Page 127 of The Other Side

“Let them try,” Drum muttered, the painkillers making him sound a little more invincible than he actually felt. “I’m not going into a box for six months. Not without you.”

Osian traced the back of Drum’s knuckles with his thumb. “Then we need a better plan than you pretending to be asleep. Because the moment the doctors sign your discharge papers, Waterford’s going to have a transport car waiting at the back of the hospital. If you’re running, you’re running with me. But you can’t even sit up without wincing.”

“Give me twenty-four hours,” Drum said, his grip tightening on Osian’s hand. “The IV is out. I just need the strength to walk to a taxi. Are you in?”

Osian let out a soft, breathy laugh, leaning forward to press a gentle, lingering kiss to Drum’s uninjured cheek. “I’ve been in since the day we met, Drum. But let me find somewhere for us to go first.”

He pushed a phone into Drum’s hand. “This was under the couch in the cottage. Hide it. You’re not going to be able to explain how you have it, but I want you to be able to contact me.”

Drum felt a lot better when he was told Cotton and Hussain and the other man had been apprehended at a motorway service station and charged with his attempted murder. Though he doubted that would stop Ashford trying to get rid of him. But if they said Ashford had paid them? That might make a difference.

That afternoon, he had another visitor. Matthew Green. Drum smiled when he saw him.

“How are you?” Matthew asked.

“Doing okay.”

“If you’re wondering how I knew you were in here, the local grapevine is very vigorous. Lily Edwards sends her best wishes. She wanted to come and see you but it’s only because I’m a PCSO that they’ve let me in.” He swallowed hard. “I hope this has nothing to do with me.”

“It doesn’t. It’s from something I was involved with previously. How are you feeling?”

“Getting there. I remembered something. There was a young girl. Pretty, with long blonde hair. Maybe nine years old. She played with Indie.”

“Did she have a name? Even a nickname?”

Matthew frowned. “I don’t recall her speaking to me but she loved the dog. Indie disappeared with her sometimes. It’s the only part of the whole blank space that doesn’t feel heavy or terrifying.”

“Have you had any more thoughts about what you think happened?”

“I think I stumbled onto some sort of sect. One that little girl was in. Maybe I was ill for a while. Or they drugged me with the food they provided.”

He looked at Drum carefully as he spoke.

“Maybe,” Drum said.

“Except there are no cults or sects in that area.” He sighed. “I think you were right when you said I have to put it behind me. If I don’t, I’m going to spend the rest of my life wondering.”

“Ready to start work again? I’m resigning.”

“Because of me or because of what happened to you?”

“Because of what happened to me but it was your job. Have you made up your mind about whether to go back? I think you should.”

Matthew nodded. “Maybe. Thank you for rescuing me. I might never work out what happened but without you, I might not have made it home. Get well soon.”

Drum slept again.

He woke when someone shook his arm. Drum smiled when he saw Osian. He’d brought a wheelchair into the room.

“Ready to make a run for it?” Osian whispered.

“How fast can you push?

Osian chuckled.

“I have to discharge myself or the policeman outside the door will get into trouble. Push me to the nurses’ station.” He tucked his phone under his thigh.

The policeman outside the room looked shocked when they emerged. Drum guessed Osian had glamoured his way in.