Kiss the Hare's Foot

by Janet Wakley

  “Forget it. I don’t think any of us knew who to trust. I just wish you had told me that Hood was really an undercover cop. I think we were all so stressed we didn’t believe anyone at all.” Mel brushed the subject away. “How long have you got to stay here? My parents are waiting to take me back home to Berkshire in a little while.”

  “I don’t suppose I’ll be far behind you. Another twenty-four hours, I think. I can’t wait to get home. At least this injury,” he indicated his shoulder with a nod of his head “will ensure that I can be at home when our new baby is born.”

  Awkwardly they said their goodbyes, promising, as all strangers do who have been united by a common crisis, to keep in touch. Mel kissed him gently on the cheek.

  “Thank you for my life,” she whispered and quietly left the room.

  But she left Clive’s room with a heavy heart, a void that only time would fill. She could never really put into words an explicit illustration of the last few days, but she doubted the experience would ever leave her. Returning to her room, she kicked off her shoes and walked barefoot to the window. For several minutes she stared down at the ground below, watching the constant flow of people passing in and out of the car park. Patients, visitors, hospital staff; all oblivious to the presence of others. She pondered how easy it had been to steal from the hospital. The thefts carried out by Clive and his guard had even gone undetected.

  A noise behind her startled her from her daydreaming.

  “Sorry, did we make you jump?” Her parents looked slightly abashed by the momentary look of alarm on Mel’s features. “Came to see if you are ready to go?”

  “Yes.” She recovered quickly. “I didn’t bring any luggage with me,” she replied ruefully.