A Place of Hope

by Anna Jacobs

  Jackson popped in to see her on his way home that evening. ‘Don’t push them about clothes. I’ll get you some of your things, enough for your purpose, anyway.’

  She looked at him in shock.

  ‘I overheard you and Chad talking one day. You need to be more careful about that.’

  ‘Thanks for not giving us away.’

  ‘I can only take so much.’ As he wrote on the clipboard, he added in a whisper, ‘I’ll even show you where to hide the clothes.’

  Why was he suddenly agreeing to help her? Was this a trap? She looked at him suspiciously.

  He put one finger to his lips. ‘It’s not a trick. I’m about to give in my notice, so I won’t be coming back after my leave. I’ve found another job, thank goodness. I don’t like what’s happening here. How they’ve escaped being caught for so long, I can’t figure. But I’m not going to be the one to blow the whistle on them. I don’t want to ruin my career.’

  He was gone before she could comment on that.

  Thank goodness they’d found the phone.

  The following day, as she sat chatting to Chad, she told him Jackson was leaving.

  ‘Yes, he told me too. I think we have to escape this Friday, after he’s gone on holiday. The relief nurse might clamp down on us and make it impossible to get away, or even to see much of one another.’

  ‘I’d hate that.’

  ‘So would I.’

  She sat frowning into space, wondering how to do it.

  He was silent for a long time and when she turned sideways she saw he was looking sad again.

  ‘Are you sure you still want me to go with you, Emily? I can’t walk as quickly as you can yet. I might hold you up.’

  ‘But you can walk steadily. How far do you think you’ll be able to go?’

  ‘However far it takes. I’ll crawl on my hands and knees, if necessary.’

  She laid one hand on his, understanding his frustration. ‘Then help me plan it.’

  ‘It has to be at night, when she isn’t around.’

  Emily nodded. ‘I have the mobile phone. I had a look at it and the battery’s quite low, so I’ve been saving it to ring Rachel once we have a definite escape time sorted out. Jackson’s even got me some of my own clothes.’

  Chad gestured to himself. ‘I have only the clothes they provide and no outdoor ones.’ He sat lost in thought. ‘We’ll stand a lot more chance of success if your friend’s there to help us get away. Will she come for us?’

  ‘Yes. She’s a very good friend. I’ll phone her tonight.’

  She couldn’t imagine Rachel refusing.

  She took out the mobile phone in the middle of the night and listened to it ringing. Please answer, Rachel, she prayed.

  ‘Ah, Rachel. Emily here. Sorry to disturb you at this hour, but they won’t let me use a phone so I had to sneak this call.’

  ‘Emily? But George said you were—’

  ‘He’s telling people I’m losing my marbles. I’m not. Rachel, could you please get my mail and keep it till I come home? He won’t bring it in and I bet he’s reading it.’

  ‘Look, just to check that this is bona fide, what did we do on your fifty-fifth birthday?’

  Emily knew this was a way for her to let Rachel know if this was a trick, but told the truth, smiling at the memory. ‘Went out for a curry then got drunk together. You sang Happy Birthday to me three times, none of them in tune.’

  ‘I’m ahead of you on the letters. I know how you feel about George. I’ve been getting your mail when I can. They aren’t always around when the post arrives. I’ve got one letter that looks quite important. I’ve been worrying what to do with it.’

  ‘You’re an angel. Do not give it to George under any circumstances. Couldn’t you bring it in to me? We can’t escape yet.’

  ‘Your nephew says you can’t have visitors and they haven’t let me speak to you when I’ve phoned up.’

  ‘Just turn up, come to the Geriatric Care Unit and come at five past ten precisely. Sister will be on her break then. Make a big fuss. I’ll hear you because it’s a very quiet area. There are a lot of stroke and advanced dementia patients.’

  Rachel gasped. ‘What on earth are you doing in a unit like that, then?’

  ‘George has made them think I’m developing dementia. The trouble is, I don’t even have my purse and credit card because he took them away. Could you lend me some money, do you think? And help me get a lawyer? And can I stay with you at first?’

