Page 155 of The Last Love Song
And all this being apart is killing me.
Losing you, losing you.’
Sorcha stood up, her eyes blinded by tears.
‘I love you, Con,’ she murmured, unheard over the music. She walked slowly towards him.
Suddenly she was aware of a figure standing just inside the door.
‘Hello, I...’
For an instant there was confusion in the figure’s eyes. Sorcha watched the figure raise both hands and point a gun at Con’s back.
‘What are you—?’
The figure pulled the trigger.
‘No!’ Sorcha dived for Con. A bullet whistled through the air, shattering the glass panel, followed by another and another.
Sorcha fell against Con, knocking him off the stool to the ground, her body shielding him from the hail of bullets.
The figure left the room.
The music still played.
Part Three
Reunion
47
London, 1986
‘There you go, Helen. Check it if you want. We didn’t nick your change, or those nice gold earrings. You could sell those for a few bob now, I’d bet.’
Helen nodded as she surveyed the contents of the brown bag. She had last seen it and its contents on 21 December 1969.
‘Anybody coming to meet you?’
Helen shook her head.
‘Will you be okay by yourself? It’s a different world out there nowadays.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
‘Well then, good luck to you. Behave yourself. I wouldn’t like to see you back here again.’
‘No.’ Helen took the small bag from the counter, turned and followed the screw to the governor’s office. She knew it was normal to receive a pep talk before being released.
‘Come in, Helen, and sit down.’ The governor, a small, thin woman in her sixties, put down the papers she was studying and removed her glasses.
Helen sat.
‘Well, as you’re aware, you’re being released under licence. I wanted a quick word before you left. How do you feel about stepping back into society again?’
‘Fine.’
‘Good. You’ve been a model inmate and we’ve had little cause to be sitting here opposite each other, which is more than I can say for ninety per cent of our other guests. I hope the BA you’ve gained in law will stand you in good stead in the future.’
