The Rookie
Prologue
Mabel was excited about her cousin Elle celebrating her third birthday today. She loved parties. At twelve she was the eldest of eight cousins and a younger brother. She felt it was her job to look after them, keep them safe and entertained them at all their family gatherings. Not only was she excited that it was a party but her anticipation at seeing Hayden always made her happy. His dark hair and eyes along with his brooding shyness intrigued Mabel and she found him fascinating. Hayden was her Aunty Chelsea and Aunty Charlotte’s brother; they were both married to her uncles so they were not blood related which was a relief to Mabel, though she wasn’t sure why.
At the party, as usual, Hayden was quiet and kept to himself. This had Mabel wanting to talk to him even more. Even though he was a little older than her at twenty, this didn’t daunt her, as her confidence, as was usual for her, was brimming. At every party she always made sure that she drew Hayden out of his shell by chatting to him until he responded. This was her mission in life.
As the years went on Mabel’s fascination grew and by the time she reached seventeen she was totally infatuated. His quiet reservation was endearing and alluring to Mabel and she hoped that now she was older he would feel the same way in return.
It was at this time the worst scenario happened; Hayden had decided to complete his medical training overseas with Doctors Without Borders. He didn’t know how long he would be going for and as much as Mabel loved him she also respected him for his compassion.
After he left Mabel cried for weeks and thought she would never get over not knowing when she would see him again. Time dulled the ache but it never quite went away. Her love remained a simmering flame below the surface.
Chapter 1
Mabel
Nervous excitement surged through her as she dressed for work. Just like it did the first time she was a rookie. It had always been Mabel’s passion to join the police force so upon leaving school she went into training. Having always had a respect for the law – from her lawyer father and a need to uphold justice – from Lucas her uncle who was now a Captain of homicide division, Mabel became a dedicated and steadfast officer. She’d been fulfilling her dream for almost three years now.
Six months prior she’d decided to transfer to the internal affairs division. Having noticed how much corruption there appeared to be within the ranks, Mabel sought to amend this. There were enough criminals in the city without adding officers of the law to the list. So in essence she was a rookie again because she had completed her training and today she was starting her first assignment.
As she wound her long straight blonde hair into a bun at the nap of her neck she thought about her first role within the division. Her assignment was to monitor an officer under suspicion for receiving bribes from criminals who deemed it essential to avoid being arrested.
Officer Adam Kennedy apparently turned a blind eye to drug dealers, from the street sellers to the head honchos, in particular. Her task was to watch Adam while being partnered with him so as to find evidence of his illegal activity.
Mabel had clear instructions to monitor him only and obtain information which she was then to write in reports. Her orders weren’t to apprehend Kennedy, even if she were to catch him in the act, as this could blow her cover. Instead she was to report his wrongdoings so that he could be arrested by detectives from IA. Mabel decided as an alternative, to pretend she wanted in on his scheme, catch him this way. She knew this was going to be challenging as it was going to take a lot of acting and composure to lure Kennedy into trusting her.
Officer Kennedy had applied for and changed partners three times over the last twelve months coming up with different reasoning each time. Her department were more inclined to think it was because he didn’t want his partners to become aware of his shady activities. Knowing this she thought he may be susceptible to the idea of bringing her in on his scheme, thinking he could continue the activities without suspicion and without having to change partners again. He may be warmer to having a partner in on his activities rather than having to apply for another phoney transfer.
She’d always had an uncanny ability to be able to gain people’s confidence easily thus the reason why she wanted to take on this particular task in this way. She possessed a strong resolve and was competent at hiding her feelings and emotions, a Montgomery trait that her Uncle Jarrod was also known for.
In a lot of ways she was like her uncle not only did resembled him but she took herself and life very seriously. She had one quality that differed and that was her out going nature, never shy or reserved further strengthening her ability to gain trust.
Taking a deep breath to contain her nerves and excitement, she readied her to tackle her new responsibilities before collecting her hat from the bed and heading out the door. Mabel’s apartment was a small with one bedroom and the living areas and kitchen were all in one. Spending limited time at home, except to sleep, she didn’t require anything bigger or flashier. She didn’t own a television and she didn’t cook therefore the apartment was barely furnished.
