by M A Comley
The doorbell rang, and Tony opened the back door. He paid the bloke in the crash helmet thirty pounds and took the two brown take-away bags from him. Lorne left the table and went over to the oven to collect the warmed plates and proceeded to dish up the Indian meal. “Bit of everything for all of you?”
They all agreed and hungrily queued up to take a plate once Lorne had finished serving up.
Sean left a little after ten o’clock and they all decided to turn in for the night after their exhausting day. Lorne quickly rang the ICU to ask if Charlie’s condition had changed, but it hadn’t. The night sister reassured her that if Charlie regained consciousness, she would ring Lorne immediately, day or night. Safe in the knowledge that her daughter was being well cared for by experienced medical staff, Lorne went to bed, she slept fitfully that night, and even had a nightmare in which she had been driven off the road and ended up in a river, fighting for breath.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The telephone woke them at ten past seven the next morning. Lorne sat upright in bed and answered it on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Mrs. Simpkins, it’s the ICU. We’re pleased to inform you that Charlie has now woken up. You’re free to visit at any time.”
“Is she talking? Is she moving? Is she in pain?” She fired the questions off one after the other without pausing long enough for the nurse to answer.
“Yes, she’s talking, and yes, she’s in pain. We’ll have a chat when you get here.”
“Oh, thank you so much. Tell her I’ll be with her within the hour.”
“I will. Please drive safely, there’s no need to rush.”
Lorne replaced the phone on the bedside table and enthusiastically shook her husband. “Tony, Tony—she’s awake.”
“That’s great, hon. Do you want me to come with you?”
“Someone has to stay here and look after this place, I’m not sure dad is up to it at the moment, he looked exhausted to me yesterday.”
He sat up. “You get ready; I’ll stay here and see to the dogs. Take Katy with you—oh, and you’d better ring Tom before you go.”
She turned and kissed him hard on the cheek. “I’ll ring him after I’ve had a shower.” She leapt out of the bed and skipped into the bathroom, where she found herself singing one of Charlie’s favourite songs during her shower. “Don’t ya wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don’t ya, don’t ya…”
Before getting dressed, she walked along the hallway to Charlie’s room, where Katy was sleeping, and tapped on the door. “Katy, are you awake?”
“I am now,” came Katy’s muffled reply.
“Get dressed, hon, we have to get to the hospital. Charlie’s awake.”
Lorne heard the bed springs boing and Katy groaned as if one of the springs had dug in her as she moved. “That’s wonderful news. Can I grab a quick shower?”
“Of course. I’ll knock up some breakfast.”
“I don’t want any of that leftover curry—my stomach is too delicate this morning.”
Lorne laughed. “I’ll fix you some toast and marmalade. We don’t do leftovers in this house.”
She ran back into the bedroom, threw on a pair of jeans and a fleecy jumper to ward off the chill of the morning, and went downstairs. Henry was at the kitchen door, whining to go out. “Sorry, pal, I guess in all the excitement I forgot about you.” She hugged him and kissed his nose. “Charlie’s coming home.” Henry reached out a paw and scratched the back door. “All right, matey, there you go.” She opened the door and watched him run over to the large hydrangea bush near the entrance of the drive and cock his leg.
She had to wait for her guest to stop running the shower before she could fill the kettle. Katy came downstairs approximately ten minutes later. Lorne placed a cup of coffee and two slices of toast in front of Katy, and then took a cup of coffee in to her father. By now, it was almost seven thirty.
Her father stirred as she entered his room. “I heard the phone. Was it the hospital, love?”
“Good news, Dad,” she said, noting how pale he looked. “Charlie’s awake. Katy and I are just going to leave now. The sister said she’s in pain; I don’t know how much, though. I’ll find out more when I get there. Damn, we forgot to ring Jade last night to tell her.”
Her father moaned as he sat up in bed, and Lorne pulled the pillow up behind him to ensure that he was comfortable. “Leave Jade to me. You just be concerned about your daughter. Let’s hope she’s going to be okay—for all our sakes.”
