Chapter 40
I catch up with Hailey a couple of streets away. She’s walking fast, a determined set to her stride. I check my mirror – no one behind me – and slow the car to match her pace.
I wind down the window. ‘Hey!’
She glances at me and then turns away.
‘You want a lift?’
‘Nope. I’m good.’
‘You’d get there quicker.’
‘Why do you care?’
‘I just want to help.’
‘Really?’
‘Mostly really.’
She stops. ‘Mostly?’
‘I also have questions.’
She seems to consider. ‘Well, I don’t want people thinking you’re some pervert trying to abduct me.’
‘Because most abductors choose inconspicuous cars like this.’
She manages a smile. ‘Yeah, that is an absolute shitshow.’ Then she pulls open the door and climbs in.
‘Where’s Brandon?’ I ask, suddenly realizing that May can’t be looking after him.
‘With his grandparents.’
‘I thought his dad didn’t want to know.’
‘He doesn’t. But his parents send money for his birthday and Christmas. I mean, they don’t really want anyone to know he’s their grandson, but I figured they could bear the shame for a few hours.’
‘Right. Well, I guess it’s good they show some interest.’
‘Yeah, until the fiancée pops out a kid, and then Brandon will be toast.’ She shakes her head. ‘Take a right down here. Hospital’s not far, so ask your questions quick.’
I signal and turn. ‘I get the impression you don’t like Lorraine Hegarty much?’
‘No shit. Look, I’m not trying to tell you how to live your life.’
‘Okay.’
‘Lori is not who you think she is.’
‘In what way?’
‘Well, for a start, not long before you arrived, she had this whole make-under.’
‘What?’
‘Yeah, she used to be this total Real Housewives type. Bleach-blonde, long nails, strutting around in tight skirts and heels or tiny shorts and crop tops. Loved all the attention. Suddenly, she’s a brunette, all soft and understated.
It was kind of weird.’ She looks at me. ‘Unless she did it for a reason.’
I swallow. Women change their hair, their looks. Surely Lori can’t have done it on purpose. For me. I shove the thought away. Ludicrous. Women don’t go out of their way to ensnare me. Most go out of their way to avoid me.
‘Did you know she’s related to Harold Winsom?’
‘Yeah – she’s his niece or something. That’s why she’s so tight with the Conservators.’
‘Ah, the famous Conservators. Who are they, exactly?’
‘No one really knows. If you’re a Conservator, you’re not supposed to talk about it.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Like the secret service or CIA?’
‘Ha – kinda. They all work in that big building just outside town, but no one ever sees them coming or going. Some people reckon they use a secret tunnel.’
I laugh, but it’s an uneasy laugh. A lot of things here are making me uneasy right now.
I’m starting to seriously consider whether Sadie was right all along.
Maybe this place isn’t for us. Maybe we should leave.
There must be a way around the contract.
The suitability clause, or whatever it’s called.
Ahead, on our right, a large white building draws into view. Serenity Falls Hospital. I pull into the parking lot and find a space. Hailey looks up at the building. She suddenly seems very young.
‘I’m sure they can’t put your aunt in a home without permission,’ I say.
‘If the Conservators have made a decision, that’s it.’
It seems absurd. ‘There are processes, laws. Maybe you need to talk to someone outside the town.’
‘And how do I do that? Lawyers cost money, and in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m flat broke. Brandon and me, we live on May’s charity.’
She stares at me fiercely. I see tears shine in her eyes. She reminds me of Sadie, I realize. Except Hailey doesn’t have a dad to look out for her, and now they’re trying to take her aunt.
I come to a decision. ‘Why don’t I come in with you?’
Serenity Falls Hospital is, perhaps unsurprisingly, gleaming white, clean and modern. There are no drunks or police in reception, no elderly people in pyjamas smelling of urine and despair. No wailing toddlers. Reception is, in fact, empty, bar one man with a clean bandage around his hand.
We approach the desk. The woman behind it is slim and black with shorn grey hair and glasses.
She continues to stare at her monitor, tapping at the keyboard for several minutes while we wait on the other side of the plexiglass.
Finally, she turns and says briskly, ‘Can I help you?’ in a tone which sounds like she’d rather do anything but.
Some things are the same wherever you are.
‘I want to see my aunt,’ Hailey says bluntly.
‘Name?’
Hailey scowls. ‘You should know, Paula. She used to babysit your kids until you all decided she was a lush and you couldn’t trust her any more.’
Paula narrows her eyes. ‘Name.’
‘May Henderson.’
‘May is in Private Room 2 on Psychiatric Ward C. But she is not receiving visitors.’
‘Says who?’
‘Says the note on her file from Dr Mayfield.’
I smile warmly at Paula, which feels a bit like holding up a match to a glacier. ‘Can’t she just see her aunt for a few minutes? She just wants to check she’s okay.’
Paula looks at Hailey. ‘Who’s little Lord Fauntleroy?’
‘Dan Barker, the new Brit.’
‘Right. Well, Mr Barker, your fancy accent doesn’t change facts. Her file has a note from the doctor stating no visitors.’
