Andrea came to see him Friday afternoon. Paget had seen little of her in the past few days, but he put it down to the fact that everyone on the floor was rushed off their feet. Icy streets and steps were responsible for a number of accidents resulting in a variety of fractures, breaks, and sprains, particularly among the elderly, and eight people had been brought in two nights ago as a result of a pile-up due to fog on the A49. They were short-staffed and short of beds, which was all the more reason why he felt he should get out of there and let someone else have his bed.
“You said yourself that the throat is healing well,” he told her, “and the headaches have almost gone. You need the bed, so why are you keeping me here?”
Andrea remained silent for a long moment, regarding him with steady eyes as she stood there beside the bed, hands thrust into the pockets of her white coat. “To tell you the truth, I’m not quite sure,”
she said at last. “You have us puzzled. Mr. DeWitt and I have discussed your case at some length, and to be honest, Neil, the only explanation we can come up with is that there is something you’re not telling us.”
“Such as?” he asked warily.
“That’s just it, we don’t know. You’ve reported nothing out of the ordinary on the pad DeWitt left with you, and yet your temperature has been going up and down like a yo-yo, and the nurses report that you are perspiring at times even when lying still. What is going on, Neil?”
“So that’s why young Rachel has been popping in to take my temperature every couple of hours,” he said lightly. “And I thought it was because she liked me.”
But Andrea was not to be put off. “This could be serious, Neil,” she warned. “We know it has nothing to do with infection, but it could have something to do with your head injury. What about these headaches? I know they are not uncommon in such cases, but what other symptoms do you have?”
He shrugged. “The odd bad dream when I drift off to sleep, and I often wake up sweating after something like that,” he said, “but apart from that, I feel fine.” He felt guilty about lying to Andrea, but what was going on inside his head was no one’s business but his own. Perhaps the blow on the head was responsible for these visions, but it seemed to him that they were trying to tell him something—something about Jill and the way she died. And perhaps—just perhaps—they had something to do with why he was attacked.
Which was why he needed to get out of there and start searching for the answers.
“What kind of bad dreams?”
He shrugged again. “That’s the trouble with dreams,” he said. “They fade so fast when you wake up. Sometimes it has to do with trying to get away from something unseen; sometimes it’s as if I’m falling—you know the sort of thing. I think everybody has dreams like that at one time or another.”
“But their temperature doesn’t keep jumping a couple of degrees when they do,” Andrea observed drily. “However, apart from that, there is no good reason for keeping you here when we are so short of beds, so you can go home tomorrow. Can I help arrange for someone to take you? I’d offer to take you myself, but I’m afraid I’m working.”
“No problem,” he assured her. “Sergeant Tregalles told me to give him a call when I was ready to come out.”
“You still need to take things easy,” Andrea warned. “Your redcell count is still low, and it will take time for your body to recover, so please get lots of rest. Exercise is good in moderation, but you should stop at the first sign of fatigue. Drink water, six or eight glasses a day, and you’ll need to keep on with the iron supplement, and vitamin B12 as well, but someone will be in to talk to you about that before you go. Since I know you like your steak, you’ll be pleased to hear that an increase in red meat in your diet will help, but don’t neglect the vegetables and fruit. At least you have a housekeeper who can look after you during the day. Perhaps I should have a word with her about your food.”
“No need,” he said hastily. “I’ll take care of it, and I will be careful.”
Andrea nodded. “Do,” she said, “and I’ll make sure you have your appointment times to see Mr. DeWitt before you leave tomorrow.” She glanced at her watch and began moving toward the door. “Sorry I don’t have more time, Neil, but I really must be off. I don’t want to be late leaving, because tonight they’re sorting out parts in the Christmas pageant at Sarah’s school, and I promised her I’d be there.”
“I understand. And thanks, Andrea, for everything.”
“No trouble, Neil. Take care.”
Paget put his arms behind his head as he lay back against the pillows—and winced. The back of his head was still tender, although it was much better than it had been. He wondered again whether he was being foolish in not telling Andrea or DeWitt about what was
going on inside his head. But when it came right down to it, what was there to tell? Words inside his head that might or might not have meaning? Words that might have been generated by his own subconscious for all he knew.
Better to say nothing. The last thing he needed now was to be branded a nutcase.
“Are you awake?”
The voice, pitched low, was barely more than a whisper, but he recognized it immediately. “Grace,” he said, opening his eyes. “Come in, come in and hear the good news.”
“You’re getting out,” she guessed, and when he nodded, she said, “I’m so pleased for you. When?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Great! How are you going to get home?”
“I was planning on ringing Tregalles when he gets home tonight. He’ll take me.”
“I’m not doing anything special tomorrow,” Grace told him. “Why don’t I take you? Your housekeeper doesn’t come in on weekends as I recall, so I can help get you settled in, see if you need anything in the way of food, fresh milk, or whatever. I know Tregalles has been working late most nights, so if he does have time off this weekend, he would probably prefer to spend it with his family. But if you’ve promised to call him, I understand.”
