The Sister(201)

With her bag clutched under her arm, Stella swept around the corner, and up the driveway. Suddenly she stopped and turned to look at the gates. A smile crossed her face, and a bounce came into her step as she timed the last three paces to land on the step outside the door. She pressed the buzzer.





‘So, how was Amsterdam?’ She smiled, and her cheeks dimpled.

Guilt, a feeling he wasn’t comfortable with, rose suddenly and flickered in his eyes. ‘I couldn’t wait to get back,’ he said, ‘I’ve got some plans for you.’

‘Really?’ she searched his face to see if it were true.

‘You know what I said when we found Kathy?’ Miller said.

‘Yes…?’

‘Well, Stella, I haven’t finished yet, but don’t get your hopes up.’

‘Don’t!’ She leaned forward and pushed him away. ‘I know what you’re trying to do.’

‘Stella, I think I know someone who can help her.’

‘What do you mean?’

Miller silently studied her face; one eye beamed brighter than the other.

‘What? Oh, come on.’ She jigged up and down on the spot, and then her eyes lit up. A nervous giggle sounded in her throat. ‘The deprogrammer you used on the Olga Kale case? We could use him if he hasn’t retired?’

‘No, I have someone else in mind.’ He took a deep breath and held it.

‘The Sister!’ she exclaimed.

‘How did you guess? I’m not sure how I can persuade her, though.’

‘It wasn’t a guess, I just knew somehow! And you will persuade her,’ she said. ‘I just know it!’

A bemused smile fixed on Miller’s face. You didn’t think this one through, did you? You don’t even know where she lives! Stella was so buoyant, that when he confided in her about Amsterdam and the reasons for keeping the trip secret, she was barely listening.





He and Stella collected Kathy on Sunday morning from the hospital to take her out as they had previously, as part of her rehabilitation.

Marshall pulled him to one side. ‘Listen, Miller, it’s been almost three months now, we’ve been working hard, but progress has been minimal. Her physical condition has improved no end, when she gets on the treadmill there’s no stopping her. It must be a reaction to being cooped up all that time.’ Handing him Kathy’s medication, he continued. ‘I know you’re following Victor’s advice, and I wish you the best of luck with that. She’s still trapped in that sick relationship, pining for him, like a lovelorn teenager. We need to work on it. Until we get through that, I don’t think we’ll get any further and don’t forget – it’s only a weekend pass.’

Miller shook the psychiatrist’s hand. ‘Thanks Marshall, we’ll see if Stella can’t start working on rebuilding Kathy’s memories straight away.’





Once on the train, it was inevitable Miller cast his mind back to how he first met Carla Black. He was on his way to see The Sister then, and he recalled the secrecy with which the former nun surrounded herself. He began to doubt she’d see him, or any of them unannounced, even if they could find her. When they got closer, he might be able to communicate with her. With luck, if she hadn’t locked herself down, she’d sense he was close by. His developing perception meant she was always guarding against him finding out too much about her. The blanket she’d thrown over his senses didn’t cover them completely, occasionally it would shift, and he could peek out from under it.

Kathy was quiet, and spent most of her time staring out through the window. Every so often, when the light was right, her reflection would show in the glass. More than once, when he glanced at her mirrored there, he noticed she was looking at him.

This is the longest and most boring four hours you’ve ever spent, surely, Miller. After all this, you'd better be sure The Sister will see you.





Stella had tried to engage with Kathy earlier, but without success. Now, only half an hour from Edinburgh she decided to resume her efforts, talking about her early life, her mum and dad, how much they'd missed her and how pleased they would have been to see her back again.

Finally, she spoke, her impediment clearly evident. ‘Why does everyone keep saying that to me?’

‘Because it’s true, look – here you are in a photograph just before you were taken.’

‘I wasn’t taken.’

‘Yes you were.’ She offered her the photo. ‘Go on, look at it.’

Her eyes narrowed as she examined the picture. She stroked the uniform with the tip of her finger, wistfully. ‘I always wanted to be a nurse, but that is not me, and I don’t know who you are.’

Stella was visibly upset. Miller tried another angle. ‘You and Martin, how did you meet?’

Her eyes misted at the mention of his name. ‘We met after a dance. He told me I reminded him of his mother.’ She stared out at the landscape flashing by the window.

Pointing to his own upper lip, he said sympathetically, ‘Is that why he did that to you, Kathy, because you reminded him of his mother.’

She looked frightened.

‘He wanted you to speak like that – didn’t he? You don’t have to do that anymore, you’re safe and with us, now,’ he said softly.