Conviction(91)

I nod. There’s no way that’s happening. I swallow and take a couple of breaths.

“I’m Conner Reed,” I speak to both of the policemen, unsure of who is the superior.

“I’m Nina Matthews’s partner, we live together. Nina and Mr. Newman here, are legally separated and Nina is seeking a divorce from him. I can give you the number of her lawyer if you need to check any of that out.”

Before I can add anymore, orange boy interrupts, “I’m still her husband. Still her next of kin. I have more right to be here than any of you.”

I’m about to tell the police exactly why Nina left him when Sophie steps out of the room.

She looks at me, then at Marcus.

“Why the f*ck’s he here?” she asks the policeman.

“I’m her f*cking husband,” he says through gritted teeth to Soph.

“Will you please get him out of here, he is the last person she’ll want to see.”

Marcus stares at her for a few seconds and then turns and starts off down the corridor. I turn back to Soph. Her face is tear-stained and she has blood on her.

Meebs’ blood.

I can’t talk.

I can’t make a sound.

I can’t even breathe.

We’ve drunk beer and bourbon and champagne. It was supposed to be a happy night.

Without warning, I heave and throw up all over the floor.

I can’t breathe and I can’t stop shaking.

Meebs’ blood. Sophie’s covered in Meebs’ blood.

Someone sits me in a chair.

Someone passes me water.

“Reed, listen. She’s in theatre. Her head hit the pavement hard and the X-rays and MRI showed that there’s some swelling and she was bleeding on the brain. They don’t think it’s major, but they wanted to do something to relieve the pressure.

I drop my head in my hands. This can’t be happening, it can’t be happening.

I can’t do it. I need to go. I’ve got to get out of here.

And then I see him, he hasn’t left. He’s just sitting on a chair a bit further down the hallway. I can’t leave her. She’s hurt and pregnant and probably so f*cking scared. Someone hurt her. Why?

“The baby Soph, what about the baby?”

She shakes her head and my heart can’t decide if it wants to slide into the pit of my stomach or explode in my chest cavity.

“They can’t tell yet, Reed. She wasn’t bleeding or anything. I told them that she’s pregnant and they took all the necessary precautions when they were doing the X-rays and what have you.”

Lawson appears and puts his arms around Sophie and she starts to cry. The police ask if they can get a statement from her and I sit back down in the chair. Surely there must be somewhere better to wait than this?

As if reading my mind the woman who introduced herself to me earlier as Angie, the patient/family liaison officer steps forward.

“Mr. Reed, why don’t you go into the family room? It’ll be much more comfortable than waiting out in this corridor. I’ll go and get an update and let you know what’s going on.”

I stand up, but before I can move, that f*cker Newman is in my face.

“She’s pregnant?” he asks, actually looking concerned.

“Mr. Reed.” One of the policemen steps forward.

“Mr. Reed. The information we’re gathering so far seems to suggest that Mrs… Miss Matthews was attacked by some fans of yours. Has she been receiving hate mail or anything of that nature?”

All of the air leaves my lungs. I look to Tyler because I know, that he’ll know what’s happening.

All I can hear is Marcus f*cking Newman. “This is your fault, Reed, this is all your fault rock star.” I try to step forward, try to swing a punch, but I’ve got hands on me, arms around me. I try to lock my knees, but they won’t keep me up.

This is all my fault.

Someone did this to her because of me.

Jordan’s on one side of me, Tyler on the other. They walk me into the waiting room and sit me on a chair.

I need to get a grip and I need someone to get that f*cker Newman out of here before I do him some damage.





I pace. I sit. I walk. I stand. I sit.

And then finally Angie comes back. I watch as she looks around the room for me. It’s packed. Every member of my family, except Sandra who stayed home with the kids, is here. The only one sleeping is Sophie, she’s curled on a chair with her head in Lawson’s lap. She’s put me to shame tonight. She held it together while I lost the plot.

Angie beckons me outside and I follow.

“Everything went well.” For about the twelfth time tonight, everything spins.

“It was a very small bleed and the surgeons have managed to control it. They’ll be along later to give you all of the details, I just thought you’d want to know specifics.” I nod my head. I just want to hear that she’s okay.

“The baby’s fine, no problems at all there and the obstetrician will be along at some stage to talk to both of you.”

I continue to nod. Too scared to attempt speech, in case I embarrass myself in front of this woman, who has somehow managed to not lose her patience with me tonight.

“Now, the surgeons aren’t exactly sure how long Nina was unconscious for before she was found, but they’re hoping it wasn’t long and that she’s going to make a full and fast recovery. Would you like to see her?”