The Perils of Skinny-Dipping (22 page)

‘
Not really. I don’t have much to do with Lucy, not now anyway.’

‘
Who’s Lucy?’

‘
My daughter.’

Abbey looked at Phil with a look of complete surprise. ‘You never told me you had a child. How old is she?’

‘
Thirteen months. I went round to see her last week with a present and she didn’t even know me. In fact, she wouldn’t come near me. I’m a complete stranger to her.’

‘
Why, what happened? Have you lost touch with her mother? Were you in a relationship?’

‘
We were, but after I applied for the job at AVP, Debra accused me of running away from my responsibilities and said that if I went, I wasn’t to come back.’

‘
Were you?’ asked Abbey. ‘I mean, running away?’

‘
Yeah, I guess so. It was all so sudden - the pregnancy, and everyone looking at me to do the right thing.’

‘
And what was the right thing?’

‘
Getting married and finding a nine to five I suppose. Look, my head was absolute mince at the time and I couldn’t think straight at all. I know I’ve let them down, both of them, but I would like the chance to try and make amends. Be part of Lucy’s life. Just in case mine comes to a premature end!’

‘
I’m not judging you,’ replied Abbey. ‘I’m in no position to. You don’t have to justify your actions to me. In all the time I’ve known you, you have never judged me and I love you for that. If it’s any consolation, I think you’d make a brilliant dad, and I hope one day Lucy makes it happen.’

She squeezed his arm tightly and pecked him on the cheek as she got up to go to bed. She climbed under the duvet, still exhausted from the long haul flight the night before. She checked her phone once more before putting it on the bedside table.

Phil was awoken by the bedroom curtains being opened.

‘
Come on, sleepy head. We’ve got lots to do today,’ said Abbey, already dressed and ready to go.

They drove to the house and Abbey gave Phil a guided tour.

‘
Nice pad, Abbey. You sure you want to do this?’

‘
Yes, I’m sure. Anyway, I can’t go back on the deal now - it would leave Darren in a huge financial hole if I did.’

By lunch time, the auction van had loaded the items to be sold, the freight company had loaded the furniture to ship to Kasane, and the local charity shop had picked up anything else. Throughout the morning, Abbey had been checking her phone, even though she knew she would hear it ring or bleep if a text had been received.

‘
Come on, hun,’ said Phil, taking her arm. ‘Let’s go for lunch, my treat.’

‘
OK, just give me a minute. I’m just going to try Darren’s mobile again.’

Abbey rang the number and it connected immediately. After two rings she heard the unmistakable voice of Anna Halley saying ‘Hello’ on the other end of the line. Abbey quickly cut the call and sat on the floor, staring at her phone.

She pushed the food around her plate, making no attempt to put any of it in her mouth. After several minutes, Phil broke the painful silence.

‘
Give me your phone.’

‘
What?’ said Abbey, looking up. ‘Why?’

‘
Just give me your friggin phone. I’m going find out what the hell’s happening, once and for all.’

Abbey handed over her phone and Phil walked out of the door, towards the pub car park. After five minutes he was back and handed Abbey her phone. He had a serious look on his face.

‘
Well?’ she almost shrieked at him.

‘
There’s has been an accident. I rang Darren’s phone and a nurse picked it up. Apparently, one of the detonators was faulty and the dynamite blew before he had time to take cover. He’s in the Private Hospital in Gabs.’

‘
How bad is he?’

‘
Not sure, the nurse wouldn’t say too much. I had to say I was his brother before I could get anything out of her. He was flown down on Friday afternoon and they operated immediately. He’s out of intensive care now, though.’

Abbey sat in silence, staring directly at Phil. Eventually she found her voice again.

‘
Why didn’t they ring me? Why the hell didn’t I know?’ Her voiced was raised and people started to pay attention.

‘
They did try to ring you, Abbey. You’re the first name in the address book on the bloody phone. You must have been on the plane because they couldn’t get through. So, they rang the next number, which was Anna’s! She obviously hot-footed it up there, taking advantage of the fact that they were unable to contact you.’

‘
What am I going to do?’ she said in a feeble, almost pathetic voice.

‘
First, you’re going pull yourself together. Then, you’re going to ring the airline and get on the next available flight to Gaborone.’

‘
What about the solicitors, the house and the contract?’

‘
Abbey, I think there is such a thing as an electronic signature! Now, get on the sodding phone and change your tickets.’

By late afternoon, she had said goodbye to Phil and briefly explained to her parents what had happened.

‘
I would appreciate it if you could both drive me to the airport,’ she said. ‘I have to get the five-thirty flight to Heathrow.’

They drove the ten-minute trip to Manchester Airport in complete silence.

‘
Just drop me at the drop-off point Dad,’ requested Abbey. ‘There’s no need to park up.’

She took her suitcase out of the boot, hesitating momentarily, before hugging them both awkwardly. As they went to get back in the car she turned to face them.

‘
I’ll ring when I get there and let you know how Darren is. Bye then. I love you.’

Neither of them looked up, and Abbey could only assume that they simply hadn’t heard as she watched the car drive away.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Abbey arrived in Gaborone and took a taxi from the airport to the hospital. After speaking to the ward sister, the receptionist asked Abbey to make her way to the first floor. The sister was waiting for her as the lift doors opened. She was a large lady with a friendly, smiling face. She held out her hand to Abbey, who shook it in the traditional way and bowed her head slightly, to show her appreciation. The sister led her to a private room at the end of the corridor. Before opening the door, she turned to face Abbey.

