Shot of Silence (Justice Again Book 3) by M Comley (best contemporary novels txt) 📗

“I now know what someone being bullied feels like,” Katy grumbled.

Charlie and Angie laughed.

“As if,” Charlie replied.

Within ten minutes, the ambulance pulled up outside the Accident and Emergency department, and Charlie joined Katy again once she’d parked the car. Katy was wheeled through to triage on a stretcher. Luckily, there were only a few minor injuries to contend with before it was her turn to be seen by the doctor.

A good-looking male doctor in his early thirties examined her under Charlie’s watchful gaze at Katy’s request.

He carried out a series of tests on her which covered her speech, memory, balance, hearing and vision. Thankfully, Katy passed all the tests with ease.

“Don’t get too carried away,” the doctor warned. “I need you to have a CT scan, we’re organising that now.”

“But everything else is fine. I’m feeling better with every passing minute,” Katy complained, feeling like a fraud as her results had proved there was no significant impact.

The doctor raised an eyebrow. “Are you? No BS, Inspector.”

“I’m not, I swear. The urge to vomit has dissipated, and I’m thinking far more clearly than I was after I regained consciousness. I don’t want to put you to too much trouble.”

“You’re not. It’s a necessity to see what’s going on in that head of yours. If the whack was hard enough to knock you out then you’re going to have to accept how important it is to find out what’s happening in there.”

“Come on, boss, what harm can it do? I’d want to know,” Charlie said, quick to jump in.

“Okay, stop badgering me, the pair of you. I’m telling you I’m fine, though. You’re the ones intent on wasting funds, not me.”

“It’s not a waste of funds. There’s a limit to what we can do without science getting involved. I’ll get it organised and be back in a moment. Stay there, don’t move, and yes, that’s an order.”

He left her bedside, and Katy crossed her arms in defiance.

“Have I told you how much I detest hospitals?”

“Yeah, Mum was the same. She’s had her fair share of scares over the years.”

“I remember most of them well. How’s her stomach now after the crazed mare stabbed her?”

“It’s healed up nicely. She gets a niggle from the wound now and again but basically she’s made of strong stuff, but you know that, right?”

Katy grinned. “We’re from the same mould, love. I can’t help feeling frustrated. That bastard has got away again. Two murders in one day, and he came and went like a bloody ghost or something. Was he there all along? Lying in wait?”

“Don’t start blaming yourself, Katy. We couldn’t have known where the shots that took Grace out came from. Had we known they’d come from the roof of the building opposite we would have checked it out, wouldn’t we?”

“I know. That sort of thing doesn’t filter down the line for a few days, not until the Forensic team have run their tests and analysed things thoroughly. You wait, when I get my hands on the bastard who did this to me, you’re going to have to restrain me.”

Charlie sniggered. “I figured that might be the case. I’ll take that on board, because we will find him. Okay, don’t have a go at me here, but the question has to be asked: why didn’t he kill you? Why did he choose to knock you out cold and leave you on that roof, when he could have either killed you or even abducted you? That part doesn’t make sense to me.”

Katy frowned as she contemplated Charlie’s observations. “I don’t have the answers to that. The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind. I suppose I should be grateful to him or her, we haven’t established the killer’s gender yet.”

“True enough.”

The doctor rejoined them. “The porter will take you down for your scan now.”

“Can Charlie come with me?”

He nodded and smiled warmly. “Of course. Partners in all you do, right?” He winked.

Charlie’s mouth dropped open.

Katy burst out laughing. “Professionally speaking, yes.”

“Ah, sorry. My mistake,” the doctor replied, his cheeks turning crimson.

Luckily, the porter arrived to spare him any further embarrassment. He pushed Katy through the narrow corridors and deposited her at the X-ray department where she went straight through to have the scan. Charlie remained outside in the waiting room. The whole thing was over in a matter of minutes, and the porter returned to take her back to A&E.

It was another half an hour or so before she received the results.

The doctor entered the cubicle and smiled. “Maybe a mild concussion. No lasting damage done, and yes, you’re free to go.”

“That’s wonderful news. I feel so much better than I did an hour ago. See, I told you I didn’t want to make a fuss. Would you guys listen to me? No.”

Charlie shook her head, leaned towards the doctor and said, “See what I have to put up with? She’s always right, or thinks she is.”

The three of them laughed.

“It was nice meeting you, ladies. Hopefully we won’t have the pleasure of meeting again anytime soon.”

“We’ll take care of each other from now on, I promise,” Katy replied. She placed her legs on the floor and prepared to wobble. Instead, she remained steady on her feet. Another blessing in disguise. “Come on, partner, we have a killer to catch.”

“Whoa! Who said anything about you being fit to return to work?” The doctor tutted and shook his head. “My advice would be to take the rest of the day off and see how you feel in the morning.”

Katy began to object, but his raised hand cut her off. “Okay, you win. I’ll go home and put my feet up.”

“Very wise.” He smiled and left the cubicle.

“Like I’m going to listen to him.”

“Do I have to report back to DCI Roberts?” Charlie warned.

Katy scowled. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“I might if you push me into a corner.”

“Ha, so much for loyalty. I sense a call to your mother in the near future.”

“Okay, joking aside. You