Page 83 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

‘M…m….m…’

‘What’s he trying to say?’ Hattie looked from Bill to Harry.

‘Shush.’ Harry held up his hand.

‘Mal..colmmm..’

‘Malcolm?’ Harry asked.

‘Punched.’ Bill’s voice was faint.

‘Malcolm hit you?’ Harry urged.

Hattie felt Bill’s hand move in her own; he seemed to be trying to grip her fingers.

‘Bill,’ Harry repeated, ‘please try and concentrate; are you trying to tell me that Malcolm punched you?’

But Bill’s eyes had closed.

Harry leaned further, his ear close to Bill’s mouth; his eyes became wide as his listened to the words Bill whispered.

‘What did he say?’ Hattie said.

Harry moved back, tears in his eyes. ‘He said, “Thank you for being my friends.”’

Hattie felt Bill’s hand go limp. Suddenly the monitor began to beep loudly and zigzag lines raced across the screen. In the distance an alarm could be heard.

Footsteps pounded down the hall and nursing staff raced in.

‘Please leave the bedside,’ one of the team said to Hattie and Bill. ‘You can wait in the relatives’ room.’

* * *

Hattie and Harryheld onto each other, as the clock on the wall ticked loudly. The repetitive movement of the clock’s minute hand moved slowly around a yellowing dial.

‘Why are they taking so long?’ Hattie asked.

‘Let them do their job.’

‘Bill said that Malcolm punched him; I think he was trying to squeeze my fingers to tell me.’

‘I know, let me think.’ Harry stood and began to pace the room.

‘Well, think a little bit quicker because if Malcolm was at the manor last night, he could still be in the area.’

‘And that means Melissa is in danger too.’

‘Correct.’

‘You should be a detective.’ Harry leapt to his feet. ‘Get Jo on the phone, I need to speak to her.’

Jo answered almost immediately.

‘Jo, it’s me, Harry, is Melissa with you?’

‘Well, erm… yes and no.’

‘What do you mean?’