快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


‘This　is　Nina；　who　works　with　Robbie’s　mother　at　Bellchapel；’　said　Kay；　sitting　down　with　her　back　to　the　veian…blinded　windows。　‘And　this　is　my　supervisor　Gillian；　and　this　is　Louise　Harper；　who　oversees　the　Anchor　Road　Nursery。　Dr　Parminder　Jawanda；　Robbie’s　GP；’　Kay　added。

Parminder　accepted　coffee。　The　other　four　women　began　talking；　without　involving　her。

（Parish　Councillor　Dr　Parminder　Jawanda；　who　pretends　to　be　so　keen　on　looking　after　the　poor　and　needy　of　the　area　…

Who　pretends　to　be　so　keen。　You　bastard；　Howard　Mollison。　But　he　had　always　seen　her　as　a　hypocrite；　Barry　had　said　so。

‘He　thinks　that　because　I　came　from　the　Fields；　I　want　Pagford　overrun　by　Yarvillians。　But　you’re　proper　professional　class；　so　he　doesn’t　think　you’ve　got　any　right　to　be　on　the　side　of　the　Fields。　He　thinks　you’re　a　hypocrite　or　making　trouble　for　fun。’）

‘…　understand　why　the　family’s　registered　with　a　GP　in　Pagford？’　said　one　of　the　three　unfamiliar　social　workers；　whose　names　Parminder　had　already　forgotten。

‘Several　families　in　the　Fields　are　registered　with　us；’　said　Parminder　at　once。　‘But　wasn’t　there　some　trouble　with　the　Weedons　and　their　previous—？’

‘Yeah；　the　Cantermill　practice　threw　them　out；’　said　Kay；　in　front　of　whom　sat　a　pile　of　notes　thicker　than　either　of　her　colleagues。　‘Terri　assaulted　a　nurse　there。　So　they’ve　been　registered　with　you；　how　long？’

‘Nearly　five　years；’　said　Parminder；　who　had　looked　up　all　the　details　at　the　surgery。

（She　had　seen　Howard　in　church；　at　Barry’s　funeral；　pretending　to　pray；　with　his　big　fat　hands　clasped　in　front　of　him；　and　the　Fawleys　kneeling　beside　him。　Parminder　knew　what　Christians　were　supposed　to　believe　in。　Love　thy　neighbour　as　thyself　…　if　Howard　had　been　more　honest；　he　would　have　turned　sideways　and　prayed　to　Aubrey　…

Until　I　died；　she　was　in　love　with　me；　which　she　could　barely　hide　whenever　she　laid　eyes　on　me　…

Had　she　really　not　been　able　to　hide　it？）

‘…　last　seen　him；　Parminder？’　asked　Kay。

‘When　his　sister　brought　him　in　for　antibiotics　for　an　ear　infection；’　said　Parminder。　‘About　eight　weeks　ago。’

‘And　how　was　his　physical　condition　then？’　asked　one　of　the　other　women。

‘Well；　he’s　not　failing　to　thrive；’　said　Parminder；　withdrawing　a　slim　sheaf　of　photocopied　notes　from　her　handbag。　‘I　checked　him　quite　thoroughly；　because　–　well；　I　know　the　family　history。　He’s　a　good　weight；　although　I　doubt　his　diet’s　anything　to　write　home　about。　No　lice　or　nits　or　anything　of　that　description。　His　bottom　was　a　bit　sore；　and　I　remember　his　sister　said　that　he　still　wets　himself　sometimes。’

‘They　keep　putting　him　back　in　nappies；’　said　Kay。

‘But　you　wouldn’t；’　asked　the　woman　who　had　first　questioned　Parminder；　‘have　any　major　concerns　health…wise？’

‘There　was　no　sign　of　abuse；’　said　Parminder。　‘I　remember；　I　took　off　his　vest　to　check；　and　there　were　no　bruises　or　other　injuries。’

