Scaredy Cat Read Online Free PDF Page B

was aware again of the stickiness beneath his arms. He turned to look at Alison. 'While we're on the subject.., sorry, Alison, I must real y hum.' He was embarrassed at the silence where a response should have been. He hoped he could get used to talking to this woman with a tube in her neck and another up her nose. She was unable to clear her throat. She was unable to lift the hand that lay pale and heavy on the pink flowery quilt. She was.., unable. And yet, selfishly, Thorne hoped that she thought wel of him, that she liked him.
    He wanted to
    SLEEPYHEAD 37
    talk to her. Even now he sensed that he would need to talk to her.
    'Just fil in the gaps yourself,' Coburn said. 'It's what I do. We have some cracking chats.'
    The door opened and an immaculately suited middleaged man walked in with what at first glance appeared to be candyfloss on his head.
    'Oh...' Thorne saw Coburn's features harden in an instant. 'David. I'm busy I'm afraid.'
    They stared at each other. She broke the uncomfortable, hostile silence. 'This is Detective Inspector Thorne. David Higgins.'
    The soon-to-be-ex-husband. The helpful pathologist.
    'Pleased to meet you.' Thorne held out a hand, which the immaculate suit shook without looking at him - or at Alison.
    'You did say that this would be a good time,' said the suit, half smiling.
    He was obviously trying hard to be pleasant for Thorne's benefit but clearly it did not come natural y. On further inspection the candyfloss was in reality a teased up and hairsprayed dyed vanil a quiff- a ridiculous affectation in a man who was at least fifty-five: he looked as if he'd walked off the set of Dynasty.
    'Wel , it would have been,' said Coburn frostily.
    'My fault, Mr Higgins,' said Thorne. 'I didn't have an appointment.'
    Higgins moved towards the door, adjusting his tie. 'Wel , I'd better make sure I have an appointment in future, then. I'l cal you later, Anne, and we can arrange one.' He closed the door soundlessly behind him. There was a muffled exchange outside and the door was opened again by a nurse. It was time for Alison's bedbath.
    38 MARK BILLINGHAM
    Anne Coburn turned to him. 'What do you usual y do
    for lunch?'
    They sat in the back of a smal sandwich bar on Southampton Row. Ham and Brie on a baguette and a mineral water. A cheese and tomato sandwich and a coffee. Two busy professionals.
    'What are Alison's chances of regaining any signifio cant...?'
    'Nil, I'm afraid. I suppose it depends a little on your definition of "significant" but we have to be realistic. There have been documented cases of patients regaining enough movement to operate a sophisticated wheelchair. They're doing a lot of work in the States with computers operated by headsticks, but realistical y it's a bleak prognosis.'
    'Wasn't there somebody in France who dictated an entire book with an eyelash or something?'
    ' The Diving Bel and the Butterfly - you should read it. But it's pretty much a one-off. Alison's gaze reacts to voices and she seems to have retained the ability to blink, but whether she has any real control over it is hard to say at the moment. I can't see her giving you a statement just yet.'
    'That wasn't the reason I asked about... It wasn't the only reason.' Thorne took an enormous bite of his sandwich.
    Anne had done most of the talking but had already finished hers. She looked at him, narrowing her eyes, her voice conspiratorial. 'Wel , you've been privy to my disastrous domestic situation. What about yours?' She took a sip of mineral water and watched him chew, her eyebrows arched theatrical y. She laughed as, twice, he tried to SLEEPYHEAD 39
    answer and, twice, had to resume his efforts to swal ow the sandwich.
    Final y: 'What - you mean is it disastrous?'
    'No. Just... is there one?'
    Thorne could not get a fix on this woman at al . A vicious temper, a filthy laugh, and a direct lie of questioning. There seemed little point in going round the houses.
    'I've moved effortlessly from "disastrous" to just plain