by Clare Revell
“They will. Thank you. See you when you get here.”
He hung up and went back up to ITU. Shay stood outside the door. “How’s things?” he asked.
“Fine. The doctors are in talking to Elle and Abbie. You don’t look so good, what’s up?”
“Bad news, that’s all. I’m going to go in, see what the doctor’s saying.”
“It’s family only, Patrick.”
“Still going in.”
She grabbed his arm. “Patrick, if there is something between you and Elle, beyond the obvious attraction which can be seen a mile off, then I need to know and you need to back off this case.”
“Abbie is my daughter.”
“She’s what?”
“You heard. DI Nemec is collating info before flying down with it. I really think there is a link between his Foster and ours. Now if you don’t mind I’m going to find out what my daughter’s doctor has to say.”
He shook her arm off and headed into the ITU, aware of her stunned face behind him. He washed his hands and then crossed over to Abbie’s bed, sliding into the seat beside Elle.
She shot him a grateful smile, and gripped his hand tightly.
Abbie looked at him. “The doctor said you’re a match,” she whispered.
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“So I get part of your liver because mine is seriously messed up.”
“Sounds about what they told me.” He smiled at her. “If that’s all right with you.”
She nodded slightly. “Ellie said they tested her as well, but her blood’s wrong.”
Elle looked at him. “They explained all about the matching and told her basically that she and I are positive and negative.”
“And we all know that positive and negative attract not repel, right?” he winked, knowing Abbie would have done that in science at school.
She smiled faintly. “I know science. We do all three sciences at school. We actually broke the Slinky in a physics experiment.”
He laughed. “How did you manage that?”
Abbie tilted her head. “We were studying wave motion. Only we got too enthusiastic and ended up putting a kink in the Slinky.”
He snorted. “Oh, I bet I can guess what you guys called it. Have you done the Maltese cross experiment yet?”
“Last week.”
“We blew it up. Well, imploded it.”
Abbie looked at him in awe. “That beats breaking a Slinky hands down.”
“Certainly does. So, yeah I know a lot about science too. Comes with being a…” he broke off and put a finger over his lips.
Abbie raised a hand and shielded her mouth so only he could see. “Secret agent,” she mouthed with a laugh.
He winked at her and gave her a thumbs up.
“When can I go home?”
The doctor looked at her. “I’d rather you stayed in.”
Abbie pouted. “I don’t want to.”
“Unless there is a need for her to be here, it would be better to have them both at a safe house.” Patrick looked at her and then at the doctor. “If I move them into my place, there are no stairs and she’ll do nothing but rest. I can guarantee it.”
“Please,” Abbie added. “I promise if I get sick again, I’ll come back in.”
“If the scans are clear. If they’re not, then you stay in.”
Elle looked at the doctor. “I don’t want to put her in any danger, no matter what anyone says.”
“Nor do I. Let’s see what the scans show and go from there.”
Patrick nodded. He didn’t want anything to happen to Abbie, but more than anything he wanted to get her to a controlled safe environment. If someone could walk in and disable a lift, then the security in this hospital needed a lot of work. And it definitely wasn’t anywhere near safe enough for his daughter.
19
Patrick held Elle’s hand tightly as they walked down the hallway to the hospital café. Abbie was sleeping, finally agreeing to stay overnight on the condition they both stayed with her. Shay had promised to stay with Abbie until they got back on the ward. He’d pulled strings and several armed officers stood at various points in the hallway and on all the exits.
And the conversation he was about to have with his family would be far easier with Elle at his side. He glanced at Elle as they walked. “Are you sure you’re all right with me talking to them now? We could wait until all this is over.”
She tightened her grip on his hand. “I’m not looking forward to it. But I do understand you need to tell them. You’re planning on having major surgery and they have a right to know about it.”