‘I’m just asking for a little clemency.’
She continues to stare at me.
‘Clemency – you know, kindness, mercy.’
‘I know what clemency is, Mr Barker. You know what a patronizing ass is?’
I clear my throat. ‘Would that be me, by any chance?’
A tiny twitch at the corner of her mouth. She glances at Hailey. ‘I never thought your aunt was a lush, Hailey. We just all got a lot more protective of our kids after Davey Junior. Didn’t want to let them out of our sight. My heart broke for Serena and May.’
‘Then let me see her. She’s going to be scared, confused. I’m all she’s got.’
Paula sighs. ‘Even if I let you up to Floor 3, you need a code – 1001 – for the door. Then there’s a security guard at the desk, and he’s there all the time, except when he goes to the coffee machine at 12.
10 p.m. every day.’ She looks pointedly at the clock on the wall: 12.
12 p.m. ‘You got about fifteen minutes.’ She turns back to her monitor.
‘Thank you,’ Hailey says.
Paula doesn’t take her eyes from the screen. ‘Go.’
We hurry along the corridor towards the lifts. Hailey presses up. The lift doors open and we climb in, hitting Floor 3. The lift ascends and the doors open smoothly.
The corridor is unnervingly quiet. A couple of blue-clad nurses glide serenely past. We scurry along to the end: Ward C. I tap 1001 into the keypad beside the door. It buzzes open. Paula is right. There’s no one on the desk. We hurry past. Private Room 2 is on our right.
We pause outside. ‘I can wait here,’ I say.
Hailey shakes her head. ‘No, if you stand outside it will look suspicious.’
‘Right. Okay.’
She pushes the door open and I follow her in.
May is sat in a high-backed chair by the window.
She looks smaller. Fragile. It’s weird how hospital diminishes people.
She’s wearing shorts and a vest top, a blanket over her legs.
She turns as we enter. She smiles, but it’s slow, like all her movements are at half speed.
They’ve drugged her, I think. I’m not a doctor, but it seems to me that’s not how you should treat a patient with dementia.
‘May!’ Hailey exclaims, and runs over to hug her. May remains limp in her arms. Eventually, she raises one hand to clasp Hailey’s shoulder.
‘Are you okay, May?’
‘Serena?’
‘No, it’s Hailey. Your niece.’ Hailey draws back. ‘See?’
May blinks at her. ‘Hailey. Yes. Of course.’ She looks at me. ‘And is this your boyfriend? He’s a little old for you.’
I flush, and Hailey laughs. ‘No, May. This is just a friend. You met him the other day.’
‘Dan Barker,’ I say, holding out a hand. ‘I just moved here with my daughter.’
May grasps my hand. ‘You’re new?’
‘Yes.’
Her grip tightens. ‘Then get away, Mr Barker. Get away while you can.’
I look at Hailey helplessly.
‘May,’ she says more firmly. ‘We need to get you out of here. Okay? We’ll speak to your doctor, let them know this is all a mistake. You’re coming home.’
There’s a pause. It may be my imagination, but the haziness in May’s eyes seems to clear.
She shakes her head. ‘I won’t be coming home, Hailey.
This damn disease. I can’t … I can’t tell what’s real any more.
I can’t tell if it’s now or back then. They know it.
They’re scared I’ll say too much. They won’t let me leave. ’
‘May—’
‘No, you need to listen.’ May leans forward. Her voice is low and desperate. ‘Let me tell you while I can. I’ve kept my word. Kept quiet. For Davey. But you need to know. He’s not dead. He didn’t drown that day.’
‘May, please ,’ Hayley pleads. ‘Not this again. It’s not helping.’
‘That boy tried to hurt him. I saw, but he ran away.’ May frowns. ‘Damnit, I can’t remember his name. But his father, Green, he was high up in the council.’ A coy look comes over her face. ‘He was sweet on me, but I told him – I’m a married woman.’
Hailey smiles. ‘Of course you did.’
‘That’s why we had to pretend Davey was dead. If he told people what happened, it would ruin everything. And everything here must be perfect.’
‘Why?’ I find myself asking. ‘Why does it have to be perfect?’
May looks at me suspiciously. ‘Or we won’t be spared from the Flood.’
I feel a shiver scurry through me. The Flood.
May looks down. Her hands are shaking. When she looks back up, I can see the clouds starting to gather again in her eyes.
Hailey takes May’s hands in her own. ‘May, you’re upsetting yourself.’
May smiles sadly. ‘Oh, Serena, honey. Why did you take so long to come home?’
Hailey swallows, and I can see she’s blinking back tears. ‘Well, I’ve had things to take care of.’
May raises a hand and places it on Hailey’s cheek. ‘I love you, hun. I know I don’t always say it, but I do.’
‘May,’ I say gently. ‘What happened to Davey Junior? You said he didn’t drown?’
‘He saved him,’ she says without hesitation.
Hailey looks bemused. ‘Who saved him?’
May tuts. ‘Milo, honey. Milo saved Davey Junior.’