Page 166 of The Silent Appeal

It looks like my 11 a.m. hasn’t turned up. Mrs. Godley is ninety-one and her patience is as limited as her visual acuity. I get all the elderly patients. Perhaps I should ask Colleen if I can be assigned a few patients who don’t need to be told everything three times before they shout at me. It’s funny how, wherever I work, I never seem to fit in. They’re much nicer here than in Jelly Antics at St. Ann’s, but I don’t fit in just the same. I’ve put up a poster for The Hollow in the staff room, and mention the play whenever anyone talks to me, but none of them want to come. No one’s noticed my friendship bracelet, or asked what “love nicky-rose” means, even though I’m wearing it over my sleeve.

* * *

Why does Monday tick by so slowly? Mardien posted Nicky-Rose’s friendship bracelet through my letterbox when I was at work. I’m wearing it now on my other wrist but tucked under my sleeve. I’ll give it to her over our iced coffees in Squires at 6:45 p.m.

Message exchange between Lucas Stibson and Barry Walford on April 28, 2025:

11:22 a.m. Barry wrote:

Cheers for the for Saturday, boss.

11:25 a.m. Lucas wrote:

U earned it

11:56 a.m. Lucas wrote:

Now that shit has to be stashed somewhere

11:56 a.m. Barry wrote:

Under my mattress?

11:57 a.m. Lucas wrote:

Don’t hide where you reside. It’s only plausible deniability that got me off last time.

11:58 a.m. Barry wrote:

What’s that, boss?

12:00 p.m. Lucas wrote:

Never mind, bro. How well you know Mark?

12:00 p.m. Barry wrote:

A bit.

12:00 p.m. Lucas wrote:

He’s an undertaker, right?

12:01 p.m. Barry wrote:

A stiff shifter, yeah!

12:02 p.m. Lucas wrote:

What’s he like?

12:02 p.m. Barry wrote:

Bit creepy tbh but that might be the job think Mum knows the family, I’ll ask her.

12:06 p.m. Lucas wrote:

FFS don’t say anything to your mum!