Pip snuggled down in bed ready for some more sleep but the nurse said, ‘Police are here to see you if you’re up to it.’
Molly put her head around the door. ‘We just want to get your version of things, Pip. I’ve got Doug Cameron with me if that’s okay?’
Doug smiled. ‘Okay, young lady, now do you feel able to tell us what happened today?’
In the end, Pip blurted out everything, starting with this morning’s events, all the way back to the Sunday before last. It was a marathon, but the police officers didn’t interrupt much, just let her tell it the whole way through. Molly did most of the asking and Doug did the writing.
‘Phew!’ Molly said when Pip ran out of things to say. ‘That’s a lot to pack into a few days.’
‘Things just kind of happened,’ Pip said. ‘How’s Spiro?’
‘Oh, he’s okay. No harm done. His mum and grandmother took him home a while ago.’
‘And the man?’
‘His name’s Terry Bohm, and he’s not at all the respectable businessman he would like us to think.’
‘Does that mean he’ll go to jail?’
‘You bet he will, sweetie, if I have anything to do with it,’ Molly said.
‘What happens now? I’d rather go to jail than back to Sandie,’ Pip said to Doug.
‘I can promise you that a stay with Sandie is not in your future,’ Doug told her.
‘I want to stay at Number 3 Greene Lane until Sully comes home. With Houdini, my dog.’
‘Yes, I’ve met Houdini,’ Molly said.
‘The thing is,’ Doug said, ‘to work out what happens next we need to work out who you are. Really.’
Pip was confused. ‘I’m me. Really.’
‘Look,’ Molly said hastily to Doug, ‘I think we need to let Pip rest now. It’s been a big day and Pip’s given us a detailed statement. How about we come back tomorrow and have another chat then?’
Although she liked them, Pip was glad to see them go. Her head was pounding and her knee and ankle ached. She wanted to rest so she had enough energy to visit Sully later.
As it turned out, she fell fast asleep and didn’t wake up until the next morning, to find that Matilda and her mum had dropped off Pip’s things, as well as some flowers and chocolate.
Matilda’s note said: You were snoring so we didn’t wake you up. Hope you feel better soon. Matilda J x.
Pip did feel better, although her head was woolly from having slept so long. She ate the chocolate and went to find a shower. The stern nurse was cross when she found out Pip had showered on her own, although Pip figured she was one of those people who went around looking for things to make her cross. Pip sat meekly on the bed in the detested bottomless gown until the nurse had gone, and then changed into her own clothes.
Sully was still sleeping when she finally found his room after a few false starts. Mrs Beetlebaum had also nodded off in her chair, so Pip crept in and perched carefully on Sully’s bed. If anything, he looked worse.
‘Sully,’ she whispered. ‘It’s me, Pip. More stuff happened yesterday and now I’m in the hospital too. I’m okay, and we don’t have to worry about the money.’
In her hand, his fluttered for a second and then went still, and she thought his dry lips framed the word ‘Pip’.
‘I’m right here, Sully,’ she said. ‘They’re looking after you well. You just need to wake up so you can go to rehab. Everything is fine at Number 3 Greene Lane. I’m going to fix up the garden because we have a dog now and he needs a place to run around. His name is Houdini because—’
She felt a slight tug on her hand and heard the whisper of her name. She leant closer and thought he said something like ‘cash’.
‘It’s okay, Sully,’ she told him. ‘We don’t have to pay for rehab.’
Frowning, he shook his head from side to side.
‘What is it, Sully? Shall I get the nurse?’
‘Em,’ he murmured and Pip realised he was looking at the photo next to the bed. She put it into his good hand and called the nurse, but was told that he was as comfortable as they could make him and there was nothing more anyone could do.
Pip sat with him a little longer but when he slept on she wandered back to her room to find a plastic tray with lunch, which was stone cold. She ate the ice-cream dessert, ignored the rest, and was very happy when Matilda arrived after school with Mrs Browning, bringing chocolate cake.
Five minutes later, Molly and Mr Blair knocked on the door, saying, ‘Surprise!’
Their surprise was Ginger, looking uncomfortable. He pushed a horse-racing magazine into her hands, said he was sorry she’d got hurt and made a hasty retreat.
‘I’m talking to some people about getting him somewhere permanent to live and an apprenticeship,’ Molly said.
Pip grinned. ‘That’s great. Thanks.’
A knock sounded on the door. The nurse opened it, looking grimmer than ever.
‘I need a word with a responsible adult. Not you,’ she said to Mr Blair.
Molly went out into the corridor with the nurse and when she came back a minute later, she had tears in her eyes.
Mr Blair put a hand on her shoulder. ‘What is it?’ he asked.
‘It’s . . . it’s . . . Oh, Pip!’
Molly came and sat on the bed next to Matilda. She looked at Pip and gulped. ‘I’m so sorry, but Sully died ten minutes ago.’