The Darkest Hour Read Online Free PDF Page B

were there?’ she asked.
    ‘Lucky guess.’
    She looked up at him.
    ‘I know safeties going off when I hear them,’ he said. ‘Even through a door.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    He kissed the top of her head.
    Three ambulances and a supervisor’s car were already at St Vincent’s Hospital. The officers crowded around as Lauren and Joe climbed out of twenty-seven.
    ‘You okay?’
    ‘Joe, what happened to your neck?’
    ‘Was he a loony?’
    ‘Give them some space,’ Marcia shouted, still inside the ambulance.
    Joe held the back of Lauren’s blanket as they moved towards the doors of the Emergency Department. She liked the feel of his hand so close to her back and let him steer her through the concerned paramedics.
    The doors slid back and Joe’s fiancée, Claire Bramley, rushed out. She threw her arms around both of them, her RN badge poking the side of Lauren’s neck. Her grip was tight. ‘I was so scared for you guys.’
    Joe shifted her arm from his throat. Claire gasped at the dressing. ‘What did that maniac do?’
    ‘It’s nothing,’ Joe said. ‘Doesn’t even need stitches.’
    Claire pulled the corner of the dressing free but Joe took her hand. ‘It’ll be healed well before the wedding. You won’t look like you’re marrying Frankenstein.’
    ‘That’s not what I’m worried about.’ Claire looked him over, making him raise his arms in his blanket and turn around on the spot. She then turned to Lauren. ‘You okay?’
    ‘I am,’ Lauren said. ‘Thanks to Joe.’
    He smiled. ‘It was nothing.’
    Lauren felt a lump rise in her throat, and Joe went blurry. She clutched the blanket tightly around her.
Don’t cry, don’t you dare cry!
    ‘Come on, pilgrim.’ Joe nudged her. ‘I’m dying for a coffee.’
    She followed him through the Emergency Department doors, breathing deep, her throat aching. The doors slid shut behind them and they were alone in the corridor, Claire still outside.
    ‘Lots of sugar, hey?’ Joe said. ‘Boost the levels.’
    ‘Joe.’ It came out squeaky. ‘I want to say . . .’ But she couldn’t say anything.
    ‘It’s okay.’ He put his arm around her.
    She closed her eyes over her tears and rested her head on his shoulder.
    ‘Come on,’ he said after a moment. ‘Coffee and a sweet biscuit. You’ll feel like a million bucks.’
    Lauren wiped her face with a corner of the blanket as the doors slid open and Claire came in. She stopped short just inside. ‘Weren’t you going for coffee?’
    ‘On our way right now,’ Joe said, and Lauren let herself be steered down the corridor, feeling safe with his arm across her shoulders.

THREE
     
    I n the café next door to the police building in Parramatta, Ella watched Dennis Orchard tear a cinnamon roll to pieces and stuff the largest bit in his mouth. He saw her looking and held out the plate. She shook her head. ‘Thanks anyway.’
    He mumbled something unintelligible. He’d stopped smoking again, and looked like he’d put on weight over the last month. Well, she couldn’t talk, and she didn’t have giving up smoking to blame it on.
    He swallowed. ‘Find those phone numbers?’
    ‘They weren’t there.’
    He smiled and took a sip of coffee.
    ‘We’ve got a new list now,’ she said. ‘Twice as long.’
    His mouth full again, he gave her a wink.
    ‘I’m in a holding pattern and I think I know why.’
    He raised his eyebrows.
    ‘Unless that shooting report comes in clear they don’t really want me.’
    ‘Not true.’ Crumbs fell out of his mouth.
    ‘I also think it’s going to come back bad.’
    He twirled a finger beside his forehead.
    ‘Why are they taking so long then?’ She put her folded arms on the table. ‘I knew this move was too good to be true. I’m going to be back in that little room at Hunters Hill before the week is over, I bet you.’
    Dennis swallowed, grimacing as it went down. ‘It’s a committee thing. Plenty of red tape. They always take ages.’
    ‘I have a bad