Crossing The Line Chapter 20 by Angharad Copyright© 2022 Angharad

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(title picture Andrea Piacquadio)

The morning traffic seemed interminable to the two Bonds as they made their way to the hospital. “We’d have been quicker coming by bike,” said Dave, as a throwaway. He paused for a moment, “I wonder what happened to her bike, it was quite valuable, especially with the Campag wheelset.”

“Bikes are replaceable, children aren’t,” was Jenny’s reply.

“I know that, I was just wondering where it is, and if Gaby will ever see it again. She did win it, after all.”

“It’ll turn up, or we’ll get her another one. I’m sure Specialized would do her a special price if they didn’t actually give it to her.”

“I suppose they’ll be chasing her again,” said Dave, swearing under his breath at the traffic. Eventually, they got near the hospital and he managed to find a space in a nearby road. “I’d hate to live round here, the hospital must make it very difficult for the locals to park.” Jenny agreed, not really in the mood for small talk.

They went to ICU and were stopped by Maureen from entering the cubicle. Both their hearts almost stopped. “Everything is alright, the doctor is examining her with his entourage, so we tend to give him some space. Did you remember Bunny?”

“We did,” said Dave, brandishing the aforementioned soft toy. “We also brought some squash and toiletries and things. Jenny will show you.” Maureen looked in the bag Jenny was carrying and approved all the items as suitable for hospital use. “How is she doing?” asked Dave, when the women had finished.

“Well, she only managed twenty miles this morning, but we live in hopes…” Maureen said this with a poker face. Dave was completely thrown by her remark but Jenny smirked. Seeing his confusion, Maureen apologised. “She’s doing as well as could be expected. She’s drinking a little and wakes every now and again. She is still very weak and sleeps most of the time, but she was very ill.”

The doctor and his entourage exited the cubicle and Jenny and Dave took their places, each bending over and kissing Drew and saying, hello before they sat down. Then it was back to hand-holding. Dave remembered Bunny. “We’ve brought Bunny in for you,” he said and Drew responded by opening his eyes. Dave showed him the soft toy and tucked it under the boy’s arm. Drew smiled, then slipped off to sleep again.

The next few hours passed the same, Drew would wake, smile, occasionally have a sip of a drink, then nod off to sleep again. Dave and Jenny talked to him some of the time and sometimes they sat in silence, exhausted and worried. Jenny had brought in the ‘the comic’ and they read him articles from it.

He began to cough. The green mucus began dribbling from his lips and Jenny leant across to try and scoop it up with tissues, but it was too much. Dave went for help, nappies were one thing, but this was another.

Maureen arrived with a disposable receiver [a papier mache pot], and with Jenny’s help eased Drew over on his side, where he was able to cough up the phlegm more easily. He sounded breathless afterward, but Maureen assured them it was a good sign. She raised the head of his bed a little to ease his breathing and increased the oxygen flow to the little green tubes which passed over his ears and under his nose, like some weird spectacles.

She convinced the doting parents to go and get some lunch. Neither was hungry, they had both lost weight during the ordeal, but they accepted her persuasive arguments about staying well themselves. They had just returned to the unit when they bumped into PC Ben Martin. They both gasped.

“Sorry to shock you. It’s okay, there’s no bad news,” he smiled at them, showing a row of regular teeth.

“Why are you here then?” asked Jenny.

“Two reasons, I wanted to see how our favourite crime buster was doing, and to tell her we found her bike.”

“Where was it?” asked Dave.

“Some farmer found it in his barn. He read the description in the paper and called us. It’s her bike alright, and it looks fine. It’s locked up at the station, but I’ll drop it off or you can collect it later if you want.”

“Where was the farm?” persisted Dave, wondering where Gaby had gone.

“On the way to Wareham. She was apparently seen there. A bloke with a burger stall said he’d served her, and remembered her well, they talked about cycling and she told him about the race where young Cheeseman got killed. I don’t think he made it up.”

“No, doesn’t sound like it.”

