Tim had just reached his office, when his phone rang. "Hello?"
"Tim," said a voice choked with tears. "Sweetheart, this is Emma. It… It's Charlotte…"
Tim felt nausea shoot up in his stomach. "What's happened, Emma?"
"She…" Emma Avery sounded beside herself. "She's been in an accident. She was hit by a car on the way to college, hit and run. The… The police have just called Dave, Colin and I. They're sending a car to collect us and take us to hospital. She… She's in ICU, in critical condition…"
"Accident my fucking ass!" Tim snarled, anger and grief doing battle within his heart. "I bet any fucking thing Adam fucking Dawson is involved?"
"That's what we and the police think too," came Dave's voice, as Emma broke down completely. "The police are heading to his address right now to look for proof, but I bet the son of a bitch has covered his tracks! Fuck, I want to fucking kill him!"
"Shit! Give me half an hour, I'm on my way now!"
Dave Avery's voice was so full of grief and terrible pain, Tim's heart broke. "The… The cops are going to pick you up on the way through. We're getting a blue light run to the hospital. We'll be there in 10 minutes."
Tim hung up and raced out to tell his boss what'd happened. Privately he knew Adam Dawson was involved, whatever the police might say. Some random hit and run on Charlotte? No fucking way! That little prick had something to do with it, and Tim Jennings would prove it if it was the last thing he did. He thought of his brief meeting with Michael Myers via FaceTime. Oh Michael, he thought. Man, I wish you could kill Adam Dawson! God, I'd pay you for it! Just like the misogynistic prick has paid someone to do this to Charlotte, I'd fucking bet on it! The police better find proof, then Adam can be charged with murder and go to the fucking chair!
The police were true to their word. Within 10 minutes Tim was in the back of a cop car, siren screaming and blue lights flashing, sitting beside Dave and Emma, Colin up front. They raced through the streets towards the hospital. Tim turned to Dave, Emma inconsolable leaning against her husband's shoulder. Colin was deathly pale and looked murderous. Tim was sure Charlotte's brother had made the same connection everyone else had. Adam was responsible. He may not have driven the car, but he'd arranged this.
When they reached the hospital, a team of nurses were there to greet them, as was a family Liaison Officer from the police. Emma had to be physically supported by Colin and Dave. Tim's heart broke for Charlotte's mother, the whole family.
"Is there anything I can do?" He asked their FLO, whose name was Richard.
"Just be there for them," Richard said. "That's all anyone can do at this time. You are Tim Jennings Charlotte's boyfriend, correct?"
Tim nodded, feeling physically sick. "How… how is she?"
"I can't discuss that at the moment, not until her family have seen her. The doctors will update you shortly."
As Tim and Richard sat down in a relative's waiting room, Tim became aware he was shaking. Mostly he realised, with anger. God! He'd never wanted to speak to Michael Myers so badly in his life. If only the masked killer could target Adam, get revenge and justice. Adam Dawson wasn't stupid; he wouldn't have been driving the car which hit Charlotte and Tim knew this. But he was responsible, of that there was no doubt. Tim just hoped that somewhere, somehow in his address, the police would find even a tiny scrap of evidence. But as far as he was concerned, Adam Dawson was a dead man. God help him if Tim ever found him. He and Michael Myers were united right now.
Tim hadn't before considered himself a violent man. But if Adam Dawson cross his path, that could and would very probably change in an irreversible way. He knew he had to calm himself. Charlotte's family needed him, he had to keep fighting for them. Plus, he couldn't let himself be charged with murder. He had to get a grip, but it was still the hardest thing he'd ever done to calm his terrible anger and hatred.
"I'll get you a cup of tea," Richard's voice broke in to Tim's murderous thoughts. "It could be a while before they come out."
Tim couldn't even find the strength to nod in thanks. Without Charlotte, his life was meaningless. If she died, his heart would never love again. But no! She wasn't going to die; Tim knew he had to think that. Critical condition didn't necessarily mean fatal. Charlotte Avery couldn't die, she couldn't…
While he was alone, Tim picked up his phone and dialled Dr Clarkson's number. Charlotte had given it to him just in case. She could ring Smith's grove and Dr Stark for him. This would be the hardest phone call he'd ever made in his life.
Tim had no sooner put his phone down, when the door opened again and Richard entered with hot tea. Tim couldn't bring himself even to smile at the other man.
"Can I just ask you a few questions if that's ok?" Richard's voice was gentle as he brought out his notebook. "I'm really sorry to do this now, but we need the information as soon as possible."
Tim just sat there saying nothing, which the FLO seemed to take as consent.
"You were Charlotte's boss previously, yes?"
