Page 25 of Survival Game

“She needs painkillers, you fucker. Not hospital. Who’s gonna look after my kids when they come home from school if she’s not here?” The wild-eyed girl was definitely on something from the spit surrounding her mouth and the frantic, twitching movements of her body. “And I’m nobody’s lady. My name is Jessie.”

You’re right about that, he thought. “Lady” is not a word I’d use to describe you.

A prickle of alarm threaded its way down his spine. Tweakers, at the best of times, were dangerous, but this one looked right on the edge; probably why she was insisting on the painkillers. He had no doubt that, if they had been given, the woman lying on the floor wouldn’t have seen any of them.

Eric breathed a sigh of relief when the chunky figure of his partner wheeled in the board.

“Aaron. Help me get her onto the board. We need to get her to the nearest hospital A-sap. I’ll call in a blue once we’re on the road.” A blue call meant radioing ahead to the hospital to ensure someone would be waiting ready to take in their patient.

Aaron wasted no time. Within a few minutes, the unconscious woman was strapped to the board, ready to be transported.

As they wheeled her to the door, Jessie stood in front of it.

“You’re not taking my mam anywhere, you tossers. Not until you give me the painkillers.” She made a grab for the bag Aaron had on his shoulder.

He shouted and held it tight. “What do you think you’re doing? Keep your hands off. This woman is going to the hospital, so I suggest you move away and let us do our job.”

The knife appeared out of nowhere.

Dull light glinted off the blade Jessie held in her left hand. Both Eric and Aaron stopped. Eric glanced down at the patient, whose breathing was shallow, sweat beading across her forehead.

It wasn’t the first time he and Aaron had been threatened, but a knife pointed at them scared him every time.

Aaron’s eyes watched the knife warily. “Do you know how many patients we see who have their own knife turned against themselves? Put the damn thing down, lady.”

Eric raised his hands, trying to placate the unstable woman before them. He thought he knew how to jolt her into letting them go.

“Jessie, put that the fuck down,” he said quietly. “It’s not going to do your mam any good if you hurt either of us or yourself. She’s going to die if we don’t get her to the hospital soon. Is that what you want? No one to look after your kids, pay your way and let you get on with what you want to do? You’ll have to find a job. Maybe let your kids go into care. Is that your plan?”

No doubt the old woman on the board was the sole source of income and babysitting.

Jessie’s eyes glittered as she contemplated Eric’s argument. A sly smile crossed her face and she cocked her head. “Ya know, I guess you’re right. Mam needs to get better and come back ’ere. I’ll get me tablets elsewhere seeing as how you two are so bloody stingy with ’em.” She waved the knife in their direction. “Go on, then Mr Hero. Get her to the hospital. She’d better make it or I’ll come looking for you.”

Aaron grunted. “Yeah, and we’re both shuddering in our boots. Come on, pal. Let’s get this sick woman to hospital where she belongs.”

His follow-up, And get her help to stay the hell away from you, was unspoken but Eric knew his partner. Any chance he got to report this tweaker and keep the old woman safe, he’d take it, as would Eric.

Aaron cursed as they wheeled the board toward the truck. “Shit. I hate people like that. Freeloaders thinking the world owes them a living. Using their parents to support a drug habit. Thinking violence solves everything.”

They loaded the patient into the truck. Eric sighed. “Yeah. It takes all sorts. I guess we’d better report the situation, let Social Services take a look at the kids. I’m not a fan of them, but this case warrants it.”

Eric drove carefully, not wanting his patient to jolt around in the back and hurt more. The blue lights were flashing and traffic allowed them easy access.

An hour later they delivered their patient and made their reports to the hospital and Social Services. The prognosis was bleak. They might be able to do something with the kids but the grandmother was another matter. It would be her decision whether to go back to her daughter, or not.

Aaron and Eric got back in the truck in the car park and looked at each other. The radio was silent. Eric breathed a sigh of relief, knowing it would be short-lived. He needed some distracting.

“Tell me more about this lady of yours,” he asked idly as he watched his partner complete paperwork. “I don’t even know her name.”

Aaron looked up. “Her name is Leah. She’s twenty-five and works as a paralegal for a company just outside London. She’s smart, and she makes me laugh.” He gave a self- deprecating sniff. “And she likes short, cuddly men with meat on them, so I’m the ideal man for her.”

“You going on another date then?” Eric gazed out the window, watching people walk by.

Aaron shrugged. “I asked her if she wanted to go to a film and she said yes. We need to sort out which one. I think she likes the same ones I do—horror and thrillers, not those horrible rom-com things.”

“Oh, she’s a keeper all right,” Eric said drily. “Hold onto her, mate. Anyone who likes your type of gore is definitely the woman for you.”

“Talking about my love life— you still haven’t told me much about this new man of yours.” Aaron winked. “You came in this morning with a spring in your step. Are you gonna see him again then?”