“Actually, I want to tell them everything.” He stopped and pulled her to one side of the corridor. “Elle, because Abbie’s my daughter, by default it makes my parents her grandparents, my brother and sister her aunt and uncle. She’s part of my family. She’s not alone anymore. And nor are you.”
“What if they think like my mother? Assume I’ve led you astray and that I’m trying to trick you into child support or steal your liver or something else.”
He gently put his fingers over her lips. “They won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Elle, trust me. They’ll love our daughter and you the same way that I do. They will love her and pray for her and the surgery. And yes, they’ll pray for you, too. I promise.”
“OK.”
“Come on. Don’t want to be away from Abbie for too long.” He led her down the corridor and into the small café.
He caught Elle’s small gasp as she saw the only crowded table in the room. He squeezed her hand. “It’ll be fine. Besides, we can shock them into silence by telling them your stage name.”
Liam stood as they came over. “Hey, bro. Your message sounded urgent.”
Patrick nodded. “Yeah, it is. Thanks for rounding up the troops.”
“Welcome. Sit,” Liam said. “We got drinks in already.”
Patrick pulled out a chair for Elle. “Everyone, this is Elle Harrison. Elle and I go way back. She’s a good friend of mine. Elle, this is Mum and Dad. Jared, you already met earlier today and this is my sister, his wife, Niamh. My brother, Liam, and his fiancée, Jacqui. Don’t worry, there won’t be a test on names later.”
“Hi,” Elle said.
Patrick sat and took her hand tightly as everyone said hello and introduced themselves again.
Niamh smiled. “Jared was telling us about rescuing you both from the hospital lift in the car on the way here.” She rested her cup on her swollen stomach. “It must have been scary.”
Patrick nodded. “Yeah, it was. And you be careful my nephew doesn’t kick that cup off.”
“Who says it’s a boy?” Niamh gave a sly smile. “Jarrie also hinted at something else, but wouldn’t say what.”
Patrick grinned. “That would be Elle’s secret identity.”
Liam tilted his head at Elle. “You do look familiar and I don’t just mean from church. Are you…?” He broke off. “No, can’t be.”
Jared winked at Elle. “I didn’t tell them. I figured you should have that right.”
She smiled slightly. “I’m a singer. My stage name is Lisa Bellamy.”
Patrick laughed as the faces dropped a mile around the table. “Told you that would silence them, didn’t I?”
Elle smiled. “Yeah, you did.”
“The Lisa Bellamy?” Mum asked.
“The one and only.” Patrick grinned as silence reigned supreme.
“You’re dating Lisa Bellamy?” Liam finally managed.
“Not exactly, dating. Well, not yet. I’m protecting her and her daughter.”
Jared snorted. “Aye, I protect Niamh the same way you protected Elle outside the lift sometimes. But don’t worry, that secret is safe with me…and the rest of the lads at the fire station.”
Patrick shook his head, noting the way Elle’s face flamed. “You’re embarrassing the lady.”
“You did that yourself this afternoon, when you snogged her in fron
t of the entire watch.” Jared winked at Elle. “And you, Elle, are braver than you let on.”
She smiled faintly at him. “I was scared out of my mind. But with everything else that’s going on right now, it seems a minor hiccup.”
“Yeah, Patrick alluded to something, but wouldn’t say much.”
Liam added. “I’m sure he didn’t invite us here, just to meet you.”
“No. I’d pick a better way to do it. Not to mention someplace nicer than a hospital canteen. But something is wrong. That’s why we need to have this conversation.” Patrick lowered his voice. “What I’m about to tell you goes no further.”
Elle tightened her grip on his hand.
“Here we go,” Liam said. “More secret agent stuff. I did my bit last summer, thank you. Elle, did he tell you he sent me and Jacqui to Africa and almost got us killed?”
Patrick sent him a withering look.
Dad coughed. “OK, that’s enough. Let Patrick explain.”
