Page 76 of Their Burning Graves

‘I can never change what I did that night. I’ve spent so many years wishing that I could. I’ll find some way to make things better. Do you think I’ll be able to talk to Jackie when all of this has died down?’

‘I’m sure you will, if that’s what you want.’

‘I do, I was never allowed to tell her how sorry I was, how I wished that it had been me and not her parents who died.’

Natalie was crying. She bowed her head, and Lexie hugged her even tighter. Morgan knew that Natalie could never put right the destruction and heartbreak she’d caused that fateful night, but admitting it and speaking to Jackie might be a start.

Nick turned to Morgan. ‘Do you want to go to hospital, or would you like me to sort those cuts out for you?’

‘Could you do it?’

He smiled and took hold of her elbow, walking her outside to the ambulance.

‘I don’t know what happened here, but I think you had a close call, Morgan.’

She laughed. ‘You think right.’

She held out her hands as he began to clean up the blood from her fingers. Lifting them up he examined them carefully and smiled. ‘One bit of good news, they’re not as deep as I thought. I can glue them for you, if you want, and wrap them up. Keep them dry and they’ll be as good as new in a few days.’

‘Amazing, thank you.’

Nick began to work on the cuts as her phone began to vibrate in her pocket. She took it out and answered it to a now-familiar voice.

‘Hey, it’s Bev from the high-tech unit. Is now a good time to talk?’

Morgan laughed. ‘Not really but go on.’

‘I found some stuff on Tim Lawson’s computer, bless him. He’d also been visiting a site called Stonewall, which is a coming out advice site that gives support to young gay, lesbian, bi and trans people about their sexual orientation. I wish I could have met him and given him a bloody big hug; I remember what it was like when I was his age. I was terrified about telling my mum I didn’t like boys, anyway, just thought I’d let you know.’

‘Oh, that’s so sad, bless him it’s such a tough age. Thanks, Bev, bye.’

Morgan felt another piece of her heart break for Tim Lawson, and she too wished she could give him a hug. Wished she could have saved him from everything, and she felt hot tears well up in the back of her eyes. The boy who had come home with Tim, Ryan Cross, the person she’d never got around to speaking to, she wondered if they had been in a relationship. He must be devastated. She made up her mind to go and pay him a visit. She would offer him what support she could; it was the least she could do for him and for Tim.

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