Who Dares Wins
Page 37
Not that Sam had seen the doctors. After what had happened last time he was here he felt quite sure his continued presence on the premises would not be tolerated. Bland might have been able to smooth things over with Hereford police, but it didn’t mean he’d be welcome back here. That was why he had slipped in the back way; and that was why Max was going to have to get used to seeing an awful lot less of him.
‘Dad,’ he said. Then a bit louder. ‘Dad.’
Max turned. There was a look of momentary confusion on his face, as though he didn’t know who was talking to him. But then the synapses seemed to click.
‘Didn’t think you’d be coming back here,’ Max said.
Sam shrugged. He walked to his father’s bedside and looked at the television. The screen was filled with images of the destroyed safe house, cordoned off and surrounded by armed police.
‘Fucking ragheads,’ Max muttered. ‘They’re everywhere. Look at this shit.’ He wheezed and then coughed, as if in protest against what he was watching on the screen.
‘Yeah,’ Sam murmured. He didn’t trust himself to say more.
A silence passed between father and son, a silence more meaningful than any Sam had ever known. It was awkward, but he didn’t want it to end. He knew what his father’s next question would be.
‘Did you see him?’
‘Yes,’ Sam said. ‘I saw him.’
‘Where was he?’
‘The churchyard, Dad. Mum’s grave.’
Max’s lips thinned and he nodded. His gaze hadn’t moved from the screen, but it was obvious he wasn’t really watching any more.
‘Well?’ Max’s voice cracked.
‘We spoke.’
‘You didn’t tell me why you had to see him.’
Sam felt the skin on his face tightening. ‘He’s my brother. Why wouldn’t I?’
Max seemed to accept that.
‘What did he say?’
It was all Sam could do to keep his voice level. ‘He said he had to go away, Dad. For a long time. He didn’t know how long.’
His father didn’t react. He just lay there, motionless.
‘I have to go, Dad.’
No reply. Sam looked at his dad’s thin face. For the first time ever, he saw Jacob’s features there. Older, certainly. Weaker. But Jacob’s features. He allowed himself a few seconds to drink them in, then turned to the door.
‘Sam?’
He stopped and looked round at his father. There was a fearful look in his eyes, as though he was scared of the question he was about to ask. ‘Will I see him again?’
The two men looked at each other and the question filled the air.
But Sam couldn’t bring himself to answer. He turned his back on his father and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.