Chapter 13

Robin paced up and down the corridor for so long that he thought for sure he'd worn a genuine hole in the carpet. It reminded him of an expectant father on TV awaiting news of his newborn child or the anxious family member waiting to hear if his dearly beloved relative had pulled through a complicated operation.

A thousand different possibilities ran through his mind as he stared at the door of the examination room; that Simon was there for a CID case, that he was speaking to someone about some poor victim he'd been handed the case file of earlier that morning, that he'd lapsed back into concussion and wandered to the wrong department.

None of them explained his pale pallor, sunken eyes, tear-streaked cheeks or the comforting arm Kelly had around him.

"Shit," Robin muttered, his pacing intensifying until the door opened slowly, calling him to a halt as his eyes turned hurriedly to the door. "Simon?"

"No, Rob, just me," Kelly emerged from the other side of the door.

Robin gave a sigh of frustration and slammed his head and shoulders against the wall behind him.

"Kelly, tell me what the hell is going on," he demanded.

Kelly chewed on her lip nervously.

"I don't know if I can do that," she said quietly, "confidentiality…"

"I work here!" cried Robin, "I walk down this corridor about once a day at least. What's confidential?"

Kelly looked a little anxious.

"Simon's your boyfriend," she said quietly, Or… or well, he was until you came into work this morning and told us all where you were going to stick his iPhone."

Robin stepped forward.

"Please, Kel?" he urged, tell me, what's he doing here? Please tell me he's just on a case… he is just on a case, right?"

Kelly couldn't meet Robin's gaze.

"I think maybe we should go elsewhere for a while," she said quietly, "I'll buy you a coffee in the cafeteria."

"I don't want a coffee, I wan t to know what's going on here," Robin could feel his eyes filling up involuntarily.

"I don't feel comfortable here," Kelly shuffled, "I'm still an officer… it's my job to protect the identity of victims."

In that instant, Robin's heart sank.

"Victims," he whispered. He looked at Kelly again. "Is… is that what Simon is?"

Kelly closed his eyes for a moment.

"I didn't say that," she cursed her slip-up silently.

"You didn't need to," Robin whispered. He paused. "What happened? Did… something happen on his way to work?" He was greeted by a silent stare. "Kelly, come on, help me out here."

Kelly shook her head slowly.

"No," she whispered, "it was before that. I don't think you saw what you thought you saw."

Robin bit his lip.

"I saw them…. spooning," he spat, "that's not assault!"

Kelly urged Robin to keep his voice down with an urgent shush and a flapping of her arms.

"Walls aren't that thick, you know!" she hissed.

"I don't understand what's supposed to be happening here!" Robin cried.

Kelly held up a bag; the bag that contained Simon's evidence.

"Hopefully these will fill in some of the gaps," she said quietly.

"What's in there?" Robin frowned.

"I can't really say," Kelly shuffled, wishing she had an escape route.

"Please, Kelly, I'm going crazy here."

Kelly took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment.

"Possible evidence of the use of tranquilisers," she began, "or some form of date-rape drug."

Robin swallowed hard.

"Date rape drug?" he repeated.

"Please, Robin," Kelly shook her head slowly, "come with me and we'll get this logged, and then see if Simon is ready."

"I'm not leaving this corridor," Robin stood firm, "not until I've spoken to Simon."

Kelly took his arm and tried to pull him along.

"Come on," she urged, "Simon's going to be a while yet. When Doctor Linton has performed the examination…"

"Examination?" Robin repeated, his heart thumping with fear.

Kelly nodded slowly.

"What else would he be going in the examination room for?" she said quietly.

Robin pressed his hands to his forehead and leaned back against the wall.

"Fuck," he cursed.

A suited man marched down the corridor towards them and stopped beside Kelly.

"I hear you have DCI Shoebury in the examination room," he said as a half-question/half-statement.

Kelly looked a little taken aback.

"Uh, y-yes Sir," she said.

"Due to his standing in this station this case has become a CID matter," the man told her, "please hand me the notes, recording and evidence."

"Well, I haven't taken a formal statement yet," Kelly flustered.

"No matter, we need to take what you have," the man told her.

"I only have this," Kelly held the bag up a little.

"Fine, I'll take this and log it," said the man.

"Wh-wait, I don't even know who you are," Kelly frowned, "where have the orders come from?"

"From my DCI," the man told her.

"Who is?"

"Getting angrier by the moment with the jumped up little desk sergeant who is obstructing his DI in the course of duty!" the man told her crossly, "bag, please."

Shaken, Kelly did as she was told and handed the bag over. She felt nervous as she watched the man walk away. She glanced at Robin for back-up but his mind was elsewhere, staring at the door desperately hoping that Simon was going to emerge from within. With a sigh she decided to follow the stranger, hoping to get a few more answers.

Robin glanced after her as she left the corridor, then his eyes darted back to the door. With all the kafuffle he noticed she had forgotten to slip the 'engaged' notice across on the door. Cautiously looking from side to side he saw the coast was clear and opened the door.

"Well, there was nothing on the door…" he reasoned with himself.

He didn't know what kind of state he would find Simon in, nor what kind of answers he was going to give but he needed to find out what was going on one way or the other. He wasn't completely sure he was ready for the answer but it had to be better than not knowing - whatever it would turn out to be.