Marina didn’t feel like she had been asleep. She must have been, though, because the noise of her phone, sharp, insistent, startled her into wakefulness. She scrabbled for it on the bedside table, found it.
‘Hello?’ Her voice anxious, breathing fast, heart hammering. Anticipating bad news.
‘D’you know what time this is?’
Marina smiled, relaxed slightly. Anni.
She looked at her watch. ‘Just gone six.’
‘Yeah. Just gone six. In the morning. Sunday morning. When we should all be sleeping off our hangovers.’
‘That what you’re doing?’
‘I was trying. But this woman keeps texting me in the middle of the night.’
‘Sorry.’
Anni sighed. ‘It’s OK. I know you would do the same for me if things were the other way round.’
‘You know it, sister.’
Anni laughed. ‘That accent was terrible.’
Just hearing Anni’s voice was making Marina feel better. ‘Sorry.’ She sighed.
‘How you feeling?’
‘No better, if I’m honest.’
‘What did Phil say?’
Marina didn’t answer straight away.
‘Marina…’
‘I didn’t tell him, Anni. I tried, I… couldn’t.’
‘Oh God, Marina…’
‘I’m sorry, I did try. But the words wouldn’t come. When he came in last night was the perfect opportunity. And I opened my mouth and… He was exhausted. Just in from doing overtime on a long shift. Should have been his day off. If I’d said something, what if he’d taken it the wrong way?’
Anni said nothing.
‘I’m going to tell him, though. Definitely.’
‘Where is he now? Can’t you do it now?’
‘He’s back at the office. Got called in. Has to question a suspect.’
‘Right. So when?’
‘When you get the lab results back. When I’ve got something concrete to take to him. So he’ll know it’s not just me being hysterical or making excuses for shagging some bloke when I was pissed.’
‘Marina, he won’t think you’re being hysterical. You know that. And he definitely won’t think you’ve shagged some bloke when you were pissed. He knows you better than that. And you know it too.’
‘Thank you,’ said Marina.
‘No problem.’
‘So… look, I hate to sound like I’m obsessed or anything, but…’
‘When will the results be in?’
‘Yeah. Sorry. Am I that transparent?’
‘No. Like I said, I would be doing exactly the same as you if I was in your position. I’d be in a state too.’
‘Yeah. Every woman would.’ She paused, waited. ‘So. The results…?’
‘It’s Sunday. Nobody works on a Sunday.’
‘Nobody’s supposed to be working on this at all.’
‘I know. Look, I spoke to my guy. Told him it was urgent, on the hush-hush, all of that. He said he understood and that he’d get back to me as quickly as possible.’
‘When will that be? Today?’
‘Marina…’
‘Sorry. But I’m, you know. Anxious. Everything’s on hold. Phil. Work. My life. Until I hear back from you.’ She sighed. ‘Look, I know I’m being demanding and unreasonable, but…’ she felt tears well up, ‘I’m falling apart here…’
There were no words from the other end of the phone, just the sound of movement. Marina heard a door close, the atmosphere change. When Anni spoke again, her voice was echoing.
‘OK. That’s better.’
‘Where… What happened?’
‘I’m in the bathroom. Thought it best that Mickey didn’t hear any more.’
‘He’s there?’
Anni laughed. ‘He’s always here. Can’t get rid of the bastard. Bless him.’
Marina gave a small laugh too. It quickly died.
‘Listen,’ said Anni, ‘I’ll get in touch with my contact at the lab again. Ask him if he can go in today, see what he can do.’
‘Thank you.’ Marina felt relief wash over her. Or a certain amount. It was a start.
‘But this is a really big favour. I want you to know that. Not that you’re not worth it, but…’ Anni sighed. ‘He’s an old boyfriend. I think I may have to make it up in some way.’
‘Oh.’ Her words sank in. ‘Oh. I’m sorry, Anni.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll buy dinner, peck on the cheek. That should do him. I just thought it best that Mickey didn’t hear me say that.’
‘Quite.’
‘I’ll see if I can get him to do it today.’
‘Thank you. I really… I can’t tell you how much…’ Marina felt herself welling up once more.
‘Hey. Don’t worry. We’ll get the bastard. I won’t let him get away with what he did to you. You can be sure of that.’
The tears came. ‘Thank you, thank you, Anni…’
‘Right. Now stop that. You’ve got a little girl to look after. Think of her.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Stop thanking me. I’m your mate. Just try and forget about it until I call.’
They made their goodbyes; Anni hung up.
Marina put the phone back on the bedside table. Stared at the ceiling.