The only girly aspect of Mabel’s apartment was her bedroom which housed pretty furniture and a bed trimmed with ruffles and cushions. If she wasn’t at work or spending time with her large family, she was usually at the gym or reading and sleeping in her bedroom. This was the room she spent the most time in.
Mabel drove her compact car to the station – the same one she’d been assigned since joining the force, at least they hadn’t moved her – and located a park at the back of the building. During her studies and training for internal affairs she’d still been working on patrol and completing her rostered shifts. It had been tiring working the hours to achieve her goal nonetheless she knew it was going to be worth the effort.
She would be continuing in the same position she’d held prior to joining IA but would be partnered with Kennedy instead of her usual partner. Mabel would still be on patrol and completing the same duties as before. This new position thrilled her as she would still be doing the work she loved while helping to weed out corruption on the force.
Lucas worked in the same building as Mabel but was not her direct superior due to their differing departments. It was always comforting to know that he was nearby and it pained her that she wasn’t allow to share her new duties with her uncle, who she respected and looked up to.
Before becoming captain, Lucas worked as a detective in the department he now ran and before transferring to IA, Mabel had considered going into homicide. For two reasons she’d changed her direction, one she wanted avidly to alleviate corruption and two because it would be too difficult for them both to work together, too many emotions involved. As she headed towards the office of her captain, she stuck her head into her uncle’s office.
“Morning, Captain Hudson,” she said with a smile.
“Morning, Mabe Babe,” he replied looking up from her desk.
“Lucas, haven’t I asked you not to call me that here,” she whispered.
“Yes, Officer Montgomery you have but no-one can hear us, besides you will always be Mabe Babe to me.” He grinned his appealing crooked grin.
Lucas in Mabel’s opinion had aged appealingly. His dark wavy hair which always appeared dishevelled was greying on his temples. At forty six he was still fit and the lines on his face only added more charm. His hazel eyes were filled with warmth, much like her mother Carrie’s, Lucas’ older sister.
“I know.” She smiled. “Anyway I’d better go and meet my new partner.”
“Are you going to miss working with Langley?”
Mabel’s previous partner and her senior officer had been a fantastic mentor and they’d built a solid rapport. This was the only downfall of her transfer.
“Yes he has always been an excellent partner and teacher but they needed him to help the next rookie, like he helped me.”
“It’s a shame when an excellent partnership is formed and for learning purposes it becomes split up.”
“I’m ready to move on and be more independent within a partnership with someone of equal ranking.”
“You’re so grown up, Mabe Babe. You make me feel old.”
“You will never be old to me.”
She smiled and waved before heading towards Captain Stewart’s office.
After knocking, Mabel strode into his office to find that her new partner hadn’t arrived as yet. Walter Stewart was in his late fifties and a long serving veteran. He was average height and trim with a full head of silver hair and icy blue eyes that reminded Mabel of her father Nathan’s. His voice was gentle but commanding and could bellow when the need arose. A tough but compassionate boss, Mabel held him in great esteem. He was the only person in patrol that knew of her assignment with Kennedy.
“Good morning, Officer Montgomery.” He smiled. “Are you ready for this?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be, Captain.”
“Be careful and stay sharp, Mabel. You’re an asset that I do not want to be without.”
“Thank you, sir.” Mabel swelled with pride at her commanding officer’s praise. “But one day I’ll be reassigned within IA. I won’t be around forever.”
“Unfortunately for me, good officers like you are hard to come by.”
There was a prompt knock at the door and Adam Kennedy was called in. Mabel noted he was a good looking guy but didn’t have the qualities she was usually attracted to, aside from the fact that he could be crooked. His light brown hair looked as though it had been lightened by the sun to give it a golden glow. His eyes were an insipid blue and he was slightly taller than her which put him at about six feet. He appeared to be physical strong and probably worked out a lot.
