Free Don't Look Back by S. B. Hayes Page B

exhausted on Patrick.’
    â€˜They don’t need your sympathy, Sinead; just treat them like they’re human.’
    â€˜It just … overwhelms me,’ I tried to explain.
    â€˜Most of them are shunned by everyone … but I never expected it of you.’
    I glanced at the people strolling by enjoying the sunshine and wished I was anywhere but here. Feebly I attempted to defend myself. ‘When I see them, all I can think of is Patrick and all the times he said it would be different, all the promises he broke and how he hurt us all … I see
him
in ten or twenty years’ time, and it’s frightening.’
    â€˜Come back inside with me,’ Harry said, his tone a little softer. He pulled at my T-shirt and managed to drag me into the building without further protest.
    Harry approached another staff member, taking my phone from me and showing her Patrick’s photo.
    She didn’t even have to think. ‘I do recognize him. Letme check our register but … you must realize, people don’t always give their real names.’
    She took us to a small office. I gave her Patrick’s full name, told her that he was my brother and watched her flick through some kind of ledger. ‘Here he is … Patrick Mullen. He left us eighteen days ago.’
    I smiled gratefully. ‘I wonder … Did you notice anything …
strange
about him?’
    Her expression was rueful. ‘We treat people at their lowest ebb, often people who have nowhere else to turn. Everyone here acts a little strange.’
    â€˜I don’t suppose you’d remember where he slept?’ I asked, convinced that Patrick must have left something for me.
    She looked back at the ledger. ‘The room he stayed in is currently occupied. And every room is cleaned before the next guest arrives.’
    â€˜Even so, could we take a quick look?’ I persisted. ‘My brother’s disappeared and we’re looking for anything that might help us find him.’
    After a moment’s hesitation the woman nodded. We followed her down a shiny, antiseptic-smelling corridor that reminded me of a hospital. She opened one of the many doors and ushered us into a spartan room that had only one tiny window. She stayed in the doorway watching us as we looked around. The current occupant had very few possessions for us to disturb. My eyes immediately scanned the walls for writing and I peered underneath theiron bedstead. I rummaged in the bin, already knowing it would have been emptied. Harry checked out the chest of drawers, which was the only other furniture in the room. He shook his head.
    The woman came inside and stood in front of the window, her eyes skyward. ‘Your brother’s very observant. If you crane your head you can see a line of starlings sitting on a nearby roof. Like soldiers on parade, he said. I’d never noticed them before, but now I enjoy watching them.’
    â€˜Patrick likes birds,’ I answered dully.
    I grimaced at Harry. There was nothing here, and I’d already sussed that the door didn’t have a keyhole. I was about to leave when something pulled me back. It was unthinkable that Patrick would lead me this far and send me away empty-handed. There must be something I’d missed. I stuck my hand inside the pillowcases and threw aside the bedcovers. Then I patted the hollow mattress all over and towards the foot of the bed heard the faint scrunch of paper. My blood tingled. I reached my hand underneath, felt around and drew out a rolled-up newspaper. I checked the date. Eighteen days ago. I unrolled it carefully. The paper had been folded at the employment section and there was a job advert circled – LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITY AT BENEDICT HOUSE. Harry was watching me intently, but I didn’t move. My skin was prickling. At that moment Patrick felt so close, like when we played our game as children and he was just around the corner, waiting forme to find