Page 14 of Deep Down
Chapter 6
Alex
When Alex had received the phone call saying Craig had been admitted to hospital unconscious from a head injury, his heart had skipped several beats, and he’d ceased breathing for a few seconds. He’d told the nurse he’d be there in ten minutes to take over from whoever was dealing with Craig, despite it being his day off. If they’d had enough time to read Craig’s file, they would know Alex’s concerns and wouldn’t fight him on it. He hadn’t been dressed for work per se, but he’d be fine with his white coat over the top. Not bothering to stop to get changed, he picked up his wallet, phone and keys, and ran. His ID card was in his pocket as always; therefore, that wasn’t an issue.
Alex was glad Darren hadn’t waited before calling the ambulance, and Craig had been brought in straight away after the injury. Entering the hospital room and seeing Craig unconscious with machines all around him, had Alex clenching his jaw against the things hegenuinelywanted to say to Darren.
Alex politely asked Darren what had happened while he checked over what the previous doctor had done—not because he didn’t trust the doctor, but because he wanted to know whathadbeen done—and Darren explained he’d been giving Craig a personal training session as they did every weekend. He said Craig had asked for Darren to prepare him in case he was mugged again. They’d agreed to work on getting free from a headlock. They were struggling around the room, and they’d tripped on the rumpled rug and fell forward, Craig hitting the side table as they went down. Alex asked about Craig’s hand injury, but Darren said he’d done that earlier in the day while Darren had been out.
Alex didn’t believe a word of it, especially as the burn didn’t appear to have been tended to at all. Craig had fresh bruising around his throat, which could, in all honesty, be explained by the headlock, but time would tell if those bruises ended up as a solid pattern or finger marks. His money would be on fingers. Yet again, he didn’t have any proof of foul play. But he did his duty and wrote it all down, before excusing himself. It was a plausible story, and one Alex was hard-pressed to find fault with—which was how abusers worked.
He dropped the file off at the nurses’ station and headed to the bathroom. Once the door shut behind him, he swung around and slapped his hand hard against the wall—he knew better than to punch it. It stung, but it gave him something to focus on, instead of going back out there and wringing Darren’s neck.
Needing some time to calm himself before going back, he stood, back against the sinks, arms and ankles crossed, head dropped forward. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply as he tried to distance himself enough to think rationally.
The bathroom door opened, and Alex focused as Dr Acker entered.
“Sister Pendrake told me where you were.” He mimicked Alex’s position on the opposite side of the room against the cubicle partitions. “I saw your notes on the file. Do you honestly think Mr Talbot is being abused?”
Alex nodded. “Yeah. I have no proof. My instincts are all I have.”
Dr Acker smoothed his index finger along his bottom lip as he contemplated the floor. “Is the patient talking about it?”
Alex shook his head. “Nope. Denies everything.”
Clearing his throat, Dr Acker headed for the door. “We can’t catch them all, Dr Wick. Especially if the patient doesn’t want the help.” With those words, he exited the bathroom with a soft snick of the door.
“Asshole.” Alex shook his head to the empty room. “We bloody well can if we try.” It was doctors like him, which stopped things from getting done.
****
Alex was hovering at the hospital, getting in people’s way, while he waited for Craig to regain consciousness, which he did a few hours later. A nurse had caught him and said Craig had been showing signs of coming out of it, so Alex headed straight there. And there he was, to witness the tremulous smile Craig gave Darren when he first opened his eyes. Lowering his head to the file in his hand, Alex grimaced as he shook his head. Fuck it all.
“Hey, sweetheart. How’re you feeling?” Darren’s sickly-sweet voice was soft in the silent room as he leaned forward and took Craig’s uninjured hand.
Alex watched Craig’s expression as he slowly became more aware of his surroundings. He expressed genuine happiness to see Darren, which heated Alex’s blood. As Craig scanned the room, he saw Alex standing there, and his eyes widened before darting to Darren again.
“Why am I in the hospital?” He coughed.
“You—”
Alex spoke over Darren. “Let’s allow Mr Talbot to get his bearings and tell us what he remembers.” Darren’s expression grew dark, but he acquiesced with a small nod.
Hiding a smirk, Alex poured Craig a glass of water and placed the straw to his mouth as they waited for Craig to talk. “I remember Darren coming home from work, and we had…” He paused. “And dinner.” Craig frowned as he stared at the ceiling.
“What did you have for dinner?” Alex asked.
“Um, noodles. No, that’s not right. Um…chow mein.” Craig smiled, obviously pleased with the memory.
Alex cleared his throat. “Then what?” he probed, ignoring a glare sent his way from Darren’s direction.
Craig was silent, eyebrows low, eyes scrunched tight. He shook his head. “Nothing. I remember cooking dinner. That’s it.”
Inwardly cursing like a sailor, Alex smiled at Craig. “Well done. That’s fine. You’ve had a bump to the head, Mr Talbot. It’s possibly the reason for your memory loss, but everything should come back to you within a few hours or days. It’s completely normal and nothing to worry about.” Alex glanced at Darren. “Mr Corrigan, if I could ask you to refrain from mentioning what happened. I need to be able to see when Mr Talbot’s memories return without prompts from anyone.”
“Sure,” Darren ground out through obviously gritted teeth.
“Get some rest, Mr Talbot. Mr Corrigan, you can say your goodbyes now. Mr Talbot will be taken to a ward shortly and staying overnight, and there are no visiting hours until ten o’clock tomorrow morning.”
