ROOM 28

Staff Nurse Ellen shivered as she observed an ambulance emerging from the swirling fog.
Two figures appeared from the vehicle and watched as nurses gently carried a hunched figure, through the huge oak doors of the Laurels Hospice

“What room is it going in?” A shaven headed prison officer asked.” I need to have a look before you wheel it in.”

“Well he’s hardly like to walk out is he?” Ellen replied.” He’s been allocated Room 28. Follow me.”


“Are they all here?” his companion asked

“Only the priest…. There’s no family, at least none that we know of.”

“Well what do you expect? No one would want to own to knowing the likes of him.” Shaven Head spat.
.

The skeletal figure was lifted onto the bed; eye’s burning with pain, gasps growing shallower by the minute.

“Not long to go now”

“Thank god for that, I’ve got a darts match at eight.”

The priest mumbled prayers for the dying.

“Well that’s it then, one less to worry about.” Shaven Head unlocked the handcuffs, removing them from the dead mans wrists.

After completing the formalities Ellen drove home to the flat she shared with Tim.

The front door sprang open. Tim’s angular frame filled the doorway but Ellen avoided his attempted embrace



“Nice to see you too. What’s the matter with you? Bad day?”

She told him about the prisoner in Room 28 over a glass of wine and how sad she felt at the occupant’s ignominious death.

“But he was a criminal Ellie.”

“He was a human being for fucks sake! You’re as bad as that bloody moron of a screw!” she dashed into the bedroom slamming the door behind her.

The next morning Ellen made her way to the nurse’s rest room for her usual pre shift coffee.

She spotted a white envelope sticking out of the pigeonhole reserved for internal memos.

“Oh shit. What now?”


The terse handwritten note requesting an interview with the chairman of the board of trustees was not the start to the day Ellen wanted.

Simon Winksworth gestured toward a plastic chair without looking up from a thin file he was studying.

“Ah Ellen. I believe we had a late night admission.”

“Sorry? Oh you mean the man from Oaktree prison. The governor rang saying they had an inmate with cancer and their medical people could no longer care for him. So I agreed we would admit him for palliative care. We’ve admitted prisoners before. Any way he died within an hour of admission so what’s the problem?”

“Do you know who he was, Ellen?”

“No. I’ve no idea who he was nor do I care .He was a man in the final stages of an evil illness and needed help, after all that’s what we’re supposed to be here for.”


“Ellen there’s no need to get on you’re high horse. I think you’d better read that”

He placed a copy of the Oaktree Gazette in front of her.

“Paedophile Dies in Hospice.” A banner headline screamed.

“James Henry Austin, dubbed the countries worst paedophile, died last night within hours of being admitted to the Laurels hospice. Local people were horrified that a convicted child killer was loose in there midst, and able to receive treatment meant for law-abiding citizens.”

“I’m sorry I don’t see where this leading. We had a dying man, who needed our help and we did our job, which believe it or not is to care for the dying.”

“I don’t need a lecture on the function of the hospice, Staff Nurse. There’s another problem. You know we’re dependent on outside sources for funding. It’s hard enough getting sponsors without publicity like this. I’ve just had calls from two of our more generous contributors withdrawing support. Without there help we are in very deep water. Oh and just to make my day the chair of the council finance committee wants an urgent discussion on future funding.”

“I don’t believe this. He was only here for a very short time and as for “being loose in there midst” that’s rubbish. He was in no condition to go anywhere. Does this mean we can’t admit anyone just because we don’t agree with there background? What would have happened if it had been a politician whose views weren’t in keeping with management or the council?”

“Oh come on Ellen there’s a huge difference and you know it!”

“Well you can tell your backers this. If it had been Saddam himself my actions would have been the same.”
She slammed the door behind her.



Simon arrived at the council offices and was immediately shown into the Chief Executives office.

Simon knew Charles Davies from his school days and welcomed him as an ally.

“Simon good to see you, take a pew. I suppose you know what this is about. You’ve read the papers.”

“Of course”


“You don’t need me to tell you this kind of exposure does the hospice and council no good at all. Rolling heads are being called for and...”

“Mines on the block.” Simon interjected

“Well it was suggested your resignation would appease the “mob” however there may be another way out of this mess.”

“Go on”

“The council can’t be seen to giving more funds especially, as it could be construed as agreeing this type of criminal is worthy of being treated as any other human being.”

“But in the eyes of God we are all equal”

“Yes. Yes that’s as maybe but not in the eyes of Joe Public.”

“With respect David, I’m not here to get involved in a philosophical discussion.”

“Yes quite. I’ll get straight to the point. The Laurels occupies a sizeable plot of land. Twenty five acres if my memory serves me right.”

Simon tensed; he didn’t like the direction the conversation was moving.

“You’re not suggesting the hospice be closed and the land be sold off surely.”

“Nothing like that. Well not quite anyway. The East wing takes about a third of the land doesn’t it? It’s the oldest part of the property and its upkeep takes up a sizable proportion of the budget.”

“And coincidentally houses room 28” Simon interrupted.

“That’s the room where…”

“Yes David, you know full well it is.”


David cleared his throat before continuing.


“If you were to apply for permission to demolish the East Wing, sell off that part for social housing not only would you be raising funds for the hospice but the public would be appeased.”

“That’s a preposterous idea. It’s pandering to mob rule.” Simon exclaimed.


“Think about it Simon. I don’t think there are many options open to you in this situation. Not if you want the work of the hospice to continue.”




A sultry summer day welcomed the great and good of Oaktree as they gathered for the opening of the refurbished hospice.

Three detached houses had been built on the site of Room 28 and the East wing.

Ellen and Simon stood side by side as they watched the Mayor cut the ribbon.

“Was it worth it, Simon?” Ellen asked.

He handed her a copy of the Oaktree Gazette. A thin smile played on her lips as she read the front page.

COUNCIL CHIEF RESIGNS IN PORNO. SCANDAL

“Councillor Davies, the councils Chief executive was forced to resign earlier this week as his personal office computer was found to have been used to view pornographic images.”

“I wonder if they’ll be wanting to demolish the council offices now.” Simon laughed.