End of the Road (The Rozzers) Read Online Free PDF Page B

eye injury – he appeared out of the darkness some time after the accident.”
    “Has anybody searched the Jeep and the surrounding area for any more casualties?”
    “Yeah, we have. We’ve searched everywhere, but without torches.”
    “Okay, better make sure you didn’t miss anything.” He stood up and flashed his torch around the smashed-up vehicle, the beam illuminating the area clearly, as he spoke into his radio.
    “Whiskey Tango one-nine, confirmed one fatality at this location. Military personnel.”
    “Roger one-nine, confirmed one fatality; will notify RMP.”
    The Royal Military Police were now on their way. Like most soldiers, I had an irrational fear of the RMP. I thought of the interrogation Cat would have to go through. Presumed guilty before they even got here.
    “Good, there are no others,” said Jonesy.
    We both looked up at the sound of a siren. Blue lights could be seen approaching in the distance.
    “Ambulance, thank God.” I couldn’t see the vehicle, just its blue lights. I looked at the cop quizzically.
    “It’s the sound, Dave. When you’ve been doing this job for as long as I have, you get to recognise the sound of an ambulance approaching. Sometimes you pray for that sound.” He stared into the distance as the ambulance duly appeared over the rise.
    “You see.” He smiled. “Come on, there’s nothing we can do for him now; it’s the living who need our help.” We headed back to the main crash site.
    On arrival I was surprised to find so many people there. We had been isolated for so long that the group of people standing on the road seemed like a crowd. The other cop was taking details from the injured sergeant. He was much calmer and had been bandaged up quite neatly. Where his dangling eye was, I had no idea.
    Donk and Smudge were standing with several civilians I hadn’t seen before. Passers-by, I guessed. I went up to Smudge and introduced him to the cop.
    “Jonesy, this is the man in charge of us, Sergeant Smith.” They shook hands.
    “You and your men have handled this very well, Sergeant Smith; well done.”
    I looked into Smudge’s eyes and realised he wasn’t looking too good. He was in shock, real shock, not the simulated shock I was used to. He too was a victim, yet he had had to keep playing his part, playing the sergeant. He might be a military man but he was just a career construction man, never seen action in his life and he was really suffering that night. He’d been through what I’d been through, but he also carried the burden of responsibility for all of us, and his job was on the line too.
    Was I in shock? Were we all suffering? I looked at the civilian first aider. Yes. I looked at Donk and Pizza who were milling around. Yes. I glanced back at Cat, still inside the squashed car. Yes, of course. Everybody caught up in this tragedy was suffering from shock; everybody, it seemed, except for these two cops, two men who seemed to be in complete control.
    I glanced after the other cop who was now directing the reversing ambulance up to the back of the toppled digger. So in control, directing and organising. Me? I just wanted to sit down at the side of the road and have a good cry. Is that how we all felt? When did the cops cry? Do cops cry?
    The paramedics removed Cat from the back of the car before climbing in themselves. If anybody should be crying, it should be Cat. He walked towards us and I hugged him. A great big man hug.
    We all turned and looked up at more approaching sirens, with so many blue lights flashing through the darkness it almost made me dizzy.
    “Here come the cavalry,” said Jonesy. “Sergeant, keep all your men together. Your work’s done for now, but we’ll need to speak to you all before we’re finished up here and it might take some time. I presume that’s your truck?” He nodded up the road at our semi-illuminated lorry. “Get everybody in there and wait around, would you? Take a breather but whatever you do, do not move