A Room Full of Bones: A Ruth Galloway Investigation

was invited but he thought it would be too weird.’
    ‘It was weird. Weird but interesting.’
    ‘Are you sure you’re not free for a quick chat?’
    ‘Sorry Shona, I’d love to see you but I’ve got a ton of essays to mark.’
    ‘All right then. See you soon.’
    ‘Bye. Hope Phil feels better.’
    Outside, the wind continues to blow. The front door rattles and she hears her dustbin falling over. She remembers the time when she was lost on the Saltmarsh and Nelson came to save her. He had found his way along the hidden paths, the secret crossing places, and he had come to rescue her. She remembers the time when he had thrown himself into a freezing river for her sake. She’d taken him for granted, Nelson and his lunatic bravery. What would it be like not to have that presence in her life, that massive, exasperating presence? Although she has only known Nelson for a few years, she just can’t imagine it.
    The knock on the door freezes her with terror. She thinks of other unexpected summonses: Erik, Cathbad, David, even Nelson himself, that dreadful night when they found Scarlet’s body. Who is it this time? The reaper whose name is death? The nameless creature from
The Monkey’s Paw
? Maybe it’s Cameron, come to invite her for a spliff and a talk about the meaning of life.
    She opens the door.
    It’s Michelle.

CHAPTER 24
     
    ‘Can I come in?’ says Michelle.
    She looks terrible – unmade-up, hair lank, clothes crumpled – but she is also, mysteriously, more beautiful than ever. Ruth thinks that she looks other-worldly, a creature of the night, an ageless picture of feminine grief.
    ‘Of course.’ Ruth stands back.
    ‘Have you heard?’ asks Michelle. ‘About Harry?’
    ‘Yes,’ says Ruth.
    Michelle comes in and sits on the sofa. Flint appears from nowhere and tries to sit on her lap. Ruth shoos him away.
    ‘Can I get you some tea or coffee?’ Ruth is aware of how ridiculous she sounds, but Michelle must have come straight from the hospital. Maybe she hasn’t eaten all day.
    ‘No thank you,’ says Michelle. She looks down at her hands, long elegant fingers with a huge diamond on the wedding finger. How had the young PC Nelson ever afforded a ring like that?
    Ruth sits opposite, waiting. There’s nothing else she can do.
    ‘Harry’s in a coma,’ says Michelle at last. ‘Did you hear that?’
    ‘Yes,’ says Ruth. ‘Judy rang me.’
    ‘Judy? Oh, the policewoman. What else did she say?’
    ‘Just that Nelson … Harry … was very ill and no one knew what it was.’
    ‘Yes. They think it might be a virus but they’re not sure. He’s not responding to anything at the moment. It’s terrible, they’re nursing him in masks because they don’t know if it’s contagious or not.’ She stops and takes a deep breath. ‘He doesn’t recognise anyone, not me or the girls. It’s as if we can’t get through to him.’
    ‘I’m sorry,’ says Ruth, inadequately.
    Michelle looks at her. Ruth thinks it might be the first time that they have been alone together. She is struck again both by the classical purity of Michelle’s face and by the expression in her eyes. Something about Michelle’s expression makes Ruth feel very scared indeed.
    ‘Do you know why I’ve come?’ asks Michelle.
    Ruth shakes her head.
    ‘I want you to go to him.’
    ‘What?’
    Michelle looks at Ruth and her eyes are huge, wet with tears.
    ‘I want you to go to see Harry,’ she says. ‘He misses you.’
    Ruth’s voice sounds as if it’s coming from a long way away. ‘He doesn’t,’ she says.
    Once again Michelle looks at her with that awful shining simplicity, ‘Oh, he’s not in love with you, I knowthat. But he does care about you. He hates not being able to see you. He’s … he’s used to me. I thought … if he saw you …’
    Ruth’s eyes also fill with tears but she says nothing.
    ‘I thought, if he could just see you, hear your voice …’
    Ruth looks at Michelle, who is watching her with those big, strangely innocent, eyes. At this moment she really feels that she loves Michelle, loves her more than she ever loved Nelson. But it doesn’t change her answer.
    ‘I can’t. I’m sorry.’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘I’m afraid. Nelson’s ill, no one knows what it is. I’m afraid of carrying the infection back to Kate.’
    Michelle stands up. She is taller than Ruth but now she seems ten foot high, a vision of implacable justice.
    ‘I was wrong about you, Ruth. I thought you loved