Flying Under Radar (8)
CHAPTER EIGHT
"So Jo," Sam began, sitting up to look at her friend, "where on earth did you learn to drive like that? That was incredible! Terrifying, but incredible."
Looking wistfully into the distance, Jo recalled past weekends with a smile. "When I did my stint in traffic as a probationer, my driving skills got noticed on a few training days, and I was allowed to tag along on an advanced driving skills course. We all got paired up with instructors, and that was whenI met Sergeant Helen Westlake. We sorta clicked, and after the first day of training, she asked me out for a drink. We had a brief fling, days on the skidpan and rally circuits, and nights...well, I won't embarrass you with the details." Jo concluded, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"You really are full of surprises Jo."
"Me? 'ey, look who's talking!"
"What do you mean, 'look who's talking'?"
"I mean, since when did you prefer safe to sorry? Back at the club, y'know, when-" Stopping mid-sentence, Jo heard the welcome wail of sirens as the ambulance finally arrived at the scene. Surging to her feet, Jo was about to go and meet the ambulance when Sam clutched at her arm, stumbling as she attempted to stand.
"Sam?"
"Jo... I can't see properly. As soon as I stood up everything went blurry, I can't make out anything- Jo, I can't see!" Sam said as she fought the rising panic that threatened to engulf all sensible thought.
Stepping directly in front of the panicking blonde, Jo tipped Sam's chin to look straight into her mis-matched pupils.
"Sam, I'm right here, recognise the blurry red blob?" Jo joked, attempting to calm Sam's racing mind. "I reckon you bumped your head harder than you thought, but it's still just concussion Sam, nothing your body can't deal with. You need to get checked over though, so I'm just going to go and fetch a paramedic, wait here for me Babybear."
"Forever, Jo..." Sam whispered once the shapely red blur had shrunk enough for Jo to be out of earshot.
Flashing her warrant card at the paramedics, Jo introduced herself.
"DC Masters, Sun Hill. We've got two casualties, the driver of the Mercedes is unconscious, still behind the wheel, and neither of the doors will budge, the fire crew are en route with cutting gear. Prior to the crash he was believed to be armed and dangerous, so watch yourselves if he comes round. The other casualty is DS Nixon my colleague. She was stuck in the passenger seat of the other car when the Mercedes hit it and was unconscious when I returned to the vehicle. She came round after no more than a minute, seems to be ok apart from severely blurred vision. She's just over here."
Ignoring the stunned look the young paramedic was giving her, and glaring as the older paramedic eyed her lecherously, Jo strode through the crash scene, heading straight back to Sam.
Running her fingers through her hair, Jo surveyed the crash scene with exhaustion. Traffic Division were recording evidence and making arrangements to reopen the road, Paul Burgess had been cut free of the car and taken to hospital with an accompanying PC and Sam was waiting in a squad car, having been checked over by the paramedics and told to rest and make sure someone was around for the next 24 hours, just in case.
"DC Masters?"
It was Leela, sent to drive them both back to Sun Hill.
"Yep, just coming."
Retrieving her and Sam's bags from the officer leading the crash investigation, Jo climbed into the back of the squad car, handing over Sam's bag with a smile.
"Any news on Roger yet Leela?"
"Yes, he's being treated at St. Hugh's now, but apparently he's doing well, and should be out of hospital tomorrow."
"And the arrests at the club?"
"All taken care of. DC Webb took charge when he heard you'd both left in pursuit of the doorman. All of the dealers were found in possession with enough to qualify as supplying, and apparently, two of them are tripping over themselves in their eagerness to grass up the rest of the gang, hoping to lighten their own sentences, I reckon."
"Thanks, that's great." Jo managed to say, stifling a yawn as she did so.
Sensing that the two detectives didn't want to be questioned any further, Leela drove swiftly back to the station.