Page 9 of Deep Down
Chapter 4
Alex
The noise of the TV barely registered as Alex took a swig of beer from the chilled bottle in his hand. Sat on the sofa in his shorts and tank, ankles crossed on the coffee table, he considered what he’d seen and heard at Craig’s house.
The house didn’t have a thing out of place in the quiet cul-de-sac to the east side of Cambridge. The inside manifested perfection: the house was spotless, the floors and furniture clean and stain-free, no clutter anywhere. It was comfortable and felt like a home should. At least, that was what Alex saw until he spotted a crack in the plaster to the side of the TV unit, and an actual hole in the wall the size of a fist next to the glass cabinet. Once he’d seen those, he knew everything was not as it seemed, regardless of what he’d been told.
But again, nothing he could use as evidence because he couldn’t tell anyone what he’d done or what he suspected because he’d be in trouble. After all, the hospital took a strict stance on confidentiality, and Alex had broken the rules. This was what he was tossing and turning in his mind. Was his own life and job more important than the life of someone being abused? What right did Alex have to take his own comfortable living over the hurt of someone less fortunate than him? Because Craig was less fortunate, not in monetary value, but to personal relationship standards, he was.
No answer was forthcoming, so he chose to sleep on it. His shift at the hospital tomorrow might be more eye-opening for him than staring at the moving pictures on the TV, although not seeing anything.
Alex stood and took his empty beer bottle to the kitchen, throwing the remains of his dinner in the bin; he wasn’t hungry. Returning to the living room, he switched off all the lights and the TV, double-checked the front door was locked and headed to bed.
****
Finding himself twiddling his thumbs the following day in A&E and wishing for something to do—he was covering for someone again—Alex did some reconnaissance. He couldn’t provide any evidence as it stood, but if he viewed Craig’s file, he might be able to see if he had been admitted previously for injuries.
Sitting at a free computer, he took a quick glance around before searching for and opening Craig’s hospital file. He went back several years, but nothing out of the ordinary showed up, no red flags or suspected findings or anything which could link back to what was happening to Craig.
Alex shook his head. He knew. Heknew, in his heart, Craig was being abused. He knew it. But without Craig willingly admitting anything, or Alex finding any evidence, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Alex checked his notes from the night Craig had been brought into A&E and added a couple of bits, flagging up his suspicions but stating that he had no evidence to prove it. He wanted to do more, but at least if Craig came in at some other point, there would be a note of Alex’s concerns, and someone else might be able to persuade Craig to admit it.
Saving and closing the file, Alex sat back and rubbed his hands over his face. He couldn’t tell anyone about this. Or could he? Casey might understand Alex’s predicament. They were good friends, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to put Casey in the middle of all this. But he also needed someone to talk to. Yeah, Casey was the best person to run everything past. Being a paramedic, Casey saw lots of things, like Alex did. Alex messaged Casey; his decision made.
Hey. When are you next off? Need some advice.
Immediately, Casey replied.
I’m free tonight. Swapped shifts with Tim. What’s up?
Patient issue. Fancy some company?
Why not, nothing better to do. You bring beer, I’ll order takeaway.
Deal. I finish at seven. Will be there shortly after.
See you then.
Alex pocketed his phone again, feeling some tension ease. Casey would know what to do.
The rest of his shift passed in a flurry of activity; he should have kept quiet about the place being empty. Five hours of endless patients made him question what had been put in the water that day. He’d seen broken bones, head injuries, gashes, fainting, arguments, children, adults, and everything in between. It was days like this, which made him think he wasn’t cut out for being a doctor. But he also knew he was a damn good one.
It was closer to half seven before Alex ventured back to the staff room to collect his belongings. He’d planned to shower at the hospital and head over to Casey’s but chose to be cheeky and ask Casey if he could borrow his shower instead. He was sure it would be fine. And if not, well, he’d stink the place up to make Casey reconsider.
Alex was more than ready for his downtime, and a beer and takeaway sounded divine. He trudged off to his car and pointed it in the right direction.
He parked up at the kerb by eight o’clock, wincing at how late he was, especially having had to detour to the supermarket for beer. He knew Casey wouldn’t have an issue; he was usually in the same boat as Alex. If patients arrive, you deal with them regardless of when your shift finished.
The front door opened before he got to it, and Casey held a beer out to him.
“Thought we could start with these cold ones and give yours a chance to chill in the fridge before we drink them.” Casey closed the door behind him. “Make yourself comfortable.”
“Actually,” Alex bit his lip. “Could I borrow your shower first?”
Casey chuckled. “Sure. Use the bathroom in the spare room. Take your time. I’ll shout you when the takeaway is here.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
