Page 91 of The Locked Room

‘It’s a long story,’ says Zoe.

‘I like stories,’ says Kate. ‘I’m writing one about a time-travelling cat.’

‘I’d love to read it,’ says Zoe.

‘Actually,’ says Ruth. ‘Zoe and I have got a story to tell you, Kate.’

‘Heard you had some fun last night,’ says Clough.

‘You shouldn’t be here,’ says Jo, but mildly. She’s always had a soft spot for Clough, thinks Nelson.

‘Too boring for you in Cambridge?’ says Nelson.

‘Yeah,’ says Clough, miming a high five with Judy. ‘Nothing going on. McDonald’s is shut. All the students have left and the criminals are all sitting at home watching box sets.’

‘It’s nottooboring here,’ says Tanya. ‘I, we, have just caught a kidnapper. Possibly a murderer too.’

Nelson leaves Tanya recounting the events in Tombland and retreats to his office. He wants to check up on Leah and, though he wouldn’t admit it to anyone, his head is aching badly. He tried to find some ibuprofen in Ruth’s bathroom cupboard that morning, but it was full of tea tree shampoo and old bottles of Calpol. Ordinarily, he’d ask Leah and she’d tactfully bring him some coffee with a couple of aspirins on the saucer. But Leah is elsewhere. Nelson sends her a text, ‘How r u?’ and, seconds later, his phone rings.

‘Hi, Leah. How are you doing?’

‘OK. They’re very kind here. Even so I can’t quite relax. I keep thinking that Jay will burst in and drag me home.’

‘Has that happened before?’

‘Once. I left to go to my sister’s. Jay came after me. He even persuaded my sister that I should come home with him. Said it was all in my head.’

‘Bastard,’ says Nelson. ‘You should press charges against him. Coercive control.’ He remembers Jo making him go on a course about it.

‘He’s more likely to press charges against you for hitting him.’

‘Let him try.’

‘I can never thank you enough,’ says Leah. ‘I really think you saved my life.’

‘I wish I’d known earlier,’ says Nelson.

‘I wanted to tell you,’ says Leah. ‘But I was ashamed.’

‘You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of,’ says Nelson.

‘I know,’ says Leah, ‘but I was, all the same.’

‘Your job’s waiting for you,’ says Nelson. ‘Whenever you want to come back.’

‘I’ll be back,’ says Leah. ‘You’ll never be able to work out the new software that Jo’s ordered.’

Judy appears in the doorway. Nelson beckons her in and says goodbye to Leah.

‘Are you OK?’ says Judy. ‘You look a bit rough.’

‘I’m fine,’ says Nelson. ‘I’ve just got a bit of a headache from last night.’

‘Here.’ Judy rifles through her handbag. ‘Have some Nurofen.’

‘Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.’

‘Was that Leah on the phone? Is she still off sick?’