At this point a member of Simon Grant's family stood up in the public gallery and protested. "Why not take him on a fucking holiday to Ibiza for two weeks, Judge?"
Judge Fletcher then responded. "Clerk, have that man removed from my court."
The judge then continued. "Mr Foster, you are to be locked up indefinitely until Dr Beaumont and the Home Secretary deem you fit for release. You have a serious mental disorder and until it is treated, you are potentially a serious risk to the general public. I suggest you use your time in hospital wisely and work with the medical team who are there to assist you. That is the verdict of this court. Take him down. Call the next case."
After the court proceedings Rob was ushered back into the Group-4 van and Laura Allison managed to see Rob for the last time in order to wish him well. Ricky Foster left court soon after the judge had summed up avoiding the ice-cold glaze from Sue, Rob's ex mother-in-law. Ricky also managed to avoid the press who were camped outside and made his way to the nearest pub.
Simon Grant's family however were keen to talk to the media, with what appeared to be Simon's uncle slamming Rob Foster as a psycho that should never be allowed out, before adding that he was scum and would go to a nice warm hospital for a few years and he protested that justice had not been done, again reiterating the word scum when referring to Rob.
For the rest of the day, the rain continued to hammer down crying like tears from heaven. And it was almost like the rest of the world was crying with it.
Chapter Thirty-four
Dr Beaumont had tried to explain to Amelia that it was doubtful she would be going with her father on Safari. However, despite all her rationale and reasoning against her decision, the tears of Amelia pulled on Dr Beaumont's heartstrings and in the end, she succumbed to Jonathan's ploy. Charlotte even tried to convince herself that maybe some time alone with Jonathan would do Amelia the world of good, also it was a once in a lifetime experience for a little girl. Despite this, she made it clear to Jonathan that she would not be going on the trip and so reluctantly agreed to take Amelia out of school for educational purposes.
Even as she phoned the school and explained to them what was happening, she could feel herself questioning why she had agreed to such a venture. However, she also felt it was important for her to maybe spend some time alone to think generally about what she wanted from life and what was best for Amelia. In the meantime, Charlotte just hoped that Jonathan would take the best care of the little girl who was her whole world.
"How do you do? My name's James but some people call me Jimmy."
Rob looked up, half comatose from the medication to see a tall, Asian figure in his late thirties with a shaved head. Rob held out his hand to receive and replied, "Yeah I've heard about you, mate, they say you've got a thing for animals," Rob said with a smile.
"I was hoping to train as a doctor and I just wanted to get a head start. I still hope to train in the future. I am very knowledgeable on medical matters hence I tried early autopsies." He continued, "The human mammal is very complex however if you can master smaller mammals then this, in turn, may help with surgeries on a wider scale."
Rob started to chuckle to himself, the guys on the ward were right. Jimmy was a complete fruit-loop despite his manners and pleasantries.
Jimmy went on to ask Rob, "Now tell me, do you play chess?" He then added, "I often like to play and try to find adversaries of an intelligent nature, in fact, I have a local National Master of the Hull Chess Society visiting me this afternoon, however I find it so difficult to lose without making it too obvious." Jimmy continued, "If I defeated him every game, he might not want to come back and play against me."
Rob could see the intelligence in this psycho stood in front of him. Jimmy had a very humanistic appeal but then, by all accounts, what type of madman does autopsies on cats and dogs. Rob exchanged pleasantries with Jimmy and tried to keep the conversation light, he did not want Jimmy to decide that Rob needed any type of reconstructive surgery in the middle of the night.
Chapter Thirty-five
Life on the ward had not changed much for Rob since he had arrived. In fact, for someone that had led such a full life, it was almost torture to be locked up almost comatose by medication with nothing to do except watch daytime television. He reflected on his life and toyed with the idea of calling Annie from the ward phone but, given how their last meeting had gone at Hull Prison, he doubted that she would be very responsive. Not to mention that the court had granted Annie a restraining order, probably on the back of Sue's interfering.
As for the staff on the ward, they seemed a mixture of overworked anxiety, along with contempt for all the patients that were incarcerated. Two stuck out in particular, Sally Cooper constantly went on about how she was under pressure all the time and that the lads on the ward had it easy because they had no responsibilities. When she wasn't moaning about how difficult her life was, she was boasting about her award winning five-year-old Corgi.
Not only had it won best dog in show during the local finals but Sally would also brag that it was a rare breed and the only other people in the country to own one were the royals. As a cruel dig at the patients, she would often remark that her prize-winning Corgi had more brains, manners and social skills than the patients on the ward. Sally Cooper was the senior manager on the ward and it was almost a license to make the patients' lives a misery.
The other nursing staff member that stood out was Chris Daniels. He was a lad in his early thirties, just a bit younger than Rob but liked to carry himself, on the wards, as a bit of a hard man. He often liked to wear clothes that were far too tight on him and it was no surprise the clothes were ill fitting given the amount of food he constantly had in his hands. Daniels had even been known to eat the food that patients had disregarded.
