“Sergeant,” Inspector Evans declared as he approached the group around her bed. “I’ve just spoken to the medical staff and you’re not out of the woods yet. They’re keeping you in to make sure none of your internal organs are affected.”
“Oh,” Keya replied, not sure how to take such cheery news.
“So use the time to rest,” added the inspector.
“I can’t sleep all day,” Keya protested. “And I can’t read a book. And I haven’t got my phone or EarPods to listen to music or a story, so it’s going to be a bit dull.”
“I’ve got your phone,” Sujin said. “Gilly and Maitri collected it from Cirencester Hospital, along with your uniform.”
He placed it on the bed and, with some effort, Keya manoeuvred her arm around until she could press the button with her index finger. The screen came to life and on it she saw alerts for messages and missed calls.
She’d deal with those later.
“And Maitri also collected some clothes. Perhaps she also picked up your EarPods.” Sujin gave her another sympathetic look and said, “Your family are coming in this afternoon, so I’ll ask Maitri to bring some headphones, and perhaps a tablet so you can watch a film or TV.”
“But what we need to do is find out how you were poisoned, and if it was a deliberate attack,” Inspector Evans stated.
Keya’s eyes opened wide. Was she the subject of a police investigation?
For clarity, she asked, “Are you opening a case on me?”
“We are, Sergeant,” confirmed Inspector Evans. “And we’ve all agreed to work over the weekend to try to solve it.”
“But there’s no need for that. What about your plans? Ryan, you and Millie were running the next section of the Cotswold Way.”
“That can wait, and anyway, Millie’s working at the cafe.”
Keya felt her cheeks colour guiltily.
“It’s OK,” Ryan added. “We’d much rather help you.”
“So,” continued Inspector Evans, “apart from your lunchtime sandwich, and the piccalilli, what else have you consumed in the last week?”
“Week?” Keya exclaimed.
“Yes, botulism can take several days to have an effect,” Sujin explained.
Keya thought back. “I had fruit and yoghurt and a slice of toast for breakfast on Friday. On Thursday, I had a baked potato with salads and coleslaw left over from the cafe. At lunchtime I made an omelette for Theo Watson and myself, and breakfast was similar to Friday.”
“Lunchtime on Thursday would put it in the critical time period. What did you have?” Sujin asked.
“Only an omelette, and so did Theo. Should we check how he is?”
“All in good time, Sergeant,” confirmed Inspector Evans.
“Any pickled vegetables with the omelette, or chutneys or sauces?”
“Oh, I did have some of Daisy’s mum’s hot sauce.”
Inspector Evans and Sujin exchanged a glance.
“What?” asked Keya.
“Did Theo have any of it?” asked Sujin.
“No, he said he didn’t feel like it.”
“And can you remember what you ate on Wednesday?”
Keya listed her meals for Wednesday and Tuesday and answered Sujin’s and the Inspector’s follow-up questions.
When they’d finished, she felt weary and drained, and still at a loss as to how she fell ill.
“I think that’s enough for now,” said the nurse as she approached the bed. “The other patients need their rest, and so does Keya.”
“Of course,” Inspector Evans acknowledged. “And thank you for allowing us to speak to Sergeant Varma.”
Stan and Ryan said their goodbyes and followed Inspector Evans out of the ward.
Sujin hung back.
“You’re definitely looking better,” he said. “I’ll come back later, probably tonight.”
“What about the band?”
“Don’t worry. Jerry can stand in for me.” Sujin bent down and kissed her forehead.
As he stood up, they both blushed.
