TOYL

hopes up,’ Lizzy said, as they stood in the lift taking them to the ward where Richard was being treated.
    ‘I’m trying,’ Emma said, ‘but this could be the break we’ve been waiting for. Richard must have seen what happened to Dan. He must have seen who hit him. He’ll be able to clear Dan’s name.’
    ‘I hope you’re right,’ Lizzy said.
    They stepped out and headed down the corridor. Nurse Donahue met them at the entrance to the ward, as if she had been waiting there on guard since her phone call.
    ‘Take things slowly,’ she warned. ‘Richard’s been unconscious now for nearly two weeks. He’s bound to feel disorientated, and it’s important not to push him. The doctors have said that he really shouldn’t be having visitors, but I thought you ought to be able to have a quick word.’
    ‘Thanks,’ Emma said, as they walked towards Richard’s room. ‘Have you told the police that he’s woken up?’
    ‘Just. They said they wanted to know as soon as anything happened, and I dare say they want to be the first to see him. But I wanted Richard to see some friendly faces – he doesn’t need an inquisition.’
    ‘No,’ Emma said, remembering Lizzy’s note of caution.
    They got to the room and through the glass Emma could see Richard sitting up, his eyes open. It was the best thing she had seen in weeks.
    ‘I’ve brought a couple of people to see you,’ Nurse Donahue said, entering the room. Emma and Lizzy followed behind, and when Richard saw them he smiled, albeit uncomfortably. Emma guessed that his mouth was probably desert-dry at the moment.
    ‘I’ll leave you to it,’ Nurse Donahue said, smiling at them and leaving the room.
    ‘Thanks.’ Emma turned to Richard. ‘How are you?’
    ‘Confused,’ said Richard, trying another smile. ‘I feel like I’m dreaming – not much is making sense at the moment.’
    ‘Have the doctors told you anything?’ Emma asked.
    ‘They’ve explained some things,’ he said, his face appearing somewhat vacant. ‘But I can’t say I’ve taken much of it in, really. I know I’ve been in a coma for nearly two weeks.’
    ‘Can you remember what happened in our flat?’ asked Emma, knowing that this sort of conversation wasn’t what Nurse Donahue would have had in mind.
    ‘The doctors told me I got hit on the head. But I can’t remember anything, Em. I wish I could.’
    Emma tried to hide her disappointment. She had pinned her hopes on Richard being able to remember something. ‘So you don’t remember if there was someone else in the flat, apart from you and Dan?’
    ‘I can’t. Em, I can’t even remember going to your flat – or even why I was there.’
    ‘Dan’s stag night. You were going on his stag night.’
    ‘Right,’ he said, looking as though he was trawling through his mind for buried clues. ‘The wedding – have you…?’
    Emma shook her head. ‘Dan’s been missing since that night,’ she said, wondering whether she should be telling him this.
    ‘What?’ Richard’s face creased with confusion. ‘Dan’s missing?’
    ‘The police thought at first that he was the one who hit you.’
    ‘Em,’ Lizzy interjected, reaching out with a hand. Emma looked at Richard, staring off to his left, and realised that she had gone too far.
    ‘Don’t worry, Richard,’ she said, ‘everything’s going to be okay.’

    ***

    ‘I shouldn’t have told him about Dan,’ Emma lamented, as they sat outside the room on a couple of plastic chairs. ‘Did you see his face? He was devastated.’
    ‘You didn’t plan to tell him,’ Lizzy said. ‘And he has to find out sometime.’
    ‘But he didn’t have to find out now.’
    ‘Maybe he did. Look who’s just arrived.’
    Emma looked up to see Gasnier and Davies talking with Nurse Donahue. They turned and Gasnier spotted Emma instantly. He spoke a few words to Davies and they came over.
    ‘Emma,’ he said.
    Emma stood up – she didn’t like him standing over her like that. Lizzy did likewise.
    ‘Detective,’ said Emma.
    ‘You’ve already spoken with Richard?’
    She nodded.
    ‘Anything I might be interested in?’
    ‘He can’t remember anything.’
    Gasnier nodded, as if that was what he had expected. ‘I’m sorry about earlier. It really wasn’t a good time to talk. I promise I wasn’t dismissing you – I don’t play those kind of games.’
    Emma was taken aback by the apology. ‘That’s okay.’
    ‘I understand how frustrating all this is,’ he said,