“She had a bacon roll apparently, with…”

“Tomato sauce,” added Jenny and Dave in unison.

“Correct.”

“She was there then, she loves bacon and tomato sauce,” said Jenny, wistfully.

“Have you said, hello to her?” asked Dave.

“Not yet, I thought I’d better wait until you were around, in case the uniform frightened her.”

Jenny considered the young man to be quite a thoughtful one, as she led him to the cubicle. “Gaby, PC Martin has some news for you.” Drew obligingly opened his eyes, and smiled.”

“Hello young lady, just thought I’d tell you we found your bike in one piece. I’ll pop it under the bed and you can ride it home tonight.” Joked the young copper.

Drew who had closed his eyes, opened them again, smiled, and drifted off once again. “She is very weak and sleeps most of the time,” explained Jenny.

“Yeah, of course she is. It’s just I expected her to be…”

“More lively?” offered Jenny.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Sorry, I was wrong,” he blushed as he spoke.

“She has been very ill. She nearly died,” said Jenny, just out of earshot of the sleeping Drew.

“How did she come to get in the water?” asked Ben, “What was she doing?”

“You tell me,” said Jenny, “Who was the mysterious man who took her to the road? He saved her life, whoever he was. Why didn’t he just phone for an ambulance or the police?”

“After the storm, some lines were down. Might be in a dead spot for a mobile? Perhaps they don’t have a mobile, not everyone does,” reasoned the young policeman. “Once she’s well enough to tell us, we’ll check it out, don’t you worry. She was missing for twenty-four hours. If someone abducted her, we’ll have them, don’t you worry.”

“I’m sure you will, but I don’t think anyone did. Her top clothes were all clean and smelled of ‘Fairy soap’, you know the green soap your mother probably used for hand washing delicates. So there’s a woman involved somewhere. Her underclothes hadn’t been touched, they were still grubby from the water and mud, so no one did anything to her. I reckon someone pulled her out of the water and realising she was sick, took her to the main road for help. I’d like to thank them if you find them.”

“When we have some help from her, we’ll find ‘em, don’t you worry. I have to go,” said Ben, and he shook hands with Jenny and then with Dave who had hovered around outside, so as not to crowd the bed and upset the nurses.

“Nice boy,” said Jenny, Dave nodded almost automatically.

“I am so tired,” yawned a little voice between the elder Bonds.

“Gaby!” squealed Jenny as she turned to look at her child, “You’re awake.”

“Can I have a drink?” said the weak, little voice.

“Here sweetheart,” said Dave, beaming at his son, as he proffered the glass with the straw, “Sip it slowly, kiddo.” Jenny was busy squeezing and rubbing Drew’s hand and making happy noises.

“Ooh that’s better,” said the boy swallowing a sip of the soft drink, he yawned again, then began coughing. Up came more of the green muck, which he spat into the receiver Jenny held for him. Then she wiped his face. Dave tried not to look, he loved his kids, and had even changed their nappies when they were younger, but sick and snot, turned his stomach and he was desperately trying not to think about it.

When he looked back, Drew was lying back down again, semi-recumbent, propped with the bed rest and a pile of pillows. He was barely awake but he managed a smile before drifting off again.

Nurse Maureen looked in, “How’s she doin’?” she enquired.

“Getting there,” said Jenny, “She managed to talk to us a little and coughed up some more rubbish.”

Maureen picked up the used receiver and after examining it, said, “That looks a bit clearer, the antibiotics are working at long last.” After dumping the used pot, she came back and did a check of temperature and blood pressure on the sick youth. “They are nearly back to normal. Don’t be surprised if she starts to itch and peel.” Dave looked quizzically at the nurse, “It often happens after a high temperature, and hers was practically off the scale. She is one tough cookie.”

Dave nodded in agreement, “Takes after her mother, not a softy like me.” Jenny glared at him as Dave smirked back. He rose and followed the nurse to the edge of the cubical. “You must be aware that this monster who recently escaped, Meadows, is a threat to Gaby. I know you have to get permission to enter the ICU, through the intercom system, but is she safe here? Should I speak to security or the police?”