Upon being introduced to Mabel he raised his eyebrows, a gesture she had witnessed too often. Because she was beautiful some men assumed she was a push over or they tried to sleep with her. It had been noted many times that she was ‘too pretty to be a cop’. No doubt she would hear this from him in time too.
“Great to meet you, Adam” she said pleasantly which masked her feelings of distaste.
“Likewise,” he replied in a deliberate tone.
“Any questions?” Captain Stewart enquired.
They both shook their heads and proceeded from the station. Mabel let Adam take the lead by letting him drive.
Chapter 2
Hayden
“Dr Summerville.” Hayden was awoken from his short slumber by a gentle whisper. He opened his eyes and saw Angie gently trying to rouse him. “We have a multiple MVA on route.”
“Thanks, Angie. I’ll just freshen up.”
He dragged his long lanky frame from the bed set up for the purpose he’d been trying to serve. Hayden walked through to the bathroom attached and splashed cold water on his face. Glancing in the mirror, he noticed his dark brown eyes were red from fatigue. He was on the last few hours of a double shift in the emergency room of Metro Hospital. When the evening had wound down slightly, he attempted to catch a little shut eye, to help him through the rest of his shift.
Hayden had only been working at Metro for a few months after returning from Africa. For the last five years he’d been working for Doctors Without Borders where he’d completed his final year of medicine. His empathic nature had beckoned and he’d sought a posting where he could help people who were desperately in need of medical attention, to help others much less fortunate than him. Hayden found the experience satisfying yet extremely heartbreaking. The medical facilities in the various countries he’d provided aid were meagre to say the least. Being able to save a few people in disease riddled villages was an accomplishment which in itself was its own reward. Hayden hadn’t taken up medicine for the money or the prestige as others at university had, he just wanted to help people, fix them, save lives.
Besides which, he really didn’t need the money. Hayden’s upbringing had been fortunate, with a family that had provided well for their children. When his grandfather Harold had died quite suddenly the previous year, he’d left his three grandchildren a generous trust fund which they would all gladly trade for Harold to still be with them as he was sorely missed. Hayden had taken his passing particularly hard.
The decision to return home had in the end been an easy one, he missed his family. Although Chelsea and Charlotte were a little older than him and had both left home when he was still a teenager, they were very close. They both had three children and a part of him regretted the lost years when they were growing up. When Charlotte’s youngest Riley had been born he was away and had only met him upon his return. Missing his family had not been the only cause for him to return.
Hayden had formed a strong bond with Marissa, a doctor he worked closely with. They were companions for each other and found solace in each others arms from the horrors of disease and rebellion. They hadn’t been in love and had never made any promises to each for their future. They were allies in a cruel world. He remembered her blonde curly hair and kind blue eyes with fondness and sadness.
Marissa had been shot by Guerrilla soldiers during one of their many raids of their makeshift hospital. The wound had not been a fatal one but due to the dire hospital conditions, she died from infection. Once she was gone his heart had not been in it, there was nowhere to escape the sights he endured, so after six months without her, he came home. He still missed her even though she hadn’t been the love of his life.
Bringing himself back to the here and now he strode down the corridor towards emergency. Ambulance crews had just arrived with three victims from the two car accident. He took trauma room one which contained a young girl around twenty. She had a laceration to her head and was unconscious. He followed procedure to determine the extent of her head injury and as she responded to stimuli he determined her injury may not be severe but would send her for a scan to be sure. Ensuring she was stabilized he organised for a CT and orderlies came to collect her. He checked on the doctors attending the other two patients and they advised him they had it all under control.
Deciding he needed some caffeine, he headed to the staff lounge. Lying on the couch reading a newspaper, Hayden discovered Simon Halliday another emergency doctor whom was relieving him at the end of shift.
“Hey, Halliday. What are you doing here so early?”
Since joining the team in emergency Hayden had become closest to Simon who was the complete opposite to himself. Simon was a suave ladies man with good looks and plenty of charisma. Simon had taken the time to make Hayden feel welcome and he appreciated the gesture they’d been close friends ever since.
