Trauma: a gripping psychological mystery thriller by Dylan Young

Author:Dylan Young [Young, Dylan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books - crime, thriller and mystery
Published: 2020-11-30T22:00:00+00:00

30

TUESDAY 17 March

Keely sends Messiter down to greet Todd. She meets them in the room that she’d used to speak to Harriet Roxburgh the previous day. Todd is in sweatshirt and pants and holding an aluminium drinks bottle in one hand. She’s suggested Messiter sits in. Like it or not he’s a part of this now.

‘Any news of the anaesthetist?’ Todd asks, direct as always.

Keely is sitting with a file in her hands. She offers Todd a seat. But it isn’t the sergeant that answers his question. Instead, she turns to Messiter. ‘Dan, tell Mr Todd what you found out.’

Messiter takes the file and, still standing, pulls out a sheet. ‘First off, there was no evidence of anyone dealing drugs. The hospital wanted to make that very clear. But they suspended a female anaesthetist for stealing drugs. Dr Roxburgh was involved only as someone who spoke up on behalf of this doctor. She was a close friend, apparently. The doctor concerned, an Alison Barnet, was disciplined. She’s just finished eighteen months of rehab and a phased return under supervision. She’s now back on the medical register and working in a drop-in centre in Manchester.’

‘So there was no charge?’ Todd asks.

‘The hospital did not want to press charges. They dealt with the issue internally and reported it to the GMC. They’re the ones who police doctor’s fitness to practise, not us.’

‘Even doctors fall off their pedestals sometimes,’ Keely adds. ‘Could it be this is what your notebook message was about?’

‘Liar, liar,’ Todd mutters. ‘Possible, I suppose.’ He sends Messiter one of his glares. ‘And there was no talk of an affair.’

‘I got this from the hospital’s Human Resources department. They weren’t exactly keen to talk. They take confidentiality very seriously. But from what I understand, Dr Roxburgh and Alison Barnet were old friends. In med school together.’

Todd waits.

‘Anything’s possible.’ Messiter squirms. ‘But Barnet was in a relationship with a male colleague at the time.’

Todd is massaging his forehead. ‘And all this took place just before we went to Turkey?’

‘Barnet’s suspension was in September, the month before,’ Keely explains. ‘And I’ve spoken to her. She denies any kind of sexual relationship with Emma. Became very upset that I even suggested it. She considered Emma a very good, loyal and supportive friend. I suppose Emma might have told you about this. Perhaps that’s what you remember. It would be easy to get confused.’

‘Two and two make five. I know,’ Todd says.

Keely watches him flit his eyes around the room, searching. She’s seen the exact same move countless times from desperate people with nowhere else to go. Whether the parent of a lost child, or a caught-out thief, there are no answers anywhere on these featureless walls. And yet she can’t help wondering if he’s holding something back.

‘Confused is my Lidl name,’ Todd says and then adds resignedly. ‘Middle name. I thought it might be important, that’s all.’

‘Fair enough,’ Keely says. She pauses for a beat before speaking again. When she does, it’s phrased as a question.

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