One Hundred Names

‘She told me to find it in her office, bring it back to her at the hospital and she’d explain, but when I brought it back to the hospital it was too late.’ Kitty’s eyes filled and she looked down. She hoped then for a bit of humanity but none came.

‘Did you open it?’ Pete asked.

‘No.’

He didn’t believe her again.

‘I didn’t open it,’ Kitty said firmly, her anger rising.

‘Where is it now?’

‘Bob has it.’

Pete went quiet.

‘What are you thinking?’ Cheryl asked.

‘I’m thinking it would be a great feature and tribute if we had Constance’s story that she always wanted to write, to tie in with the other writers’ pieces. If Bob gives us the story, you could write it,’ he said to Cheryl.

Kitty felt angry at Pete for handing the story over to Cheryl.

‘Maybe Bob would prefer to write it,’ Kitty suggested.

‘We’ll give Bob first preference.’

‘I have it here.’ Bob’s voice came from the adjoining room.

‘Bob.’ Pete straightened up. ‘I didn’t know you were here.’

Bob entered the room. He looked tired. ‘I wasn’t going to come in but then I realised there was nowhere else I’d rather be,’ he repeated Kitty’s line, which told Kitty he’d been there since the beginning and had heard it all. ‘I needed to get something from Constance’s office – her address book, God knows where she’s put it – and I couldn’t help but overhear talk about covering her story.’ Bob smiled. ‘Pete, I think that’s a marvellous idea. Well done.’

‘Would you like to write it?’ Pete asked.

‘No. No. I’m too close to it.’

‘What is the story?’ Pete asked.

‘I have no idea,’ Bob shrugged. ‘The envelope is sealed, it’s never been opened.’

Kitty was vindicated. She tried not to leap up and punch the air.

‘Okay,’ Pete looked at Cheryl, pleased with himself, and about to do the honours on her behalf but Bob sensed that and interrupted.

‘I’d like Kitty to write it.’

Pete and Cheryl were surprised.

‘I think she’s better suited,’ he explained gently, as ever thoughtful and apologetic to Cheryl.

Cheryl tried to look accepting.

‘Even though you don’t know what it’s about,’ Pete said, defending his number one.

‘Yes. Even though,’ Bob replied, handing the envelope to Kitty.

They all looked at her in suspense. Kitty carefully opened the envelope. A single sheet lay inside. She slid it out and was faced with a list of one hundred names.

Chapter Five (#ulink_3cc49fc1-c25b-5f1a-ab45-9b902705fc84)

1  Sarah McGowan

2  Ambrose Nolan

3  Eva Wu

4  Jedrek Vysotski

5  Bartle Faulkner

6  Bridget Murphy

7  Mary-Rose Godfrey

8  Bernadette Toomy

9  Raymond Cosgrave

10  Olive Byrne

11  Marion Brennan

12  Julio Quintero

13  Maureen Rabbit

14  Patrick Quinn

15  Gloria Flannery

16  Susan Flood

17  Kieran Kidd

18  Anthony Kershaw

19  Janice O’Meara

20  Angela O’Neill