“I had a patient from yesterday I wanted to check on and as I was rudely kicked out of bed by um Natalie I think her name was, I decided I may as well get an early start. You’ve just pulled a double and I thought I could relieve you early.”
“Very considerate of you, Simon” he informed his voice laced with a little irony.
“Okay if I hadn’t been kicked out of bed I wouldn’t be here early but I am, so you may as well take advantage of it.”
“Thanks might have to take you up on that. There’s a domestic violence case coming in, I’ll do that, then go.”
“Okay, Buddy, sounds good to me.”
Hayden took his coffee out to reception to find out the ETA on the victim. The desk clerk advised him that a patrol car was bringing her in. He kindly asked two nurses nearby to have her set up on a gurney on arrival and where to take her. Hayden always found the nursing staff amiable and helpful. Unbeknownst to him they all harboured secret crushes as they considered Dr Summerville compassionate and sweet and were happy to do anything he asked of them.
About ten minutes later he was paged so he walked towards the trauma room where the victim had been delivered as requested. As he entered, Hayden noticed two officers in the waiting room and knew he would have to speak with them about the injuries sustained by the patient.
When he saw the poor girl’s – for she was barely out of her teens – battered face he felt incensed by cowardly men who beat women. He determined her injuries and gently patched her up. After noting her injuries on her file, he talked sympathetically to her about the consequences of not filing charges against her boyfriend.
“The police are still here and will want to take a report so they can press charges,” he began.
“I won’t be pressing charges, he didn’t mean it. He loves me.”
“Alisha, do you know how many times I’ve heard that and then seen repeat hospital visits. Many girls don’t make it to the hospital.” She gazed at him with scared eyes. “I know you’re scared but you need to be brave right now, it could save your life.”
“Thanks.” She smiled but said nothing more.
“I have to go and talk to the officers now, when I come back I will realise you, okay?”
Alisha nodded.
Hayden hoped he had gotten through as they didn’t always listen to his advice. Carrying Alisha file to the waiting room, he proceeded to locate the officers who had brought her in.
Mabel was excited about her cousin Elle celebrating her third birthday today. She loved parties. At twelve she was the eldest of eight cousins and a younger brother. She felt it was her job to look after them, keep them safe and entertained them at all their family gatherings. Not only was she excited that it was a party but her anticipation at seeing Hayden always made her happy. His dark hair and eyes along with his brooding shyness intrigued Mabel and she found him fascinating. Hayden was her Aunty Chelsea and Aunty Charlotte’s brother; they were both married to her uncles so they were not blood related which was a relief to Mabel, though she wasn’t sure why.
At the party, as usual, Hayden was quiet and kept to himself. This had Mabel wanting to talk to him even more. Even though he was a little older than her at twenty, this didn’t daunt her, as her confidence, as was usual for her, was brimming. At every party she always made sure that she drew Hayden out of his shell by chatting to him until he responded. This was her mission in life.
As the years went on Mabel’s fascination grew and by the time she reached seventeen she was totally infatuated. His quiet reservation was endearing and alluring to Mabel and she hoped that now she was older he would feel the same way in return.
It was at this time the worst scenario happened; Hayden had decided to complete his medical training overseas with Doctors Without Borders. He didn’t know how long he would be going for and as much as Mabel loved him she also respected him for his compassion.
After he left Mabel cried for weeks and thought she would never get over not knowing when she would see him again. Time dulled the ache but it never quite went away. Her love remained a simmering flame below the surface.
Chapter 1
Mabel
Nervous excitement surged through her as she dressed for work. Just like it did the first time she was a rookie. It had always been Mabel’s passion to join the police force so upon leaving school she went into training. Having always had a respect for the law – from her lawyer father and a need to uphold justice – from Lucas her uncle who was now a Captain of homicide division, Mabel became a dedicated and steadfast officer. She’d been fulfilling her dream for almost three years now.
Six months prior she’d decided to transfer to the internal affairs division. Having noticed how much corruption there appeared to be within the ranks, Mabel sought to amend this. There were enough criminals in the city without adding officers of the law to the list. So in essence she was a rookie again because she had completed her training and today she was starting her first assignment.
