‘So, the noggin is fine?’ Riddick asked.
‘Yes… well… it’s not fractured,’ Dr Sally Fisher said. ‘However, I recommend—’
‘That’s okay,’ Riddick said, swinging his legs off the hospital bed. ‘That won’t be necessary.’
She flushed red. ‘I haven’t even made my recommendation yet.’
He smiled. ‘I’m a mind reader. You’re worried about concussion. You want to keep me in. I’m not concussed. I feel great.’ He wandered over to a chair in the corner on which his jacket lay.
‘I’m surprised you can read any mind after today. You were hit with a brick.’
‘He should’ve taken a run up. I was still standing – in a fashion.’ He hoisted on his jacket.
‘Be aware that this goes against my advice – you need to be supervised.’
‘I’ve had my stitches; I appreciate it. I need to find out what’s going on with Cherish – the girl I came in with. Do you know anything?’
‘I’m afraid not.’
As he exited the hospital room, Sally called out, ‘And Paul?’
He turned back. ‘Yes?’
‘When are you calling me by the way?’
‘Calling?’
‘Are you sure he didn’t take that run up when he hit you? We chatted all night, and you said you were going to call me?’
‘Oh yes.’ His face reddened slightly. ‘I was… I mean, I will… it’s just been a crazy couple of weeks.’
‘You still got my number?’
Riddick hoisted his phone from his pocket and held it in the air. ‘Yes.’ He must have looked a plonker – what did having a mobile prove! ‘I’ll call.’
He turned around and made a quick exit. When he was a suitable distance away, he tried calling Gardner on her mobile. He was sent straight through to voicemail.
‘Call me, boss. I’m in hospital… I’m fine. It’s all gone off here, and I’m not sure Cherish is okay… You have to phone me!’
Anders was in the A&E waiting room. He was holding a bandage to his shoulder. Riddick sat down beside him.
‘You still not been seen?’
‘It seems retired coppers aren’t afforded the same priority as active ones.’
‘They clearly haven’t heard of us. You’d have moved to the top of the list, and I’d have hit the bottom.’
‘How it should be! You got a bump on the bloody head, while I took a knife to the shoulder.’
‘You told me it was a scratch.’
‘Aye, yes. A painful one, mind… So, what the bloody hell was that all about then?’
‘Not a clue, but I need to thank you. If you hadn’t been there, well, he’d probably have finished the job.’
‘Are you telling me you owe me one?’
‘Shit… here we go.’
‘I’ll make that appointment for you.’
‘I’m not talking to anyone about my drinking.’
‘Yet, you owe me…’
Riddick stood, shaking his head. ‘Let’s talk about this another time.’
‘Aye, let’s.’
Riddick showed his badge and enquired at reception after Cherish. The receptionist made a few phone calls and then reported that Cherish had gone into labour and given birth. ‘Baby and mother doing well.’
Riddick sighed. Thank God.
He nodded over at where Anders was sitting. ‘Get this old man looked at for me, please. He’s a miserable sod at the best of times, you don’t want to get him even more cranky.’
The receptionist smiled.
Riddick headed out of the ward, followed the appropriately coloured lane around the maze of a hospital, took the lift and arrived at the maternity ward.
As he entered the waiting room, he heard a baby wailing in the distance, and for a moment he was catapulted back to the day his twins were born. Molly and Lucy had been in immediate competition with each other to prove themselves the loudest – unfortunately, that competition had not settled down for the best part of the year. He caught himself smiling in a glass door.
Neil and Mandy were sitting in the waiting room.
You have to be kidding me.
He considered giving the irritant a swerve, but found himself, on autopilot, marching in his direction.
Neil rose to his feet before Riddick reached him.
Riddick opened his mouth to speak when a memory of something Neil had said earlier in the day hit him like a tonne of bricks.
‘D’you realise what my son and that slut’s mistake is going to cost me? Who do you think is going to end up footing the bill?’
Surely not?
‘Something wrong, Paul?’ Neil asked.