‘
Mr Scott has had an operation. His leg is broken in two places, and he has sprained the muscles in his neck. He was in a lot of pain yesterday, but he is much better today. He has been awake since early this morning and has not stopped asking for you. We have not told him you are coming, so it will be a nice surprise for him.’

Abbey smiled at the sister. She decided not to mention that, as she hadn’t rang the hospital to say she was on her way, her appearance would have been a surprise to the staff as well as Darren. The sister was smiling again and motioned to Abbey to enter the room on her own. Nervously, Abbey smiled back and walked into the room.

Darren looked up at her as she walked towards the bed and stretched out his hand. She took it and kissed it, holding it against her cheek, her vision blurred from tears. She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, stroking his hair. He held the back of her head, pulling her face close to his.

‘
Abbey, I thought you’d left me.’

‘
I flew back as soon as I found out what had happened.’

‘
Flew back! You did leave me!’

‘
No, you numpty brains. Of course not!’ she said, in tears.

Abbey told Darren what had happened with the sale of her house and that she had left him a letter on the kitchen table, explaining where she was and when she would be back.

‘
It’ll still be there,’ he replied, ‘I never got back to the house. They took me to Kasane Airport and flew me directly down here. Not that I remember much of it. God, it’s good to see you,’ he said, pulling her in close to him again.

‘
I left a message on your mobile on Friday, when I got back to Manchester, asking you to ring me.’

‘
Really? I checked my phone this morning,’ said Darren, ‘to see if you had been in touch and there wasn’t a single message from you!’

‘
Maybe someone deleted it, accidentally on purpose?’

Darren looked at her, raising his eyebrows. ‘Who? The nurses?’

‘
No. I’m not your first visitor, Darren. When I rang your mobile on Saturday, Anna answered.’

Abbey relayed the story Phil had told her about the hospital not being able to contact her, probably because she was on the plane, and had rang the next number listed.

‘
Did you know she was here?’ asked Abbey, as gently as she could.

‘
Yes, I knew she was about, but I was that drugged up after the operation, I don’t actually remember much about Saturday at all. The only company I’ve had since then are the nurses and a heavy-handed doctor, checking to see if my head’s still attached to my body! Typical of her to jump in though, I suppose.’

‘
I actually thought I’d lost you,’ said Abbey. ‘I’ve been going out of my mind all the way here.’

Darren breathed deeply. ‘Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t take your concern about Anna more seriously. She is a flirt, I know that, but there is absolutely no chance that she would ever take me away from you, not even for one last fling. I honestly thought you knew that.’

‘
I know,’ she whispered. ‘I’ve not handled this well at all, have I?’

Darren stared at Abbey, as if seeing her for the first time, studying every detail of her face.

‘
Will you stay here, in the hospital with me? The nurse said they might discharge me in a couple of days, if I’m a good boy,’ he grinned.

‘
Listen soldier, you’re not going to get rid of me now. You’re stuck with me I’m afraid, twenty-four hours a day until you’re completely better!’

‘
I’m better already, but you can still stick around!’

Abbey straightened the bed for Darren before digging in her pockets for coins.

‘
Just going to get a coffee. You want one?’

Darren shook his head. ‘Don’t be long,’ he smiled, as she disappeared out of the door.

Abbey found the coffee machine by the front desk on the ward. The nurse smiled at her.

‘
I think Mr Scott is happy now?’ she said questioningly, but as if making a statement at the same time.

‘
Yes, he is. Thank you.’ Abbey put the coins into the machine and then turned to face the desk again. ‘Sister, Mr Scott had another visitor on Saturday. A Ms Halley. When did she leave?’

‘
Ah yes, Ms Halley left as soon as she had spoken to your brother.’

‘
My brother!’ said Abbey, trying not to sound too surprised.

‘
Yes, he rang and asked to speak to her. I think he told her you would be here very soon and that she could go back home.’

Abbey smiled and decided that Phil deserved a medal for that one.

When she returned to the room, Darren was already asleep. Not wanting to wake him, and completely exhausted after two long haul flights in a short space of time, she kissed him on the forehead and settled down as comfortably as she could for the night. She found some extra blankets in the cupboard under the window, and soon slept soundly in the armchair she had pulled up by Darren’s bed.

Darren slept, but kept waking to check her hand was still in his, before falling back to sleep again.

The hospital buzzed with activity, with trolleys and hospital staff continually rushing past the door. Darren and Abbey were engaged in a game of pocket scrabble, when the door opened and a nurse came in, followed by two men in grey suits.

‘
These are police officers,’ said the nurse. ‘They wish to interview you.’

Darren nodded and the nurse left, shutting the door quietly behind her.

‘
We are sorry to bother you Mr Scott,’ said one of the officers. ‘We appreciate you are still recovering from your accident, but we think we have some important information about what happened. We believe that you employed a labourer called Mani. Is that correct?’

‘
Yes.’

‘
How long had he worked for you, Mr Scott?’

Darren furrowed his brow, trying to remember exactly when Mani had started working for him. ‘I think it was about three months ago. Is there a problem with him?’

‘
We interviewed Mani just after your accident and he made a statement which we were happy with. Then, one of my colleagues happened to bump into Mani yesterday in one of the bars in town. The story he told with alcohol inside of him was not the same as his statement.’

Darren pulled himself to the edge of the chair. He had never given a thought to what had happened, other than it was an accident.

The police officer continued.

‘
We arrested Mani this morning and took him in for questioning. It seems that he was paid to turn a blind eye whilst on night watch, allowing someone to tamper with your equipment, Mr Scott. Obviously, this changes the angle of our investigation.’

‘
Are you saying this might not have been an accident?’ asked Darren, his voice quiet.