As she wound her long straight blonde hair into a bun at the nap of her neck she thought about her first role within the division. Her assignment was to monitor an officer under suspicion for receiving bribes from criminals who deemed it essential to avoid being arrested.
Officer Adam Kennedy apparently turned a blind eye to drug dealers, from the street sellers to the head honchos, in particular. Her task was to watch Adam while being partnered with him so as to find evidence of his illegal activity.
Mabel had clear instructions to monitor him only and obtain information which she was then to write in reports. Her orders weren’t to apprehend Kennedy, even if she were to catch him in the act, as this could blow her cover. Instead she was to report his wrongdoings so that he could be arrested by detectives from IA. Mabel decided as an alternative, to pretend she wanted in on his scheme, catch him this way. She knew this was going to be challenging as it was going to take a lot of acting and composure to lure Kennedy into trusting her.
Officer Kennedy had applied for and changed partners three times over the last twelve months coming up with different reasoning each time. Her department were more inclined to think it was because he didn’t want his partners to become aware of his shady activities. Knowing this she thought he may be susceptible to the idea of bringing her in on his scheme, thinking he could continue the activities without suspicion and without having to change partners again. He may be warmer to having a partner in on his activities rather than having to apply for another phoney transfer.
She’d always had an uncanny ability to be able to gain people’s confidence easily thus the reason why she wanted to take on this particular task in this way. She possessed a strong resolve and was competent at hiding her feelings and emotions, a Montgomery trait that her Uncle Jarrod was also known for.
In a lot of ways she was like her uncle not only did resembled him but she took herself and life very seriously. She had one quality that differed and that was her out going nature, never shy or reserved further strengthening her ability to gain trust.
Taking a deep breath to contain her nerves and excitement, she readied her to tackle her new responsibilities before collecting her hat from the bed and heading out the door. Mabel’s apartment was a small with one bedroom and the living areas and kitchen were all in one. Spending limited time at home, except to sleep, she didn’t require anything bigger or flashier. She didn’t own a television and she didn’t cook therefore the apartment was barely furnished.
The only girly aspect of Mabel’s apartment was her bedroom which housed pretty furniture and a bed trimmed with ruffles and cushions. If she wasn’t at work or spending time with her large family, she was usually at the gym or reading and sleeping in her bedroom. This was the room she spent the most time in.
Mabel drove her compact car to the station – the same one she’d been assigned since joining the force, at least they hadn’t moved her – and located a park at the back of the building. During her studies and training for internal affairs she’d still been working on patrol and completing her rostered shifts. It had been tiring working the hours to achieve her goal nonetheless she knew it was going to be worth the effort.
She would be continuing in the same position she’d held prior to joining IA but would be partnered with Kennedy instead of her usual partner. Mabel would still be on patrol and completing the same duties as before. This new position thrilled her as she would still be doing the work she loved while helping to weed out corruption on the force.
Lucas worked in the same building as Mabel but was not her direct superior due to their differing departments. It was always comforting to know that he was nearby and it pained her that she wasn’t allow to share her new duties with her uncle, who she respected and looked up to.
Before becoming captain, Lucas worked as a detective in the department he now ran and before transferring to IA, Mabel had considered going into homicide. For two reasons she’d changed her direction, one she wanted avidly to alleviate corruption and two because it would be too difficult for them both to work together, too many emotions involved. As she headed towards the office of her captain, she stuck her head into her uncle’s office.
“Morning, Captain Hudson,” she said with a smile.
“Morning, Mabe Babe,” he replied looking up from her desk.
“Lucas, haven’t I asked you not to call me that here,” she whispered.
“Yes, Officer Montgomery you have but no-one can hear us, besides you will always be Mabe Babe to me.” He grinned his appealing crooked grin.
Lucas in Mabel’s opinion had aged appealingly. His dark wavy hair which always appeared dishevelled was greying on his temples. At forty six he was still fit and the lines on his face only added more charm. His hazel eyes were filled with warmth, much like her mother Carrie’s, Lucas’ older sister.
