ASBO: A Novel of Extreme Terror(59)

Bex nodded and already seemed to be snoozing into a deep sleep. Andrew exited the room silently, not wanting to disturb her, although he was sure that no amount of racket would have woken her now. The corridor outside was bustling with staff and patients, in contrast to the deathly silence of the ICU ward. An old man ambled past, trundling a drip-stand behind him. He said “hello” and Andrew said the same, surprising himself that pleasantries were still within his capabilities.

A middle-aged, male-nurse passed by next and Andrew reached out to stop him. “Excuse me? Is there somewhere I could find a taxi?”

The nurse nodded. “There’s a small taxi rank on the east-side of the car park, can’t miss it.”

Andrew hadn’t seen it when he’d entered the hospital, but then he had not been paying attention to such things. His plan was to catch a taxi home, get Bex’s things, then immediately return via taxi as well – he wasn’t up to driving with his nerves the way they were.

The corridor on Andrew’s left had an EXIT sign so he took it. It led through to a waiting room and then straight on to the car park. But, as Andrew was about to pass through and head outside, he noticed something that made him stop.

His heart rose up into his throat, filling his mouth with a coppery taste.

Sat in a nearby waiting room, looking extremely sorry for himself, was one of the twins – Jordan, if Andrew wasn’t mistaken. The bite wound on the boy’s perspiration-soaked face was glistening with pus and blood and his whole body trembled. Infection had set in and Jordan looked in a great deal of discomfort.

Good, hope it kills you!

But it wouldn’t, would it? Jordan would recover and put the whole thing behind him as just another fun time in a long line of terrorising innocent people. Andrew moved to the rear of the room, behind Jordan, so that the youth would not see him. Of the options available to Andrew, none seemed clear. He could call Wardsley and Dalton, but he had little faith they could do anything sufficient enough to call justice. The other option was to attack the son of a bitch right now, to wring the little bastard’s neck, but that would result only in his own arrest.

Andrew took a seat and decided to wait.

***

Twenty minutes later a nurse called out a name: Jordan Ebanks. Andrew watched the boy get up and then slowly followed after him, making sure to stay several steps behind. The nurse took Jordan into a consultation area that contained two rows of adjustable gurneys inside curtained surroundings. Andrew stayed back and watched Jordan hop up onto one of the beds, but then the nurse pulled the curtain closed and Andrew lost sight of him.

He crept forward and tried to look inconspicuous by nodding hello to anyone that noticed him. Hopefully he could blend in with the never-ending crowd that filled the hospital during the day. Putting his head down, Andrew hurried over to Jordan’s cubicle and stopped just outside of it. He listened to the conversation coming from inside.

“How did it happen?” asked a female voice belonging to the nurse. “Looks like a bite-mark.”

“Got jumped by some nutter, innit. Think he was a crackhead or summin. Must have thought he was a zombie cus he took a chunk outta me.”

Lying little shit, Andrew thought. Why don’t you tell her what really happened?

“Well,” said the nurse, “if that is what happened then you should inform the police.”

Jordan sucked at his teeth. “Don’t deal with the pigs, darlin’. I deal direct with my shit, if you get me?”

The nurse ignored the boy’s bravado and carried on with her job diligently. Andrew assumed she heard such nonsense all the time and paid it no mind. “I’ll get it bandaged for you,” she said, “but then you’ll need a course of general anti-biotic. If it gets any worse you’ll need to come back.”

“Sound,” said Jordan. “I’ll make sure I ask for you, darlin’.”

“If you wish,” replied the nurse, unable to sound any less-interested. “I’m just going to get a doctor for your prescription and then I’ll get you dressed up.”

“I like getting undressed better,” Jordan quipped, but the nurse had already exited the cubicle.

Now that Jordan was alone, Andrew froze. He hadn’t thought about what he would do next. Without a game plan, Andrew allowed instinct to take over. He slipped inside the curtain.

Jordan’s bloodshot eyes went wide as they noticed Andrew’s sudden appearance. “Jesus Christ! What the f*ck are you doing here?”