SINCE FINDING OUT FROM NANNY Bea her own family connection to Mr Coleman, Ava’s curiosity demanded she find out more about him. Her instincts were on high alert, but she had to be careful because she was prone to jump to conclusions.
The cat skull was what kept her hooked because of the dog-skull totems she’d seen on Banlock Farm. She couldn’t help believing that whoever put the cat skull on Zasha’s grave was responsible for the massacre of animals at Banlock Farm and, possibly, the homicide of the boys. She couldn’t dislodge from the notion that the old man knew more than he let on about Mickey’s death at least.
She’d read that dementia sufferers experienced lucid moments, but it was how sharp his voice became when he’d said Mickey had been trespassing on his land. Ava was cautious not to read too much into an old man’s opinion, but it had sounded as if he blamed Mickey for being murdered because he’d trespassed on Coleman land.
What if Coleman was hiding behind his illness? And if so, why? Ava was aware that she was just a teenager and she should be doing normal teenage stuff, but she was heavily invested in the case, she was nosey, and she honestly saw no harm in finding out more. Unless the Wolf had died or retired from hunting, he would kill again soon. If there was anything she could do to help the police in preventing it then she would try.
Ava bundled up and put a cap on her head so that she didn’t look like a girl, checked her watch and left her sleeping family for the dark outside. Fizz marched ahead as they took the route through the grounds of Rubery Hill Hospital, the buildings looming gauntly as they passed. When they approached Joseph Sheldon Hospital, it was already bright with lights. Ava saw a man her father’s age smoking a cigarette at the rear by the fire exit doors. She advanced with Fizz pulling ahead, ready to attack. The man had a name badge on his tunic which declared him to be ‘GREG HICKS’.
‘Hello, bab,’ the man said in a concerned, fatherly tone. ‘It’s too early for you to be out by yourself.’
Fizz immediately snarled at the man, who grinned, impressed by the pint-sized dog’s protective instinct. ‘You’re the lass and dog who passed by a while ago. You made our Nev happy.’
This was Ava’s cue. ‘Is Maureen here today?’
Greg nodded. ‘Yeah, she is.’ He flicked the stub of his cigarette onto the ground. ‘I’ll go and get her. She’s due her last break before handover.’
‘Thank you,’ said Ava.
When Maureen opened the heavy doors and saw her, she smiled. ‘Ava, isn’t it?’
Ava nodded. ‘I was just walking my dog and I thought I’d say hello to Mr Coleman.’
Ava was playing up the grown-ups’ belief that children had no concept of adult realities, responsibilities and time so her turning up on a whim wouldn’t be a great surprise. If Maureen wouldn’t allow her to see Nev now then she’d try another time. Ava crossed her fingers and hoped Maureen wouldn’t turn her away.
‘Animals aren’t allowed in here, especially dogs,’ Maureen said. ‘But I’ll give you five minutes.’
‘Thank you,’ said Ava. Fizz sat and looked up at Maureen. When she smiled at the animal, Ava asked, ‘Is Mr Coleman all right?’
‘Yes, he’s fine, sweetheart,’ said Maureen.
‘Does he get many visitors?’ Ava asked.
‘No, bab. All his family died years ago, and any friends he’s made are all here,’ said Maureen.
Ava still suspected Mr Coleman could leave the hospital and walk to his old home to place flowers on his daughter’s grave. ‘My nan recently told me that our family know Mr Coleman because they sold land to him many years ago.’
‘Really?’ said Maureen.
‘He called me Orla because that was my great-aunt’s name,’ said Ava. ‘I think I remind him of her.’
Maureen considered. ‘Nev’s in a great mood this morning so he’ll appreciate a visit from this little fellow.’
Fizz knew where he was going and marched into Nev’s room like it was his right. The old man’s face lit up with surprise and pleasure at the sight of the animal. Nev was dressed, his sunglasses on, and he bent to pet the bustling terrier.
