Chapter 6

“Thank you, Dr. Sullivan,” a young nurse said as she took the chart from Allyson.

Allyson finished the last of her charts with only an hour left on her shift. She enjoyed the Emergency Department, but the long hours weren’t as easy as they used to be. Although she would miss the fast pace of the hospital, having a set schedule where she would be home most evenings was appealing. Maybe she could finally find a hobby she enjoyed and get that dog.

She’d discussed turning one of her extra bedrooms into an office with Crash, so maybe she could turn another into a hobby room, not that she had time for hobbies. She could keep the fourth bedroom as a guest room when a family member came to stay. She wasn’t looking forward to all the work but needed to do something with the extra space. However, she wasn’t sure if Crash would be willing to help after how she’d avoided him.

Crash always gave her something to look forward to. Now she felt lost without her friend, probably her best friend next to her sister. It was selfish to call him when she needed help, but he was the first person to come to mind when she needed someone to talk to.

Her life was one massive punch in the gut after another. First, she struggled to carry her son to term and almost lost him during delivery. Then she lost her little girl and her chance of ever having another child. The last straw was to be on the verge of divorce, only to have her husband die defending his country.

Cameron was only eleven when Trent died, and it shattered her to tell him. Even though they were ending their marriage, it didn’t mean she’d wanted anything to happen to the father of her child. Trent was a decent man and an incredible dad.

Now, she was a widow living alone. Cameron was nineteen and moved into the city to go to university. She missed him even though he visited regularly, but it wasn’t the same as having him stay in the room down the hall.

The house was deafeningly silent at night; she had even considered selling it and moving into an apartment in St. John’s as her father did. When they returned to Newfoundland, Lewis Donnelly gave up living the small-town life and moved into an apartment for seniors. He was happy and started seeing a lovely woman who lived in the same building. Vera Greeley was precisely what her dad needed, and Allyson was delighted for him but admittedly a little jealous that her dad had a better love life.

“Dr. Sullivan, we have two ambulances coming in. A car went over a cliff,” Leah called out to her.

“Okay, prepare for intake.” Allyson ran behind Leah.

The first ambulance arrived, with the paramedics giving chest compressions while they rushed into the trauma room. The other doctor, Dr. Adam Cramer, ran behind them.

Before Allyson had a chance to help, the other ambulance arrived. The vehicle’s doors flew open, and Allyson knew it was critical. The woman was bleeding heavily with a severe head injury. Her eyes were swollen shut, and her nose looked broken. Allyson went to work on the patient while the paramedic gave the report. She listened intently without stopping until she heard the name.

“Her identification says her name is Ellie Christopher,” the paramedic held out the card.

Allyson grabbed the card, causing Leah to stare in confusion. As she studied the picture, Allyson’s heart raced. The woman was Crash’s friend, and her condition was critical.

“She’s crashing,” Leah shouted.

They worked to bring Ellie back for twenty minutes, but nothing worked. Allyson stepped back from the gurney and closed her eyes before calling the time of death. For several minutes, she scanned Ellie’s body from head to toe. Something about all the injuries didn’t scream a car accident. Ellie looked as if someone had beaten her. Badly.

She glanced toward the other trauma room to see Adam walk out, ripping off his gloves. He lifted his eyes to meet Allyson’s and shook his head, telling her the man was also deceased.

“What’s his name?” Allyson asked, knowing what Adam was about to say.

“Wyatt Christopher.” Adam shook his head. “He didn’t have a chance. Between you and me, those injuries didn’t come from the accident. Someone beat the shit out of that man.”

Allyson glanced into the room and saw the white sheet covering Wyatt. She went to the nearest computer and looked up Ellie and Wyatt on the system. Of course, they were each other’s next of kin, but Wyatt also had Crash down as a second.

“Are you okay, Ally?” Leah walked next to her.

She shook her head as she looked through the report from the paramedics. It said Ellie was in the backseat of the car, and she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Something told her most of Ellie’s injuries were not due to the accident. She looked down at herself; Ellie’s blood covered her, but she needed to call Crash to let him know about his friends.

Leah followed Allyson out of the room and stood beside her in the corridor. She didn’t say a word for a moment, but then she touched Allyson’s shoulder.

“Did you know them?” Leah asked.

“No, but they’re Brent’s friends. They have two small kids.” Allyson found it hard to contain her emotions.

“Oh no.” Leah glanced back into the room where Ellie’s body lay. “Life isn’t fair, is it.”

Ellie and Wyatt had no family other than the Adams. Brent told her all about them one night after Wyatt and his wife moved back to Newfoundland. The couple grew up in foster care, and as far as she knew, they had no family.

“The police are here,” Leah pointed to a couple of officers at the reception desk.

Allyson hurried over to the two uniformed men to let them know both victims were deceased. She wished she knew one of the police, but they were all rookies.

“Thank you for letting us know, Dr. Sullivan.” One of the officers nodded.

“Neither has any family, but they have a very close friend who is an emergency contact. If you don’t mind, I’ll contact him. He’s a friend,” Allyson told the young man.

