Page 82 of Gone in the Night
Ben came to see how they were getting on. ‘Are you taking her in?’
Nick shook his head. ‘No, she’s the stubbornest patient I ever did treat. There, you’re good to go, Morgan.’ He’d finished taping gauze over the wound. ‘I better see if Trev needs a hand. You know the score, any dizziness, fainting or blank spells you get straight to A&E.’
‘I will.’
Nick snapped his case shut and stood up.
Ben smiled at Amber. ‘Scene guard for me whilst I get her out of here?’
Amber rolled her eyes. ‘Seriously?’
‘Deadly.’
She shook her head. ‘Might as well be back on response, at least I’d have my body armour.’
Ben linked an arm through Morgan’s. ‘Come on, Wendy has left some evidence bags in the office. You’re going to get changed and then we’re going to visit Ava Rose.’
‘Ava Rose?’
He smiled at her. ‘Amy’s baby, she’s a healthy eight pounds and five ounces, named after her nan, and Cain never passed out at any point during labour. She wants you to be the first person to see her so you know there is more to life than this.’ He pointed in the direction of the kitchen where Beth’s body was cooling on the floor.
Morgan was smiling. ‘A girl, Ava Rose. I love it.’
Once she’d changed, Ben took her out to a waiting van and helped her inside. She couldn’t understand how Beth had murdered her own daughter with so much rage. Clearly Beth wasn’t a well woman, but still, it made Morgan shudder. Shewondered if Sharon had seen her mum’s eyes just before she killed her. Had Beth killed Lydia’s dog too? She needed to know and would ask her as soon as she could interview her.
As they buzzed the doors to the maternity unit, Morgan whispered, ‘I feel sick, do I look okay? I don’t want to scare the baby, although you don’t look much better, that’s one hell of a black eye.’
Ben kissed her cheek. ‘You look okay. I’m not going to lie, you’ve definitely looked better.’
She elbowed him in the ribs. ‘Cheeky.’
‘What can I say, you love me really and let me tell you, I love you a million times more than you could ever love me, so don’t even argue the point.’
‘I’m not going to, I’ll take that.’
The door clicked and they walked towards the nurse’s station, not quite reaching it before they heard Cain shout, ‘In here.’
They turned to go into the room, where Cain greeted them at the door.
‘Holy shit, Morgan, what did you do this time? And, Ben, that looks good on you. You look like a hard case fresh out of prison. Did you hit him, Morgan?’
Ben glared at him.
‘Sorry, sorry. Glad you’re both okay. You can fill us in, I need to know ASAP.’
Morgan stepped past him to see Amy sitting up in bed, her baby cradled to her chest and with a smile on her face that gave Morgan so much hope. She rushed over and hugged her gently, peering down at the baby. ‘Oh my, she’s adorable, Amy. Look at her hair.’
‘I know, I thought she’d be bald. I never expected that. Do you want to hold her?’
Morgan shook her head. ‘I don’t know how to, I’ve never held a baby.’
‘Neither did I until three hours ago. Cain is the expert, he’ll pass her to you. Take a seat.’
Morgan looked to the chair and sat down on it. Cain gently took the baby from Amy and positioned her into Morgan’s arms. She stared down at her perfect little fingers and toes; her nose was wrinkled, and she had the cutest face she’d ever seen for a baby.
‘Oh, Amy, she’s perfect.’
Amy grinned. ‘She looks good in your arms.’
