The Surgeon's Case by E G Rodford

Author:E G Rodford [Rodford, E G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781785650055
Publisher: Titan
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

28

GALBRAITH AND I SAT OPPOSITE EACH OTHER AT THE SMALL table in the communal kitchen. Aurora was asleep in Maggie’s counselling room, curled up on the small couch where couples sat and tried to work out their issues. Now Galbraith – who’d only been convinced to stay after I’d threatened to call the police to the scene – and I had to work out our issues without the benefit of mediation. Bits of paper towel I’d stuck to the cut above my right eye had stemmed the bleeding. My cheek and lip were swollen and throbbing and my elbow, which had taken a knock on the stairs, was exchanging shooting pains with my shoulder. Galbraith, from a distance, looked like he’d stepped off his launch looking for cocktails. Up close, though, he had some golden stubble in admission of the lateness of the hour and the bottom of his eyelids were red with lack of sleep.

What with coaxing Aurora out of my office and getting her settled in Maggie’s, he’d had time to compose himself and was smiling, ready for whatever I might throw at him.

“So, why don’t you tell me what the hell’s going on?” I asked.

“Nothing’s going on. Badem’s men must have taken things into their own hands. When I speak to Badem I’m sure there will be consequences and a fulsome apology.”

“Maybe even some compensation?” I said, but he missed the irony in my voice.

“I’m sure that can be arranged.”

“How did they know we’d be here?”

“I’ve no idea.”

“No idea, huh?”

He shrugged casually. I patted the attaché case which was on the floor by my side.

“So what’s in here?”

“Medical notes, as I said.”

“Badem’s?”

“Yes,” he said, running his thumb along the groove under his bottom lip. If we were playing poker I would have gone all in.

“Shall we have a look?” I pulled the case onto the table. It hadn’t left my side since we’d come into the building and I’d bolted the front door behind us.

“You want to look at Badem’s confidential medical records?”

“Indulge me, I’ve had a shit night so far.”

“OK.” He turned the case round so that the locks faced him and turned the dials, not bothering to hide the code which I memorised just for the hell of it. Releasing the brass locks, he opened the leather flaps and pulled out a grey folder thick with papers and showed it to me without opening it. When I reached out to take it he pulled it back and held it with both hands to his chest.

“No, I draw the line at you reading the notes. How would you like it if I went through one of your confidential files?” We locked eyes and I tipped the briefcase onto its side with the open mouth towards me, daring him to react. He froze, his forced smile trying to convince me that he didn’t care that I was going through his stuff. Inside were some more giveaway pens, pads and medical brochures but what interested me was a large manila envelope with a string-tie closure.

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