‘I’m never going to get rid of that Dominic. He thinks I’m a hero.’
Col wanted Mungo to smile at him. Just once. But he didn’t. Instead, he growled. ‘Do you know this has been a front-page story for the past two days? We’ve had reporters at the house and everything. I don’t like it, Col.’
Mungo didn’t like any kind of publicity. Although up to now the only kind he’d had was bad publicity – arrest, breach of the peace, housebreaking, not-proven verdicts from local juries too scared to convict him.
‘It’s a nine-day wonder, Mungo,’ Mam said. ‘It was a brave thing you did, Col.’ But she said it softly almost as if she didn’t want Mungo to hear.
It was a difficult visit and Col was almost glad to see them go.
But he wasn’t alone for long.
Col had settled down in the bed, sleep beginning to steal over him, when he had a feeling that someone was in the room with him. He opened his eyes, slowly.
A young man, maybe the same age as Mungo, stood beside the bed. He looked dirty, unshaven; as if he hadn’t washed for a while. His dark hair was long and unkempt.
Col sat up. ‘Who are you?’
The young man shrugged. ‘My name is Klaus. Does not matter.’ His accent was funny. German? Dutch? ‘I came to see if you were all right – if you really existed. A McCann who saves the life of another. A miracle surely?’
Now Col was beginning to get angry. He wasn’t going to have a stranger come in here and insult his family. ‘What do you mean by that?’
‘I was there. At the lake. I could not believe what you did. It was very brave.’
Now Col really was angry. ‘You were there! Watching. And you didn’t help. You’re sick, pal.’
The young man shook his head. ‘I could do nothing. Believe me. But you did not need help. You were amazing.’
Col raised his voice. ‘I did need help. I almost drowned. I’m going to tell the cops about you.’
Klaus shook his head. ‘No. Please. No police. Not anyone. I should not be here.’ He looked frightened.
‘Why shouldn’t you be here?’ Col asked.
Again Klaus shook his head. ‘It is not right that I should involve—Is that the word? Involve? I should not involve you.’ He was backing towards the door. ‘I just wanted to make sure you were all right.’
‘And what makes you think I won’t tell anybody about you? You didn’t do anything to help me.’
Klaus stood for a moment by the door. ‘Because I think you are a good person,’ he said softly.
Then he was gone.
Chapter Six
‘Did you have a visitor?’
No chance of a sleep with Dominic in the next room. He pushed open the door carrying a big bunch of grapes and shoved them at Col. ‘Want some?’
Col shook his head. ‘Did you see him?’
‘No. But my mother says she thought you had a visitor. That’s why I didn’t come in sooner.’
He said it as if Col had been waiting for him. As if he’d be disappointed at having to wait so long. He began to think Dominic was going to be like his shadow from now on.
He decided not to tell Dominic anything about Klaus, and not telling Dominic turned out to be easy. Dominic did all the talking, hardly stopping for breath.
‘And when you come out of hospital you’re coming to my house. For dinner … or for a party. Of course, that means you’ll have to meet my sister.’ He screwed his face up in disgust. ‘Sorry about that. Her name’s Ella. Miserella I call her. She’s always in a bad mood. She doesn’t like you.’ He sounded totally shocked by this. ‘Even though you saved my life.’
‘Maybe that’s why she doesn’t like me.’
Dominic thought that was funny. ‘She is a horrible big sister. Really gets on your nerves. Have you got a big sister, Col?’ He didn’t give Col time to answer. ‘It’s just your big brother, isn’t it? Ella told me. She knows everything about your family.’ Dominic stuffed the last of the grapes into his mouth. ‘I don’t care what she says. You’re brilliant. I wish I had a big brother.’ He looked around for something else to eat. There was nothing, so he leapt off the bed, ready to go. ‘Make sure you get a good night’s sleep,’ he said, ‘’cause we’ve got a big day tomorrow.’
Col leaned up on his pillows. ‘What’s happening tomorrow?’
‘Didn’t I tell you? We’re being interviewed by the papers. It’s OK, my mother will be there as well.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Imagine. You and me. We’ve made the national press, boy!’