Behind The Smile...

[crazylazy]

loved it - thank you for a great installment - look forward to the next one

[suzannelgnz]

Yay Rachel's back at work, it's just a shame that Lewington is making things so difficult for her. I also loved Rach's comment about Tony wanting to send her back by fast post!

I'm looking forward to the next update

[WYN100]

***PART 26

“Look, what’s this all about?” demanded Brad, an ominous feeling beginning to rise in the pit of his stomach.

“So many questions!” chided the non-driving figure – you just sit comfortably and enjoy the ride!”

As an unpleasant feeling began to envelop him, Miles grabbed Brad by the arm and enquired a little throatily “Um – would I be wrong in guessing this has anything to do with Mr Bradshaw ?”

The car sped along with twenty or so intervening seconds seeming to extend into what seemed like hours until the driver said sleekly “ I understand you have a breakfast appointment with Sergeant McGrath tomorrow ?…”

A very throaty and tremulous “And…..?” came from behind him.

The man continued in an overtly pleasant, explanatory fashion, which added steadily to the increasingly surreal nature of the situation.

“And….we’re here to ensure that you don’t make that appointment –after all Mr Van Patten’s death was a long time ago now – Mr Bradshaw had nothing to do with it – and these apparent claims about added insurance demands etc – well, it’s all part of the business world isn’t it – hardly worth wasting the Sergeant’s valuable time over, now is it ?”

With dusk having fallen inkily around them, Miles and Brad had become well aware this was a situation that did not bode well for them, as the drew up in a small deserted street to the west of the Bay featuring a number of crumbling and derelict houses sectioned off by some wire fencing.

Any remote chance of Bradshaw’s two thugs being overpowered was immediately dismissed as the man who’d been in the passenger seat quickly loomed over them holding a small handgun and gesturing impatiently to the nearest building. The unfortunate duo were shepherded to the top floor and the dusty shell of what might once have been a bedroom. There they were bound hand and foot, gagged and left with the comments of the still infuriatingly suave driver “ Well try and see it as some ‘you’ time, gentlemen – and anyway, you won’t be alone that long – the workers arrive at – ooh, about nine or so..?” They left without another word……..but they failed to mention what neither of the distressed duo had noticed…..that outside, a demolition crane complete with heavy metal ball was parked alongside that very house, ready to return to action at first light….

Peter’s mind was still a whirlpool of information and emotion as he drove home towards the house he, Amanda and Ryan shared on the outskirts of the city. He’d spent hours at his desk computer writing, re-writing and finally submitting his report on the day’s events = a grueling process indeed as he of course had himself been a leading player in how they’d mapped out. Even then his day wasn’t able to bottom out as he’d gone to visit Jack in hospital, shared a brief chat with him and been highly encouraged by the medical verdict that the shot officer was improving steadily and certainly out of any danger.

And so it was that he’d begun the journey home, but while his body may have signed off duty, it was far from the case for his mind, which was still imitating a multi-directional metronome as he covered the miles. He’d certainly have to speak to the Chief Superintendent about manning levels at the Summer Bay station-HOW Jack could ever have been taken from there in the first place with only that 1st year Constable on the desk defied belief and provision just HAD to be increased, while INTELLIGENCE – well, that just needed to be beefed up urgently to prevent the likes of Kate Amery slipping through the net again- surely an increased network of contacts and informants, paid or otherwise , could only help in that direction.

His Coldplay CD pumping away, not as the ambient driving backdrop that many would enjoy, but more a thumping muzak in tune with the present pneumatic drill-style fabric of his mind as it currently was.

Thoughts drifting slightly to the less intense, he remembered how Amanda had talked cryptically this morning – how long ago did THAT seem !! – about completing a business deal of some kind during the day. A look of interested curiosity crossing his face, he pondered briefly on what THAT might have been ! It wasn’t long though before his mind was ripped back to events less savoury and thoughts of Kate Amery – this was a boil that HAD to be lanced, just HAD to be. He paused as the traffic lights at the top of an incline known as Cedar Hill that always marked the near-ending of his journey home as it swept down towards the relatively new and up-market housing estate to where he’d moved when his promotion and job-switch to be based in the city had happened.

First in the queue he pulled away as the light turned green and he crossed over to the top of the hill – realizing suddenly as he began the descent that he hadn’t had anything to eat all day and a decent dinner would be very welcome .

Suddenly, heart-stoppingly, thoughts of food suddenly plummeted down his priority list as his foot reached for the brake, attempted to pump it to ease the speed – tried a second – and third time, chillingly to no effect as his car began to gather a dangerous incline of speed on its way down Cedar Hill…..

“Well, Good Morning Mr Edwards, “ said Rachel to her imminent surgery patient “This should all be very simple – these gentlemen will prepare you for anaesthetic and I’ll be performing the procedure –so I’ll look forward to talking to you later on today or tomorrow !” Her words were spoken with a confidence her mind and spirit certainly weren’t altogether feeling, and as she walked down the passage from the wards towards the theatre area she cast a long glance that verged between baleful and decidedly bitter at the door she passed along the door marked “Dr R.W. Lewington FACRRM, MFM “

Arriving at the surgery and scrubbing up, Rachel briefed her team of Junior Doctor West and- to her relief- the dependable and friendly face of Nurse Julie.

Summoning all her reserves of courage and memories of brain surgery – however ‘routine’ Lewington described it as, Rachel got underway. Steadily as she went along though, she became aware of the process not being as ‘straightforward’ and one-dimensional as that laid out before her by the consultant. Having begun to tackle the Cavernous Hemangiomas by stripping away the problematic veins one at a time, she became aware with increasing trepidation that this was far from the simple procedure it had been painted up to be. The initial groundwork had been tricky but achievable, but now her concern was growing, Turning to Julie at her side she said urgently “Julie, there’s a bleed and I don’t think I can stop it ! I’ve tried easing the veins back but it’s no good – and this is really getting beyond my loop – dammit we’re going to have to phone Lewington, he’s the only one here that’s this well up on brain surgery ! – can you make the call ?”

As Rachel battled to contain the situation, Julie turned quickly to the nearest phone, dialed Lewington’s office, - but after a long succession of unanswered rings – held the receiver handle in the air with a frustrated questioning look towards a Rachel from whose face the colour was rapidly draining away.

[suzannelgnz]

Thanks for the update Wyn,

There are quite a few words I would like to use to describe Lewington (but they are not suitable for on here ) However what I can say is that he shouldn't have abandoned Rach like that. Obviously the patient is going to die and it's just 1 way for him to try and get rid of Rach from NDH