The Phoenix Project

by Chrissie Loveday

  She barely had time to hang Drew’s clothes in his wardrobe before it was time to leave for the hospital. On her way, she thought how much she had achieved in the past week and felt very satisfied with herself. She was also very pleased the police hadn’t been to the bungalow and interrupted her today.

  In the hospital, Drew was suffering. He’d been out of bed for several hours and felt sore, weary and disheartened. He’d been off to physiotherapy and that had totally exhausted him. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. How the hell was he going to manage at home? He was aware that he could only shuffle along by leaning heavily on his Zimmer. There was scarcely space for him to cross the room here normally, so he’d find it particularly difficult when he went back to the cramped chalet.

  He felt depressed. He realised he couldn’t stay in hospital for much longer and began to dread going back. If only they’d managed to finish Rosie’s new house. That would have made life so much easier. But there had been so much painting to do and, of course, there was no furniture. He wondered whether he might take some of the chalet’s furniture up there. Perhaps if he took a bed, that would be all he’d need. It was something to discuss with Rosie when she came to visit him.

  The ward sister approached.

  ‘How are you feeling. Drew?’

  ‘To be honest, I feel rather down.’

  ‘Oh dear, why is that?’

  ‘I’m anxious to get home but, when I think of moving round there … well it’s all a nightmare. It’s so small and I simply can’t see how I can get around. I mean, take a look at me walking across the ward, for a start. I look like some sort of weird slug, leaning on the damned frame with one arm and dragging one leg behind me.’

  ‘At least the breaks are on different sides. It means the weight distribution is better.’

  ‘I’d have been better still if that bastard had left me alone. You do know I was pushed over the cliff?’

  ‘I know that the police are looking into your allegations. Anyway, we have to decide when you can go home. Perhaps we should arrange for a home visit. Then we can see what assistance we can put in place.’

  ‘I suppose so. How long will that take to organise?’

  ‘A day or two, at least. Perhaps you can go to a rehab unit in the meantime.’

  ‘Rehab? I thought they were only for drug addicts. Anyway, where’s that?’

  ‘No, they’re not just for drug users. There are some for getting people back on their feet. I’m not sure which place you’d need to go to. I’ll look into it anyway. But, please stop feeling depressed. Life could be a whole lot worse.’

  ‘I know. I’m sorry to moan.’

  ‘No worries. Now, I must get on. Is your friend coming in this afternoon?’

  ‘I hope so. Not sure yet. Perhaps I can email her and ask her.’

  ‘You do that.’

  She bustled away.

  With a sigh, he reached out for his laptop and opened it. It was very difficult typing with one hand and balancing the machine on the table. After five minutes struggle, he gave up. Either Rosie would come or she wouldn’t. He sat back, lost in thought. His future looked grim, whichever way it went. Would he ever manage to work again? What was he going to do while he couldn’t work? How was he going to live? Without money, he was going to be in no end of trouble right in the shit. He couldn’t simply live on Rosie’s income. It would offend his pride. The fact that she had been paying his wages for the past months hadn’t passed him by but he didn’t really like it. As for going into rehab, wherever that was, he didn’t like the thought one little bit.

  ‘Hallo sleepyhead,’ said Rosie’s voice. ‘How are you?’

  ‘Fine, wonderful, amazing.’

  ‘Oh. I see. Like that is it?’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘You’re feeling rather down. Have you been told you can’t be let out, or something?’

  ‘Not really. I’m just worried to death about coming home. However am I going to manage in my depressing shack? I mean to say, there’s hardly room to move in there and with my walking frame – yes, I really need it – I won’t be able to move.’

  ‘Stop worrying about it.’

  ‘The Sister says I may have to go into a rehab unit till I can move more freely.’

  He sounded so incredibly miserable. She made a decision to come clean.

  ‘You won’t have to. You can move straight into the new bungalow.’

  ‘But it isn’t finished. And you haven’t got furniture for it yet. I mean, we only went to look furniture the day … well, the dreaded day.’

  ‘I’ve been working flat out for the past few days. Even got all the basics as far as furniture goes. You can move in as soon as you’re let out of here.’

  ‘You are kidding me?’

  She grinned.

  ‘I’m not. The staff here – well some of them – know my plans.’

  ‘Rosie Breeden, you’re a miracle worker. Honestly? I can come to the bungalow?’

  ‘Yes. I wasn’t going to tell you till we drove home but it seemed appropriate to tell you now.’

  ‘I could kiss you, Rosie. Provided you come close enough.’

  She rose from the bed and kissed him.

  ‘Don’t mention it.’

  ‘I really want to shout from the rooftops. I was so low when you came in and now you’ve cheered me up completely. There is one problem, though. I’m not going to have any money to pay for my share of anything.’

  ‘Don’t worry about that. I’ve been staying with you for months and haven’t paid you much at all.’

  ‘But I don’t have a job, or any prospect of being able to get one for months.’

  ‘Stop it right now, Drew. You’ll probably get sick pay for the time you’re off work. But don’t forget our new business. We’re going to design houses! With plenty of eco-features. It’ll be exciting! And I’ve still got plenty of money for now.’

