Jo walked back to where the girl, or rather, young woman, sat propped against the wall. She looked shaken. Very shaken. But not seriously hurt. Certainly not requiring an ambulance as yet, seeing as she didn't look in pain. Not that Jo was sure. She looked about 12. She sat down next to the girl and gently laid her hand on her shoulder.
"Going to tell me what happened, darling? What's your name?"
The girl glanced up and smiled, wiping away the tears that still stained her cheeks.
"Diane. Diane Lloyd."
"Right then, Diane. I'm Jo. How old are you? What happened? Shall I call your parents?"
Diane laughed.
"Honestly? 31. Err…no, parents won't be interested! And, as for what happened, well…"
"31? Oh lord, I'm sorry…" blurted out Jo, blushing.
"No, it's ok. It happens all the time!"
"Well, sorry anyway! And do you know what happened?"
"I…I was walking down the road. Well, more running. I'd been paged. Emergency at Holby. And some blokes shoved me into the hedge, took my bag, and…"
Jo sighed. Diane was the same age as her. It was difficult to be quite so professional when all she wanted to do was throw her arms around her and hug her. But…why? She never felt like that. Not about anyone. Except Tess…
"I…no, no, nothing like that! Only physical issue is that I hit my head." said Diane quickly as she saw the look on Jo's face.
Jo smiled. "No concussion?"
"No! I'm a doctor! I'd notice."
"Oh, alright…Look, if that's it, I need to get back to the nick to fill in a couple of forms etc and take a description of the bag from you. Coming?"
She offered Diane her hand and, still grasping it in her own, led the way back to her car.
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"JT, can you take a description of Miss Lloyd's bag for me? Cheers. Diane, I'll be down in a sec…give you a lift."
"PC Harman is just off. She could give Miss Lloyd a lift." Smiled JT.
"No, it's fine. I'll do it. Someone I need to speak to in that area anyway."
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"Right, you ready?"
Diane nodded.
"Where do you live?"
"Oh…Oxford Road."
"Fine…hop in!"
"I…err, Jo...you don't mind me calling you that do you?"
"Course not…as long as I can call you Diane" grinned Jo.
"Sure. Well, are you sure you don't mind taking me home? It's a bit out of your way…"
"It's fine. Honestly! Now, is there someone at home to look after you? You can't be on your own, especially not after hitting your head. And, besides, it's New Year's Eve!"
"I…no, Owen, my husband, and I split up a couple of weeks ago."
"Sorry about that. Well, you can't be on your own…any friends?"
Diane shook her head.
"Not any that would willingly forgo getting utterly wasted to sit with me."
"Well, come back to mine." Said Jo suddenly.
"No, no, I couldn't. You don't know me…"
"Diane, I can judge a character pretty well. I say I know you fine. Please? At least I'd sleep easy then…"
"Oh, ok." Smiled Diane, blushing slightly. She got out of the car and returned a few minutes later with a small bag of clothes.
"Thanks for this Jo. No-one you live with going to mind?"
"Err…no, my girlfriend was killed not long ago…she was working in a prison. Dangerous prisoners etc."
"Oh…no, I'm really sorry. Are you sure it's still ok? I mean, I…" Diane looked at the seat, confused. What did she mean?
"Course" nodded Jo, stopping the car, "Bag please."
She took Diane's bag in and stuck it in the hallway.
"Welcome to my home. It's not much but…y'know, DC's pay these days isn't great! Glass of wine? Find you somewhere to sleep in a minute, but I think I need alcohol first!"
"Thanks"
Jo returned a minute later with two full glasses of white. Handing one to Diane, she paused for a minute and smiled, before breaking away.
"Right, bedrooms…"
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