Chapter 5
Jack stood still and looked at the crowd of people gathered just a few feet a way from him. He could have sworn there were more people than he'd been told. Shaking his head he slowly moved towards them, as casually as he possible could, fearful of them discovering he was a cop. His heart beating fasting, this was it. Make or break. His life in a strangers hands...
"Morning Martha" Alf called as he walked into Martha's flat. "I thought you could do with some company, with Jack being away and...Martha!" he cried as he saw her curled into a heap on the floor, he raced towards her and knelt down besides her. He desperately tried to rouse her. With no success, he grabbed the phone and dialled 000. "Yeh, hi. I need an ambulance. It's my granddaughter she's collapsed I can't wake her...yes it's the Beachside Diner flat...Yes that one. Thank you. Please hurry!" he called and put the phone down, rushing to Martha's side. "Martha, it's me Granddad. Love, can you here me?" he shouted. He watched as her eyes slowly flickered open and closed again for a few seconds. A wave of relief spread over him. AT least she was breathing. He cradled her in his arms and waited for the ambulance.
As casual as he possibly could, Jack slowly walked to the hostages. His heart raced, yet he knew he couldn't let it show that he was scared. He placed his head down; in the hope that the thugs would think he was passing by and tell him to sit down with them. He was in luck. As he placed hands in his pocket to check he had his handcuffs, he let the man grab his arm and push him in direction of the others, where he sat next to the young woman. His thoughts again turned to Martha. His future. His one and only. His life. He knew he'd defied her by coming here, but once he'd got the hostages back to safety, he knew it would all be worth it. He just hoped Martha would think the same.
Meanwhile, the paramedics raced into the Diner Flat. There were two of them. A man and a woman. The man immediately rushed to Martha's side. "Hello can you here me?" he shouted. Martha drifted out of consciousness. He looked at the Female paramedic "We need to get her to hospital now" he said. The woman nodded and began to place Martha on the stretcher she had carried up. The Male paramedic looked at Alf. "What's her name?" he asked. "Martha. Is she going to be ok?" Alf replied. The Paramedic gave him a blank look. "We need to get her to hospital. We can't say until we have checked her over properly. Are you her emergency contact?" he asked. Alf nodded. "Yeh, me and her Boyfriend, Jack. Jack Holden"
"Constable
Jack Holden?" asked one of the paramedics. Alf nodded. "Yeh
that's the one" he said. "He's away though, with work. I
don't think he left a contact number." said Alf, panicking. "He
needs to know"
One of the paramedics nodded. "OK, we'll
keep trying to get in touch with him, but for now we need to get
Martha to hospital OK?"
"Yeh of course" Alf replied. And they headed towards the ambulance. Martha lay on the stretcher carried by the paramedics. A blanket over her. Alf watched as she was lifted into the ambulance. "Can I come with you?" he asked. The Paramedic nodded. "Of course". Alf sat besides Martha, gripping her hand tightly.
Meanwhile, Jack was cradling the young child in his arms, trying to protect her. He knew he would be placing them in danger but he didn't care. He just wanted to save the child. "Let go of her, and sit over there!" the Thug called to Jack. He shook his head. "No, take me instead, don't punish some innocent child!"
"Shut up!" the thug snapped and grabbed Jack by the throat pinning him against the wall, a gun gripped in his hands, poised to shoot...