“Meaning what, exactly, Dad?”
“This place, for instance. To be honest, love, I’m not sure I can help out much more. Everything is so much effort these days.”
Lorne was aghast; it was the first time he’d confided in her that he was struggling to cope. Had she really been taking him for granted that much? That was another thing she’d have to sort out sooner rather than later. If Katy came on board with the P.I. business, that would leave her more time to care for the animals—it was her responsibility, after all, and no one else’s. Guilt wrapped around her like a cold mist. Where would she be without her family to fall back on? Was she expecting too much of them? If they were finding it hard, wouldn’t they let her know?
“Lorne?” Her father rested his hand on her face.
“Sorry, Dad, I was just thinking. I’ve put too much on your shoulders—please forgive me.”
“Stop it! There’s nothing to forgive. Maybe that meningitis a few months back took more out of me than I first thought.”
“Do you want me to ring the doctor?”
She knew what his answer would be before he said it.
“Nope.”
“Okay. Bear with me a couple of days. I’ll try and sort things out this week, Dad, I promise.”
“Shoo—go now. Give Charlie a kiss for me and tell her I love her.”
Lorne bent down and pecked him on the cheek. “I will, Dad. Stay in bed for a while. Tony said he’ll take care of the dogs this morning.”
“Maybe I will have a bit of a lie in, love,” he replied, his voice as weary as his smile.
Lorne closed the door to her father’s room gently behind her and made her way back in to the kitchen, where Katy was waiting for her.
“Hey, why the sad face? You should be happy Charlie is awake.”
“I am, Katy. It’s Dad I’m worried about. You saw how quiet he was while we were eating last night. That’s unheard of when we’re discussing a case. I just took a coffee to him and he looks spent, totally worn out. Maybe I better rethink the two businesses and my family’s parts in them. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with Charlie yet,” she said, concerned she reached for the jacket that she had hooked over the kitchen chair and put it on.
“I’m sure Charlie will be fine once she’s home safe, and well. I’m guessing your dad will be fine too, once his granddaughter is out of hospital. Keep positive, girl.” Katy smiled and gave Lorne’s arm a reassuring rub.
“Damn!” She cuddled Katy. “Happy birthday, sweetie.” Lorne released Katy, whose cheeks had turned a fetching crimson.
“Some birthday. I’m not likely to forget this one in a hurry, am I?”
“Sorry, hon.”
Katy raised a hand. “Enough already. Let’s go see how that daughter of yours is.”
• • •
They walked into the ICU to see Charlie crying as she spoke to a doctor. Lorne rushed to her bedside. Gripping Charlie’s shaking hand in hers, she asked the doctor, “What’s going on?”
Katy stood back, but Lorne beckoned her friend to come forward. By the serious expression on the doctor’s face, she was going to need all the support she could get.
“Mrs. Simpkins, I take it?” the young male doctor asked. His tone was offhand and as far away from caring as she could imagine.
“That’s right. I said: what’s going on? Why is my daughter crying?” Her tone matched his.
Between sobs, Charlie spoke instead of the doctor. “Mum, I can’t feel my legs and they won�
�t tell me how Simon is.”
They were the worst words she could have imagined hearing. Her beautiful daughter was paralysed because she’d been foolishly coaxed into a boy’s car. Lorne forced the tears back, adamant that she should stay strong for Charlie’s sake. The Simon issue would have to be dealt with later. She brushed the hair out of her daughter’s eyes and delved into her pocket for a tissue to wipe away the tears that were coursing down Charlie’s pale cheeks. “Hush, baby. I’m going to talk to the doctor alone. Look, Katy’s come to see you.” Lorne glanced over her shoulder at Katy and gave her a pleading look.
The doctor tutted and turned away from the bed. Lorne followed him, her legs trembling beneath her.
“What’s the meaning of this? How dare you tell her something like that!”
“Now, wait just a minute. I walked on the ward a few seconds before you arrived. I told your daughter nothing.”