“She should be safe here, it’s all on CCTV, the corridor outside and the intercom area, but by all means speak with the unit manager. I’ll ask him to come down and talk with you if you wish.”

“Yes that may be a good idea,” said Dave, he spoke with Jenny who nodded in full agreement, and a few minutes later he was led off to an office above the actual ward area.

In the interim, Jenny sponged Drew and brushed his hair. It was as long as it had ever been, and it suited him as a girl. Jenny wondered what would happen next, and should they contact some gender identity expert. She still wasn’t sure, partly because it became ‘official’ then, and it might cause Drew to move at a pace or in a direction, beyond his comfort. She had heard him tell the police he was really a girl, but like Dave, she wasn’t completely sure it wasn’t just an act of expedience or even one of sacrifice by Drew, to protect her and Dave’s reputation. It hadn’t occurred to her before, but people like doctors might look askance at parents who allowed or supported children cross-dressing, they might be secret abusers!

Jenny blushed as she had this thought run through her mind. Drew was smiling, eyes closed, as she gently brushed his hair. He whispered, “Maddy”, and Jenny smiled back at him. He looked so angelic and vulnerable. She wanted to scoop him up in her arms and hug him until her arms were tired. She was still staring at Drew when Dave arrived back.

“Hi,” he said, and Jenny gave a little jump.

“I didn’t see you come back,” she explained to Dave, “ I was just looking at her, she is so beautiful and yet so vulnerable.”

Dave nodded his agreement, “Yes I know, that’s why I went to see Mr Coates, the unit manager. I told him all about the race and the other attempts on Gaby’s life and he agreed to increase security. So Meadows won’t be able to get in. He’s going to talk with the police too, to get some advice about what they should do if someone should try and get in. I also bumped into Dr Mitchum, who seemed pleased with Gaby’s progress, and he hoped she would be much more lively in a few days. Once the lungs clear, she’ll be able to breathe more easily and feel more alert.”

“You have been busy,” said Jenny, “I gave Gaby a sponge down and brushed her hair, she thought it was Maddy.”

“How do you know?” asked Dave.

“She said her name while I was doing it.”

“What, Maddy’s name?” said Dave.

“Yes, that’s what I’m telling you,” said Jenny, with a degree of impatience.

“Alright! Alright! No need to snap my head off...” said Dave defensively.

“I’m sorry, Dave,” she said and walked over to him. She hugged him and he reciprocated. “I’m so tired and so scared,” she whispered.

“Yeah, I know,” he said and hugged her tighter.

As they were hugging, Nurse Maureen interrupted them; “Mr Bond, you’re wanted on the phone.” Reluctantly he let go of Jenny and went off with the nurse. He mouthed, ‘who is it?’ to the nurse, who said, “The police. I can’t remember who he said he was.”

“Hello, Dave Bond,” said Dave, picking up the handpiece.

“Hello, Bond.”

“Who is this?” asked Dave, his stomach flipping over.

“I think you know that,” laughed the voice. “I hope you’re looking after Barbie for me. I want her well before I kill her. I want her to know what I’m doing and why.” The voice was chilling in its matter-of-factness.

“You keep away from us you maniac,” said Dave, beginning now to get over his shock and feel anger. Maureen heard him and looked up from her computer at the nurse's station.

“Why, you gonna make me?” teased the voice.

“If I have to.”

“Oh, I am so scared Bond. I reckon that lovely wife of yours has more balls than you.”

“Just keep away, you bastard, or I’ll kill you,” Dave shouted into the phone.

“Give my regards to your lovely wife and daughters,” laughed the voice. Dave was still shouting into the handset when the nurse prised it from his hand and led him to sit in a chair. He was crying with rage.

“Mr Bond!” said Maureen, almost with indignation.

“It was him.” sobbed Dave, wringing his hands.

“Who, Mr Bond?”

“Meadows, that bastard. He wants to hurt my Gaby, he keeps threatening to kill her.” Dave placed his head in his hands and wept.

