Shifting Skin

Chapter 14

Tentatively, she inched the door open and looked inside. The curtains had been opened and morning sunlight was streaming in. The air in the room reflected the temperature outside, and she realised the window was open as far as it would go.

The patient was half sitting up in bed, bandaged face directed to the world beyond the window, tips of spiky hair catching the sun’s rays.

Seeing him staring off to the side like that reminded Dawn Poole of how they’d first met. It was in the hair care aisle of Boots just over four years ago. She had seen him scrutinising the bottles, a slimly built man not much bigger than her. He looked strangely helpless. He’d sensed her watching and turned awkwardly to face her.

His clumsy request for advice about hair dye had almost made her laugh. She’d assumed he was buying it for his elderly mother or some other female relative. As she explained the different choices that were available, the mixture of vulnerability and embarrassment in his face started to interest her. She wasn’t used to a man relying on her for help and then attentively listening to everything she had to say. Normally in her relationships it was the other way round.

She gave him a couple of tips on how best to apply the colouring, and enjoyed the feeling of being needed as he eagerly absorbed her advice. Then he had surprised her by tentatively asking about how to apply false eyelashes.

Realising he was asking for the benefit of himself and not someone else, she had offered to let him know about applying false nails, too. He’d accepted with a smile.

An hour later they were sitting in a coffee shop, him with a large bag of make-up on the seat next to him.

‘He came right into the room just now.’

The words were whispered with hardly any movement of the lips and Dawn was reminded of a novice trying to master the art of ventriloquism.

‘Who?’ she replied, walking into the room and sitting on the end of the bed.

‘The robin. I put some crumbs on the bed. He hopped right in and ate them. So beautiful, so delicate.’

She could tell the bandages hid the beginnings of a smile. The feeling of foreboding that had been building since the policeman questioned her dissipated slightly and was replaced by a warm glow of admiration.

She couldn’t imagine the pain he was going through. Knowing that she wouldn’t have been able to endure it, she took one hand in hers and stroked the smooth skin. ‘It’s good to see you looking happier.’

The patient was still looking out of the window. ‘Speaking, eating, sleeping. Everything still hurts. But now I feel it’s worth it again. Worth it for who I’m going to be.’

Dawn nodded. ‘That’s the attitude. You know, I’m happy just to be out of that miserable motel. The place is falling apart. If it gets inspected, they’ll close it straight off.’ She hooked a strand of hair over her ear. ‘Your dressings are due to be changed later on. I’m sure he’ll bring some more painkillers, too.’ The room was silent as she judged how to articulate the next sentence. She opted for a casual tone. ‘A policeman called at the motel a few nights ago.’

Eyes swivelled towards her, blood still caught in the lower half of their orbits.

‘He was asking questions. Someone thought they heard choking coming from one of the rooms. Choking like the person was in serious trouble.’

She waited for a response, but nothing came.

‘I told him no one came to me needing help.’ She glanced up seeking affirmation, but the patient had turned back to the window.

She reached into the bag and got out some women’s magazines and a copy of the local paper. The outside column of the front page was devoted to conjecture about the Butcher's latest victim, who still remained unidentified. 'I brought you some things to read.'