Saving Alexander by Susan Mac Nicol

a blanket in front of an old building?” exclaimed Sage. “Why would she even be opening a letter there in the first place?”
    Thomas nodded wearily. “I have no idea. It’s why the police are here. Something funny’s going on and they want to get to the bottom of it. They said it looked staged.” He looked bewildered. “Staged? Who the hell would stage something like this? Why? I don’t understand. Who’d want to harm Dianne?”
    A trickle of fear caressed Alex’s spine at Thomas’s narrative and he swallowed. “It sounds a bit like the start to my book. First the bomb in the restaurant and then Gillian being injured and being given a blanket when she went into shock,” he said.
    Sage looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Why would anyone do that?” he muttered. “It sounds like a horrible publicity stunt.” His voice trailed off and he looked horrified. “Hell, that’s what everyone’s going to think.”
    Alex stared at him. “They couldn’t possibly think that, surely.”
    Sage laughed cynically. “Of course that’s what everyone will think. The press have never been particularly good at playing these sorts of things down. They’re going to milk this for everything they can and we’ll come off worse. Trust me.” He looked at Luke, his face hard. “Luke, you need to call Jennifer. She needs to manage this situation or it’s going to turn into a bloody circus.” He looked over at Dianne, his face softening as he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Thomas, she’s going to need protection. I assume you’ve asked the police to keep an eye on her?”
    Thomas nodded. “I’ve organised my own bodyguards for her. They should be arriving soon. A couple of mates of mine I can trust.”
    A policeman walked in, looking at Thomas enquiringly. “Could I have a word with you outside, please, sir?” Thomas nodded, following the man into the hospital corridor.
    Luke sighed. “Well, if Dianne’s all right and surrounded at the moment by the men in blue, then I guess I’d better call Jenny and see if we can contain this situation.” He too went into the corridor to find somewhere to use his mobile.
    Sage and Alex stood together, looking down at Dianne. “Who the fuck would do something like this?” Sage muttered.
    Sage’s words startled Alex. He’d never heard him really swear before.
    Alex shook his head. “I really don’t know. The mind boggles. I just hope the police get to the bottom of it.”
    “Someone’s playing games and I’d like to get my hands on them. I’ll bloody throttle them.” Sage’s anger was plain to see and Alex thought he was seeing a side to him that probably didn’t go on show often.
    Alex reached out, rubbing his arm gently. “Dianne will be fine. Thomas will make sure of that.”
    Janine appeared with a large cup of tea. “I heard Thomas talking to the doctor outside earlier. He says she was very lucky that the cuts were mostly superficial and the letter bomb was fairly mild, designed to scare more than maim.”
    Alex nodded, pleased at that news. “Are you going back now?”
    She shook her head. “I’ll stay and give Thomas a lift home later.”
    Sage nodded curtly, passing a hand over his eyes in exhaustion. “That’s a saving grace, then. Fuck me, what a bloody mess. I suppose I should be getting home. Dan will be wondering where I’ve got to.” He looked at Alex. “Do you want to share a taxi? It’s a bit too far for either of us to walk home.” His face darkened, his tone growing harsher. “Unless you want to be by yourself? I know you have a need to be on your own and I wouldn’t want to intrude.” His tone was sarcastic.
    Alex nodded. “No, we can share a ride home, that’s fine.”
    Sage nodded curtly. “Fine, I’ll call a taxi.”
    He disappeared into the corridor. Alex said goodbye to Janine and stepped out of Dianne’s room to follow him, staring bemusedly at his retreating back. The man was more than a little