‘Not much to fill in,’ Rose said. ‘I got your message just after you left it. The phone ringing woke me up. I tried to call you back but your phone was off. I called DI Price then headed round to the Crags. Arrived just before the police. By the time I got there it was carnage. You injured, Lassie by your side, two dead bodies and a hillside on fire. Very dramatic. Made for a fantastic front page, I can tell you.’
Billy felt Rose’s fingers warm against his limp hand.
‘In fact, the Standard has been full of your exploits. We pieced everything together from your message and various police interviews. Stuart has kept me abreast of those. Adele Whitehouse and Jamie Mackie, your brother and Zoe.’
She gave Billy a look.
‘Adele says that Wayne Mackie and Dean Whitehouse shot each other, and you got caught in the crossfire. That right?’
Billy pictured Adele holding the shotgun, the look on her face.
He nodded.
Rose raised her eyebrows.
‘Charlie and Zoe have been suspended from the hospital and paper respectively. I wouldn’t recommend going back to Rankeillor Street any time soon. I would say come and stay with me, but by the time you’re fit to get out of here, I suspect the police will have other plans for you.’
Billy nodded again. ‘Jeanie?’
‘The faithful hound is at my place. I can look after her until.. well, until you’re better.’ She got up. ‘The police are waiting to talk to you. I charmed my way in first for two minutes, wanted to check you were OK.’
Billy put on a weak smile. ‘Never better.’
‘That’s my boy, Scoop.’
She leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. His head had been re-bandaged. He caught her perfume, that sticky, flowery scent, like gorse blossom.
She put her hands on her hips. ‘You should’ve told me, you know. About Frank.’
‘I know.’
She walked away. At the doorway, she stopped and waved, then she was gone.
In her wake, DI Price and another officer came in.
Billy watched as they walked towards his bed.
He sank into his pillows and felt relieved for the first time in as long as he could remember.