‘There’s　no　man　in　the　house；’　interjected　Kay。

‘And　this　ear　infection？’　her　supervisor　prompted　Parminder。

‘You　said　it　was　the　sister　who　brought　him　in；　not　the　mother？　Are　you　Terri’s　doctor；　too？’

‘I　don’t　think　we’ve　seen　Terri　for　five　years；’　said　Parminder；　and　the　supervisor　turned　to　Nina　instead。

‘How’s　she　doing　on　methadone？’

（Until　I　died；　she　was　in　love　with　me　…

Parminder　thought；　Perhaps　it’s　Shirley；　or　Maureen；　who’s　the　ghost；　not　Howard　–　they　would　be　much　more　likely　to　watch　her　when　she　was　with　Barry；　hoping　to　see　something　with　their　dirty　old…womanish　minds　…　）

‘…　longest　she’s　lasted　on　the　programme　so　far；’　said　Nina。　‘She’s　mentioned　the　case　review　quite　a　lot。　I　get　the　feeling　she　knows　that　this　is　it；　that　she’s　running　out　of　chances。　She　doesn’t　want　to　lose　Robbie。　She’s　said　that　a　few　times。　I’d　have　to　say　you’ve　got　through　to　her；　Kay。　I　really　do　see　her　taking　some　responsibility　for　the　situation；　for　the　first　time　since　I’ve　known　her。’

‘Thank　you；　but　I’m　not　going　to　get　over…excited。　The　situation’s　still　pretty　precarious。’　Kay’s　dampening　words　were　at　odds　with　her　tiny　irrepressible　smile　of　satisfaction。　‘How　are　things　going　at　nursery；　Louise？’

‘Well；　he’s　back　again；’　said　the　fourth　social　worker。　‘He’s　been　in　full　attendance　for　the　past　three　weeks；　which　is　a　dramatic　change。　The　teenage　sister　brings　him。　His　clothes　are　too　small　and　usually　dirty；　but　he　talks　about　bath　and　meal　times　at　home。’

‘And　behaviourally？’

‘He’s　developmentally　delayed。　His　language　skills　are　very　poor。　He　doesn’t　like　men　ing　into　the　nursery。　When　fathers　turn　up；　he　won’t　go　near　them；　he　hangs　around　the　nursery　workers　and　bees　very　anxious。　And　once　or　twice；’　she　said；　turning　a　page　in　her　notes；　‘he’s　mimicked　what　are　clearly　sexual　acts　on　or　near　little　girls。’

‘I　don’t　think；　whatever　we　decide；　there　can　be　any　question　of　taking　him　off　the　at…risk　register；’　said　Kay；　to　a　murmur　of　agreement。

‘It　sounds　like　everything　hinges　on　Terri　staying　on　your　programme；’　said　the　supervisor　to　Nina；　‘and　staying　off　the　game。’

‘That’s　key；　certainly；’　Kay　agreed；　‘but　I’m　concerned　that　even　when　she’s　heroin…free；　she　doesn’t　provide　much　mothering　to　Robbie。　Krystal　seems　to　be　raising　him；　and　she’s　sixteen　and　got　plenty　of　her　own　issues　…’

（Parminder　remembered　what　she　had　said　to　Sukhvinder　a　couple　of　nights　previously。

Krystal　Weedon！　That　stupid　girl！　Is　that　what　being　in　a　team　with　Krystal　Weedon　taught　you　–　to　sink　to　her　level？

Barry　had　liked　Krystal。　He　had　seen　things　in　her　that　were　invisible　to　other　people’s　eyes。

Once；　long　ago；　Parminder　had　told　Barry　the　story　of　Bhai　Kanhaiya；　the　Sikh　hero　who　had　administered　to　the　needs　of　those　wounded　in　bat；　whether　friend　or　foe。　When　asked　why　he　gave　aid　indiscriminately；　Bhai　Kanhaiya　had　replied　that　the　light　of　God　shone　from　every　soul；　and　that　he　had　been　unable　to　distinguish　between　them。

