Seductive Truths (Seductive Trilogy) (37 page)

    
‘
Capturing the most wanted criminal in London would be a bonus.  It will finally get me the recognition I deserve.
’

    
‘
Most wanted, I’m touched.  Did you hear that Alex?  They want me.  Didn’t anyone ever tell you, Peters, that it is nice to feel wanted?  Shame the same can’t be said about you.  The only people who despise you more than us criminals are your colleagues.  They’ll scrap this inquiry and you know it, so why don’t you just do us all a favour and bugger off!
’
Gareth says the last in a slightly higher tenor, which, in normal circumstances would have been of regular speaking volume, but with the deathly quietness of the hospital, it was like an avalanche, causing me to jump at the sudden change.

    
‘
Gentlemen!
’
Nurse Harding scolds as she scuttles over to us. 
‘
I would like to remind you that you are in a hospital, not a playground.
’
  Turning her attention towards Peters she says,
‘
I believe you’ve finished Sergeant.  It is time for my patient to rest.  I do not want him to become overtaxed as he is still recovering.
’

     Before Detective Sergeant Derek Peters could say another word he is being shooed away by the wonderful nurse. 
Got to thank her later, she’s a godsend
.

    
‘
Thank God that is over.  Feel sorry for the poor sod losing his sister, but it still doesn’t excuse his behaviour.  He’s still a creepy, corrupt copper that needs a swift kick up the…
’

    
‘
Yes, I think I get the picture Gareth.
’

     Suddenly grabbing hold of my hand, he urgently growls,
‘
Promise me you’ll stay away from him.  Peters is nothing but bad news.  He’ll try anything to get a collar and I don’t want you going down for my mistakes.  William was right about one thing.  I am led by crime and
always will be.  It’s all I know and I have to admit, I am bloody good at it,
’
he smirks.  I can’t resist but to respond in kind.

     This man is sensational.  Under the rough exterior is a heart of gold; it is just temporarily misplaced at times.  I wonder what he’d be like as a husband.  Even a father with two little Gareth’s running around at his feet, demanding his attention all the time, while I look on from the window above, rocking our little girl to sleep…
Whoa!  Calm down Alex, jumping ahead a bit there aren’t you?  He’s still lying in a hospital bed recovering and you’ve got him married, fathered and decorated in a neatly picturesque image. 

    
I think I need a bit of me time.

    
‘
I’m just going to take a breather,
’
I say abruptly, going to stand, my hand slipping from his. 
‘
I have never been very good in hospitals.
’
 

     Kissing him on the cheek I turn to head out, but after taking a single step my head begins to spin and I stumble.

    
‘
Alex!
’
Gareth squeaks from behind.

     Righting myself I look back saying,
‘
I’m okay.  Like I said, I don’t like hospitals.  All I need is a bit of air.
’

    
‘
Are you sure?  Shouldn’t you go and see the nurse or something, just to be on the safe side?
’

    
‘
I told you, I’m fine…
’

    
‘
For me will you?  To ease my mind?
’

     I’m about to reply but before I have chance he spots Nurse Harding and calls out.

    
‘
Nurse Harding!
’

    
‘
Yes Mr Brown?
’

    
‘
My…
wife
isn’t feeling too good, I was wondering if you could check her over or something.
’
 

    
‘
What seems to be the problem?
’

    
‘
She almost fainted.
’

    
‘
Fainted?
’
and she gazes my way wi
th a pointed look as if to say ‘again?’

    
‘
Yeah she stumbled.  So could you?
’

    
‘
Well I’m free at the moment if you want to do it now.  It’ll only take a second,
’
she smiles sweetly.

    
Fine.  I’ll let you check me over if it will shut you up and leave me alone
.

     I smile tersely in return. 
‘
Thanks, as long as it’s no trouble.
’

    
‘
None at all.  If you’d like to follow me, we may proceed.
’

    
Better get it over with I suppose
.




     Taking a deep breath, I fill my lungs with fresh air, sweeping all my troubles under the carpet until I can face them again.  As I perch on a bench in a little garden they have here at the hospital, I take this time to look forward, to a future I never thought possible. 
At the

    
Between two to three days she said.  In two or three days I shall know
.
  But do I want to know?  I could have opted for a pee stick test, but I went for the blood, why?  Can detect earlier I suppose and Nurse Harding wanted to make sure nothing else was behind my fainting.  I guess only time will tell
.

     I knew one day this would happen, hoped it would anyway and now it has, I am frightened.  I never imagined it to come about like this.  It’s a completely dysfunctional way to start a new beginning.  What am I to do if…no, can’t think that far ahead.  I just need to wait, be patient, only then will I know how to proceed. 