His whole body appeared to stiffen in front of her. She was conscious of Charlie’s sharp hearing and lowered her voice. “Then why would she say such a thing?” Lorne asked, confused.
“Maybe because it’s a fact—she can’t feel her legs. It sometimes happens after a bad crash. However, that does not mean it’s permanent. She could regain the feeling soon; the nerves could spark into life at any moment, or there could be a delay of a week or so. We’ll need to carry out further tests to be sure.” His face cracked into a forced smile and his voice appeared to have softened a little. So much so that Lorne felt the need to apologise for her behaviour.
“I’m sorry, I misconstrued the situation. I suppose it was a gut reaction to think she could be paralysed. What percentages are we talking about here?”
“I’d say your daughter has a fifty to eighty percent chance of walking again, but the tests will tell us more. Let’s see what the results say and then we’ll be more certain about our facts. Sit with her for a while. I’ll see if we can find the staff I need to carry out the relevant tests; on Sundays, the staffing level is lower than during the week.”
Lorne nodded and turned to see Katy and Charlie watching them. She smiled at her daughter and blew her a kiss. “Thank you. Is there anything we can do for Charlie in the meantime?”
“No. Just comfort her, try to take her mind off her injuries. It won’t be easy, I know, but it’ll help her recover. I’ll be back soon.” He exited the ward and Lorne returned to sit on the edge of her daughter’s bed.
“Well? What did he say? Will I have to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair?” Charlie asked as fresh tears fell from her eyes.
“They have to run some tests, darling. Hey, I had a word with the doc, told him we need you mucking out kennels before the end of next week. I’ll tell you what—I’ll make a deal with you: I won’t clean the kennels out all week. That’ll keep you busy for a couple of hours next weekend, won’t it?”
Charlie cringed at the thought but a smile settled on her face. “Eww…at the rate those guys poop, I’ll have a pile the size of Everest to contend with.”
Lorne laughed. “You haven’t met the new recruits yet—a Great Dane and an Irish Wolfhound—now those guys can poop for England.” She pulled a face and held her nose for a second. “And the smell…”
The three of them laughed and chatted non-stop about girly things for the next fifteen minutes or so until the doctor returned. He motioned with his head for Lorne to join him near the sister’s desk at the end of the ward.
“Tests will begin in an hour. We’ll have a clearer indication of what we’re dealing with then.”
“Thank you, Doctor. I’m sorry about what happened before.”
“Don’t worry. Dealing with irate parents goes with the job.”
Lorne found herself smiling, despite the mild insult. “Will Charlie be awake during the tests?”
“Of course—they are primarily to measure the amount of pain your daughter is in. I’d like you to be there to comfort her, if that’s all right.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The doctor gave a brief nod. “We’ll come and collect her when we’re ready.”
Lorne went back to let Charlie and Katy know what was going to happen next.
“Well, while that’s going on, I’ll go and visit Croft,” Katy said.
“Makes sense. He’ll probably be more lucid today. You might even get a description of the men who beat him up.”
“Hey, what’s this?” Charlie piped up, her mood seemed a little brighter after their girly chat.
Lorne tapped the end of Charlie’s nose and winked at her. “Never you mind, Miss Nosey Parker. Your number one priority is getting yourself better.”
Charlie eyed her suspiciously and murmured, “What, no major telling off for being stupid?”
“Were you stupid, Charlie?”
Her daughter’s head slipped round to face the wall. “Yes. I didn’t mean it. Simon wanted to show me the car his father had bought.”
Katy stood up to leave. “I can sense a heavy mother-daughter talk coming on. See you in an hour or so.”
After Katy left, Lorne sat on the edge of her daughter’s bed and put a finger under Charlie’s chin, forcing her daughter to look her in the eye. “We’ve talked about this, haven’t we, Charlie?”
