No Escape by Josephine Bell Read Free Book Online Page B

Burgess. They want to live, for one thing, and they won’t be able to.”
    It was what Miss Gleaning had said. Jane only felt the more obstinate.
    â€œI still think she needs to stay a bit longer.”
    â€œIt rests with her as much as anything,” Sister said. “We can’t hold her, you realise that? She wants to go, there’s nothing wrong with her now physically, her mental state isn’t extreme enough for a compulsion order, so there’s nothing we can do, is there?”
    Still hating Sister’s complacent tone, Jane had to agree. She looked back down the ward. Sheila, her curtains drawn back again, was beckoning to her with an agitated hand. She went to her and as soon as she reached Bed 12 Sheila caught hold of her, drew her down close and asked in a whisper, “Where are my things? You didn’t give me my things!”
    â€œYour clothes for wearing tomorrow are in the small suitcase I’ve left with Sister. The rest of your clothes and the things out of your top drawer are in the big suitcase. It’s in charge of the head porter at the main entrance. It’ll be quite safe there.”
    â€œI thought you were going to put it in the left luggage at Paddington and bring me the ticket.”
    â€œWell, as Mr Stone was driving me back from your place I didn’t like to ask him to go so far out of his way. Besides, you didn’t want anyone to know where you were going.”
    â€œHe’d know,” she said. “You told him I was going home.”
    â€œBecause he knew where your home was.”
    â€œSo of course it’d be Paddington. He’d know,” she repeated, “but thanks all the same.” She looked sadly into Jane’s face. “That other case of mine. Where exactly has the porter got it? Will it be absolutely safe?”
    â€œIt isn’t locked,” Jane said, truthfully, “because you haven’t got your keys. But it ought to be all right.”
    She regretted this speech immediately. Sheila pushed her away in one convulsive movement. Oh God, Jane thought, these crackpots! You never knew—
    â€œPlease, Jane, bring it up here! I won’t feel safe with it down there near the entrance, not locked. Anyone could get at it. I daren’t leave it there! Please!”
    Jane was exasperated, but she clung to what patience she had left.
    â€œAll right, I’ll get it. I don’t know what Sister will say. But I’ll bring it up. Do stop being so upset, Sheila. You’ll make yourself really ill if you go on fussing about nothing at all.”
    â€œ Nothing ! I only wish to God it was nothing!”
    Jane went away again and spent a little time finding out where Timothy was likely to be that afternoon. He was not operating, she discovered, so he might be anywhere, possibly not in the hospital at all. After several attempts to find him had failed she went down to the entrance hall.
    Here another obstacle checked her. The head porter was off duty and his substitute did not know where he had put Miss Burgess’s case.
    â€œBut you must know were he’s likely to have put it?” Jane said, desperately.
    The man looked vaguely round the office. It was small, square and box-like, the side facing into the hall entirely made up of glass sliding windows, a long table under them, a bank of telephones, a letter rack, a few chairs. No place, Jane realised in which to keep, far less to hide, a rather large suitcase.
    â€œI don’t see it anywhere, miss,” the porter said, picking up the receiver on a ringing telephone.
    Jane waited for the call to finish.
    â€˜Then where can it have gone?” she asked beginning to be really anxious now.
    â€œIf you ask me—” the man began, picking up the receiver again.
    â€œI just have,” Jane breathed, not loud enough for him to hear.
    â€œIf you ask me,” he repeated, as soon as he could, “I wouldn’t wonder if it’s