"She did a brief summer job," Tim's voice was flat. "I was her boss then yeah. Before she went to college. I've liked her for ages. I called her "babe" in a text every night, and one night her misogynistic bastard of a so-called boyfriend Adam fucking Dawson made her text me back at 03:00 to stop calling her babe. You know he's behind this, right? He may not have driven the fucking car, but…"
Richard said nothing, but the look he gave Tim told him the other man suspected the same only too well. Tim just hoped officers were all over Dawson like fucking ants right now.
"She was leaving for college?"
"Hmm. Said she wanted to take the train instead of driving. Fuck! I should've given her a lift, I…"
"Tim," Richard actually touched his arm now. "Don't. Don't think what if? None of this is your fault and you'll just torture yourself doing that."
Tim knew the police officer was right, but it was much easier said than done. Tim stared intently at the blank white wall seemingly found in all hospitals and let the tears fall down his face.
"She's in a DASC isn't she?"
"Yes."
"But she was staying with you last night? You told me this earlier."
"Yes." One word answers seemed to be all Tim could manage just then. "Fuck! She should've stayed there, she was safe there, she…"
"Tim!" Richard's voice was a little stern now. "Stop it! She would still have been walking to college! That wouldn't have changed this! As for you giving her a lift, something might have happened to you as well then."
"Better me than Charlotte. That misogynist can do what the fuck he likes to me, but not her…" Tim's voice broke and he sobbed quietly.
The FLO gave Tim a couple of minutes of silence before speaking. "Did you know Charlotte was in an abusive relationship?"
"I always suspected, yeah. When she talked about Adam and Danielle, how she wanted to be with him, I wondered. Then all that terrible stuff happened, Danielle's attempting suicide and incarceration in Smith's Grove. Charlotte was thrilled she could get to Adam. Be with him I mean. I didn't say much at first, hell I was just her boss. It wasn't my place. But then… Things started to happen. She'd turn up to work with bruises, once a black eye. When I or someone else would ask her how she got them, she'd say she'd slipped or something. Every excuse in the book. I suspected Adam was in fact behind it, but couldn't do anything without proof. Charlotte seemed totally besotted with the prick!"
"We know Danielle attempted suicide because of Adam," Richard said. "That's why she was in Smith's Grove. We also have reason to believe Adam may have killed her himself if she hadn't."
Tim nodded. "Yeah, Charlotte told me that recently too. I didn't find out how bad it was until Adam had been arrested. I visited Charlotte at his house on her request and that's when she broke down and told me. Next thing I knew we were kissing and we've been together ever since. I love her, DC Anderson."
"I don't doubt that," Richard said softly. "But I have to ask you Tim, do you have any solid proof it was Adam's doing today?"
"No!" Tim snarled in utter frustration and anger. "But God Damn it I know it was! Everything points to him!"
Richard sighed. "The problem is, we the police know that too. But we need…"
"Fucking proof," Tim glared at the wall. "Fuck! It's so blindingly obvious Danielle could see it! Yet you have to fucking prove it! Of course that little prick would deny it on his fucking sad excuse for a life!"
"We're working on it," Richard said. "Trust me Tim, we're trying to find any proof we possibly can."
Eventually after what felt like hours, Dave entered the relative's room. His eyes were red and swollen, his face deathly white. Tim jumped up and gave the other man his chair. Dave didn't even seem to notice him at first.
"Dave?" Richard said compassionately. "I'll leave you 2 to it." He discretely left the room.
"How…" Tim started and felt tears well up in his own eyes at the look on Dave Avery's face. When he spoke, his voice was trembling with emotion. Tim couldn't even begin to imagine the pain he was in. A father whose daughter had been hit in a planned and meditated hit and run. He felt the tears rolling down his own cheeks before Dave had even spoken.
"She… She's critical. Currently in a coma. Colin's with Emma now, Emma's staying with her tonight, only one family member can stay the night. We'll take it in turns. She has severe internal injuries and internal bleeding to the brain. They…" Tim stood up and hugged the other man tightly. "They don't think she's going to survive the night," Dave said, before he too broke down completely and all Tim could do was join him.
…
Danielle and Michael were in her cell when Dr Stark approached. "Danielle," the consultant said, opening the door. "I need to speak to you. Joanne is here as well."
Danielle felt an instant jolt of alarm. Something in Dr Stark's voice sounded, off. Michael made to stand immediately, but Danielle found herself clutching his arm. "Please stay?" She asked.
Dr Stark made no abjection and she and Joanne entered, closing the door behind them. Danielle's unease was only increased when one of them pressed the button to raise the sound proofing screen. "Danielle," Dr Stark said. "It… its Charlotte."