He took a deep breath. “In a way, Liam is right. It is secret agent stuff. But there’s more to it, which means I have to bring you guys into the loop. It’s imperative you tell no one else. To cut a long story short, we were involved when we were at university. Elle and I have a daughter called Abbie. She’s thirteen now.”
Shock passed over the faces in front of him, except Liam who already knew.
Elle studied her hands, her face turning red. When she looked up, a sea of smiling faces greeted her.
Niamh smiled. “I have a niece. And my baby will have someone to play with.”
“What’s my granddaughter like?” Mum asked.
Patrick looked at Elle. “You know her best.”
“She has blonde hair, blue eyes. Looks a little like Patrick, but he insists she flicks her hair back like me.” Elle’s voice was quiet. “She loves singing, plays the flute really well. I have a photo if you’d like to see.”
His parents smiled. “Of course we would.”
Elle pulled the photo from her pocket. “It was taken six months ago.” She gripped Patrick’s hand tightly under the table.
He squeezed her hand back, wishing he could do more to put her at ease as the photo was passed around the table.
“How long have you known about her, Patrick?” Dad asked.
“A few hours,” he said evasively. “It’s a very long and complicated story. I’m not going to go into all the details now, that’ll keep until a better time. The thing is, Abbie’s really sick—she’s dying. She’s in ITU, which is why we’re meeting here. Her only chance is a liver transplant.”
The faces around him fell.
“Surgery is scheduled for this Friday coming. I’m going to be a live donor.”
“Come again?” Niamh said.
“Abbie needs a new liver,” he repeated. “Elle isn’t a match. I am. We don’t have time to wait for one to come up via normal means. So, I’m it. I’m convinced that meeting Elle again, the car accident revealing the tumor, all has God’s hand on it. He’s taking a bad, a very bad situation and working it for good. If Abbie hadn’t been in that accident, they wouldn’t have found the tumor until it was too late. Without the transplant she has two months to live. And before you jump in and say Elle only told me because she had to, it was a conversation we’d intended to have. We just hadn’t found the time to sit down and discuss it before Abbie got taken ill.”
“What are the risks?” Liam asked slowly.
Patrick hesitated and looked down. “What makes you ask that?” he hedged.
Liam continued. “It’s major surgery, not a walk in the park. Besides, I’m guessing there must be risks otherwise you wouldn’t have told us.”
“He could die, too,” Elle said, finally looking up. “Either during surgery, or just after, from a blood clot, complications, infection and so on.”
Patrick looked back up to meet his brother’s gaze. “I know the risks, but like I told the doctors and the counselor they made me see, I want—need to do this for Abbie. She’s my daughter, and I’m not going to sit in the intensive care unit and watch her die when there is a good chance that I can save her life. I’m putting my trust in God to see this thing through and bring the three of us out the other side.”
There was silence for a few moments.
Patrick took a deep breath. “I’m not asking you to give your blessing on this, just wanted you to know. And ask you to pray for Abbie. That she’ll be strong enough for the surgery on Friday and that she won’t reject the liver.”
“That goes without saying,” Mum said. “And of course you have our blessing. Why wouldn’t you?”
Dad handed the photo back to Elle. “She really is beautiful. Would it be possible to see her?”
Elle nodded. “She’s sleeping now, but…”
“Sure, I’ll take you up in a few.” Patrick glanced at his parents. “Abbie doesn’t know I’m her father, yet. Like I said, it’s complicated. Once she’s well again, then we’ll tell her. She probably won’t wake until morning.”
Liam put his cup down. “You said you’re protecting her. So you’re working?”
“Yeah. I can’t say much about that, but you know Elle’s mum died a couple of days ago?”
Mum nodded. “We’re really sorry for your loss, Elle. If there is anything we can do to help…organizing the funeral or anything, let me know.”
“Thank you.”
Patrick paused for a moment. “The car crash wasn’t an accident. It was murder, so yeah…I’m protecting them both right now. And that is all I can say. And all this I’ve told you goes no further.”