“You wait here Mr Bond, I’m going to get you a nice cup of tea.” With that, she disappeared, and after reporting to Mr Coates, who promised to come straight down, she made Dave his cuppa.

Dave felt as if he was in a dream, make that nightmare! Everything seemed to be upside down. Why was it happening to him and his family? What had they done to hurt anyone? They didn’t deserve this, did they? He was still lost in his thoughts when Maureen arrived and moments later, Coates followed her.

He shepherded Dave off to a small interview room, apologising for the phone call, he promised to brief ICU staff, so it wouldn’t happen again. He’d also called the police, they were sending someone over to speak with Dave. Assured Dave had recovered his composure, he went back to his office. Dave drank his tea and went back to Gaby’s cubicle. Jenny was sitting holding a drink for Drew, who sipped a little more and drifted off again.

“What’s the matter?” asked Jenny, noticing Dave was agitated.

“That phone call…”

“Yes?” interrupted Jenny.

“It was him.”

“What? Meadows?” she almost whispered the name.

Dave nodded, then with tears in his eyes he said, “I don’t know how much more I can take.” Jenny, immediately threw her arms around him and muttered reassuring noises, yet she knew, he was close to cracking with the strain, and that monster was playing with him. She prayed the police would catch him, and soon.

Drew dozed and woke. He could hear his parents, so he knew he was safe and that felt good. He wasn’t quite sure where he was, all that felt foggy and vague. It felt a bit like a hospital, but his parents were there so he must be home. He was so tired all the time and he couldn’t remember anything. He wondered why his chest felt so tight and heavy and breathing was harder than usual.

He woke and opened his eyes, his parents were there and so was someone wearing a nurse's uniform. At least that’s what it looked like, his eyes were funny and didn’t focus properly. He wondered what a nurse was doing at his house, someone must be ill, but he couldn’t think, who?

His arms felt funny as well as if they were wrapped up with tape or had tight sleeves on. He was too tired to think, and he felt himself drifting off. He felt Bunny was there, so he must be home. Then things slipped away from him and he entered his strange dreams again.

Drew was cycling, riding as hard as he could, the sweat was pouring off him and running down his back, yet the harder he rode the slower it felt he was moving. He looked behind him, and the pursuing riders had gone, he was clear. “Try not to slow too much, keep up the cadence,” he said to himself.

He glanced behind again, there was a Landrover racing up behind him. He recognised the driver. He began to pedal faster, faster, and faster. He saw his computer, he was moving at sixty miles an hour, but still, the car bore down on him
.
He looked at the road and somehow it had changed to a field, he was riding over grass and stubble, and the Landrover closed in on him. His road bike had transformed into a mountain bike, and his speed was only five miles an hour.

There was a giant hedge in front of him with no gap or gate. The car was now yards away, he was having difficulty breathing and his legs felt like lead. Just as the car was about to run him down, his bike slipped sideways into a ditch, he hadn’t noticed. He toppled headfirst into the ditch, the steep sides were smooth. He struggled with the SPDs, but he couldn’t get his feet free from the bike. His head went into the dirty water, it was cold and dark and he tried to hold his breath, but he couldn’t, nor could he disentangle himself from the bike. He sucked in the dirty water and began to cough, more of the filth and slime went into his mouth and lungs, and he felt panic…

He coughed again, somehow his mother was there...how? He was too confused to work out. “There’s a good girl, cough up that nasty stuff,” Jenny reassured her son, holding the pot for the foul discharge from his lungs. Drew was going to tell her about the…, but he couldn’t remember. He lay back, his room looked different, “They must have redecorated,” he mused to himself. He thought he could see his father sat by the bed, he wondered why he was there too. His mum, said something, but he didn’t quite catch it, then she shoved a straw in his mouth, so he slowly sucked on it and was rewarded with some orange and pineapple squash. He swallowed it, and felt himself drifting away again. “I’m so tired,” he thought to himself, but couldn’t work out why.