“I know.” She smiled. “Anyway I’d better go and meet my new partner.”
“Are you going to miss working with Langley?”
Mabel’s previous partner and her senior officer had been a fantastic mentor and they’d built a solid rapport. This was the only downfall of her transfer.
“Yes he has always been an excellent partner and teacher but they needed him to help the next rookie, like he helped me.”
“It’s a shame when an excellent partnership is formed and for learning purposes it becomes split up.”
“I’m ready to move on and be more independent within a partnership with someone of equal ranking.”
“You’re so grown up, Mabe Babe. You make me feel old.”
“You will never be old to me.”
She smiled and waved before heading towards Captain Stewart’s office.
After knocking, Mabel strode into his office to find that her new partner hadn’t arrived as yet. Walter Stewart was in his late fifties and a long serving veteran. He was average height and trim with a full head of silver hair and icy blue eyes that reminded Mabel of her father Nathan’s. His voice was gentle but commanding and could bellow when the need arose. A tough but compassionate boss, Mabel held him in great esteem. He was the only person in patrol that knew of her assignment with Kennedy.
“Good morning, Officer Montgomery.” He smiled. “Are you ready for this?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be, Captain.”
“Be careful and stay sharp, Mabel. You’re an asset that I do not want to be without.”
“Thank you, sir.” Mabel swelled with pride at her commanding officer’s praise. “But one day I’ll be reassigned within IA. I won’t be around forever.”
“Unfortunately for me, good officers like you are hard to come by.”
There was a prompt knock at the door and Adam Kennedy was called in. Mabel noted he was a good looking guy but didn’t have the qualities she was usually attracted to, aside from the fact that he could be crooked. His light brown hair looked as though it had been lightened by the sun to give it a golden glow. His eyes were an insipid blue and he was slightly taller than her which put him at about six feet. He appeared to be physical strong and probably worked out a lot.
Upon being introduced to Mabel he raised his eyebrows, a gesture she had witnessed too often. Because she was beautiful some men assumed she was a push over or they tried to sleep with her. It had been noted many times that she was ‘too pretty to be a cop’. No doubt she would hear this from him in time too.
“Great to meet you, Adam” she said pleasantly which masked her feelings of distaste.
“Likewise,” he replied in a deliberate tone.
“Any questions?” Captain Stewart enquired.
They both shook their heads and proceeded from the station. Mabel let Adam take the lead by letting him drive.
Chapter 2
Hayden
“Dr Summerville.” Hayden was awoken from his short slumber by a gentle whisper. He opened his eyes and saw Angie gently trying to rouse him. “We have a multiple MVA on route.”
“Thanks, Angie. I’ll just freshen up.”
He dragged his long lanky frame from the bed set up for the purpose he’d been trying to serve. Hayden walked through to the bathroom attached and splashed cold water on his face. Glancing in the mirror, he noticed his dark brown eyes were red from fatigue. He was on the last few hours of a double shift in the emergency room of Metro Hospital. When the evening had wound down slightly, he attempted to catch a little shut eye, to help him through the rest of his shift.
Hayden had only been working at Metro for a few months after returning from Africa. For the last five years he’d been working for Doctors Without Borders where he’d completed his final year of medicine. His empathic nature had beckoned and he’d sought a posting where he could help people who were desperately in need of medical attention, to help others much less fortunate than him. Hayden found the experience satisfying yet extremely heartbreaking. The medical facilities in the various countries he’d provided aid were meagre to say the least. Being able to save a few people in disease riddled villages was an accomplishment which in itself was its own reward. Hayden hadn’t taken up medicine for the money or the prestige as others at university had, he just wanted to help people, fix them, save lives.
Besides which, he really didn’t need the money. Hayden’s upbringing had been fortunate, with a family that had provided well for their children. When his grandfather Harold had died quite suddenly the previous year, he’d left his three grandchildren a generous trust fund which they would all gladly trade for Harold to still be with them as he was sorely missed. Hayden had taken his passing particularly hard.
