Savage Night by Allan Guthrie Read Free Book Online

looking at the door of Effie and Martin's tiny council flat, expecting his younger son to walk in any second. Little bastard was late again.
    "He called when you were in the toilet, Dad," Effie said.
    "How long's he going to be?"
    "He's not," she said, looking at Martin.
    "Not what?" Park said.
    "Effie means he's not late," Martin said.
    "He wanking well is." Park looked at his watch. "Time do you make it?"
    "Dad," Effie said. "Grant's not coming."
    Park couldn't believe he was hearing this. Ever since he'd got out of prison, he'd visited his wife three or four times a week. Effie usually joined him in the evenings. And he made sure Grant tagged along on Saturdays. Fair enough, the wee bastard was a teenager and had his own life to lead, got bored sitting around with Liz, but she was his mother and the least he could do was put in an appearance once a week.
    "He says it's too upsetting," Effie said. "Meredith House is a shithole. And, anyway, Mum doesn't know who anybody is. Grant says she won't notice he's not there. He says she's … gone, Dad."
    "She's not gone , Effie." Park was inside when Liz had tried to kill herself. Saw her once afterwards while he was locked up. Everybody agreed that prison visits wouldn't have done either of them any good. But he'd seen her regularly these last six months. It was hard, knowing the medical experts had given up on her. Called her chronic. But what did they know.
    "Dad, Grant's right. Her body's here but her mind's elsewhere. She doesn't recognise any of us."
    "She does," he said. "She just has no way of showing it." She was locked up inside herself. Park knew all about being locked up. Liz was experiencing a 24-hour bang-up, not even getting out for meals and a quick canter round the exercise yard.
    "And Grant says he can't stand that new guy."
    McCracken. The prick who had taken over Liz's wing. The type who had no hesitation about cutting corners if it meant making profits to impress his employers.
    First thing the fucker had done was moved another resident into Liz's room. Park told him his wife needed her privacy. McCracken said there was nothing he could do. And smirked.
    "Let's go," Park said. "We'll pick Grant up on the way. You coming, Martin?"

    ***

    MRS H SAID, "Hello, I'm Mrs H."
    Mrs H was Liz's roommate and she introduced herself to them every visit. She got up off her bed, held out a hand.
    "Already met," Park said and eased past her. The beds were only a couple of feet apart. The room wasn't that much bigger than his old cell and looked far less lived in. Smelled just as bad, though. That useless bastard McCracken needed to get the drains fixed.
    Mrs H sat down again. Ran her fingers over her quilt cover, tracing invisible patterns.
    "We're all here," Park said to Liz. She was lying on her bed wearing a pair of dark-brown trousers and a lilac cardigan that was far too big for her. She looked like something had sucked all the flesh out of her body. He bent down, took her hands in his. They were cold, the bones sharp. "Grant was really busy but he put off what he was doing to come along. Isn't that nice?"
    Grant waved from the doorway. "Hi, Mum."
    "Come over here," Park told him.
    Grant shuffled over, nearly tripping on Mrs H's fluffy slippered feet.
    "Waste of time," Mrs H said, looking up. "She doesn't know who any of you are."
    "Get out," Park said.
    "This is my room."
    "Get out."
    "I will not. The soldiers are on my side."
    Total loophead.
    "Let's take Mum for a walk," Effie said.
    "Good idea," Park said. "You like that, Liz?"
    She didn't look at him. He squeezed her hand, which was a little warmer now. She didn't squeeze back.
    Mrs H said, "She's whiffy. They don't change her."
    Park sighed. So that's what the smell was.

    ***

    OUTSIDE LIZ'S ROOM, Park bumped into Moira, one of the carers. Asked her how come his wife was allowed to lie in her own filth. Moira said they were busy, she'd sort her out just as soon as she could. Park said, "Don't bother. Just tell me