‘Why’re you here?’
Neil looked at Mandy, whose eyes and cheeks were red from crying. ‘Take a guess.’
Riddick took a step back and sighed. ‘Do either of you know why she was out at almost eleven o’clock?’
‘No, it makes no sense,’ Mandy said.
Neil shrugged. ‘However, it’s all turned out okay. The lassie was a little premature, but she’ll be just fine.’
‘Turned out okay?’ Riddick said with raised eyebrows. ‘She was mugged by an armed nutter! He could have very easily killed her and her baby…’
Mandy sobbed. Neil put an arm around her shoulders. ‘Please, Paul, tact.’
Riddick could feel his blood boil. ‘We’ll get him though. Rest assured.’
‘You’ve a lead?’ Neil asked.
Was that concern on the bastard’s face?
‘I got a good look at him,’ Riddick said.
‘Cherish told her mother that he wore a balaclava.’
Riddick backed away, nodding his head slightly. ‘Yes, but I’m confident. We’ll have him before the night’s through.’
So, chew on that, prick, Riddick thought. And if you were involved, Neil, we’ll have you too.
He approached reception, showed his badge and requested permission to see Cherish.
He was led into her room. She was sitting up against several cushions, staring at the incubator beside her. Riddick looked inside at the tiny, bluish figure. ‘Beautiful.’
‘Yes,’ Cherish said. ‘What a shitty start for her…’
‘Yes, but it’s not your fault, and the doctors here are great and have it all in hand. I’ve spoken to them. You’re both going to be fine.’
‘Thanks to you.’
Riddick shrugged. ‘I was just there… Did what anybody would have done.’
‘Thanks though.’
‘Don’t mention it.’ Riddick looked down at the baby, who was sucking at her lips. ‘Have you got a name yet?’
‘Ariah.’
‘I like it.’ Riddick looked up at Cherish. She looked worse for wear. She’d caught a blow on her cheek, and it had swollen.
‘I’m leaving, you know,’ Cherish said with a smile.
‘What do you mean?’
‘As soon as we’re both well enough, I’m getting out of here. Away from my mum. Away from that man.’
Wise decision. ‘Do you know where you’ll go?’
‘I have a friend in Starbeck. She’s going to put us up until I get myself sorted.’
Riddick nodded again. ‘I hope it works out for you. I really mean that… Cherish, what were you doing out at almost eleven?’
Cherish looked away. ‘I couldn’t sleep. I went for a long walk. It helps.’
A lie.
‘I see. It’s quite a way from your home, but I guess when you’re restless, you’re restless.’
She looked back at him and nodded.
‘What was in the yellow backpack he stole?’
She looked away again. ‘Just some snacks. I get hungry. All the time…’
Another lie.
She looked at the incubator. ‘Hopefully not any more. Food is going to be expensive. Especially now there’s two of us.’
Riddick looked at the bruised mother and premature baby. He was desperate to press her further on what had really happened, but the situation was sensitive. He also kept thinking about his own wife, holding their two newborn babies. It was the most exciting, if not the most exhausting moment in your entire life. For the first time in as long as Riddick remembered, he held back.
Neil appeared at the door. ‘Just checking in. The nurse told me you really need to rest up, Cherish.’ He glanced at Riddick. ‘The nurse is actually quite worried out there.’ He threw a thumb over his shoulder. ‘Maybe you should leave, Paul?’
Riddick scowled at him.
‘What is your problem, anyway?’ Neil asked. ‘Your pal, Anders, never used to give me this much grief!’
‘What does that mean?’
‘What do you think it means?’
‘Please,’ Cherish said. ‘Don’t argue in front of Ariah.’
Riddick looked back at Cherish. ‘I was just leaving anyway.’
‘Good,’ Neil said.
‘Thanks again, Paul,’ Cherish said.
‘No need to thank me, Cherish, just get yourself rested up.’ He looked down at Ariah. ‘This one here looks like she’s going to be quite the handful.’