  ‘But …’

  ‘Shut up. We’re friends aren’t we? Very good friends.’

  ‘Oh, Rosie. Of course we are. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.’

  ‘Right. Well now that’s all settled, I’ll go and speak to the Sister. See if there’s any chance of you coming home soon.’

  She went over to the nurses’ station and asked to see the Ward Sister.

  ‘I think she’s in her office. Go and knock on the door. It’s just over there.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  Rosie went to the door indicated and knocked.

  ‘Come in,’ called a voice. ‘Oh, Miss … er. I’m sure he’s pleased to see you.’

  ‘He seems to be. I was wondering when he’ll be discharged. Have you any idea yet?’

  ‘I’ve been looking into rehab units for him. The trouble is, there’s a long waiting list.’

  ‘But I don’t really think he needs one. He’s going to move straight into my new house. Well, bungalow actually. So, moving around won’t be as big a problem as he feared.’

  ‘I see. Well that does make a difference. He will need to attend outpatient clinics for physiotherapy. But I can’t see any reason to keep him here. I’ll speak to his doctor right away and see what he thinks.’

  ‘So, when can he go?’

  ‘If it is all set up at home as you suggest, then probably right away.’

  She smiled at Rosie and nodded.

  ‘Oh wow. Thank you very much. Will you go and tell him or shall I?’

  ‘He’ll need some medication, which I’ll have to order. It’ll take some time to get here. And also he’ll need appointments to be made. I’d like to suggest you leave him now and come back in a couple of hours. I expect you’ll need to get some shopping in?’

  ‘Well, I could do. If you think it’s best.’

  ‘It’ll give us time to get him ready to leave.’

  ‘OK. I will go and let him know the good news and then say I need some shopping.’

  Drew was ecstatic when he heard.

  ‘Wow, what an
afternoon. Talk about highs and lows. I was almost ready to jump over the cliff on my own earlier and now I’m going home. Well, not home, but you know what I mean.’

  ‘Have you got any clothes here? I mean you’ve been living in a hospital gown for days.’

  ‘Oh lord. no.’

  ‘I’ll go home and get you something. Better get a shirt rather than a T-shirt. And some joggers maybe?’

  ‘That sounds fine. Or even some shorts? Are you sure you don’t mind?’

  ‘No. I’ll be back later. I’ll collect something for supper as well. I’ll see you in what, a couple of hours?’

  ‘Can’t wait. And, Rosie …?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Thank you so much. For everything.’

  ‘Don’t mention it. I’ll get off now, then.’

  She left him sitting in his chair smiling at everyone. It had all been worth it, she decided.

  An hour and a half later, she came back, clutching a load of clothes and one shoe. She’d done some shopping, too, and felt very pleased with herself.

  ‘Your clothes, sir,’ Rosie said with a huge grin and a mock-curtsey.

  ‘Thanks so much. Now I’ve just got to fight my way into them. I never imagined quite how difficult it was going to be.’

  ‘Do you … I mean, can I help you?’

  ‘I think you might have to. Sorry and all that.’

  She pulled the curtains round to screen him from the other patients and helped him take off his hospital gown. It wasn’t easy for him, with only one arm and one done up in plaster.

  ‘I need to be able to lean on the frame to get around.’

  ‘So what do you want me to do?’

  She couldn’t help giggling slightly.

  ‘I don’t know. Maybe I’d better leave the shirt open.’

  ‘But you won’t want to do anything with the plastered arm, will you?’

  ‘Oh no. You’re right. I’m being stupid.’

  With great difficulty, he was dressed and with one shoe on his good foot, almost ready to go.

  ‘Now drop this letter off to your doctor and please take care,’ said the Sister. ‘I don’t want to hear of you falling over any more cliffs.’

  ‘Course I won’t. And I was pushed. Don’t forget that. Someone will believe me one day.’

  ‘Oh and your medication. Here you are, Miss … er.’

  ‘Breeden. Rosie will do.’

  ‘Best of luck to you both. You’re going to need plenty of patience to deal with this character. But I’m sure it will all work out.’

  ‘Thanks. And thank you all for looking after me so well. I’m sorry for being a such pain.’

  ‘Most people are ‘pains’, so we’re used to dealing with them. Anyway, you were never that bad.’

  ‘Right. Let’s get this show on the road. Bye everyone.’

  Various other patients and a couple of nurses called goodbye and wished him luck as they started down the long road back to the bungalow.

  Chapter 11

  ‘I really can’t believe you’ve managed to finish off all this and get the furniture delivered in so short a time,’ said Drew as they stopped outside the bungalow. ‘You are one amazing lady.’

  ‘I didn’t actually get the furniture we looked at. Some of it would have taken ages, even to get to the shop, let alone here. Right. Well, I hope you’re ready for this. Welcome to our new home.’

  ‘Thank you for including me in it.’

  Gingerly, he hauled himself out of the car and staggered to the door.

  ‘Where do you want to go? Lounge or bedroom?’ Rosie asked.

  ‘I’d like to go to the lounge, I think.’

