'Dr Ethan Hardy was one of the most brilliant young doctors I have met. No- that's far too informal and patronising.' Hansen scribbled out what he had written on the card. Why was this so hard? Why was he even doing this? He barely knew the man!
'Mr Hansen, how is your speech going?'
'Not very well I'm afraid Mrs Beauchamp. I don't even understand why I've been given the job.'
'Well, you are in charge of the entire hospital and the staff. That may have something to do with it.'
'Thank you for that earful of sarcasm- I appreciate it.'
'Tell you what, I'll do it- if you don't mind that is.'
'Thank you.' He handed over the pen and paper.
'That's quite alright. I better do this now then.'
'I'll see you at the service. Goodbye Mrs Beauchamp.'
'Mr Hansen.' Connie nodded towards him before she closed the door behind her and walked into her office and sat starring at the piece of paper in front of her. She had no idea of what to write. He was a great doctor but she knew virtually nothing about him as a person.
'We are here today to remember Miss Jessica Wheeler, Sargent with Holby Army squadron 3517, and Mr Ian Dean, Paramedic with Holby Ambulance Trust and with Holby army squadron 3517. We thank them for their service to their community, their city and their country. We also would like to announce that Dr Caleb Knight, Dr Ethan Hardy, Mr Ben Chiltern and Miss Robyn Miller are once again safe. We thank the Holby Police Department, in particular Mr Oliver Days, Mr Barry Moore, Miss Felicity South and Miss Ivy Jones, for all their help. They have successfully tracked down the murderers of Jess and Ian and have locked them away for life. They have kept Cal, Ethan, Robyn and Ben safe- putting other lives before their own. We would also like to thank Holby Foundation Trust Hospital and all the staff for their work over the last few months in these particularly difficult cases. So thank you all! Without you four members of our team wouldn't be here today.'
The crowd burst into applause.
'There will now be a memorial service for the deceased around the corner. So, all I have left to say is that we hope Ethan continues to recover well and thank you all once again.'
The church was packed. Two coffins lay at the front, dressed with the Union Jack. Speeches were made, tears were shed, but no one would ever forget.
'Do you really want to do this?'
'Yeah. I have to see them.'
The prison guard showed them down the corridor and directed them to enter a room where three men were sat, handcuffed to their chairs which were bolted to the floor. Ethan tenderly sat on the chair opposite them, wishing he had brought a cushion, Cal lurked nervously at his shoulder.
'So how did you do it?'
Ethan sat through the plans, hearing about the murder of the first man, the collapse of the cave, stealing guns from the firing range, the following murders, the attack on the safe house. He had heard it all before. He was present at the trial and he knew what they did. He wanted to hear it from them as the guilty men they were not the men who were desperately trying to be proved innocent.
'I'm not too sure what you were all trying to achieve. I don't know why you did what you did, and quite frankly I'm not sure I want to know.' Ethan stood up and walked towards the door. He turned on his heel and said: 'I know one thing though: I won.'
