus’ room.’

Amy shook her head in disbelief and called out, ‘First door’. She added in a low voice. ‘This man is the one for you, Verity. He is special. Bob has told me a lot about him and …’ she broke off as Nicholas came in and stopped just over the threshold, looking stunned at the room. He’d expected more of the sleek hi-tech look of the downstairs rooms but this was the last thing he expected, this huge room with translucent floor to ceiling inner walls overlooking the indoor garden. The walls were a holographic mass of tropical jungle, real plants were sprouting from planters and cascaded from high brackets. An enormous bed with a spread of green tropical vines and leaves tossed carelessly to the end was set near one end of the room, Verity lying propped on pillows to one side, a sheet pulled up and tucked under her arms, leaving her left shoulder free for Amy’s ministrations. One foot, the left, was exposed and resting on a pillow.

Amy took a few jars out of the basket. She opened a pouch and took out a silvery piece of pungent material which she wrapped around Verity’s left ankle then tucked her foot back under the cover.

‘Don’t hover, Nick.’ Verity patted the empty side of the big bed, an invitation he couldn’t resist. He sat and watched as Amy carefully removed the artificial skin and dressing from the deep wound just below Verity’s shoulder. She took one of the bottles and a soft swab and tipped some sweet smelling liquid onto the swab, then to the wound, holding it in place for a few seconds. Verity flinched, but said nothing. By the time Amy removed the swab she was relaxed and almost smiling. ‘Amy, that’s fantastic. The pain’s gone. Just like that, gone.’

‘I’ll just put this salve on it then another dressing and you should be pain-free all night. I’ll pop over in the morning and re-dress it.’ She finished her work and packed the bottles and the old dressing into her basket. She took Verity’s hand, then bent forward and kissed her on the cheek. Turning to Nicholas she said, ‘Look after her, Nicholas. She’s very precious to us all.’

He walked to the door with her and said in a low voice, ‘She’s very precious to me, too.’

He went back and stood next to the bed wondering what he should do, looking down at Verity who lay with her eyes closed, still looking pale but more relaxed. She spoke without opening her eyes, ‘Sit on the bed, Nick. Sit down and talk to me. In fact, kick off your shoes and stretch out for a while.’

He lay back thankfully and sighed at the comfort of her bed and the cloudlike pillows. He stretched out a hand to her. She took it and said, ‘Will you stay with me tonight, Nick. I don’t want to be alone. Just stay here and talk to me.’

He propped himself up on one elbow and looked at her. The temptation was too much… he kissed those perfect lips gently for a few seconds, then forced himself to pull back. ‘Sorry,’ he muttered. ‘I just can’t believe this. You there … me … in, on your bed.’

She smiled slightly. ‘Let’s just see how it goes. I’m just as confused as you, Nick. Why don’t you tell me that story of your marriage you wanted to tell me before.’

‘Are you sure you want to hear this? At this time?’

‘Yes, how about we exchange marriage stories, as it were, get them out of the way then see where we go from there. Oh, do you still have the data Marcus gave you?’

‘Yes, it’s in my jacket.’

‘We’ll listen to it together then I’ll fill in the blanks. But now tell me about Isobel.’

‘Where to begin. Right, well Isobel’s parents and mine were friends. She had a brother my age, and of course at fifteen we didn’t want a
girl
hanging around with us … she was two years younger. One day, I was hiding in a tree and she spotted me, threw a stone or something and when I ducked I fell out of the tree and landed on my back, thoroughly winded. Before I could get my breath back she was on top of me, and started kissing me. I couldn’t believe a kid, as I thought of her, could kiss like that, passionately, like I’d seen in movies. Next thing our parents came strolling along … they often went walking together. You can imagine the rest.

‘I got a clip over the ear and was told to keep my hands to myself in future. Mind you, I had actually done nothing, I was so winded by the fall that I was still trying to breath properly.’

He laughed a little at the memory.

‘Isobel was packed off quick smart, to a convent in Switzerland. Yes, I know, like something out of a nineteenth century novel, but this wasn’t the first time apparently. I found out years later that she was no virgin; she’d seduced a couple of the village boys and tried it on with one of her father’s friends. Yes, at thirteen.

‘Fast forward to the year I turned twenty-three. I’d about finished my year with the Peacekeepers, deferred while I finished my law degree. I’d applied to the Metropolitan Police and I got a call from my CO who told me to go to London as I had an interview arranged.

‘Look, I can’t go into too many details but I was told to go to a certain address, an old manor house just outside Cheltenham, present my ID and …’

‘… and ask for a Major Smith,’ she finished for him. ‘Yes, me too.’ She glanced at him. ‘I turned them down flat.’

‘That’s exactly what I did. Anyway the point of this is that I went home for a visit and who should be there but Isobel and her mother. Her father had died not long before and they were spending a few weeks at our house. I got the impression that they had been left very badly off. That was later confirmed … her father had died owing large sums of money.