  ‘Yes, to all those.’

  The phone beeped and she looked at it in dismay. ‘Look, I can’t chat any more. The battery’s running low.’

  She sat and wept after she’d hidden the phone. Then she got annoyed at herself for being so weak. To prove she was getting her old spirit back, she went on the prowl to try to find a way of getting out of the hospital at night. She needed a code for the keypad to the stairs door, was going to watch for someone going out that way, which the nurses did sometimes on their breaks. She might be lucky and see what number they keyed in.

  She waited for over an hour, sleepy but determined.

  In the end, she was indeed lucky. A yawning nurse keyed in the number that opened that door to the stairs, doing it very slowly.

  They would need a lot more luck than this if they were going to escape, but Emily felt it was a good start.

  The following day she told Chad what she’d found out and he clinked his teacup against hers in a toast to her success.

  ‘Well done! You’re an enterprising woman.’

  ‘I’m feeling much more like my old self. How about you? No more memory flashes?’

  ‘Nothing useful. I could see a garden, and a huge building with a sign on it. Only it faded before I could read the sign. Apart from that, I see oddments of furniture, old things. I must have liked antiques.’

  ‘I love them – well, not all periods, but I have a few nice pieces. I always watch antiques programmes on TV.’ She took his hand. ‘Don’t worry. You will remember more. I’m sure of it.’

  He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. Desire speared through her and she gazed at him in shock.

  He smiled knowingly. ‘It’s hitting me, too.’

  She didn’t try to deny it. ‘Of all the places to meet someone!’

  ‘Fate’s been kind to us. What would I have done without you to keep my spirits up?’

  She kept hold of his hand. ‘You’ve done the same for me. And we will escape.’

  ‘And be together.’

  Two days later, while Sister was on her tea break, Rachel came to visit, sneaking up in the lift with some other people.

  ‘I’m afraid Miss Mattison’s nephew has requested no visitors and . . .’ the nurse at the reception desk was saying.

  Emily walked along towards them, calling out, ‘Rachel! How lovely to see you!’

  Her friend immediately hurried towards her.

  ‘We’ll just be in my room!’ Emily told the nurse.

  The woman looked worried, opened her mouth then shut it again.

  Chad gave them the thumbs up as they passed him.

  ‘Who’s the dishy man?’ Rachel asked. ‘Surely he hasn’t got dementia?’

  ‘Keep your voice down. Chad’s a friend. And if you’ve got any mail, give it me now, in case they send you away. And the money too, please.’

  ‘I just brought the important looking one, in case it’s urgent.’ Rachel passed over an envelope and two hundred pounds. ‘It seems to be from a lawyer in Lancashire. Isn’t that where your family comes from?’

  ‘Yes. But I daren’t open it now.’ She tucked the envelope under her mattress.

  ‘How are you, Emily? Really?’

  ‘Better than I let them know. There’s a conspiracy to keep me in here.’

  ‘George said you weren’t as well as you thought.’

  ‘My nephew is a liar. He said you had gone away to sort out a family crisis. And he’s told them I had dementia before the accident.’


  Rachel’s shocked expression showed Emily’s guess had been correct: her being away had been a lie.

  ‘Don’t you have a lawyer I can contact?’

  ‘No. I’ve never needed one, except for buying my house.’

  ‘Well, you need one now, Emily.’

  Sister arrived just then. ‘I’m afraid we decided on no visitors except family,’ she said with one of her tight smiles.

  ‘Then I’m afraid I’ll have to make a formal complaint,’ Emily said. ‘I wasn’t consulted about that. Or my friend can do it on my behalf. I’ve asked you before to stop George coming to visit and you haven’t done it, and now I find you’re stopping the people I do want to see from visiting me, like my best friend. This is outrageous. How do I make a formal complaint? Rachel, will you find out for me?’

  ‘It’ll be my pleasure.’

  There was a pregnant silence, then, ‘Five minutes only.’

  ‘See what I mean,’ Emily whispered. Then she pointed. Outside there was a shadow across the corridor. Someone was eavesdropping. She nudged Rachel and put one finger to her lips, mouthing, ‘I’ll phone you.’