     Peering around my surroundings, I see many people continuously going in and out of the hospital entrance.  The automated doors hardly get a chance to close before someone else passes through.  A couple of nurses in blue come rushing out, frantically searching the premises, then all is calm as they find their target, guiding them back indoors with fits of protest. 

     Not long after one commotion disperses, another commences when an ambulance screeches to a halt and a few paramedics in green wheel a stretcher out carrying,
what
appears to be a rather bloodied man with a pole sticking out of his leg. 

    
Nasty!  I wouldn’t want to be in his position right now
.
  I wonder how he got into that mess in the first place
.  But it is
just
like
everything else
.  One minute you are on top of the world, the next it comes crashing down around you.

     My mind can’t help but drift back to the dream from earlier.  What could be the meaning behind it?  What did that letter say?  Who could it be from?  And what’s with the disappearing blood, bed and light?  What could they represent?  Does any of it have meaning or was it only a silly little nightmare with no foundation?  I know it is going to plague me whatever it is. 

     Tilting my head up to the sky I take a deep breath of the crisp air.  The chill hits my lungs, stabbing my chest with its intensity. 
What I wouldn’t give to have my brother here with me now.  He’d know what to do, he always did.  God I miss him
.

     Even as I sit here a tear is brought to my eye as I remember the way he used to joke about difficult situations followed swiftly with hug and the ruffling of my hair.  It didn’t matter how upset I was Thomas never failed to bring a smile to my face.

     I’m afraid of what the future has in store for me.  I’m clinging to the past, I felt safe then, but there is only so long I can do that.  Eventually it will start to drift away becoming nothing more but a distant memory that will slowly fade over time and this is what scares me the most.  I’m afraid of forgetting and moving on with my life when I know he won’t be a part of it.

     Ultimately I am afraid of letting go and it has taken me this long to finally realise this.

     Walking back onto the ward I stop dead in my tracks when I spot Gareth sitting up in bed, eyes staring unseeing ahead and his hand clutching the piece of paper with the number on it.  The haunted look in his eyes cannot be mistaken.  He is fearful of something and also sad, his slightly raised eyebrows is a testament to that.  I wonder what could be the cause behind it.

    
‘
Gareth?
’
I say while continuing to go towards him.

     He doesn’t even flinch.

    
‘
Gareth?
’

     It isn’t until I touch his hand do I get any recognition of my presence.

    
‘
What?  Oh, it’s you.  Have you been standing there long?
’

    
‘
Erm, no, just got back.  Is everything alright?
’

    
‘
Of course,
’
he frowns. 
‘
Why wouldn’t it be?
’

    
‘
It’s just that you looked ever so worried a minute ago.
’

    
‘
Me?  Worried?  Nah, I’m fine.  Why would I have anything to worry about?
’

    
‘
Thought it may have something to do with that number I gave you.
’

    
‘
What this?
’
he lifts it up. 
‘
No, this is just a number that doesn’t mean anything.
’

    
‘
I don’t understand.  Dougie said…
’

    
‘
Well Dougie can go and screw himself,
’
Gareth snaps, his cheeks turning a rosy hue. 
‘
He doesn’t know his arse from his elbow half of the time.
’

    
‘
What has gotten into you?  Why are you behaving like this?
’

    
‘
Like what?  I’m just being myself.
’

    
‘
No you’re not.  You’re turning into someone I don’t recognise.
’

    
‘
Yeah, like you knew me before hand,
’
he glares at the wall in the opposite direction.

    
Why is he behaving like this?  What is wrong with him?

    
‘
Why are you being such an arsehole?  Are you deliberately trying to push me away?  Is that it Gareth?  Is it?
’
  He shifts his body away. 
‘
Say something then.
’

    
‘
Just go Alex.
’

    
‘
Go?  And where do you expect me to go to!  You could at least have the decency to look at me when I’m talking to you.
’
 

    
What’s going on?  Just when I thought things were working out for the better.  I wish Dougie never bumped into me!

    
‘
Why can’t you talk to me?  What’s going on in that head of yours Gareth?
’

     I reach out to ruffle his hair but he jerks away from my touch like he has been electrocuted.  My heart constricts at the rejection.

    
‘
I said leave me alone Alex,
’
and he levels me with his glare. 
At least he is looking at me now
.

     His words may be filled with hatred, or in the least have the intention to cause pain, but all I see in his eyes is the opposite.  He doesn’t want me to go; it is killing him inside to say that he does, so why is he saying it?  Is he trying to protect me?  If so, from what?  I wish he would just talk to me.

    
‘
What are you scared of?
’
  He frowns, mouth ajar in preparation to speak but I jump in before he has chance. 
‘
No point in denying it, I can see it in your eyes.
’
  Gareth swiftly turns his attention to the bed linen. 
‘
Was it to do with that number?  Did you call it?  Who was it?
’