Don't Wake Up by Liz Lawler

Author:Liz Lawler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2018-12-29T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty

Wearing black protective earmuffs and a yellow fluorescent jacket with DOCTOR written in green on the back, Alex stood, like her guests, with her back to the helicopter, facing the bushes and wire mesh fence. The blades were still rotating and natural debris – twigs, leaves and even small stones from the ground – could be whipped up and flung into their eyes.

They were standing in the cricket field only yards from the emergency department entrance, separated from the hospital grounds by a simple fence. It was a perfect spot for the airlifting of patients, and the cricket club put up with the occasional interruption without complaint.

The helicopter behind her – privately owned by three of Wiltshire’s ambulance pilots – was a Robinson R44, a lightweight four-seater that allowed good visibility to all its passengers.

The tall twin warning lamps in front of her were flashing blue, indicating that the helipad was in use. Alex waited for the engine to be silenced before turning and watching for the ‘approach’ hand signal to be given.

She could hardly believe what she’d done. This impulsive decision was so out of character. She didn’t even like Detective Inspector Turner; she was well aware he regarded her as some kind of flake. She could only put her behaviour down to her earlier mood and her utter dismay and embarrassment at being rejected by Nathan Bell.

Maybe she was a flake. Her new friend, Maggie, thought so too. She had left Maggie’s house the night before vowing silently never to return. She had curled up in the centre of her double bed feeling utterly alone and afraid, and it had only been the thought of seeing Nathan Bell today that stopped her from reaching for the vodka or diazepam to help her through the night.

‘Dr Taylor, are you absolutely sure this is OK?’ her guest now asked.

His face wasn’t a closed book for once, and she saw the questions in his eyes. Are you sure we can just get on this helicopter and no one will stop us? Is this a wind-up?

Before she could answer, her name was hollered from across the field. Seb Morrisey had climbed out of the pilot’s seat and was walking with an awkward gait towards her.

‘Hello, my favourite doctor. It’s about time you got yourself back in the driver’s seat.’ His Australian accent was pleasing and his manner infectious, and she found herself laughing as he swirled her off the ground in a bear hug.

He then noticed her two guests and stepped forward with his hand outstretched. ‘You must be Mr Turner,’ he said, shaking the man’s hand. ‘And you must be Joe,’ he said to the boy. ‘Pleased you could make it. It’s going to be a nice flight. Visibility’s good for the next few hours or so.’

‘You can call me Greg, and thank you for inviting us,’ Greg Turner replied. ‘It’s really good of you.’

‘No problem, Greg. Any guest of Alex’s is more than welcome. She’s a VIP.’

Alex wanted to

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