  The five minutes went all too quickly and Emily felt near tears as she saw her friend firmly escorted to the lift by Sister.

  She waited a while, sitting by her bed, pretending to read, then as lunchtime approached, she went to sit with Chad and bring him up to date on what Rachel had said.

  He looked at her very solemnly. ‘You’re sure you don’t mind me coming along with you now you’ve got Rachel to help?’

  ‘I told you: I’d prefer to have your company for the Great Escape, and you’re welcome to stay with me as long as you need to.’

  He closed his eyes in sheer relief and when he looked at her again, his eyes were bright with tears. She knew how desperate he felt, because she did too, so covered his hand with hers. They sat there quietly for a while.

  What would she have done if she hadn’t had Chad to talk to and keep her sane?

  Footsteps came towards them and they moved slightly apart, bending over the crossword puzzle they’d been pretending to solve.

  When they were alone again, she sighed. ‘We still have to work out how to get away once we leave hospital. I wish I’d dared discuss that with Rachel, but I knew someone was standing outside my room, eavesdropping.’

  ‘We’ll play it by ear, if necessary.’

  How could this be happening to her in England? Emily thought as she was escorted firmly back to her room to rest after her meal, in spite of her protests that she wasn’t tired.

  As she lay fuming on her bed, she suddenly remembered recent media reports on TV about how older patients had been badly treated for years in one poorly run institution, some beaten regularly, and she grew depressed about her chances of escaping. Those people hadn’t, had they?

  No, she mustn’t let the situation get her down. She must think positively.

  Emily didn’t dare read the letter Rachel had brought till the middle of the night, and what she found astonished her.

  A distant cousin of her father’s had died suddenly and had left everything to Emily, a house in Lancashire and some money. Penelope’s lawyer, a Mr Jeremy Tapton, had contacted her before but her nephew had said she was ill. Mr Tapton hoped she was now better, because he was unwilling to let her nephew finalize the sale of her inheritance until the lawyer had seen her in person, or George had obtained a power of attorney.

  He’d be happy to come south to visit his client.

  Emily hadn’t known Penelope Mattison very well, but this couldn’t have come at a better time. She needed a refuge and now one had turned up. ‘Thank you, Penelope,’ she murmured. George might be in her house, but she could stay in Penelope’s until she’d dealt with him once and for all.

  He might know where to find her, because he must have opened the earlier correspondence, but it’d be inconveniently far away for him and she’d have this lawyer nearby.

  When George came to visit her, she heard his loud voice, exchanged glances with Chad and hovered near the door of the day room, unashamedly eavesdropping on what he was saying at reception.

  ‘I’m going away tomorrow, Sister, so I won’t be here again until Tuesday of next week. I couldn’t leave without visiting my poor aunt, though.’

  Pauline said something, but not loud enough for Emily to hear. It soon became obvious what she’d said.

  ‘Well, in future I’d be grateful if you’d keep your part of the bargain and keep that meddling neighbour away from my aunt. Rachel isn’t as good a friend as she pretends.’

  ‘I’ll certainly do that, but I’ll need you to sign an authorization for it. Are you going somewhere nice for your holiday, Mr Pilby?’

  ‘I’m spending a long weekend in Brighton. A reward from my employer for good sales figures. I haven’t been able to take it until now, because I’ve been too busy.’

  ‘How marvellous. Come into my office and I’ll find you a piece of paper for the authorization.’

  The other rehab assistant came along the corridor just then. ‘Have you lost your way, Miss Mattison?’

  ‘Ms Mattison.’ She wasn’t going to give up correcting them on this. ‘Of course I’ve not lost my way. I’m avoiding my nephew.’ She realized from the way Chad rolled his eyes that it was probably the wrong thing to say and added hastily, ‘He’s such a bore.’

  George came to see her shortly afterwards and insisted on going into her room to talk privately. She endured a scold about Rachel’s visit, then ten minutes of him boasting about being top salesman. He didn’t sound to be looking forward to the holiday he’d won, in fact, she’d guess he’d been postponing it. He wasn’t the sort to go on holiday to Brighton.

