CHAPTER FOUR

For the following two days she worked with intense determination on strengthening her legs, at the same time watching the television news that ran throughout the day. There was no word of her stepfather, no reports of unidentified bodies.

On the third morning she slept late and was woken by the happy chatter of the sparrows on the roof tops. With one stick only she rose to her feet and went into the kitchen to throw open the shutters and boil water for her tea. She exercised, then went through to wash and dress. Though she was washing her clothes as needed they were beginning to look decidedly crumpled. If only she dared go into the market for fresh clothing.

When the doorbell rang she was crossing the room without sticks and she wobbled precariously with the shock. A heavy heartbeat thudded uncomfortably in her chest as she clutched at the kitchen worktop. The bell rang again continuously for several seconds.

They couldn’t know she was there. She comforted herself with the thought. They could ring all they wanted but there was nothing to show that she was there if she refused to answer. Minutes later the ringing of the bell sounded like a familiar rhythm. Was her fear making her imagine things. No, there it was again. She switched on the small television monitor and the familiar face of Jack Linnel stared back at her.

Quickly she pressed the buzzer to let him in. He was angry when he faced her across the kitchen table.

‘This is ridiculous. We are going to have to come to some arrangement about my letting you know it’s me at the door. I haven’t got the time to waste apart from the attention I attract trying to batter down your door.’

She let him have his say then offered him coffee. She poured him a mug of instant.

‘The percolator isn’t working,’ she said as she handed it to him.

It wasn’t until he sat down that he noticed her walking unaided although somewhat unsteadily across the floor towards him. He gave her a hard stare then took a sip of the coffee. He waited until she sat down before speaking.

‘Look, I’m sorry to put this to you so crudely but we have found a body and would like you to come and identify it.’

The crash of china on the wooden floor resounded through the silence that followed. Alarmed at her reaction Jack crossed to the settee and sat down next to her putting his arm around her shoulders to stop her shaking.

‘Sorry, that was thoughtless of me. It’s not your father. We suspect it’s the man who has been following you. I know you said you saw no-one suspicious but perhaps unconsciously you may recognise him.’

With a shuddering sigh Angela moved out of his arms and bent to pick up the pieces of broken mug but he was there before her. After tossing the broken mug in the bin he found a cloth to mop up the mess.

‘Mama always insisted we were never too spoiled to clean up after ourselves.’

He grinned up at her from where he squatted down at her feet, cloth in hand.

Angela clamped her quivering lip with her teeth. She was surprised at the difference that grin made to his face. It gave him warmth, creases pulled back his cheeks and tiny lines fanned out from the corners of his eyes. It was a face made for laughter so why was it always so stern and unyielding?

He stood up and lifted her to her feet. The mask had slipped back and he was once more the policeman.

‘You will come with me and identify this man. It will be unpleasant, I know, but it will help us with our enquiries.’

Angela stepped back and dropped her eyes to the floor as she nodded her acceptance. She picked up one stick as they headed to the door. She felt as though she would need that one small comfort.