The decision to return home had in the end been an easy one, he missed his family. Although Chelsea and Charlotte were a little older than him and had both left home when he was still a teenager, they were very close. They both had three children and a part of him regretted the lost years when they were growing up. When Charlotte’s youngest Riley had been born he was away and had only met him upon his return. Missing his family had not been the only cause for him to return.
Hayden had formed a strong bond with Marissa, a doctor he worked closely with. They were companions for each other and found solace in each others arms from the horrors of disease and rebellion. They hadn’t been in love and had never made any promises to each for their future. They were allies in a cruel world. He remembered her blonde curly hair and kind blue eyes with fondness and sadness.
Marissa had been shot by Guerrilla soldiers during one of their many raids of their makeshift hospital. The wound had not been a fatal one but due to the dire hospital conditions, she died from infection. Once she was gone his heart had not been in it, there was nowhere to escape the sights he endured, so after six months without her, he came home. He still missed her even though she hadn’t been the love of his life.
Bringing himself back to the here and now he strode down the corridor towards emergency. Ambulance crews had just arrived with three victims from the two car accident. He took trauma room one which contained a young girl around twenty. She had a laceration to her head and was unconscious. He followed procedure to determine the extent of her head injury and as she responded to stimuli he determined her injury may not be severe but would send her for a scan to be sure. Ensuring she was stabilized he organised for a CT and orderlies came to collect her. He checked on the doctors attending the other two patients and they advised him they had it all under control.
Deciding he needed some caffeine, he headed to the staff lounge. Lying on the couch reading a newspaper, Hayden discovered Simon Halliday another emergency doctor whom was relieving him at the end of shift.
“Hey, Halliday. What are you doing here so early?”
Since joining the team in emergency Hayden had become closest to Simon who was the complete opposite to himself. Simon was a suave ladies man with good looks and plenty of charisma. Simon had taken the time to make Hayden feel welcome and he appreciated the gesture they’d been close friends ever since.
“I had a patient from yesterday I wanted to check on and as I was rudely kicked out of bed by um Natalie I think her name was, I decided I may as well get an early start. You’ve just pulled a double and I thought I could relieve you early.”
“Very considerate of you, Simon” he informed his voice laced with a little irony.
“Okay if I hadn’t been kicked out of bed I wouldn’t be here early but I am, so you may as well take advantage of it.”
“Thanks might have to take you up on that. There’s a domestic violence case coming in, I’ll do that, then go.”
“Okay, Buddy, sounds good to me.”
Hayden took his coffee out to reception to find out the ETA on the victim. The desk clerk advised him that a patrol car was bringing her in. He kindly asked two nurses nearby to have her set up on a gurney on arrival and where to take her. Hayden always found the nursing staff amiable and helpful. Unbeknownst to him they all harboured secret crushes as they considered Dr Summerville compassionate and sweet and were happy to do anything he asked of them.
About ten minutes later he was paged so he walked towards the trauma room where the victim had been delivered as requested. As he entered, Hayden noticed two officers in the waiting room and knew he would have to speak with them about the injuries sustained by the patient.
When he saw the poor girl’s – for she was barely out of her teens – battered face he felt incensed by cowardly men who beat women. He determined her injuries and gently patched her up. After noting her injuries on her file, he talked sympathetically to her about the consequences of not filing charges against her boyfriend.
“The police are still here and will want to take a report so they can press charges,” he began.
“I won’t be pressing charges, he didn’t mean it. He loves me.”
“Alisha, do you know how many times I’ve heard that and then seen repeat hospital visits. Many girls don’t make it to the hospital.” She gazed at him with scared eyes. “I know you’re scared but you need to be brave right now, it could save your life.”
“Thanks.” She smiled but said nothing more.
“I have to go and talk to the officers now, when I come back I will realise you, okay?”
Alisha nodded.
Hayden hoped he had gotten through as they didn’t always listen to his advice. Carrying Alisha file to the waiting room, he proceeded to locate the officers who had brought her in.
