“No. Although they may encourage you to proceed.” She smiled at Alice. “But it’s your call. Do you feel up for it?”
Alice took a deep breath. “Maybe I could try?”
“Sure. Remember, if you get uncomfortable, you can stop.”
“Okay, yes. Let’s try.”
“That’s very brave of you Alice. I’ll go see if Miriam is available.”
Alice resisted the temptation to power on her phone. She stared at the wall until the door opened and Eloise returned. “Miriam is treating someone else. I’m sorry, but she should be free in around 10 minutes.” She took a seat behind her desk. “It would be best if you don't mind the wait?”
Alice shrugged. “Might as well wait.”
“Good. Thank you.” Eloise opened her diary. “I suggest we schedule a counselling session for tomorrow. Would 4:30pm suit?”
Alice nodded. “Yes.”
“Good,” Eloise said. She removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. “You’re expecting your partner?”
“Ian should be here by now. I have my phone powered off, maybe he called.”
Eloise picked up her desk phone. “Let me check with reception.” She stabbed at the keypad with her finger, waited a minute, then asked, “Anyone asking for patient Alice Madsen? ... Uh-huh ... Thanks.”
She replaced the receiver. “Ian’s out at reception.” She pushed back her chair and got to her feet. “Come on. I’ll take you to a room where you can be alone with him until Miriam is available.”
79
Ian fidgeted in the Haven’s reception area. He had his phone on silent, which gave him the misplaced justification to ignore Paul’s incoming calls. There was a certain satisfaction gained from looking at the screen alert without feeling the pressing need to answer the call. It made him feel in control, but the feeling was false. The text message Paul sent required no sound. Where are you? We are waiting!!
Ian swallowed as he contemplated a reply. Then he decided no response would be the best response. He grimaced as he thought about Jo. Be gentle with her. A lover scorned makes a vengeful enemy. What had he been thinking? But he knew the answer to that, even if there was solace in the thought Alice had contributed to the problem, however unwittingly. Best to park that metaphorical stolen car back in the garage before anyone knew it was missing.
A woman entered the reception area and approached him. “Ian?” She offered her hand. “I’m Dr Eloise Traynor. I’ve been looking after Alice.”
Ian stood and shook her hand. “Uh, hi. How is she?”
“Badly shook. What happened to Alice was a very serious traumatic event. She’ll need your help as well as ours.”
“Of course.”
“Have a look at our website. There’s a section with advice for friends and family. Remember to listen to Alice. Believe her. She needs your support, not your solutions.”
“I get it.”
“Respect her decisions. Intimacy may be a delicate issue.”
“That sure won't be a problem.”
Eloise regarded him with a raised eyebrow for a moment, but she held door open for him and smiled. “I’m glad you understand. Not everyone does.”
She led him into a room where Alice leaned against the wall and stared at the ground.
Ian went to Alice and held her close. She clung to him and sobbed as Eloise left them. “Jeez, Alice. I don't know what to say.”
“Neither do I.” Her voice was low and hoarse.
“I shouldn't have gone to Birmingham. I’m sorry.”
She stepped back from him and rubbed her eyes. “Why didn't you tell me about the window? The police told me.”
“I...” He spread his hands wide. “...didn’t want to worry you. I thought it was something to do with the hash tags on social media.”
“You should have told me. Is that why you gave me the mace?”
He shook his head. “No. I got that before.”
“Why? What happened then?”
“Nothing. It was just the Twitter stuff.”
“I don't believe you.”
Ian rubbed his forehead. His shirt clung to him as the absence of air conditioning compounded the lingering effects of the previous night’s room service champagne. “Look, I’m sorry. Okay? But the mace worked, right?”
Alice shook her head and backed away from him. “I don’t know what to think any more.”
“What can I do to help you?”
“Nothing.” She slumped into a chair. “My head’s a mess.”
“Can they give you something?”
“Pfft. You mean something to calm the hysterical woman?”
“I don’t mean it like that.” He took a step towards her but stopped and shifted on his feet. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”
She buried her head in her hands and rocked back and forth on the chair. Ian waited for her to say something, but minutes passed in silence while he stood and stared sat her.
The door opened and Eloise entered. “Alice? Miriam is available now, if you want to follow me?”
Alice stood and put her hand on Ian’s chest. “Thanks. I don't mean to be, you know...”
Ian took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I understand.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve arranged for a locksmith to come to the house.”
“The police have Flanagan, so it’s not that urgent, right?”
“Supposing it’s not Flanagan? What if someone else has a copy of the keys?”
Alice’s shoulders slumped. “Christ. Don't say that.”
“Should I go? Just in case the locksmith arrives? Or would you prefer if I stayed?”
She shook her head. “I can get a cab home.” She let his hand drop and walked out into the corridor. Ian went to follow, but Eloise motioned for him to stay.
Several minutes later, Eloise returned. “It will be difficult for Alice.”
“So I see. She’s all over the place. Almost as if she blames me.”
“Has she spoken much about the previous incident? The one in Copenhagen 12 years ago?”
Ian shook his head. “No.
