Page 78 of One Left Alive

She shook her head. ‘Poor thing, not yet.’

Ben didn’t say it, but he was going to have to break the bad news to her and he wasn’t relishing being the bastard who ruined her life for the second time. Right now, she knew she was in hospital and had been poorly and that was it.

The sister led them into the ICU and towards the room at the end. He could see her propped up in bed. She was staring at the other patients.

Amy whispered, ‘This is going to be bad.’

He nodded, there was no doubt about it.

‘Bronte, these are some detectives. They need to have a little chat. They won’t be staying long, is that okay?’

The girl looked at Ben and Amy. One eye was swollen almost shut and that side of her face was a mass of purple and yellow bruises.

‘Yes,’ she croaked.

‘I’ll be just over there by the nurses’ station. I’m watching, if you need me raise your hand, okay?’

Ben knew the nurse didn’t want to be associated with any part of this. She was here to make the kid feel better not a hundred times worse. He stepped inside and smiled at her.

‘I’m so glad to see you’re awake, Bronte. I’m Ben and this is my colleague, Amy. She’s not as scary as she looks.’

Bronte’s lip turned up slightly in a half smile. He sat on the chair closest to her bed. Amy stood behind him.

‘I know you feel rubbish and are in a lot of pain, but we need to ask you some questions about what happened.’

She nodded then grimaced. ‘What did happen?’

Ben glanced at Amy, but she didn’t speak. She was letting him take the lead and for once he wished she’d butted in like she usually did. It seemed no one had the heart to break the news to the poor girl.

‘You were found with serious head injuries in the cellar of your house by a police officer and brought to the hospital. Do you remember what happened, how you got those injuries?’

She closed her eyes for a few moments then opened them.

‘No, I can’t remember anything. Except waking up here with the worst headache I’ve ever had. Where’s my mum and dad? I thought they’d be here.’

Ben swallowed the lump that had formed in the back of his throat. ‘The nurse is sorting that out.’

He couldn’t tell her just yet because she’d dissolve in tears and he wouldn’t get another thing out of her.

‘Was there anything that happened that night in your house that was unusual? Did anyone turn up you weren’t expecting? Any workmen, friends, neighbours?’

She paused. ‘Harrison is usually at mine when he’s not at work.’

‘Was he there?’

She closed her eyes. ‘I don’t know.’

Amy got a photo of Greg Barker up on her phone and held it in front of her. ‘What about him, do you know him?’

‘Yeah, Greg. I know him, he comes around a bit. Usually when my dad’s at work.’

Ben sat forward. ‘Was he there before you got hurt?’

She shrugged. ‘I can’t remember anything. I’m trying to but it’s like a black cloud in my mind.’

He reached out and took hold of her hand. ‘It’s okay, you’re doing really well. Does your mum see Greg a lot?’

The question hung in the air; the girl might be injured but he could tell by the look in her eyes she wasn’t stupid.