Tom’s hands clenched into fists. ‘Me?’ he asked the officer.
‘Yeah, Killgannon, that’s you.’
Any other time, thought Tom. Any other time . . .
‘Who is it?’ asked Tom, getting to his feet. ‘Who’s here to see me?’
‘Scarlett Johansson. How the hell do I know? Come on.’
‘I’ll see you later, Noel,’ he said, but Cunningham had already turned his back to him, was staring once more at the cell wall. Tom tried to quell the anger he was feeling, get his head round the trip to the visiting room, the visit itself.
He followed the officer out, watching all the time for attacks, ready to defend himself. Nothing happened.
He saw them straight away. Lila and Pearl. Sitting together. And they saw him. He could tell from the way their expressions changed on taking in his appearance. His bruises had started to heal but not quickly enough. Yellow wasn’t any more attractive than purple. He felt so ashamed that they were seeing him like this. So ashamed that he actually looked like this.
‘What happened?’ asked Pearl as soon as he sat down.
Tom paused. Tell them the truth or make something up? He couldn’t not tell them the truth but he didn’t want to worry them unduly. ‘I got jumped,’ he said.
‘Jumped?’ said Pearl. ‘Who by?’
‘There were a couple of them. I fought them off, don’t worry. They didn’t really hurt me. Looks worse than it is.’ The last sentence accompanied by a smile that became weaker as the words went on. ‘Occupational hazard, here. Not much health and safety in the workplace.’
He glanced at Lila. She hadn’t spoken, just stared at him. He couldn’t tell if it was fear or disappointment on her face. Or something else altogether.
Pearl was also staring at him. He wished he had never come to the visiting room.
‘It won’t be long now,’ he said, attempting another smile. ‘He’ll open up to me soon. Really. Soon.’ His words faded away.
‘You said that last time,’ said Lila.
‘Yeah I know, but—’
‘About the fighting. You looked bad then. You look worse now. And about coming out soon. You said that last time. And you’re still here. And now it’s worse.’ Her voice was slowly rising, becoming shakier.
‘It’ll . . . it’ll not be long now. Promise.’ Tom hated himself for saying that.
‘Just come out, Tom,’ said Pearl. ‘Come home.’ She reached across the table, placed her hand on his. It felt like an electric shock to his body.
He locked eyes with her. Their silence said more than words could. Lila looked away, giving them a semblance of privacy.
He took his hand away in case it attracted the attention of a prowling officer.
‘I will. I promise.’
Silence fell between them. All they could hear were the hushed conversations around them, as families and friends pretended they were alone too, talking normally.
‘Quint’s been to see us.’ Lila, recovered, spoke again.
‘Quint?’ said Tom. ‘What for?’
‘Said he was keeping an eye on us. You know, just like you asked him to.’
‘Yeah, but he didn’t need to come and see you. Just check you were both OK.’
‘Well, he thought otherwise. I found him with his arm up the chimney in the spare bedroom.’
Both Pearl and Tom stared at her. Then both spoke at the same time.
‘What?’ said Tom, more a statement than a question.
‘You didn’t tell me that,’ said Pearl.
‘Yeah,’ said Lila, continuing. ‘Said he was checking to see if someone could get into the house that way. Making sure we were safe.’ The last sentence dripped with mockery.
Tom’s features hardened, his voice flattened. ‘What does he look like, Quint?’
‘Black guy on a motorbike,’ said Pearl. ‘Wears a Belstaff jacket. Nice one. Not cheap.’
‘Hair?’
‘Short,’ said Lila. ‘But not shaved. No beard or anything. And in good shape. About your age, maybe a bit less, I’d say.’
Pearl nodded in agreement. ‘Why?’ she asked, ‘You think there’s something up? He seemed fine to me.’
‘It sounds like him. Just seems a bit odd, that’s all.’ He sighed. ‘Maybe he’s just doing what he thinks is best.’
‘Who is this guy, anyway?’ asked Lila.
‘He’s an old friend of mine from Afghanistan. We were on a crew together. He’s a good bloke. He runs a security firm now, protecting Arabs and Russian oligarchs, that sort of thing. He doesn’t get the chance to do much hands on work anymore. When I asked him to keep an eye on you two he jumped at it. Maybe I should call him. He’s on my list of approved numbers in here. Yeah, I’ll do that.’
Lila had fallen silent once more. The others followed suit.
‘So,’ said Tom, trying to be cheerful, ‘anything else to tell me?’ He turned to Lila. ‘How’s your . . . friend?’
She reddened. ‘Fine. Going to bring her round. Introduce her to Pearl.’
‘Must be serious.’
Lila shrugged, tried to conceal a smile. ‘Yeah, you know. Is what it is.’
Tom smiled. For the first time in a long time feeling genuinely happy.
‘Come home. Then you can meet her.’ Steel behind Lila’s words.
He knew the subtext. Just come home. I’m missing you. Not that she would ever say it. He looked into her eyes. She knew he understood.
An officer announced that visiting time was over. They stood up, embraced, Tom clinging to them both like they were life rafts and would drift away if he let go. But he had to let go.
They left. He went back to the wing.
Still watchful, still in that tiring state of perpetual readiness.