Page 91 of New Dreams for the Village Nurse
‘Are you saying I’m a criminal?’
‘I’m saying blood is thicker than water.’
‘Is it wrong to look out for your family?’
‘When they’re bad people, yes.’ Ottilie turned to Heath. ‘And youknewabout this?’
‘Not at first. Ottilie, please, let me explain?—’
‘No need. I get why you wouldn’t tell me, though I have to admit to being hurt by it. What was that you said about keeping secrets? You know what’s worse than keeping this from me? It’s being such a hypocrite about it.’
He began a reply but she flung up a hand to stop him. ‘I’m talking to Mila now. So what do you want from me? You want me to know this…why? Do you think it will split me and Heath up? Is that what you’re doing?’
‘No. I want your help. I want you to talk to your friends in the police, put in a word for him, because he really didn’t do it.’
‘What? You’re joking, right? Even if I wanted to – and why the hell would I want to? – I couldn’t do anything to help him. I have friends in the force, yes, of course, but I can’t change the course of a trial.’
‘You can give evidence – say you don’t think it was him.’
‘But itwashim. The police have evidence! They told me?—’
‘You don’t know that! You only know what they tell you, and they can stitch anyone up they want. He was nowhere near your fella that day!’
‘The police think so and it’s good enough for me. Sorry, Mila—Actually, no, I’m not sorry. I can’t help you. And even if I could, I wouldn’t.’
Mila let out a sigh, and then her features were more cunning again. ‘It’s a shame. The family will be disappointed when I tell them that.’
Ottilie’s temper finally flared. ‘You think that’s a threat? I’ve spent the last year being terrified of your family. Yes, your family are so rough, have such a terrible reputation that I’ve been scared to death of them even coming near me, and you want me to believe that your cousin had nothing to do with Josh’s death? You want me to defend him? Even if he didn’t do this you can bet he did something worth going to prison for. Testify for him? I ought to testify against him just because it would be a public service! Bad to the bone, the lot of you! Now get out of my garden!’
‘I can’t?—’
‘I don’t care! Get out or I’ll throw you out if I have to drag you by your hair!’
Mila looked to Heath. ‘Aren’t you going to say anything?’
‘Apart from “I told you so”? Not really.’
Ottilie turned to him now. She could barely look at him but forced herself to. ‘She can’t walk, so please help her out. I’d see to her ankle, but I’m sure the emergency department in Windermere will be open, so you can take her there.’
‘Me?’ Heath gawped. ‘You want me to take her?’
‘You might as well.’
‘I’ve phoned Dwight,’ Mila cut in. ‘He’ll be here as soon as he picks up my message.’
‘Dwight knows you’re here?’ Heath asked incredulously. ‘He was totally on board with you coming here to stalk Ottilie? I mean, I knew he was wet, but?—’
‘Of course not!’ Mila spat. ‘I called him, and he said he’d come to pick me up. He’s not going to leave me here when I’m in trouble, is he?’
The way she emphasised the last bit suggested she suspected Heath would.
‘No way,’ Ottilie said. ‘He’s not coming here for you – you’ll have to call him back and tell him to fetch you from…wherever. I don’t care as long as it’s not here.’
‘You’ll be sorry,’ Mila said as she pushed herself up from the wall.
‘I already am,’ Ottilie said. ‘Sorry I haven’t taken the opportunity to give you a good slap. Don’t come here again.’
‘So you won’t help me?’
