Anna drove the whole four miles from Wandsworth to Camberwell with her heart thumping in her chest.
Along the way she passed through areas that were eerily quiet, with few people and little traffic. But in others she bore witness to more shocking acts of vandalism and looting.
Whilst stuck in traffic outside one clothes store, she watched, open-mouthed, as a group in hoodies bundled inside. Most headed straight for the shelves while others pulled out cash registers and searched storage rooms.
The worst of the trouble was in Brixton. Two shops were ablaze in Coldharbour Lane and the fire brigade were not in attendance. Among the people gathered on the pavement were two uniformed police officers who were yelling into their radios.
Everywhere Anna looked there were groups of excitable yobs charging around in hoods and balaclavas, tipping over rubbish bins, screaming abuse, smashing windows. Fortunately, it being a Sunday evening, there weren’t that many vehicles on the roads for them to hurl missiles at.
Anna had her closest shave with the rioters when she arrived in the centre of Brixton. Cops in full riot gear had formed a protective barrier in front of Lambeth Town Hall, which was under attack from an angry mob.
The officers were being bombarded with rocks, sticks and bottles, and they were struggling to hold their line. Nearby a currency exchange was being ransacked and across the road from it a police car was on fire outside the iconic Ritzy cinema.
It was all such a distraction for Anna that she came within a whisker of running down two hooded youths who stepped into the road in front of her.
She managed to slam on the brakes and bring the car to a screeching halt just a couple of feet away from them.
The taller of the pair stuck two fingers up at her even though she mouthed the word ‘sorry’ at him. The other one screamed ‘fucking stupid bitch’ and gobbed onto the bonnet. Then they both rushed towards the front doors, giving the distinct impression that they were intent on pulling her from the car.
Anna reacted instinctively by flicking on the locks, and as the pair reached for the door handles, she stamped on the accelerator and the car shot forward.
She heard one of them cry out and then saw the tall one in her rear-view mirror hopping about on one leg, his face creased up in pain.
She had obviously run over his foot, and at any other time she would have been mortified. But now she responded with a grin and a chuckle.
‘Serves you fucking right,’ she said aloud to herself as she steered the car on a course for King’s College Hospital.
*
Tom gave her a big, beaming smile when she approached his bed.
She felt a tidal wave of relief because he looked so much better. The familiar glint had returned to his eyes, and the cuts and swellings on his face from the beating he took appeared less pronounced.
Chloe jumped up from the chair next to the bed and walked into her mother’s arms.
‘I’ve missed you, Mum,’ she said.
Anna spotted straight away that her daughter looked worn out. Her features were white, brittle, her movements sluggish.
‘And I’ve missed you too,’ she said.
Anna let go of Chloe and gave Tom a kiss.
‘And it goes without saying that I couldn’t wait to see you again, Mr Bannerman,’ she said. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m much better than I would be if this young lady hadn’t been here to keep me company,’ he said, looking at Chloe. ‘She’s made me laugh, she’s been my gofer, and she’s kept the boredom at bay.’
Anna grinned. ‘I’m so glad.’ Turning to Chloe, she added, ‘Does that mean you’d like to come back tomorrow?’
Chloe hesitated and Tom responded for her. ‘Actually, we’ve had a chat about that, Anna. We’ve really enjoyed each other’s company but I don’t think it’s fair to expect her to hang around for another whole day. Most of the time I’m asleep, when I’m not I’m being poked and prodded by doctors and nurses. She’d be better off at home with all her stuff and where she’s not surrounded by scores of unwell people.’
‘Would that be all right, Mum?’ Chloe asked.
Anna grimaced. ‘Not really, my love. I’ve got to work so I won’t be able to stay with you. And I don’t want to leave you by yourself.’
‘But I’ll be fine,’ Chloe said. ‘I’m not a baby any more. So please let me.’
Anna gave it some thought and eventually gave a reluctant nod. ‘Well I suppose it will be all right if you promise not to open the door to anyone or go outside. And I could get Peggy from next door to keep tabs on you.’
‘That’s settled then,’ Tom said and gave Chloe a wink.
Tom then enquired about the Jacob Rossi case, and he and Chloe reacted with delight when Anna told them that they had identified the man responsible for abducting the boy. But this turned rapidly to disappointment when they learned that Roy Slater was dead.
‘Well at least he won’t be doing harm to any other kids,’ Tom said.
Anna didn’t stay long because she knew that the later it got the more dangerous it would be driving home. Tom understood and told her to be careful.
‘Call the hospital to let me know that you got home safely,’ he said.
Anna promised that she would and told him she’d come to see him tomorrow.
‘Take care, my love,’ she said. ‘And if there’s anything you need, then just let me know.’
Anna held on to Chloe’s hand as she exited the hospital and walked to the car. She was dreading the two-mile journey to Vauxhall, and the thought that they might run into trouble was causing the blood to thunder through her veins.
Once behind the wheel she told Chloe to buckle up and cross her fingers. Then she started the engine, locked the doors and turned on the radio.