Page 18 of No Safe Place

---

Chapter 9

D:P—, breathe …

P:I can’t breathe. I haven’t been able to breathe for years.

Pause

P:I’m tired, and I’m sad and I’mangry. I am so – fucking – angry.

Pause

D:It’s okay. You’re safe, here.

P:Don’t. Don’t do that, D—.

D:Listen, just take a seat.

P:No.

Pause

P:I need to get out of here. I shouldn’t be here, not with you. I need to go home –move.Seriously.

Pause

P:I’m not joking. Get out of my way.

Pause

P:If you don’t move, I’ll fucking tell. I’ll tell anyone who will listen.

D:P—, please …

P:Don’t touch me.

Chapter 10

Wednesday | Afternoon

Field

As Wilson swung into the King’s College car park, Field checked the time on the dash. With lunchtime traffic and blue lights, they’d made it from Plumstead to Denmark Hill in thirty-five minutes. Wilson stopped the car just short of a cross-hatch yellow box, so Field could jump out.

‘So you’re okay to get back and go over all the CCTV?’ Field checked her appearance in the sun visor, and rubbed at a smudge of mascara with a dry finger.

‘Yep, no worries. Will you be back to the station today?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe.’ Field flicked the visor up. ‘Either way, keep in touch.’

Field didn’t stop to watch Wilson pull away. She jogged into the building and went straight to ICU, taking the stairs instead of waiting for a lift.

The clean, medical smell got stronger on the intensive careward, and Field stopped at the desk. There were no nurses, and it was eerily quiet.

‘Detective Field?’

She turned to see a tall, dark-haired man in scrubs walking towards her.

‘Dr Wheatley,’ he said by way of introduction, holding his hand out.

---