Buried in the Past by Bill Kitson

‘All I can tell you is what Lianne told me. Apparently, Perry woke up briefly. She went to his bedside immediately. He looked at her, muttered something and that was it. Before she could respond he was out like a light.’
    ‘Did she catch what he said?’
    ‘She wasn’t sure; said it might have been a name. But she was too busy summoning the rest of the ICU team, checking his vital signs or whatever they do, to take too much notice. I saw all the flap going on and kept well out of the way.’
    ‘I’ll need to have a word with her. If Perry dies, she’ll probably be the last one to have had any contact with him, so we’ll need a formal statement. That might as well be done now. If you’re right about the reason the head of the ICU wants to talk to me, and they have decided to switch the machines off, Perry will become a murder victim, and Lianne’s evidence might be needed in court, if it ever comes to that. Particularly as he regained consciousness.’
    ‘I think she’s expecting that. I’ll give her a call. Will later this afternoon be OK? She’s on early shifts all this week.’
    ‘No problem.’
    Pearce hesitated. ‘There’s something else you should know. I’m not sure how significant this is, but Perry had a visitor, or at least someone asking about him. I’d left instructions that if anyone inquired about Perry someone should contact me immediately, or if I wasn’t there, the uniformed man on duty. Just before I left, reception buzzed through to the ward to say there was someone asking for Perry. I went straight down, but he’d disappeared. I checked the CCTV, but the picture’s so hazy you couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. System’s been like that for weeks, actually, but they can’t get it repaired. That’s how strapped for cash they are. I asked for a description, but to be honest it’s not much use. It could fit millions of men. Medium height and build, grey hair and casually dressed.’ Pearce paused. ‘However, the receptionist did tell me the man spoke with a very distinct accent.’
    ‘Don’t tell me, let me guess. A cockney accent?’
    ‘Wrong! Way wrong. She said his accent was from Belfast. I asked her how she could be sure. Apparently her husband’s from there. She said Perry’s visitor had an accent that was “pure Falls Road”.’
    Nash shook his head in bewilderment. How many more surprises was this case going to bring?
    It was lunch time before Clara asked Nash, ‘Did you ring Perry’s surgeon?’
    ‘I did, but he’s in theatre all day. I’ll try again later.’
     
    Later that afternoon, Pearce ushered Lianne into Nash’s office, which, with Clara and Viv in as well, was a little crowded.
    ‘Thanks for coming in, Lianne,’ Nash smiled, ‘I won’t keep you long, you must be keen to get home and put your feet up and let Viv cook your tea for you.’
    ‘That’ll be the day.’ Lianne smiled and raised her eyebrows.
    ‘So can you tell us exactly what happened this morning?’
    ‘Mr Perry’s monitors started showing increased activity, so I went over to his bedside. His eyes opened momentarily and he stared at me. Then he spoke, but his voice was so weak I hardly caught what he said. I thought it was someone’s name, but I couldn’t swear to it. Now I’ve had more time to think it over, I’m more than ever convinced that’s what it was, but I don’t seem to be able to recall it. Before I’d time to think about what he’d said, he was unconscious again. I got busy, and afterwards I seem to have blocked it out.’
    She turned her head slightly, averting her gaze from Nash’s. Obviously her failure to remember was irritating her.
    Clara had a stroke of intuitive genius. ‘Lianne,’ she said softly, ‘that name, how many syllables did it have?’
    ‘One, I think; no, possibly two.’ Lianne starred at some point in the distance, trying to recall.
    ‘Did it sound like “Frank”?’
    She stared at Clara. ‘Yes, it could have sounded like