  She stood back and watched his progress. It was very slow and she desperately wanted to help him. But, respecting his independence, she didn’t, and felt rather helpless as a result. At last, he flopped himself down in one of the easy chairs.

  ‘Blimey,’ he muttered. ‘That felt like climbing the Himalayas. Don’t think I’ll move again for weeks.’

  ‘I’ll make some tea – or would you like coffee?’

  ‘Don’t really mind. But I mustn’t forget that going to the loo is going to be difficult, so not too much.’

  ‘OK. We do have to talk about the things we still need. I’ve got all the basics but I wasn’t sure what was yours and what belonged to the chalet. For instance, the china? Television? Music stuff?’

  ‘I’ll make a list at some point. Right now, I just want to sit and recover a bit.’

  Rosie nodded.

  ‘I’ll make you a small drink and then get on with organising supper.’

  ‘Thanks a lot. I do appreciate all you’ve done.’

  She smiled and left him to relax.

  The next few days were spent in getting things organised. She made endless trips to the chalet and brought back all Drew’s things, including his television. That at least kept him occupied for some of the time.

  Then there was all the paraphernalia connected with his recovery, and he also needed to hand in his notice for renting the chalet. Somehow, he seemed to want to leave everything till ‘later’, a time which never seemed to arrive. She tried to give him encouragement, but he seemed to have no desire to do anything much. She tried hard to make excuses for him, knowing he must be in considerable pain. She took him for physiotherapy and brought him back again. He really seemed to need a full-time slave, she decided, desperately trying to keep her temper.

  ‘I’m going to go out to do some more shopping. There are still things I need. Will you be all right?’

  ‘Of course. Can you bring my phone and laptop closer to me, please? I might try to do a few things while you’re out.’

  ‘Course That’s good.. I’ll bring them over. Shall I put them on the little table? Can you reach them from there?’

  ‘That will be wonderful. Rosie? I do hope you realise how grateful I am? You’re looking after me so well.’

  ‘I’m glad,’ she replied, surprisingly moved by his words. At least she now knew she wasn’t being taken for granted.

  ‘I won’t be too long.’

  As she drove along, she noticed the trees were all turning. It was already September, she realised. It was almost twelve months since she first started building her home. It had been quite a year, what with people stealing materials and damaging her property and, of course, the murder of Dennis Danter. She wondered whether anyone would ever be charged with that offence. Nothing had happened at the farm for ages. She’d thought there would be some progress on starting the new housing estate but it had all been left just as it was. She must look at the Internet again and see if there was any change Their objections were still on the website plus a few others. Nothing had been heard about the job he’d applied for. Maybe she could persuade Drew to look. It was about time he was pushed into doing something constructive. Perhaps he might even ask about the job again.

  When she came back to the bungalow, she saw a car parked outside. Curious, she went in and left her shopping in the car, intending to fetch it later.

  ‘Hi Rosie. This is Detective Hargreaves. He’s come about the person who pushed me over the cliff.’

  ‘Oh right. Pleased to meet you,’ she said.

  ‘We’re looking into the statement about the alleged offence, at least. However, I really don’t know how we can begin the investigation. I’m sure you believe you were pushed but, if that was the case, I simply don’t know how we find the person who did it. You didn’t see anyone and nobody else did either.’

  ‘Hopeless, isn’t it?’

  ‘It certainly looks that way. No clues or anything to assist us. You say he didn’t speak, or say anything to give us a lead?’

  ‘Actually, thinking back, he did say something. I believe he called after me … “Take that you, bastard. Hope I never have to see you again”. Something like that anyway.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘You’ve never mentioned that before,’ Rosie said.

  ‘I’d forgo
tten about it till now. You know how it is. Not until you just asked me if he’d said anything, anyway.’

  ‘Well, it’s not much to go on.’

  ‘No but it implies it might have been someone I know, doesn’t it?’

  ‘I see what you mean. We did wonder about one of the men who worked on the site. Jimmy, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, it was,’ Drew confirmed.

  ‘So why did you pick on him? I mean, you must have had several different folks working here.’

  ‘I don’t really know. He has a brother who works for a company in Truro. A smart chap who knows all about computers.’ Rosie went on, ‘My computer was trashed at one point, with loads of messages.’

  ‘I don’t understand what anyone has to gain from it?’

  ‘We think that the Truro company hope to develop the farm and property next door and, as I have quite a bit of land around this place, I think they hoped to add this to the available plots. It would mean they could have built that many more houses. I mean, at least another dozen or so. It means a considerable difference in profit. But they didn’t succeed. It’s here now and I’m living in it.’

  ‘I see. I’ve only just picked up on this case. There’s a heap of papers about the various interruptions and investigations. I obviously need to spend some time reading through them in detail.’

  ‘Perhaps you do. But it’s good to know someone is looking into it all again. What prompted you to start looking?’

  ‘We need to get a few things cleared off our books. You are still pretty high profile there.’

  ‘Well, I’m not sorry we’re still there,’ Drew told the detective. ‘We certainly want to see you close the case and have someone punished.’

  ‘I’ll look into the connection you mentioned. Jimmy … what did you say his other name is?’