The Glass Wall by Clare Curzon Page B

arrange, though, for when she comes out. See what the shrinks say.’
    The one thing she wanted to ask was whether it had been a genuine attempt by Audrey to end her life.
    As if he’d heard the silent question he said, ‘It may just have been the proverbial cry for help. On the other hand she may have meant it at the time, then changed her mind.
    â€˜The saddest thing is that I’d do anything in my power to give the help she needs, only it’s too late. Nothing left but TLC and see she’s not in too much pain.’
    â€˜She’s adamant still about the hospice?’
    â€˜Won’t hear it mentioned. Quite final.’ He shook his head. ‘It has to be me. I must go through it with her. I guess that’s what marriage is about. No alternative.’
    â€˜I’m sorry, Keith.’
    â€˜I know. Meanwhile, I’ll be in to see Emily this evening, early as I can make it.’
    She ought to tell him not to bother, but she didn’t. ‘I’ll save you some supper.’
    â€˜That’d be nice. I’ll ring you.’ And he was gone.
    Alyson returned to Rosemary Zyczynski and the plastic sack of soiled clothing.
    â€˜What do you make of this?’ the detective asked, holding up a scuffed, once-white trainer. ‘Did you happen to look under the lining?’

Chapter Six
    The wind had backed during the afternoon, bringing Atlantic clouds and giving a brief, illusory sense of warmth. By evening the snow, no longer white, was being churned to unlovely slush. Drains, blocked with ice and debris, couldn’t take the overflow. Car tyres hissed, flinging up sheets of greasy water to drench pedestrians waiting to cross at the traffic island. Among them Alyson ducked back as a wave swept up from a van that challenged their right of way. She made it safely to her own side of the complex.
    Home, she thought, letting herself in; and had to smile at her own complacence. She hadn’t a home. Not since Gran’s death when at eighteen she’d come up to London, hub of the universe, to study nursing at St Thomas’s.
    This was Emily’s home; yet Alyson had the illusion of belonging, because of the relationship, tenuous though it was. Emily being Gran’s elder sister meant something when you’d no other family.
    Sadly, the old lady couldn’t last forever, but Alyson had never regretted transferring, qualified, to this Thames Valley hospital and moving in here on the solicitor’s invitation. To be well paid for caretaking in a luxury pad was a bonus, and the hospital authority hadn’t objected to her taking it on.
    And then there was Emily herself.
    She walked up the first three flights before allowing herself to take the lift. As soon as she opened the apartment’s door she heard a chair pushed back on the kitchen tiles. Sheena came out excitedly to meet her, almost running.
    â€˜What’s up? How’s Emily?’
    â€˜Oh, she’s fine. That is, y’know – just the same as ever. No, it’s what’s happened. She had a visitor. A Rachel Howard from Edinburgh. And listen – she must’ve known the entry code!’
    Alyson put down the carrier bag with her purchases for the intended supper with Keith.
    â€˜Calm down, Sheena. Tell me exactly what she said.’
    Round-eyed with importance, Sheena made the most of it: this
haughty, tall, thin woman and her assumption she could do as she liked here. Forty or more, maybe fifty, Said she was some kind of relative. Well, Alyson must know what she was like, must have met her, because she’d been able to get in downstairs.
    â€˜How did Emily react?’
    It stopped Sheena short. She’d no idea. Ramón hadn’t said. Well, he wouldn’t. Men didn’t go in for other people’s reactions. Especially old ladies’. Only, of course, she couldn’t mention him.
    â€˜Oh, Emily was asleep,’ she improvised. ‘I wouldn’t have