Free Women 2

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‘That’s one of your men, I suppose,’ said Marion. ‘Perhaps it’s Richard. Well if it is, tell him I’m here, tell him I’m on to him. Tell him so.’

The telephone rang again and kept on ringing.

Anna went to it, thinking: Marion sounds almost sober again. She said: ‘Hello.’ She heard Molly scream: ‘Anna, Tommy’s killed himself, he’s shot himself.’

‘What?’

‘Yes. He came in just after you rang. He went upstairs without saying anything. I heard a bang, but I thought he had banged his door shut. Then I heard a groan, much later. So I shouted up to him and he didn’t answer, so I thought I’d imagined it. Then I got frightened for some reason and I went out and there was blood trickling down the stairs. I didn’t know he had a revolver. He’s not dead but he’s going to die, I can tell from what the police say. He’s going to die,’ she screamed out.

‘I’ll come to the hospital. Which hospital?’

A man’s voice now said: ‘Now, miss, let me talk to her.’ Then on the telephone: ‘We are taking your friend and her son to St Mary’s Hospital. I think your friend would like to have you with her.’

‘I’ll come at once.’

Anna turned to Marion. Marion’s head had dropped and her chin was on her upper chest. Anna wrestled her out of the chair, staggered with her to the bed, rolled her on it. Marion lay loose, her mouth open, her face wet with spittle and with tears. Her cheeks flamed with liquor. Anna piled blankets on her, turned out the fires and the lights, and ran into the street as she was. It was long after midnight. No one. No taxi. She ran, half-sobbing, along the street, saw a policeman, and ran towards him. ‘I must get to the hospital,’ she said, clutching at him. Another policeman appeared from around a corner. One supported her while the other found a taxi, and went with her to the hospital. Tommy was not dead, but he was expected to die before morning.

Free Women 2

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