The Girl Under the Floor by Charlie Gallagher

Author:Charlie Gallagher [GALLAGHER, CHARLIE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: mysteries
Published: 2023-01-25T13:00:00+00:00

USUAL CHECKS ON ADDRESS PLS, I’LL DO DOOR KNOCK. TWO PATROLS IN AREA TO COVER MAIN ROUTES IN/OUT BUT THEY STAY OUT OF SIGHT. MUST LOOK LIKE STANDARD ADDRESS CHECK.

Both messages had a tick appear instantaneously, confirming that Eileen had received them to her phone. She gave it another second to see if a second tick would appear. It didn’t. An earlier message on the same application was still only showing one tick too. They only showed when all recipients had received it. Maddie knew it would be Vince’s phone that was causing the issue; her message asking him to call when he had an update was still showing undelivered too. He kept his phone off at the hospital, his visit was now longer than she had anticipated.

She didn’t think that could mean good news.

* * *

Rebecca’s grip was loosening. Vince could sense it more than he could feel it, his sister’s fingers were flushed white, her hands and arms paler than ever. Vince had been warned it was a sign of a body shutting down, of a heart barely strong enough to function. The most terrifying part was Rebecca’s breathing. There was a definite cycle, it was quick and laboured, interjected with coughs and then she would just stop breathing at all. Vince had lost count of the number of times he had thought that was it, that his sister’s life had ended. The longest may only have been ten seconds or less but it was long enough for sheer panic to merge into acceptance and even a pang of relief. Vince still felt bad about that. But this was suffering, right here in front of him, this was his sister suffering as much as anyone could.

Their mother had Rebecca’s other hand. Clara had left them to it after a brief conversation with his mother around an hour ago and Vince found himself wishing she was still here. She might know what to say at least. Their mother was stroking Rebecca’s brow with the thumb of her other hand, a constant movement. Rebecca had lost her focus, the ability to fix on anything and Vince wasn’t even sure she knew who was there at all. Her leg twitched, the arm that Vince held did the same, her mouth which was now fixed open made a guttural sound that freaked Vince out.

‘What’s happening?’ he said for the hundredth time.

The nurse his sister had lovingly nicknamed Nanny smiled, this time with only warmth, no mischief. ‘It’s OK, your sister’s a fighter,’ he said, then moved round the side of the bed to place his hand gently on their mother’s back. ‘With you all here, Rebecca will be fighting for you as much as for herself. She knows you’re sad, she thinks it’s what you want.’

When his mother turned her head to the voice, Vince caught the glimpse of a tear on her cheek. ‘She doesn’t need to stay, not for us. She’s done so much.’

Vince had a reaction that he choked back, and his sister made another sound, her face screwed up in pain.

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