“I know I’ve let you down, Mum, but Simon said it would be a quick spin around the block…I tried to make him stop. He kept laughing at me, calling me a wuss. In the end, I tugged on his arm to try and force him to take me home and…and that’s when it happened. Why did I mess around while he was driving? Why? Now this!” She pointed down at her legs.
“Hush now. What’s done is done. You’re alive. That’s the main thing.”
Charlie narrowed her eyes. “Meaning? No! Simon’s not…”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but Simon didn’t make it.”
Charlie buried her face in her trembling hands and sobbed. Lorne ran a hand over Charlie’s head, and a small lump formed in her throat.
The awkward silence between them was disturbed by footsteps approaching on the tiled floor. Lorne glanced up at the doctor, who was observing them with a look of concern. Lorne shook her head, silently telling him not to worry.
“We’re ready for you now, Charlie.”
• • •
Katy knocked on Croft’s door and walked into the room.
The injured man stirred and opened a bruised eye to look at her. He seemed briefly scared by her entrance, but then recognition registered on his face and he visibly relaxed and motioned for her to sit beside him.
“How are you feeling?”
“Sore.” He sat up and grimaced.
“I’m sorry this happened to you. Will you take heed of the warning now?” Katy asked, lowering herself into the wooden chair next to his bed.
“If you think that, you don’t know me.”
Katy sighed. “These are very serious people you’re dealing with, Croft.”
“Have you come here to reprimand me, or would you like me to share the new information I’ve just received?” A teasing look manifested in his eyes.
Katy sat forward and teetered on the edge of the seat. “Information? What information?”
“The information I received about half an hour ago from one of my informants,” Croft said with a smirk that he quickly seemed to regret.
Katy snapped into detective mode, delving into her pocket and pulling out her pad and a pen. “About the traffickers, I take it?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, come on. Don’t draw it out,” Katy said impatiently.
“There’s talk on the streets that another delivery is due.”
“Due? When?” Katy asked, her pen poised ready to jot down the details. Her heart started to race at the thought of finally bringing this gang down.
“Look at you. Your heart’s pumping like an express train, isn’t it? If we swapped places, you wouldn’t be able to give this case up, either, would you?”
“Where?” she deman
ded, ignoring his comment.
“Same place—the warehouse out on the trading estate.”
“When? God, are you always such a pain in the arse?” Katy doodled on the pad as a way of venting her frustration.
“I have my moments.”
“Croft, you would try the patience of a saint. When?”
“Okay, you win. Tonight, at nine o’clock.”
“This source of yours—is he kosher? Guaranteed tip off, is it?”
“Give or take on the time; it’s a guesstimate. Depends on the authorities, etc. But yes, you can take my word that this is a guaranteed tip off.”
“Anything else?” Katy asked, her mind already forming the foundation of a plan.
Surprised, he asked, “Isn’t that enough? In the future remind me to tell my informants that they must do better for this pretty detective I know.”
Katy refused to blush, used to dealing with jerks like him, she shook her head and gave him one of her ‘you sad bastard’ looks.
He got the hint and gave her a cheeky wink as she stood up to leave. “We’ll let you know what happens.” Katy waved her notebook at him before tucking it back into her jacket pocket. “Thanks for the tipoff.”
“Let’s hope something comes of it, for the girls’ sake. Be careful out there,” she heard him say as she closed the door behind her.
Lost in thought, she made her way through the long, narrow corridors back to the ICU, completely unaware that someone was following her.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Lorne settled her daughter into bed, consciously holding back her own tears. For poor Charlie the dam had broken; she was sobbing and gasping for air between sobs when Katy returned to the ward.
“Can you stay with Charlie for a minute, Katy? I need to have another chat with the doctor.”
“Of course.” Katy sat on the edge of the bed and held Charlie’s trembling hand, squeezing it between hers.
As Lorne walked over to the sister’s desk she heard Katy asking Charlie about the latest music groups she liked. She felt relieved when Charlie’s crying stopped and her daughter responded enthusiastically.
The doctor was looking at the test results when Lorne joined him. “Well?”