A Trace of Hares by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett

Author:Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Embla Books
Published: 2024-04-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Monday 26th September – 12 p.m.

Absenting herself from yet another argument, Nell raided her survey rucksack for gloves, sterile sample bottles and wrapped, disposable tweezers. Opting for another set of hair samples, she was soon in the downstairs bathroom, preparing to pluck dark strands from Brandon’s head.

Considering they hadn’t really even introduced themselves, let alone spoken, Nell tried to power through the awkwardness with scientific detachment as she snapped on the latex gloves.

He sat on the closed loo, reddened eyes glaring at her in the mirror. ‘Get on with it.’

Nell paused and drew back to look at him, making him turn to meet her eyes. ‘Oh, you’re very welcome.’

‘Eh?’

‘I presume you meant to say thank you?’

He scowled at her, dressings rustling, then winced. ‘Was I not clear enough? I was telling you to get on with it. I don’t want to muck about all day.’

‘Oh, right.’ An incredulous laugh burst from Nell’s throat. ‘Well, given that we’re doing this at your behest, do you realise that this will cost you all of five minutes – if you can spare that. But then it will take me a day in the lab to do something for free that you’d usually have to pay for, and that you’d usually have to wait a couple of weeks to get the results for.’

‘I’m here under sufferance just as much as you. I don’t want this. But that sister of hers won’t shut up, will she? None of them will just let her rest. So go on. Take what you need, and get on with it. Give ’em what they want.’

Nell dropped her gaze. There was pain under Brandon’s nasal, wheezy voice. For Siobhan, or himself, she couldn’t tell. She plucked six black, wiry hairs, making sure they had good roots, and dropped them into a lidded, sterilised pot, labelled with his name.

‘Are you worried about the results?’ she asked.

He didn’t move, his head hung low.

‘And what else might come out?’

Brandon looked at her. ‘Not anymore. I thought I’d made a fine art of forgetting. But some secrets just can’t stay buried, can they?’

Nell wondered if he’d say anything else, give her any clues in this strange confessional, but he rubbed his face and left.

As she changed her gloves, Sean came in, his smile apologetic. ‘Well, I know you won’t get any matches from me, but I’m happy to be the exclusion test. Shall I …?’ He pointed at the loo, and sat awkwardly. ‘What do you … oh, right.’ He bowed his head, diffident. His leg twitched.

‘What do you have to be nervous about?’ Nell put an approachable smile on her face and in her voice, standing back to take in Sean’s jitters.

‘Nothing …’ He forced a laugh to cover the snap of his reply. ‘Well. It’s not a normal day, is it? But it hasn’t been a normal couple of decades, if we’re honest. How could it be?’

‘Today must have brought a lot of memories back.’ Nell hoped he’d confide in her.

‘Yeah. I’m straight back at that day, you know.

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