The Girl Who Lived Twice
Page 31
“Is that legal?” They turned in surprise at Mia’s hoarse whisper.
John smiled at her and patted her hand. “I thought you were asleep again – I’d nearly forgotten you were there. No, it’s not really legal, but then it’s not illegal either. Up to that stage they were ‘helping with the inquiry’ and after that point we did a private deal. Nothing official.”
Thomas was avid for details. “Tell us more! How water-tight do you think this agreement is?”
“I think it will hold water. They know that I can resurrect the conspiracy theory at any time – I’d claim to have come across new evidence or something like it. If I did that they’d be officially interviewed and maybe charged and that’s a stain neither of them can afford. I’d never do it of course, because that sort of exposure is exactly what we don’t want for Mia.”
Lorraine touched Mia’s arm gently and she opened her eyes and smiled. “I’m listening, I’m just resting my eyes. Can I have another drink please?”
Lorraine and Thomas gave Mia a drink and then Lorraine continued.
“Well, then I think I’ll ask John a question now – because I want us all to hear it. Do you think Fish and the others will drag Mia’s story into the court case?”
John shook his head. “They might well, but it won’t matter. It will sound so mad nobody will believe it. If they refer to that stupid newspaper column then the Kelly person will promptly write about it in her next article and make fun of them for falling for such a ludicrous idea. And at the same time she’ll apologise for having started the rumour. That’s part of the deal!” He laughed.
“Some deal!” Thomas was impressed. “And it saves me risking my reputation by threatening bodily violence. Thank you, John!”
“You’re welcome - but back to the story, Mia. I never in my life saw anyone as furious as Fish, when he realised who had felled him. The guys thought they’d have to Taser him. He fought and shouted and swore for several minutes. If we hadn’t been holding him back I think he would have kicked you to death where you lay in a pool of blood. He just couldn’t believe that you’d got out of the tank and then attacked him like that. I think his thug reputation is history, he’ll never live it down.” He laughed at the memory but then got serious. “Though I must say that until you fell and we saw you lying there, out like a light and blood spreading rapidly around you – well, that’s the first time I’ve know what it means when people say their heart stopped. I literally felt my heart stop for a moment.” He bent down and stroked her hair. “It’s just so good to see you awake and not permanently damaged.”
Thomas smiled. “I don’t know if you remember telling us to get ‘poor Sam’ out of the tank? Well, they did let him out and I must say he was truly pleased that you weren’t dead – quite touching really, because he was getting arrested at the same time. But he kept asking how you’d managed to get out and if you were going to be all right, and what with Fish shouting and raving and the ambulance crew doing their thing – it was like a madhouse for while.”
Lorraine was itching to ask Mia questions now that she was awake. “Well, come on, tell us! How did you get out? I made John take me down there to see the place and I went into that tank – my god it’s awful! When you close the hatch it’s the worst place I’ve ever been in. And I couldn’t figure out how on earth you got that door open, because I tried to do it too.”
But Mia’s eyes are closing and their voices fade into the distance and she does not hear Lorraine and John’s ‘good bye’ a few minutes later.
Thomas leans back in his chair and sits watching her face with her hand in his. And Mia sleeps and dreams.