Bridget woke with a start; she could hear men's voices outside her hotel room door. She dived off the sofa and into the bathroom quietly closing the door behind her. She didn't know what else to do. Thoughts flashed through her mind. Who were they? What did they want? Maybe Macawi's men had come to finish the job he failed to do, or was it revenge for his death? It couldn't be Catherine trying again; she was in prison paying for her crimes against Andrew. Just the thought of his name brought fresh tears to her eyes, she had fallen truly in love for the first time in her life but it had been so wrong. Maybe if she gave him time he might forgive her? As she was thinking this through she heard the door splinter and two men burst into her room. If I last that long…. Her thoughts trailed off as she put her ear against the cold wood of the bathroom door trying to work out what they were doing.

"She's not here" she heard one man say, he sounded annoyed, like he didn't really want to be there. "She must've gone out for a drink."

"No, she's been sober for months," the second man cut in "or that's what that guy Malcolm said."

So they had Malcolm? What had they done to him? They must mean business if they had tortured him to find her. Bridget had to make a decision. Surprise them by bursting out of the bathroom and use the time to make a run for it. Or wait here like a coward and die cowering in the corner, trapped. Whatever, she didn't have much time, she could hear their heavy footfalls coming nearer and nearer.

She had to run for it, it was her best chance. She steadied her breathing, trying to calm her racing heart. Her speed could be the difference between life and death. As if her mind knew, it flashed images of her happiest times with Andrew and Juliet. "I love you" she breathed as she yanked the door open and bolted across the room, barely noticing the two men turn and open fire.

A sharp pain flickered across her back, knocking the breath out of her. She stumbled and fell, her head cracking against the wall of the hotel corridor. Everything went black.

Sitting behind the desk in his office Andrew was lost in thought. He couldn't believe what had happened in the past 48 hours. Everything had seemed so perfect but it had all been a lie. Or had it? She had seemed so genuine when she had said 'I love you.' Maybe she had meant it? Or was it all an act, she just wanted to be what a perfect wife should be. Either way he had to find out, he would take her back if that was what she wanted. She was the one he had fallen in love with these past few weeks. She hadn't grabbed his money and run like she could have done, she had stayed to try and make things right. He had to find her, to know the truth and he wanted to know she was ok, she had seemed so cut up when she left. He hoped she hadn't turned back to drugs. He would never forgive himself. An image of her beautiful but delicate body flashed through his mind, quickly replaced by a haunting image of her face dishevelled by drugs and drink. He picked up his phone but realised he didn't know her number; she had left all Siobhan's things in the safe, including her phone and the ring. Not knowing who else to call he phoned Solomon, he would probably know where Bridget was, maybe even what state she was in.

Andrew let the phone ring for nearly two minutes. He could tell something was clearly wrong. Solomon was always so quick to pick up, like the highly professional man he was. This wasn't right, something had happened to Bridget. Andrew let the phone ring for a few moments more before hanging up. He had to find her, to help her if that was what she needed. A few seconds later his phone rang, it was Solomon.

"Hello?" Andrew answered, the concern ringing clear in his voice.

"Hi Andrew, it's Solomon. Sorry I didn't pick up, there's a problem you ought to know about."

"What's happened to Bridget? Is she ok?" Andrew was desperate now, the woman he loved was in trouble, he could feel it.

"Well she's alive, but only just. I'm so sorry Andrew; I wasn't there when they broke in. She's been rushed to hospital. She was shot…."

"I'm coming now." Andrew cut in before Solomon had finished "I'll be there in 10 minutes."

He hung up as he raced out of his office, grabbing his coat and running to the elevator. Why had he not called her sooner, if he had maybe she would be in his arms now. Not lying in a hospital bed on the edge of death.

The smell of disinfectant burned the back of his throat as he half-ran through the hospital wards, searching for Bridget. He had to see for himself that she was alive. Solomon had said she'd been shot but he didn't know how serious it was or how it had happened. As he turned the corner he could see Solomon sitting waiting for him. Their eyes met and Solomon made an effort to smile but it was broken. Not a good sign.

"Hi Andrew, I'm glad you're here. The doctor's want to speak to the next of kin but there isn't anyone. Could you do it?" Solomon held Andrew's gaze, his eyes pleading.

"Of course, what do they want?"

"Well she's in surgery right now and they need to confirm some medical details."

"Oh, I can't help much with that. How long has she been in surgery?"

"They took her up about 5 minutes ago but it's going to be hours. The bullets fragmented when they hit her and she knocked her head pretty bad." His voice broke as his finished his sentence, he had been protecting Bridget for a few months now and he had let her down.

"It's ok Solomon, it wasn't your fault, you can't be with her all the time. What do you mean when you say bullets plural? She was shot several times?" The alarm in his voice surprised him but he was desperate to know what had happened. He wanted to see her, he didn't care how broken she was, he had to see her again.

"Two men broke into her hotel room, they both had guns and somehow she was shot in the back. The doctor's aren't sure how many bullets hit her, but she lost a lot of blood and they are worried about her spinal cord."

"Who found her?" There were a million questions buzzing round his head but to Andrew this was the most important.

"I don't know. There were paramedics there when I got back. I guess it must have been one of the other guests. Whoever it was probably saved her life; the two men trashed her room and left her for dead."

This was all too much for Andrew, he felt his knees give way but before he hit the floor Solomon had caught him and eased him into a chair.

"Get some sleep Andrew, you look exhausted. Bridget is in safe hands now; I'll wake you when there's news."

Solomon was right; Andrew hadn't slept properly in days. Everything had been piling up on him, it was a wonder he hadn't collapsed sooner. His mind became fuzzy and he was soon in a deep sleep.