  In the end, desperate to get rid of him, she said she had to use the bathroom.

  ‘I’ll say goodbye then, Auntie dear. I don’t want to tire you out. You’re looking rather pale. You should have a nice nap now. I’ll see you next Tuesday. Oh, and by the way, Rachel won’t be coming to see you again. I’m not having her upsetting you.’

  ‘Mind your own business, George, and don’t you dare tell Rachel not to come.’

  ‘You are my business now.’ He leaned forward, grabbing her wrist and holding it tightly, as he slammed her against the wall. He spoke in a whisper but his words were no less threatening for that. ‘And you’d be wise, dear . . . Auntie . . . to do as I suggest. As my mother does. If it comes to a struggle, you really are no match for me, physically or mentally.’

  She was still staring at him in shock as he let go of her and left the room with a loud, cheerful farewell.

  He’d just been threatening her. And he was such a big man, she’d felt extremely intimidated. Whatever happened, she didn’t intend to follow her sister’s example and let George get his hands on her life and money.

  But why was he so certain he could continue to control her? What else was he planning?

  And why did she think he couldn’t carry out his threat? He’d been controlling her against her wishes for the past few weeks, hadn’t he?

  She and Chad were certainly seeing the dark side of the health system here. How was Pauline getting away with it? And why was she doing it?

  She remembered the envelope that George had given Pauline. A bribe?

  How much money would it take to persuade a trained nurse to behave so badly? Had Pauline been doing it for a while? Was she going to take off into the wide blue yonder when she had enough saved?

  So many things to worry about.

  But Emily wasn’t going to give up. And she wasn’t going to leave Chad behind. He had been such a comfort to her. She felt as if she’d known him for years.

  Afterwards, she hoped . . . She could feel herself blushing at what she hoped for from Chad.

  Emily waited until the middle of the night then rang Rachel, praying the battery on the mobile phone would last long enough. ‘Look, George is going away this weekend. Could you come and pick me and a friend up on Friday night? Well
, Saturday really by then. About one o’clock in the morning.’

  ‘Of course I can.’

  ‘Wait for me in the northern car park.’ Chad had found a map of the campus near the lift and had figured that was the nearest car park.

  ‘Yes, I can do that and—’ There was a burst of static then nothing more from Rachel. Emily tried to dial again, but the phone was dead. Its battery must have run out completely.

  She could only trust that her friend would be waiting for her outside the hospital the next night.

  Four

  There was a knock on the door on the Thursday morning and when Rachel opened it, she found Emily’s nephew George standing there. She didn’t like her temporary neighbour, especially after what her friend had told her about him, and tended to avoid him. ‘Yes?’

  ‘Don’t try to visit my aunt again. Your visit upset her.’

  ‘No, it didn’t. She was glad to see me.’

  ‘I’m asking you very politely not to go to the hospital again.’

  ‘I shall definitely keep going to see my friend.’

  He leaned forward, thrusting his face very close to hers. ‘I don’t want to have to get more forceful about this.’

  She took a step backwards, suddenly afraid of the look on his face.

  He smiled. ‘You’re beginning to understand how deeply I care about my family. I will look after them. You will mind your own business.’ He turned to leave, but stopped to toss back at her, ‘I hope you decide to be sensible. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt. You’ll see what I mean.’

  Then he turned and walked away, whistling cheerfully, stopping to talk to the neighbour across the street, with whom he’d struck up an acquaintance.

  Rachel watched him chat for a while, then go back inside Emily’s house. She’d seen him look reasonably suave, in an expensive business suit, but today he had a swaggering bully’s walk, and his meaty hands were swinging free instead of clutching a briefcase. In fact, he looked like a caricature of a gangster. Emily said he was something in sales and was doing well. Amazing, that. Rachel would never buy anything from a man like him. No, he was connected to engineering, industrial pumps, perhaps. It wasn’t like shop sales. But still . . . he wasn’t a likeable man.