Dad looked over at them. “I can’t speak for this lot, Elle,” he said slowly. “But Abbie is our granddaughter, and by default that makes you family, too. You need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Elle’s eyes glistened. “Thank you.”
“I do suggest we begin by praying,” his father held out his hands. “Perhaps we lay hands on Patrick and Elle and take turns to commend them to the Lord’s care.” Patrick wrapped his arms around Elle and looked over at the bowed heads of his family. Praying like this was instilled in them, but he’d never been the focus of it himself before. His heart swelled and his eyes burned. Then they were surrounded, hands touching them as one by one everyone prayed aloud for them and for Abbie.
Afterwards, Jared caught Patrick’s eye. “Let’s get another round of tea in.”
Patrick got up. “OK.” As he headed across the room with Jared, he heard his Mum start asking Elle about Abbie.
Jared picked up a couple of trays. “I thought I should bring you up to speed on the lift incident investigation. There was no stair cleaning scheduled for this morning. Or lift maintenance for that matter.”
Patrick stopped dead. “What?”
Jared handed him a tray. “The cables to all three service lifts had been tampered with. As had the brakes. It was providence that neither of you were killed today. God must have sent an angel to watch over you both.”
“You have proof?”
“Cast iron. I’ve already handed copies of the file to both DS Nate Holmes and your boss. Just thought I’d give you a heads up.”
They rejoined the others and Elle looked at him. “I was thinking about Mum’s funeral. After all that’s happened, I can’t get my head around it. I don’t—”
“She was your mum,” Patrick said. “She loved you in her own way. Deep down, you know that.”
Elle nodded. “I thought just at the crematorium and before the surgery if possible. Otherwise, it can’t be for months. It’ll only be me and Abby. We moved so often, we never really knew anyone.”
Dad nodded. “I can sort that for you. I’ll give Pastor Jack a call. We’ve done services there before. Let me know what hymns you want and I’ll do the rest. And it won’t just be you and Abbie. Like I said, we’re your family now. We’ll all be there.”
****
Two days later, Elle sat in the crematorium, Patrick on one side and Abbie on the other. P
atrick’s family sat in the row behind them. An email had gone around the congregation and several of the church folk had also come to support her. But mostly everyone else in attendance were either police or spooks. Pastor Jack led the short service.
Elle sat wishing she could feel something, anything, some shred of remorse or grief, but there was none. Patrick assured her it was normal and that grief would come. But she wasn’t sure. All she could think of was the lies that had been told to her over and over again.
Abbie sat beside her in a wheelchair, pale and drawn, tears running down her face. She still didn’t know the truth and it was going to stay that way for a while longer. Until she was well enough to deal with it and accept Patrick, things had to stay as they were.
Elle looked down, tears filling her eyes. That made her guilty of the same sin she was blaming her mother for. Huge sobs welled up and overwhelmed her.
Patrick wrapped an arm around her, pulling her towards him. She buried her face in his black overcoat, crying for what she had lost and the secrets that now threatened to overwhelm her and steal what little she had left.
20
Patrick glanced up as Abbie padded into the kitchen of his small flat. Nahum hadn’t liked the idea. He’d wanted them back in the safe house, but Patrick had talked him around. The girls had his bedroom and he slept on the sofa. Shay was around all day, and another two agents sat in the kitchen overnight. Three days out of hospital and still Abbie looked awful. Why hadn’t anyone noticed this mass on her liver before?
Elle had said she’d wanted to take Abbie to the doctor’s but her mother wouldn’t let her go, saying Abbie was faking. Liam assured him that kids were notorious for having stomachaches or headaches in order to get out of P.E. and any other classes they didn’t like at school. Maybe if the Harrisons hadn’t moved every few months the school would have picked up on Abbie’s constant absences and the same doctor would have realized something was wrong before now.
He was glad they had been able to have a funeral for Mrs. Harrison. That part was over. But the day had been a strain for both Abbie and Elle.
