By Any Name Read Online Free PDF Page A

suppose I do prefer the country.’
    ‘What kind of country?’
    ‘Woodland and lakes,’ he lied, settling on a landscape divorced from his vision. He didn’t know why he should hide what little he knew about himself but, until he discovered exactly who he was, and the cause of his memory loss, he decided it might be prudent to conceal the crumbs of knowledge he gained from her probing. ‘When am I going to get out of here?’
    ‘To go where?’
    ‘How in hell should I know?’ he showed signs of anger for the first time. ‘Out is out. I’m not sick, and you can’t keep healthy people in hospital.’
    ‘I’ll grant that you look fit enough. But illnesses of the mind are as real as illnesses of the body. Just because there aren’t any obvious injuries, it doesn’t mean they don’t exist.’
    ‘I feel well,’ he countered stubbornly.
    ‘You have no money, nowhere to go, and don’t even know your name. You need help to put you back where you belong. And we’ll keep you here until we find out where that is.’ She joined him at the window.
    ‘There are people waiting to interview you.’
    ‘People?’ His head ached with the stress of trying to remember who he was.
    ‘Army officers. One’s a psychiatrist.’
    ‘I’m in the army?’
    ‘We don’t know.’
    ‘But they think I am?’
    ‘They are considering the possibility.’
    ‘Have you tried looking for someone who really does know me, instead of hazarding wild guesses?’
    She handed him a clipping she’d cut from the second edition of a tabloid. His photograph had been printed above the headline; DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN. She hadn’t included the article beneath the photograph which had mentioned that he’d been covered with someone else’s blood. ‘No one has called in so far.’
    ‘Perhaps I’m the black sheep of the family, and they’re delighted I’m lost.’
    ‘I can think of a more plausible reason why there’s been no response.’
    ‘You can?’ He questioned sceptically. And she saw it again; that peculiar expression that sent a chill down her spine. She made a resolution to keep her imagination in check. She’d allowed the thought of murder to interfere with her professional detachment.
    “John West” was a patient and as such he was entitled to the best care she could give him. Besides, with a policeman standing guard outside his door he was less of a risk than some of her other patients. And – she touched the fake pen in the top pocket of her white coat – she carried the added security of a personal alarm connected to the switchboard that overrode all incoming calls. Standard issue for every member of staff who worked on Ward 7.
    ‘Your family could be on holiday,’ she suggested.
    ‘And all my friends and colleagues?’ he challenged.
    ‘Where do you work?’
    Just like the mountain scenario, a sudden vision of a room flooded his mind. A spartanly furnished, white-painted, clean and orderly office with computers, filing cabinets and desks – but the more he tried to focus on the details, the quicker the room faded. ‘It didn’t work that time, Dr – I know we’ve been introduced, but I can’t recall your name.’
    ‘Elizabeth Santer.’
    The sound of footsteps in the corridor was followed by a sharp rap on the door. Dave walked in with the lieutenant-colonel and Major Simmonds.
    Although both officers were wearing civilian clothes, John rose to his feet, snapped to attention and saluted.
    ‘That leaves little doubt.’ Major Simmonds addressed the patient. ‘It looks like you’re one of ours, Mr West.’
    ‘Or was one of yours,’ Dave amended.
    ‘I’m Major Simmonds.’ Simmonds walked across the room and held out his hand. John West shook it.
    ‘This is Lieutenant-Colonel Heddingham. And as you’ve already surmised, we’re army.’
    Elizabeth monitored the frown on John’s forehead; a frown she already recognized signalled intense concentration – one that boded ill for the interview to come. The