“Thank you, Doctor. Don’t let us keep you,” Mr Johnson said. He draped an arm around Hattie’s shoulder, and with her head resting on his chest, she broke down.
Katy followed the doctor out of the room and trotted beside him back to triage. “No bullshit, Doc, what are we looking at here?”
“Honestly, the prognosis isn’t good. He’s barely clinging to life. I have to get back to him. Please, do not tell the family this, but I don’t think he’s going to make it.”
“Damn. Please do your best for him.”
“I will, I assure you. I’m not in the habit of losing a patient, no matter how devastating the injuries. I’ll keep you all informed.”
“Thank you.” Katy tried to peer through the door the doctor sped through in his haste to get back to his patient. A young man lay flat out on the bed, attached to several monitors with a couple of nurses checking his wounds and his vital signs. Her heart sank. She slowly made her way back to the family room.
Three sets of eyes glanced her way as she entered.
“I did my best. He couldn’t tell me anything more.” She hated lying, but it was only a white lie in her eyes. One that would protect the family from the terrible truth. They were stuck in a waiting game now.
Katy returned to her seat, and Charlie gave her a reassuring nod. At least her partner appeared to appreciate the turmoil she was going through.
The wait was excruciating and went on another thirty minutes or so until the young doctor reappeared. “Hello again. I’m sorry, we did all we could to try and save Ethan, but he slipped away from us a few minutes ago. His injuries were just too severe for his body to handle.”
Hattie screamed, and Des Johnson cradled her in his arms as the colour drained from his cheeks.
Charlie reached for Katy’s hand and squeezed it. Katy shook her head, and tears of frustration dripped onto her cheeks which she swiftly wiped away.
“Thank you, Doctor. For all you’ve done,” Katy said, finally finding her voice.
“I wish the news could be different. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Des just stared at him, a lost soul on a deserted island of grief.
The doctor left the room again.
“Is there anything we can do?” Katy asked, not really knowing what else to say to the grieving couple.
Des pointed over Hattie’s shoulder at Katy. “You can get out there and find the bastards who did this. I’m warning you now, if you don’t find them, I’ll make it my life’s ambition to track the fuckers down and kill them one by one.”
“While I appreciate how angry you are, sir, that kind of talk is not going to help the issue. I’ll give you my assurance that my team and I will do our very best to bring the culprits to justice. Please, we don’t want any type of vigilantism going on.”
“Then get out there and find them. I know what you lot are like. Why do you think there are so many cold cases in the bowels of the police stations in London, eh? I listen to the news. Well, now this affects me and my family, and I promise you, mess up, and I’ll make sure I take things higher, and I’ll have no hesitation in getting the press involved either, you hear me?”
Hattie ran a hand down his arm.
“Yes, loud and clear, Mr Johnson. Some officers might see your words as a threat, but not me. I can see you feel passionately about your son’s death and are in the throes of grieving for him. We’ll be in touch with you as soon as we have any news for you.”
“And don’t forget to look back on what happened to his wife while you’re at it. It was no accident, I guarantee you.”
“We’ll be sure to do that, Mr Johnson.”
Katy and Charlie left the room.
“When did Ethan’s wife die?” Charlie asked.
“Two years ago. Seems a bit bizarre he should mention it, expecting us to delve into it, but then again, he might have a point. Who bloody knows?”
6
Katy ordered the team to go home at around eight that evening. Her joints ached through weariness and tension during the drive home. A sadness rifled through her that she had missed Georgina’s bath time that evening. She had made a promise to herself to always be there for that. She realised now how unrealistic that assurance had been. Her job would need to interfere at times. She hoped it wouldn’t happen too often.
Women coppers have it tough, trying to balance work and their home lives at the same time!
She smiled, appreciating how lucky she was to have a more understanding husband than most women in her position. Being an ex-copper, he was aware of what she was up against on a daily basis.
She couldn’t wish for a better partner, or husband as he was now. She had a feeling that was going to take some getting used to, calling AJ her hubby. She couldn’t be happier, though. Life had dealt her some major blows in the past, but her recent trip to the registry office had to have been the highlight of her life to date. She just hoped her parents saw it that way when they eventually told them.
We’ll deal with that another time.
She entered the house and tugged off her shoes, shocked to see her ankles were swollen. Although she shouldn’t really be surprised, after the day she’d had. She crept into the kitchen. AJ was at the stove, stirring the contents of a frying pan. She slid her arms around his
