Page 137 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“You’re not fine Maddie.” Cole stated as Brandon turned the ignition on and they drove away.

They pulled up outside a nondescript concrete building down an industrial estate. Cole got out and helped Maddie to limp towards the door as Brandon rang the buzzer.

“Evening Brandon.” A man said opening the door for them to enter.

He was small, barely taller than Maddie, with olive skin, and a balding head of hair.

“Come on through.” He said leading them through to what looked like a full equipped surgery out the back.

“What is this place?” Maddie asked.

“It’s one of our off the grid medical sites.” Brandon stated.

“Why do we need to be off the grid?” Maddie asked.

“We don’t but Hamid is the best and it beats waiting hours in A&E.” Cole stated.

“Let’s take a look at you.” Hamid said helping her to sit down.

“So Brandon said you got shot?”

“Yeah like eight months ago.” Maddie replied.

“I assume you’ve been following all your rehab?”

“Yes.” Maddie said.

He nodded. Gently he stretched her leg and she cried out as he straightened it fully. He then bent it back against her body and she cried even more. He ran his hand over her thigh, pushing on certain points and seeing her wince.

“Okay.” He said sighing.

“What’s the verdict?” Cole asked.

“It’s definitely muscular. My guess would be you’ve torn the muscles around the original wound.”

“Will it heal?” Maddie asked.

“Yes but it’s going to take time. You’ll have had some serious scarring from the original injury and you’re at risk of infection too. I’ll give you some antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. You’ll need to use crutches for at least the next month.”

“A month?” Maddie gasped. “I can’t do that.”

“If you want your leg to recover then you need to be as little weight bearing as possible.” Hamid stated.

Maddie groaned. “Anything else?”

“No exercise, no running, no exertion of any kind.” Hamid said getting up and opening a cabinet that seemed to resemble an entire pharmacy.

“Fine.” Maddie replied as she watched him.

He turned around handing a small box of tablets and Cole took them as if Maddie couldn’t be trusted and she had to resist the overwhelming urge to roll her eyes.

“Thanks doc.” Brandon said.

“Here.” Hamid replied holding out a pair of crutches and Maddie scowled as she took them.

“Be a good patient now.” Hamid muttered and both Cole and Brandon smirked.

“Let’s go.” Cole said as Maddie stood balancing awkwardly with the damn crutches and limbered out of the room.

She sat in the back of the car trying to pay attention to the conversation between Cole and Brandon but it was like they were deliberately talking at a level to make it hard for her to hear and before she knew it she’d drifted off into an exhausted sleep.

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