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My phone rings, the cheerful tone of Caeo's ringtone is always a pleasure to answer compared to the death march which sounds when it's my parents.
“Twice in one morning, Caeo?”
“I've checked in on Nico.” Caeo's voice is laced with panic. Not much gets Caeo in a flap. “Knox, its bad, it's really bad.”
“Hold on a moment.” I put my hand over the phone and glance at Porter. “This is important, so I'm taking it downstairs in the office.”
“Sure. Can I phone Mum while you're busy?”
“Sure. Anything.” I nod at Porter and scarper from the room.
“How did you know?” Caeo mumbles as I run down the stairs.
“Honestly, it was all Porter's idea.”
“How quickly can you get here?” Caeo begs.
“Just calling a driver.”
fifty-six
Porter
PhoningMumislessnerve-wracking than the first time. I knew she would be angry, but at least this time I'll know how angry.
“Highclere Private Facility.” The voice on the end sounds quite posh, like the facility is too proud to admit what it really does is deprive drug addicts of the one thing that makes them happy.
“Can I speak to Ms Ellis please. It's her son, Porter Ellis.”
“One moment please,” the lady puts me on hold, Greensleeves playing badly in the background. It cuts off abruptly and I prepare to be shouted at by Mum like last time.
“Hello,” an unfamiliar voice greets. “She is beginning to feel the cravings today, so she's not making much sense, but she does want to talk to you.”
“Oh. Thanks.” Last time she begged me to save her and get her home. I'm expecting her to ask for drugs this time.
There's rustling and then Mum comes on the phone.
“Annie, baby, I know you're hurting, but I don't think this is a good idea.”
“Hey. Mum. It's Porter.”
“Don't do it, Tiff,” she demands aggressively in a hushed voice. “I know you're bringing me what I need, but I can't do it. You need to leave Poe alone.”
“No, Mum, itisPorter.”
“Please leave your brother alone.” Her tone is fraught, she doesn't want the staff to hear her, but she's desperate to tell Annie to stop whatever she is planning. My focus switches from trying to convince her who I am to finding out what on earth my sister has planned.
“Mum, what is she doing?”
“Do what you must, baby, but don't involve Poe.”
“Mum, listen. Tell me what she is planning.” I've never known Mum this worried about anything. Even when Annie had scarlet fever, Mum was all 'la-de-da, it could wait until morning'.
Knox is downstairs, called away by an important phone call, but I have to tell him. I'm fairly sure this is more important than anything he could be doing.
“Mum, keep talking, please tell me what is going on.” I'm taking the stairs two at a time, which is more treacherous going down. “What don't you want Annie to do?”
Knox didn't want to let her go, but I made him. Anything she does now is my fault. The problem with taking everything a person has is that it leaves them with nothing to lose.