The　light　of　God　shone　from　every　soul。

She　had　called　Krystal　Weedon　stupid　and　implied　that　she　was　low。

Barry　would　never　have　said　it。

She　was　ashamed。）

‘…　when　there　was　a　great…grandmother　who　seemed　to　provide　some　back…up　in　care；　but—’

‘She　died；’　said　Parminder；　rushing　to　say　it　before　anyone　else　could。　‘Emphysema　and　stroke。’

‘Yeah；’　said　Kay；　still　looking　at　her　notes。　‘So　we　go　back　to　Terri。　She　came　out　of　care　herself。　Has　she　ever　attended　parenting　classes？’

‘We　offer　them；　but　she’s　never　been　in　a　fit　state　to　attend；’　said　the　woman　from　the　nursery。

‘If　she　agreed　to　take　them　and　actually　turned　up；　it　would　be　a　massive　step　forward；’　said　Kay。

‘If　they　close　us　down；’　sighed　Nina　from　Bellchapel；　addressing　Parminder；　‘I　suppose　she’ll　have　to　e　to　you　for　her　methadone。’

‘I’m　concerned　that　she　wouldn’t；’　said　Kay；　before　Parminder　could　answer。

‘What　do　you　mean？’　asked　Parminder　angrily。

The　other　women　stared　at　her。

‘Just　that　catching　buses　and　remembering　appointments　isn’t　Terri’s　forte；’　said　Kay。　‘She　only　has　to　walk　up　the　road　to　Bellchapel。’

‘Oh；’　said　Parminder；　mortified。　‘Yes。　Sorry。　Yes；　you’re　probably　right。’

（She　had　thought　that　Kay　was　making　a　reference　to　the　plaint　about　Catherine　Weedon’s　death；　that　she　did　not　think　Terri　Weedon　would　trust　her。

Concentrate　on　what　they’re　saying。　What’s　wrong　with　you？）

‘So；　big　picture；’　said　the　supervisor；　looking　down　at　her　notes。　‘We’ve　got　neglectful　parenting　interspersed　with　some　adequate　care。’　She　sighed；　but　there　was　more　exasperation　than　sadness　in　the　sound。　‘The　immediate　crisis　is　over　–　she’s　stopped　using　–　Robbie’s　back　in　nursery；　where　we　can　keep　a　proper　eye　on　him　–　and　there’s　no　immediate　concern　for　his　safety。　As　Kay　says；　he　stays　on　the　at…risk　register　…　I　certainly　think　we’ll　need　another　meeting　in　four　weeks　…’

It　was　another　forty　minutes　before　the　meeting　broke　up。　Kay　walked　Parminder　back　down　to　the　car　park。

‘It　was　very　good　of　you　to　e　in　person；　most　GPs　send　through　a　report。’

‘It　was　my　morning　off；’　said　Parminder。　She　meant　it　as　an　explanation　for　her　attendance；　because　she　hated　sitting　at　home　alone　with　nothing　to　do；　but　Kay　seemed　to　think　that　she　was　asking　for　more　praise　and　gave　it。

At　Parminder’s　car；　Kay　said；　‘You’re　the　parish　councillor；　aren’t　you？　Did　Colin　pass　you　the　figures　on　Bellchapel　I　gave　him？’

‘Yes；　he　did；’　said　Parminder。　‘It　would　be　good　to　have　a　talk　about　that　some　time。　It’s　on　the　agenda　for　the　next　meeting。’

But　when　Kay　had　given　her　her　number；　and　left；　with　renewed　thanks；　Parminder’s　thoughts　reverted　to　Barry；　the　Ghost　and　the　Mollisons。　She　was　driving　through　the　Fields　when　the　simple　thought　that　she　had　tried　to　bury；　to　drown　out；　slipped　past　her　lowered　defences　at　last。

