Page 106 of The Moon Sister
‘Right.’ I looked at Cal. ‘I’m so sorry, but my passport’s in my bedside drawer, along with my payslips.’
‘Is this urgent, doctor?’ Cal asked. ‘It’s a good three hours’ round trip.’
‘Reasonably,’ said the registrar. ‘I’m sure you know what NHS bureaucracy is like. Is there anyone who could bring them here for you?’
‘No, I’ll have tae go myself. Unless you want Zed as a visitor, Tig,’ Cal grimaced at me.
I looked at his weary features, then the clock, that showed me it was already past four in the afternoon. The detective had been with me for over two hours. I made a decision. ‘Cal, why don’t you go home now and get some sleep? If I’m not going to be out of here until tomorrow, maybe you could come back with the passport and payslips then and hopefully collect me at the same time?’
‘Are you sure you’re goin’ tae be okay alone here for the night?’
‘I’ll be fine, really. You look worse than I do.’
‘Thanks, Tig, and you’re right. I need a decent scrub in the tub.’
‘I’ll be off then,’ said the registrar. ‘See you tomorrow, Tiggy. Sleep well.’
‘I’m so sorry about all this, Cal. It’s the last thing you need with so much going on at Kinnaird.’
‘The last thingyouneeded was a graze from a bullet. Okay, Tig, I’ll get goin’. At least I’ll have the pleasure of driving a spanking new Range Rover back. Zed lent me his when he heard you’d been helicoptered off to hospital.’
‘That was kind,’ I said begrudgingly, remembering what had passed between us yesterday.
‘Aye.’ Cal frowned, ‘Or it could’ve been guilt. We all know there’s a thin line between love and hate and you’d turned him down yesterday. Besides all that, a white stag’s head is a helluva trophy to hang on a wall. The ultimate I’d say, especially for a man like Zed. You don’t think it was him who shot at you, do yae?’
‘Christ, Cal,’ I said as my heart bumped again. ‘I really don’t know.’
‘Sorry tae spook you, but from what you’ve said and I’ve seen, he’s used to gettin’ what he wants. At least I know you’re safe in here.’
‘I hope so,’ I breathed. ‘Cal, could you possibly bring back some other stuff for me? My rucksack and bag, which I think I left on my bed, some jeans, a shirt, a jumper . . . and um . . . some clean undies. My clothes are with forensics and I don’t fancy leaving here in my hospital gown.’
‘Course I will. Now, don’t you be gettin’ yourself intae any more trouble whilst I’m away, will yae?’
‘Look where I am. That’s impossible, even for me.’
‘Nothing’s impossible for you, Tig,’ he said and kissed me on the forehead. ‘I’ll be back in the morning. If you remember anything else yae need, just call Beryl at the Lodge and she’ll pass on the message.’
‘Thanks, Cal. Just one more question . . .’ I steeled myself for the answer. ‘Where have they taken Pegasus?’
‘As far as I know he was left where he was, because he was part of the crime scene.’
‘I’d just . . . really love to say goodbye.’
‘I’ll find out and let yae know. Bye, Tig.’ He waved as he left and I suddenly felt very alone. There was definitely something about Cal that made me feel safe and secure. Not only that, but he made me laugh. The bond we had forged was really something special and I wondered if we’d been related in a previous life . . .
‘Hello, Tiggy,’ said a different nurse as she walked towards the bed. ‘My name’s Jane and I need to bother you for your temperature again.’ The thermometer was popped into my mouth. ‘Aye, that’s fine. Not in any pain, are you?’ she asked, picking up a red plastic file from the end of the bed.
‘No.’
‘Good, then hopefully we can take out your intravenous line later on. Now, you have another visitor to see you. Are you up tae it?’
‘It depends who it is,’ I said, my heart giving another one of its jumps as my imagination conjured up Zed lurking beyond the curtain.
‘Her name is Zara and she says she’s a close friend o’ yours.’
‘I’d love to see her, yes.’
Zara’s bright face appeared around the curtain a few seconds later.
