‘What do you mean you don’t know? You were in there, weren’t you?’
‘No electricity,’ he said, glancing at Marcus, who was shaking. ‘You cold?’ Jake switched the heating on.
‘We should call someone.’ Marcus’s teeth chattered.
‘It can wait until morning; the house isn’t going anywhere.’
Clear of the driveway, Jake drove the short distance back to Lark Lodge and discovered that they no longer had the place to themselves. Another car was already parked in their spot next to the Bentley. Jake helped Marcus out of the car, and together they made their way across the gravel drive, passing the other guest’s car. Jake spotted a yellow hard hat perched on the rear parcel shelf.
Marcus unlocked the front door. There was no sign of Gayle, or any of the other guests. They went up to their room. Marcus lay down on the bed as Jake quietly shut the bedroom door.
‘Where were you? You were gone ages.’
Jake stood by the bed. ‘I just had something to do. I thought you’d be asleep for hours. I didn’t think you’d wake up while I was gone.’
‘When you didn’t come back, I went to look for you.’
Jake raised his eyebrows. ‘You thought I’d gone to The Lake House?’
‘Yeah.’
Jake slipped off Marcus’s Gucci shoes again, placing them by the couch this time, as if that would somehow stop him from wandering off.
Jake sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at Marcus; he was shivering and sweating profusely. Jake reached out and touched his forehead. His skin felt clammy to the touch. ‘Have you got a fever?’
‘No.’ Marcus grabbed Jake’s hand.
Jake winced.
‘Where’s the plastic bag I was given in the police station?’ Marcus held onto Jake’s bandaged hand tight.
‘Let go of my hand, Marcus,’ Jake said calmly.
‘Have you got it?’ he demanded. He squeezed.
A sliver of pain ran up Jake’s hand like a knife. Slowly, Jake produced the plastic bag from his coat pocket and tossed it on the bed next to Marcus.
He let go of Jake’s hand.
Jake cradled his sore hand. ‘It was in the car where you dropped it.’
Marcus snatched the bag off the bed.
Jake watched him get up and head for the bathroom. ‘Marcus, I know you’re using. Just how serious is—’
Marcus slammed the bathroom door.
Chapter 32
Jake could feel something tugging at his hand. He opened his eyes. The room was bright; he must have left the light on. He turned his head to see Marcus sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at him. ‘Have you finished with the bathroom yet?’ Jake mumbled sleepily. He realised that he must have dozed off while he was waiting. ‘And turn that light off.’
‘The light’s not on.’
Jake shook his head, trying to shake off the heavy tiredness he felt. He glanced at the ceiling light. Marcus was right – it wasn’t on. He rubbed his face with his other hand and pulled himself up into a sitting position.
‘Hey!’ Marcus protested as Jake left a trail of bandages down the bed.
‘Sit still.’ He shifted position and finished wrapping Jake’s hand in fresh bandages.