“Well, no, I haven’t promised I’d call him,” Paget admitted. “Do you know if they are getting anywhere with the case? My case, I mean?”
“They’re not saying much, but going by what I hear from Charlie, I think the investigation has bogged down. Sorry, because I know how important this is to you, but I’m afraid that’s the way it looks.”
“I thought as much,” he said. “I’m sure Tregalles would have been in to see me if they had anything new. Perhaps I should let him make the most of his weekend, so if you’re sure you don’t mind … ?”
Grace smiled. “Not at all,” she told him. “Just tell me when and I’ll be here.”
“Please call me if you need anything,” Grace said as Paget escorted her to the door.
“You’ve done more than enough already,” Paget told her. “The ride home from the hospital, and being out in the fresh air was a tonic in itself, and that was certainly the best lunch I’ve had in a long time. Now it seems all I want to do is sleep, though God knows why. You’ve done almost everything for me so far today, but I feel as if I’ve done a full day’s work.”
Grace turned to face him. “You will feel that way,” she told him earnestly. “I saw that nice Dr. McMillan when I came in to pick you up this morning, and she said I should make sure that you have plenty of rest.” Colour rose in her face as she realized what she’d said. “Well, she didn’t mean me specifically,” she amended hastily. “She meant that someone should keep an eye on you to make sure you followed instructions. I think she looks on you as a bit of a rebel when it comes to obeying doctors’ orders.”
“I can’t imagine why she should think that.” He smiled. “I can’t do much else but rest, and what with your help today, and Mrs. Wentworth’s friend coming in twice a week to do the heavy work, it will be like being on holiday.”
“Good. But just to make sure, I’ll be checking on you from time to time,” Grace warned. She opened the front door, then turned and put her hand on his arm. “Seriously, though, Neil, do take care of yourself. You’ve been through a lot, so give yourself time to heal properly. And keep your doors and windows locked. Superintendent Alcott didn’t have that constable sitting outside your door for nothing, so do be careful. You’re a long way from help out here all by yourself.”
“I doubt if I’m in any real danger of being attacked a second time,” he told her. “In fact, I suspect whoever did attack me is well away from here by now.”
“But you will be careful?”
“Of course I will,” he said, touched by her concern. “Now, you had better get on back to town while it is still light. Some of our local drivers tend to drive with their lights on high beam in these narrow lanes after dark, and they can blind you. And thanks again for everything, Grace.”
“You’re quite sure you won’t need me tomorrow?”
“Quite sure,” Paget assured her. “Besides, Tregalles is coming out here tomorrow, so I can let him know if I need anything.”
“Is this some sort of progress report, do you think?”
“I sincerely hope so, although he may be looking for more information from me. I’m not sure that Alcott is entirely satisfied that I haven’t been carrying on with Kate Regan.”
“But that’s ridiculous!”
“Is it?” Paget seemed amused by Grace’s swift response. “She is a very attractive woman, and her husband seems to think there’s truth to it.”
“Well, yes, but …”
“Anyway, that’s enough of that,” he said briskly. “I mustn’t hold you up any longer. And thanks again for everything you’ve done.”
Grace went down the steps to her car. Paget watched from the door as she backed into the road, and responded to her wave as she set off down the hill. He closed the door and made his way into the living room and flopped down in his favourite chair. It was odd, he thought as looked around the room. Since coming here from London several years ago, he’d been quite content to be on his own, yet now that Grace had gone, the house felt strangely empty.
But then, he was tired. Andrea had warned him that he would be, but he hadn’t expected to feel quite as drained as this. Strange her talking to Grace like that—as if she’d assumed that Grace would be there to keep an eye on him. He hoped Andrea hadn’t got the wrong idea.
Grace wished she could have stayed. Neil had looked so pale. But she could hardly insist on staying. It was all very well for him to say he
wasn’t worried, but she didn’t like the thought of him being out here with no one else in the house or even close by. What if the damage to his head was more serious than they thought? What if he collapsed and couldn’t reach the phone?
A car was parked on the side of the road. The bonnet was up and a man was leaning in doing something to the engine. Grace glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure there was nothing behind her before she stopped and rolled the window down.
“Can I help you?” she called. “Do you need a lift into the village?”
The man lifted a hand in acknowledgement, but kept his head down. He seemed to be trying to reach something with his other arm. “No thanks,” he called. “I think I’ve got it now.”
“I have a phone in the car,” Grace offered.
“Thanks all the same, but it will be fine now. It does this now and again.”
“Well, all right, then if you’re sure.” The man waved a hand again as she pulled away. She watched in the mirror, and saw him straighten up and put the bonnet down. Good, she thought as the road curved to the left and she lost sight of him. At least she’d offered help; she could do no more. Besides, although she hadn’t seen much of him, her impression was that of a young man, and it wasn’t far if he did have to walk to the village.
Behind her, the man waited until she was out of sight, then slipped the car into gear and followed. No need to get too close until they got back to town.