Another sore point for Rob was the fact that Daniels had been in the Territorial Army and Rob regarded this as a bit of a weekend drinking club. Both Sally and Chris made the lives of the patients miserable. Both had superiority complexes and both were arrogant, self-serving and intimidating toward all who were on the ward, including staff.
Chris was telling Rob, for the third time, about all the things he'd done within the TA. Chris was almost intimidated by Rob because Rob was the real deal. Chris went on about how he'd done a forty-eight-hour exercise and that he was the only one in his platoon still awake. As if by magic, with the perfect timing, Dr Beaumont arrived on the ward to see Rob. Chris Daniels was surprised when he saw Dr Beaumont and then tried to make out he was busy with work matters whilst at the same time salivating like a sweating dog around Dr Beaumont.
"Rob, how about a quick walk in the garden to get you off the ward and then maybe we can talk some more," said Charlotte.
This was like music to Rob's ears, especially as he'd received a letter from Annie's solicitor filing for divorce and felt he could confide in Charlotte. The last thing he wanted to do was talk to Sally Cooper or Chris Daniels about it. "Great, I could do with some fresh air," Rob replied.
Chris Daniels looked almost jealous as he opened the security airlock in order to allow Rob and Charlotte to roam free in the garden.
Chapter Thirty-six
It wasn't the first time Rob had been allowed access to the garden although these small treats were few and far between as there were only three patients allowed in the hospital garden at the same time, and this was the rule for all the hospital wards. Even so, the garden was quite large. A grassed area with views of the city of Hull which was spoiled by the secure, ten metre, steel mesh fence.
As with the very first meeting in Hull prison, there was a pause between Charlotte and Rob. However, this time it was Charlotte who broke the silence. "How are you finding life on the wards, Rob?"
Rob sighed. "To be honest, I find it mind numbingly boring however some of the lads are all right, I just wish I had more access to the outside world or more in the way of leave at least."
Charlotte smiled. "Don't worry about that, Rob, I'm g
oing to put you forward to have ground leave within the hospital grounds within the next few days, however I have to get the Home Secretary's approval first."
"OK, give him my regards," Rob said cheekily.
Again, Charlotte smiled. It was obvious, the connection between doctor and patient was there and despite Charlotte only knowing Rob for a short period of time, she felt he was unique and that she could trust him. Both characteristics were rare from an academic point of view. Both doctor and patient continued to walk then Rob mentioned, "My wife has written to me via her solicitor, she's filed for divorce." Rob showed Charlotte the letter.
"There's not a lot I can say, Rob, to be honest, it happens to the best of us." As soon as Charlotte said that remark, she regretted it. It was unprofessional.
"Sounds like you're getting divorced too then," Rob replied.
"Not that it's any business of yours," Charlotte joked, "but yes I might not be Dr Beaumont for much longer."
Rob made light of the subject. "Well then give your soon to be ex-husband my number, we'll go out for a beer together and drown our sorrows."
Charlotte smiled, then Rob added, "Once we've painted the town red and drank away all the maintenance money, then we'll go to a lap-dancing club together, hopefully, waking up in a ditch."
Charlotte wanted to change the subject. "Okay, so how are you finding the medication, any side effects, Rob?"
"I must admit, I've been sleeping a lot better but I do feel a bit like a zombie but I don't know if that's just from being on the ward all day."
Charlotte was happy with the response and it confirmed to her that the medication was working. Then she replied, "You may feel a bit drowsy at first but that will wear off. Also, and this is really important, Rob, you must remember to keep taking this medication as it will make all the difference to your wellbeing."
Both doctor and patient continued their stroll in the garden and both enjoyed the late spring sunshine and continued to talk for the next half an hour or so. Rob almost felt like a child walking in the park with his mother but again Rob knew that this was strictly a doctor-patient relationship. For all he was recovering from deep psychosis, he knew full well he would not be walking off into the sunset with Dr Beaumont like in the movies.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Ricky had been drinking all afternoon in the Admiral pub. By all accounts, he was a bitter man. Although nobody said anything to him about what had happened to Rob, his son. Even his cronies that he'd known for years seemed to snub him and avoid conversation. Ricky could take that; he'd been through worse. What stuck in Ricky's throat was the fact that Rob had given so much for his country and got so little in return. In fact, it was less than nothing. It was almost as if his son had been disregarded by the country for which he served. Ricky was angry with the world. It was getting near eight o' clock when Callum walked in. Ricky couldn't even look him in the eye and Callum made a point of walking up to the bar and standing right next to Ricky in order to intimidate him and belittle him in front of his crew.
"Here, lads, anyone got a spare straight jacket," Callum muttered. "Don't want to get stabbed on the way home." All within Ricky's earshot. At the same time, there was a nervous laughter around Callum's crew, almost as if they felt Callum was going too far. Harry was watching the events unfold in his pub in between serving his punters. Callum then went on, "I hear that Annie's single now, bet her dress'll be on my bedroom floor tonight, as for the bastard son, I'll just leave him outside while I give her a good seeing to."
Again, the nervous laughter ensued until one of the crew turned around and said, "Come on, Cal, leave it out."
Ricky finished off his Low Flyer in one quick shot and slammed the tumbler down on the bar. He then turned to Callum and his crew and said, "You don't have to defend me, son, you're scum just like him."
