Page 168 of This Woman Forever

I growl under my breath in frustration, feeling like I’m hitting dead end after dead end. And yet that horrible, niggling feeling persists. I go to my mobile and dial the medical practice in Scotland again, glancing across at Ava. She’s still conked out, but I disconnect my phone from Bluetooth anyway and take it to my ear. “Hi, yes, my name’s Jesse Ward. I’ve called numerous times about a doctor that used to work there. I’m yet to hear back.”

“Ah, Mr. Ward, yes, you spoke to me. I passed your message and number over to the practice manager.”

“Well, they’ve not returned my call.”

“She’s very busy.”

“I appreciate that.” I grit my teeth, tell myself I’ll get nowhere throwing my weight around. Especially when I’m not there in person. “Listen, this is really quite important.” Like a matter of sanity.

There’s a brief pause before a light sigh. “Bear with me.”

I deflate in my seat, despite there not being a positive outcome yet, as I tap the wheel, eyes between Ava and the motorway.

“Hello, this is Gloria Day speaking, practice manager. How can I help you, Mr. Ward?”

I sit up straight in my seat. “Ms. Day, thank you for taking my call.”

“Yes, well, you caught me between appointments.”

Get on with it. “I’m looking for a friend who used to work there. Dr. Alan Pierce.”

“I’m afraid data protection prevents me from discussing former collogues.”

“So he did used to work there?”

“Yes, Dr. Pierce is a former doctor here.”

I squint at the windscreen, trying to calculate how old Lauren’s father would be now. “Former as in no longer there, or former as in no longer a doctor at all?” Retired? Or is he dead?

“Mr. Ward?—”

“Retired?”

“I’m—”

“Moved on to another practice?”

She exhales her irritation. “Alan left a few years ago, Mr. Ward. I haven’t heard from him since.”

“Do you have an address?”

“Mr. Ward, come on, you know I can’t divulge that information,” she says tiredly.

“So you do have an address?”

“Yes, but even if I could disclose that information, it would be pointless because he moved away from the area.”

My mind races, trying to build a picture. I glance across to Ava. “And you’ve not heard from him since?”

“No, but I’m not surprised.”

I raise my brows. “Why?”

Silence. She’s said too much.

“I’m an old friend,” I go on. “I was close to the Pierces when they lost their granddaughter.”

“Oh,” she breathes. “Yes, very tragic.”

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