‘Orla,’ said Nev. Maureen kept watch at the door, looking out for other member of hospital staff who might object to Nev’s unscheduled visitor.
‘I’m not Orla, I’m Ava,’ said Ava. ‘Orla was my great-aunt. I’m Beatrice Scullion’s granddaughter.’
He was astounded. ‘Well, my God! Bloody hell! Maur! Did you hear that? I know this girl’s family!’
Maureen nodded and smiled.
‘How are they all, sweetheart?’ asked Mr Coleman, sitting down in his armchair whereupon Fizz jumped into his lap.
‘Orla died a long time ago,’ said Ava because that was all she knew. Mr Coleman’s smile faded at this news but he brightened when she added, ‘But my nan, Beatrice, she has two sons. One is living in Australia and the other is my dad.’ She smiled. ‘Beatrice says hello.’ This wasn’t true because Ava had said nothing to her grandmother about meeting Mr Coleman but it conjured the right response. He smiled again.
‘Smashing,’ he said and, in that moment, Ava liked him.
As the old man fussed about the dog, Ava studied the framed black-and-white photographs on the sideboard. The picture of a family, of Nev, his wife and daughter, was a happy one. There was also a picture of Nev with his daughter as a teenager with her arms around a white Banlock Shepherd.
‘She’s very pretty,’ said Ava.
‘She was my clever girl,’ said Coleman, the dog in his lap.
Ava took a deep breath and exhaled softly.
‘Tiss . . . ’
Maureen shot Ava a warning glance but the old man didn’t seem upset at the mention of the name. Instead, he nodded.
The picture beside it was of a magnificent Banlock Shepherd.
‘I love this picture,’ said Ava.
‘That’s Zasha, isn’t it, Nev?’ Maureen asked like she didn’t already know.
‘Yes,’ said Nev. ‘Best dog I ever had.’ Zasha. The dog buried in the hawthorn hollow gifted a cat skull in remembrance. Ava paused. She blinked as she saw what could not be here, in this room, tucked behind the photos as if hiding from her.
The black teddy bear. The black teddy bear she had seen lying in the stable on Banlock Farm that awful day. She could argue with herself that there could be more than one like it in the world except it had the same missing eye as the toy she’d seen all those months ago. How did it get here from there? And when?
She wanted to ask about that bear. It might make Mr Coleman angry, but if it did then his anger would reveal more about him than her question intended. Ava stood by the black bear, leaned forward to study it closer.
‘You like Winky, eh?’ asked Nev with a smile in his tone.
‘Winky?’ Nev’s daughter and dogs had had such extravagant names and Winky was not one of them. John had told her that Tisiphone was one of the three Furies from Greek legend who punished the crimes of men.
‘He’s always had one eye, like he’s winking at you,’ Nev explained.
‘I swear I’ve seen a bear just like him before . . . ’ said Ava.
‘I doubt it, sweetheart,’ said Nev. ‘My wife made him for our girl. He’s a one-off.’
‘I’m sure I’ve seen one exactly like him,’ said Ava. ‘In the countryside somewhere . . . ’
The silence behind her was telling until he said, ‘Well, maybe you have then.’ She turned and found Nev watching her, his expression calm. Fizz licked his face, and he smiled at the dog.
‘Can I bring Fizz to see you again, Mr Coleman?’ asked Ava. She was going to find out about that bear even if she had to visit him a hundred times because that thing was in this room with the owner of that awful place where a boy was murdered.
‘Yes’, said Maureen when the old man turned to her. ‘A proper visit next time, ay Nev? Outside though, so you can see the dog?’
‘Oh yes,’ said Mr Coleman with a smile. ‘I’d like that.’
Maureen’s touch on her arm was gentle.
‘Bab.’
Ava called Fizz who jumped off Nev’s lap and bounced to her feet.
‘We’ve got to go,’ said Ava. ‘Goodbye, Mr Coleman.’