Page 74 of The Stranger in Room Six

Now

‘Did you find Karen in the end?’ Mabel asks, finishing the last chocolate ginger biscuit.

I hesitate. I could pretend. I could keep my secret close until it’s time to act.

What good would it do to tell anyone?

But Mabel isn’t ‘anyone’. I have become truly fond of her, which makes Mouse’s demands all the harder.

‘Did I ever find Karen?’ I repeat. Then I throw back my head and laugh, as though this is one huge, mad joke. ‘Oh yes,’ I say. ‘I did.’

Her eyes widen. ‘What did you do to her?’

Before I can answer, there’s a knock on the door. It’s the deputy matron. ‘Belinda, you’re wanted on the second floor.’

‘But I’m the boss here,’ says Mabel. ‘I want Belinda to stay with me.’

‘And I’m the matron. As we’ve said before, Miss Marchmont, we need to take all the patients’ needs into account. Right now, Belinda is needed elsewhere.’