Danielle went deathly pale. "What?" She felt Michael put his arms around her.
Dr Stark continued, sounding as if each word was causing her genuine pain. "She was involved in an accident early this morning, a hit and run. She… she's in hospital, unconscious. Her condition, it's…"
"No," Danielle almost shouted, tears rapidly falling. "No! Please…"
Joanne had already joined Michael in holding Danielle. "ADAM!" Danielle was shouting now. "THAT FUCKING BASTARD HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS! I JUST FUCKING KNOW IT!"
"Hush," Joanne soothed, but wasn't trying to stop her shouting.
"We're already making plans to get you down there today," Dr Stark said. "Charlotte's parents are desperate to see you. We're sorting out a private aeroplane to fly you straight there rather than a private ambulance. Even with lights and sirens it…" she didn't finish, but Danielle didn't need her to. Might take too long, be too late.
Danielle was surprised then to hear Dr Loomis's voice. "Michael, I'm not going to ask to speak to you privately at a time like this, so please just listen to me. If Danielle wishes, you may make the journey with her, but you will be in chains and guarded. Please hear me out. Even if we know you're very unlikely to kill anyone, the wide world as yet does not and the last thing we need in this situation is panic. You will be able to enter the hospital, but not Charlotte's room unless her parents give the ok. You will have guards with you all the time. I really hope you understand. Work with me here Michael, please. This is purely because of who you are now to Danielle, and a mark of how far you've come that I am even considering this."
The killer said nothing, but Danielle was sure they had eye contact. Danielle felt a rush of gratitude towards Dr Loomis. It was true, she needed Michael so badly if she was going to get through this. She hadn't expected Adam to strike this soon. But this viciously? Now that was another story entirely. Michael must've eventually nodded because Dr Loomis murmured, "thank you."
Even in her terrible grief and fear, Danielle's heart swelled with affection for Dr Loomis and Dr Stark when the guards assigned to Michael were Rick and Jack. She just hoped Michael also realised and recognised this.
Within minutes they were in a private car driven by Joanne, shooting towards the airport. To Danielle's shock, the car had lights and a siren which Joanne activated. Her affection for them if possible grew at this. Danielle was up front with Joanne, Michael was in back with his 2 guards, wrist and ankle chained. But Danielle had a funny feeling the chains weren't as tight as they should have been.
They reached the airport and the jet was already waiting for them. A tiny 10 seater aircraft including the pilot. Joanne explained that Smith's Grove had a jet for emergencies such as this. Michael was securely chained to his seat, Rick and Jack either side of him. But Joanne did see Rick touch Michael's shoulder and whisper something in his ear. We have to keep up appearances, if Joanne had to guess.
When Dr Stark had told her that she had to get the authorisation of Barry Andrews the Smith's Grove CEO, Danielle felt her heart sink. Would he refuse? But to her huge relief he didn't. They'd just taken their seats when Dr Stark radioed Joanne and asked them to wait. She was going to accompany them. Danielle wasn't sure if this was to look after her or for another purpose. The pilot who'd introduced himself as James showed no surprise when Michael was chained to his seat. Of course, as Smith's Grove's pilot, he'd probably seen it all before.
Within 5 minutes, Dr Stark was there, running up the ramp in to the aircraft and taking her seat directly behind Danielle's. Rick, Jack and Michael were just behind the pilot.
Danielle couldn't take in a word of the safety briefing the pilot gave them, hard as she tried. She just fastened her seatbelt with the others when he asked them to. As they finally took off, shooting in to the sky. Danielle wished she could make the plane go even faster, willing it closer to her desperately injured friend and sister. No one had said as much, but Danielle knew Charlotte was fighting for her life. Otherwise none of this would be necessary, least of all the plane. She would've been taken by car in any other circumstances. Charlotte was close to death's door. All Danielle could think about were Colin, Tim, Emma and Dave. She wanted to comfort them so badly it physically hurt. She felt so powerless, but also an unstoppable anger. This was Adam's doing, Danielle was certain of it. Somehow he had planned this. A random hit and run? No way! If it'd been an accident, the driver would've stopped immediately in horror. No, this had been arranged and Adam had probably even paid for it!
Danielle wasn't even aware she was crying until Joanne put her arms around her, holding her tightly. She pressed her head against her guard's shoulder and broke down completely. Joanne didn't say anything, doubtlessly knowing that nothing she said could soothe Danielle's terrible pain and fear. Danielle felt Joanne's handcuffs against her cheek and had a terrible longing to grab them and use them on Adam, before shooting him with a real, lethal bullet. Joanne didn't let go for the rest of the flight.