Cherringham--Snowblind Read Online Free PDF Page B

do not accept that without a proper staff tonight you will adequately be able to look after your residents. Am I right?”
    Sarah watched Shirley: like Ania, the woman seemed at the end of her tether.
    “Okay. No,” she said. “You’re right. In fact I just tried to get up to the village to phone head office and get help. But there’s no way through. I hardly got up to the main road.”
    “Does your landline not work here?” said Sarah.
    “Nope, that’s down too,” said Shirley.
    Sarah watched her as she suddenly seemed to react to what Jack had said: “Hang on, did you say you brought one of our residents with you?”
    “Yes,” said Sarah. “He was found last night walking around the village.”
    “Oh, Jesus,” said Shirley. “Where is he now?”
    “Ania and I put him to bed in his room,” said Sarah.
    “And he’s okay?”
    “Amazingly yes,” said Sarah.
    “God,” said Shirley. “He could have died. I’d better go see him …”
    “You do that. We’ll still be here,” said Jack.
    Sarah watched the woman go, wondering whether Shirley Woods was genuinely concerned or whether it was all for show.
    “Well — she seems on the ball, at least,” said Sarah.
    “Wouldn’t you be?” said Jack. “I suspect losing a patient is a sackable offence. Could have been charges, so damned irresponsible too, if you ask me.”
    Behind Jack, the urn began to boil.
    “Let’s get these teas sorted for everyone shall we?” she said.
    She and Jack started to lay out long lines of green cups and saucers on the kitchen worktops, and Sarah went down the lines of cups, pouring milk into each.
    But before Jack could follow up and pour the tea, Shirley appeared again at the door to the kitchen.
    And from her face, Sarah could see that something was dreadfully wrong.
    “That’s not Archy ,” she said to the room. “Ania! You put him in the wrong room. That’s Reg. Reg Povey.”
    “Sorry. This … it’s not my floor. I saw the empty bed, and—“
    “I don’t understand,” said Sarah. “You mean — there’s still someone missing?”
    “God. Yes,” said Shirley.
    “This Archy’s missing — for real?” said Jack.
    Shirley nodded. “I just asked some of the residents. Nobody’s seen him since yesterday afternoon.”
    “In this snow?” said Sarah.
    “Unless we find him fast,” said Jack. “Then he’s not going to be alive.”
    “Jack, we’d better get back to the village,” said Sarah.
    “Too right,” said Jack, grabbing his coat and hat.

7. Lost and Found
    Jack pulled the Land Rover to the side of the road. Already the ploughed road had a new covering of snow, and the sky above had grown dark and thick with clouds.
    He turned to Sarah on her phone, still talking to Alan who was not yet back at the police station.
    “Yes. We’re just going to look near the spot of Jack’s accident. I know—”
    She looked at Jack, nodded.
    “Yes. We’ll be careful. See you as soon as you get here.”
    She put the phone into her parka pocket.
    “You sure you’re up for this?” Jack said. “Might not find anything. But—”
    “I’m okay,” she said. “Really.”
    He kept his eyes on her, thinking not for the first time about how strong Sarah was.
    Would have made a good cop.
    “Okay, then. Let’s take a look.”
    He popped open his door and Sarah did the same. He left the hazard warning lights on should anyone come racing down the icy road. But with the blizzard part two already in progress, he guessed most people would be staying safe at home.
    “I looked over that side some the other night. Maybe you want to look a bit farther there, and then I’ll check this side of the road?”
    He watched Sarah look around. Last night’s snow made just clambering off the road a challenge.
    Maybe he should do this alone.
    “Sarah, the snow’s really bad. Maybe I should get you back—”
    But she turned to him quickly. “I’m fine , Jack.”
    Yeah, he thought. Strong.
    “Okay. I’ll look over to