Chapter 71
ALISON
We all stare down at Dad’s lifeless body, none of us speaking.
I can’t believe that he’s dead. The doctor said that the blow to the head was too hard, and Dad was too old.
He had no chance of surviving. If only they hadn’t kept me in hospital another night for observation.
If I’d been home, I might have been able to prevent this and George, the only dad I’ve known, would still be alive.
Kenny looks ashen. His eyes are fixed on George, and his body trembles as he stammers, ‘He can’t be dead.
He can’t be.’ Then he turns and bolts out of the room.
‘Poor lad. It’s all too much for him.’ Sheila reaches for George’s lifeless hand and holds it, tears pouring down her cheeks. ‘I can’t believe someone would do this. George would never hurt a soul, he was such a good man.’ Her body wracks with sobs.
She’s wrong, George isn’t a good man but he didn’t deserve this brutal death.
I can’t tell her that though, she would never believe me and at the moment I can’t prove anything.
But I will soon. I have to speak up for Lizzie.
I can’t let her take the fall for all this, even though by speaking up I’m destroying what family I have left.
My phone pings, and I take a look at the message that has just come in from Nick. He’s on his way to the police station to see Lizzie. He’ll come to the hospital afterwards.
I close the message without replying. I’m sorry, Nick, but I can’t protect you any longer.
‘I have to go,’ I tell Sheila.
I walk outside the hospital room, where a police officer is waiting. There’s no sign of Kenny. I’m guessing he’s gone home.
The officer looks up at me. ‘Are you all right, miss?’
I nod slowly. I want to tell him what I know so that they’ll release Lizzie but I have to make sure first. I walk outside and get in my car.