Perhaps　I　did　love　him。

III
Andrew　had　spent　hours　deciding　which　clothes　he　ought　to　wear　for　his　first　day’s　work　at　the　Copper　Kettle。　His　final　choice　was　draped　over　the　back　of　the　chair　in　his　bedroom。　A　particularly　angry　acne　pustule　had　chosen　to　bring　itself　to　a　shiny　tight　peak　on　his　left　cheek；　and　Andrew　had　gone　so　far　as　to　experiment　with　Ruth’s　foundation；　which　he　had　sneaked　out　of　her　dressing…table　drawer。

He　was　laying　the　kitchen　table　on　Friday　evening；　his　mind　full　of　Gaia　and　the　seven　solid　hours　of　close　proximity　to　her　that　were　within　touching　distance；　when　his　father　returned　from　work　in　a　state　that　Andrew　had　never　seen　before。　Simon　seemed　subdued；　almost　disorientated。

‘Where’s　your　mother？’

Ruth　came　bustling　out　of　the　walk…in　pantry。

‘Hello　Si…Pie！　How　–　what’s　wrong？’

‘They’ve　made　me　redundant。’

Ruth　clapped　her　hands　to　her　face　in　horror；　then　dashed　to　her　husband；　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck　and　drew　him　close。

‘Why？’　she　whispered。

‘That　message；’　said　Simon。　‘On　that　fucking　website。　They　pulled　in　Jim　and　Tommy　too。　It　was　take　redundancy　or　we’ll　sack　you。　And　it’s　a　shitty　deal。　It’s　not　even　what　they　gave　Brian　Grant。’

Andrew　stood　perfectly　still；　calcifying　slowly　into　a　monument　of　guilt。

‘Fuck；’　said　Simon；　into　Ruth’s　shoulder。

‘You’ll　get　something　else；’　she　whispered。

‘Not　round　here；’　said　Simon。

He　sat　down　on　a　kitchen　chair；　still　in　his　coat；　and　stared　across　the　room；　apparently　too　stunned　to　speak。　Ruth　hovered　around　him；　dismayed；　affectionate　and　tearful。　Andrew　was　glad　to　detect　in　Simon’s　catatonic　gaze　a　whiff　of　his　usual　ham　theatrics。　It　made　him　feel　slightly　less　guilty。　He　continued　to　lay　the　table　without　saying　a　word。

Dinner　was　a　subdued　affair。　Paul；　apprised　of　the　family　news；　looked　terrified；　as　though　his　father　might　accuse　him　of　causing　it　all。　Simon　acted　like　a　Christian　martyr　through　the　first　course；　wounded　but　dignified　in　the　face　of　unwarranted　persecution；　but　then　–　‘I’ll　pay　someone　to　punch　the　fucker’s　fat　face　through　the　back　of　his　neck；’　he　burst　out　as　he　spooned　apple　crumble　into　himself；　and　the　family　knew　that　he　meant　Howard　Mollison。

‘You　know；　there’s　been　another　message　on　that　council　website；’　said　Ruth　breathlessly。　‘It’s　not　only　you　who’s　had　it；　Si。　Shir　–　somebody　told　me　at　work。　The　same　person　–　The　Ghost　of　Barry　Fairbrother　–　has　put　up　something　horrible　about　Dr　Jawanda。　So　Howard　and　Shirley　got　someone　in　to　look　at　the　site；　and　he　realized　that　whoever’s　doing　these　messages　has　been　using　Barry　Fairbrother’s　log…in　details；　so　to　be　safe；　they’ve　taken　them　off　the　–　the　database　or　something—’

‘And　will　any　of　this　get　me　my　fucking　job　back？’

Ruth　did　not　speak　again　for　several　minutes。

Andrew　was　unnerved　by　what　his　mother　had　said。　It　was　worrying　that　The_Ghost_of_Barry_Fairbrother　was　being　investigated；　and　unnerving　that　somebody　else　had　followed　his　lead。

Who　else　would　have　thought　of　using　Barry　Fairbrother’s　log…in　details　but　Fats？　Yet　why　would　Fats　go　for　Dr　Jawanda？　Or　was　it　just　another　way　of　getting　at　Sukhvinder？　Andrew　did　not　like　it　at　all　…

‘What’s　the　ma