The Spanish Connection by Geraldine Evans

Author:Geraldine Evans
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery;, Thriller, &, Suspense, British, Detectives, Cozy, Traditional, Detectives, british, detective, series, funny, mystery, mystery, police, procedural, detectives, murder, mystery
Publisher: Geraldine Evans

Chapter Eleven

It was half-past three in the morning before Rafferty got home. A quick call to Ma confirmed that Abra was still in labour, for which mercy he thanked God. Not that he’d wanted her to be labouring so long. He just hoped it helped her to forget his failure to keep his promise.

No chance.

He picked up his car from the airport car park, as by now he reckoned the brandies were well out of his system. He was halfway home, thinking he’d have time for a quick shower and shave before he went to the hospital, when Ma rang back. He put it on hands-free before he answered it. ‘Ma?’

‘You’ll want to do your boy racer driving now.’

His heart gave a lurch. ‘Why? Is she having it now? Really?’

‘It surely won’t be long. I speak as one who’s got the tea towel.’

‘Okay, Ma. I’m about thirty minutes away. I’ll get there as soon as I can.’ He forgot any thoughts of going home or shaving off the face-fungus. Fortunately, he spotted a patrol vehicle at the side of the road. Once he’d shown them his warrant card, explained the situation, and persuaded them to escort him on blues and twos, he got there in half the time.

Once in Elmhurst, he went straight to the hospital. He spoke to a nurse and found his way to the Labour Ward, where he was met with a torrent of abuse.

‘Happy to see you, too, sweetheart,’ Rafferty replied. ‘But I know you love me, really. You’re nearly there, sweet-pea, just hang on, and you’ll be mum in no time.’

Another torrent of abuse greeted this attempt at comfort. But then the doctor told her to push really hard, and her baby would be born, so she had no breath left for abuse.

And all of a sudden he was here. The nurse cleaned the nose and mouth, did a cursory clean-up of the rest, wrapped the baby in a towel, and handed him to Abra.

‘Here’s your baby daughter, Mrs Rafferty. She’s going to be a beauty.’

‘A girl?’ said Rafferty.

‘You have some objection to a girl?’ Abra’s gaze narrowed. Exhausted and uncomfortable, she was, he knew, just looking for a target for her spleen.

‘Me? No. Not at all. Can I hold her?’

Abra’s expression softened. ‘Well, you are her daddy.’

Abra slid her into his arms.

He looked into his baby’s face, and fell in love, all over again. ‘Well, hello, little Miss Gorgeous.’ He kissed her cheek. She stared at him from unfocused blue eyes. But at least she didn’t start crying. ‘She looks like you, Abra, lucky girl.’

‘Can I have a hold of the little love?’

‘After being on duty all night,’ said Abra, ‘unlike some people I could mention, I should think you can. Give her to your mum, Joe.’

Reluctantly, Rafferty handed her over. Needless to say, Ma began a stream of chatter to the baby that looked likely to continue a while yet, so Rafferty had the chance to concentrate on Abra. ‘Sorry I wasn’t here for most of it.

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