Callum started to get annoyed. "Watch your mouth, old man, or you might get hurt."
Ricky was too intoxicated by anger and whisky to care. "Callum!" Ricky slurred. "You may be the big 'I-am' in here tonight with your crew when you've had a sniff of the barmaid's apron but you've done fuck all with your life. My son's gone out and worn the queen's uniform and fought for the freedoms that you enjoy." He then went on, "What have you ever done with your life."
Callum just stood there, it was as if even he didn't know what to say. Ricky still continued. "Everyone knows what you did, Callum, and what shit you peddle. The fact is, you're responsible for that man's murder but you're not man enough to own up to it being the grubby little parasite that you are. You're just a fucking drug dealer, scourge to society but you mark my words, sunshine, your day will come."
The Admiral pub had gone quiet at this point. Everybody was staring at Callum whose face was turning red with embarrassment. "Fucking leave this pub now, old man," Callum muttered menacingly.
"What's the matter?" Ricky added. "Does the truth upset your stomach. You want to take on an old man, I'll fuckin' fight you now, you bastard."
And with the dexterity of a lame bird, Ricky struck out, in vain, at the man who was really responsible for Rob's predicament. Callum could see the punch coming from a mile away and stepped back, all the time, smiling. Harry came over within an instant and, for the second time, barred Callum from the Admiral.
Callum did not like to be outdone and while his crew had all made their way home, Callum waited in the doorway in the dark opposite the Admiral for Rob's father to leave the pub.
Chapter Thirty-eight
Charlotte and Amelia stood at the airport reception waiting for Jonathan. In spite of the fact that Jonathan knew Charlotte had other engagements that day, not least of all work, Jonathan still managed to arrive nearly an hour late. Amelia was just starting to get restless when Jonathan appeared wearing his light brown chinos, checked pink shirt and carrying his holdall.
"Charlotte, darling, how are you?" he said, almost ignoring Amelia.
At the same time, the curious seven-year-old girl ran up to her father shouting, "Daddy, Daddy!"
Jonathan picked up Amelia and walked to Charlotte, bending his head to try to kiss his soon to be ex-wife. Charlotte withdrew her face, offering only her cheek.
"You're late, Jonathan," Charlotte protested. "I told you I've got to be at work for a meeting."
"Meeting, shmeeting," Jonathan mimicked, "you know you can still get a flight today if you wanted to come."
"Not now," Charlotte deflected, "and not in front of Amelia."
"But, baby," Jonathan continued.
Charlotte stopped him there. "Jonathan, I've got to go," then added, "Amelia, give Mummy a kiss before I go, I'll see you really soon."
Innocently, the little girl kissed her mother while Charlotte held Amelia for all she was worth. "See you soon, Amelia, I love you very much."
"I love you too, Mummy."
Jonathan held out for a hug too, but Charlotte just gave him an ice-cold stare before making her way across the airport toward the exit. Just before the exit gate, Charlotte stopped to wave but Jonathan and Amelia were gone and at the same time, Charlotte had a cold shiver up her spine. Being a doctor, she quickly dismissed this and under her breath said, "It's only for a few weeks." She left the airport and hurried back to her car.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Ricky Foster woke up in the short stay ward at Hull Royal Infirmary attached to various machines that were beeping intermittently. Initially, Ricky didn't know where he was, but the drummer in his head was banging furiously. It was at this point Ricky realised it wasn't the whisky that was responsible for his pounding head. He looked over to his left to see an intravenous drip in his arm, and various implements placed around his body. As he started to awake, he felt the screeching pain within his stomach but Ricky already knew what the source of this pain was.
The previous evening, Callum had watched Ricky leave the Admiral and followed him down the pedestrian walkway. Callum then attacked Ricky from behind with an old police truncheon that he had kept for just
such a purpose. Ricky was powerless to fight as the blows rained down one after the other. Not only had Callum fractured some of Ricky's ribs, but also had managed to knock a couple of Ricky's teeth out with his steel toecaps.
Even after Ricky remained unconscious, Callum continued to kick various parts of Ricky's body, high on aggression and amphetamine. Soon after, Callum had heard revellers approaching and so thought his work was done, and hid in the dark until the potential witnesses were out of sight. Callum looked at the old man on the ground, but decided to make good on his escape.
It was several hours later that Ricky was found at around four a.m. by a passing truck driver on his way to work. Initially, the truck driver thought Ricky was dead but it was only when the ambulance arrived the paramedics discovered Ricky was still breathing. Of course, at this point, Callum had already rung his crew in order to maintain his alibi that they were all together in Callum's flat.
The doctors at Hull Royal Infirmary could recognise a savage attack when they saw one. However, Dr Partridge knew the majority of the wounds were superficial and would heal in time. The routine blood test which the medical staff took initially showed a much more sinister diagnosis. Ricky Foster had cancer. In fact, the cancer was well advanced but Dr Partridge knew, like most men of Ricky Foster's generation, it had not been dealt with when symptoms appeared. Dr Partridge stood at the foot of Ricky's bed, psyching herself up to give Ricky the unfortunate news.
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