“Of course, I’ll let my supervisor know.” The other officer stepped away with a phone to his ear.

Allyson walked into an empty room and took several deep breaths before pulling out her phone. It was almost dead, but hopefully, she had enough battery to make the call. Leah walked in behind her.

“Everything okay?” Leah asked.

“No, it isn’t. I need to call Brent.”

Leah left the room, leaving her alone to do something she was not looking forward to doing. Allyson let her finger hover over his name for several seconds before she finally tapped it.

“Hey.” He sounded strange.

“Hi, Brent,” Allyson said with a hitch in her tone.

“I can’t talk right now. I’m in the middle of something. Can I get back to you?” Crash sounded as if he had been running.

“I have something to tell you. I’m at the hospital, and a bad accident came into emergency,” Allyson began.

“Who is it?” Crash practically shouted.

“It’s Ellie and Wyatt,” Allyson continued. “You were Wyatt’s emergency contact.”

“Are they okay?” Crash asked.

She hated to be the one to tell him he’d lost two friends in the blink of an eye, and she certainly didn’t want to do it over the phone, but what choice did she have?

“No, they’re not,” Allyson said gently.

“How bad?” Crash asked.

“The worst.”

There was silence for several seconds, and for a moment, she thought he’d hung up. Then he started cursing, and she could hear him banging against something.

“I’m sorry, Brent. We tried everything, but their injuries were too extensive.” Allyson felt the need to tell him the hospital did everything they could.

“I don’t understand,” he choked out the words.

Allyson heard the sound of a car door and then boots clicking against the pavement.

“Have the police shown up?” Crash snapped.

“They’re here, although I’m unfamiliar with them. They look like they should still be in high school.” Allyson glanced toward the two officers standing in the reception area.

“I’m on the way.” Crash didn’t give her a chance to say anything.

“Dr. Sullivan?” A male voice came from behind her.

Allyson almost dropped her phone and spun around. She had to bite back the groan when she saw who was addressing her. The last thing she wanted to deal with was Witt and his stuck-up attitude.

“Dr. Davenport,” Allyson said, trying to keep her tone from sounding annoyed.

“I’ve left a few messages, but I haven’t heard back from you,” Witt said as he glanced at himself in the window behind him.

Allyson rolled her eyes and turned back to the chart in her hand. She needed to make notes before Crash arrived, or the police needed a statement. When she lifted her head, Leah looked at her and mimicked the act of sticking her finger down her throat as she sneered at Witt.

Allyson shook her head and tried to keep her composure. Leah told her once that Witt seemed to want to date his way through all the female staff at the hospital. Allyson agreed, but he wanted a second date with her for some reason. That wasn’t going to happen.

“I’m sorry. I’m swamped. On my time off, I’m doing some things with my house and trying to join Dr. O’Connor’s practice.” Allyson forced a smile.

It wasn’t a lie. She was doing all those things, but it wasn’t taking up all of Allyson’s time. She wasn’t interested in spending time with Witt ever again outside of the hospital.

“You should hire a personal assistant. I’d be lost without mine. Anyway, now that I have you here, I have tickets to the Arts and Culture Center opera this Friday. When should I pick you up?” Witt said as he checked his manicured nails.

Allyson stared at him for a moment. He didn’t seem to notice the blood or the tears in her eyes because she’d had to tell Brent his friends were dead. No, Witt was too selfish to see anything but his own reflection.

“Sorry, I’m not a fan of the Opera, and I’ve already got plans this weekend.” Allyson almost laughed at his shocked expression.

Before he could answer, Crash ran up to her and stepped between Allyson and Witt. Crash glanced over his shoulder at the police officers before he spoke.

“Have you talked to them yet?” Crash asked her.

“Excuse me, I was speaking with Dr. Sullivan.” Witt stepped between Crash and Allyson.

Allyson would’ve laughed at Witt if it weren’t such a serious situation. At barely five feet nine inches and maybe one hundred fifty pounds, he looked like a little boy to a man over six feet tall and over two hundred pounds of solid muscle. She had to give Witt credit when he pushed Crash; he had guts.

“I suggest you step aside, Chad.” Crash sneered.

“My name is Witt Davenport, Doctor Witt Davenport.” Witt snapped.

“Well, Witt,” Crash said, emphasizing the name. “I just lost two friends, and your overinflated ego is the last thing that concerns me. Now get the fuck out of my way so I can talk to Ally.”

The veins in Crash’s neck bulged as he clenched his jaw. His face was red with rage, and Allyson shivered because she’d never seen him lose his cool. She stepped around Witt and placed her hands on Crash’s chest.

“Let’s talk in there.” Allyson nodded toward a small office off the nurse’s station.

“Allyson, I need an answer,” Witt called after her.

“I told you, no,” Allyson said before entering the office.

“But this is…” Witt began.

“Are you fucking deaf? She said no. Now back off,” Crash roared.

Before Crash could lunge at Witt, Allyson pushed him into the office and closed the door. The room was tiny but seemed even smaller, with him pacing like a caged animal.

“Who the fuck is that asshole, Ally?” Crash snapped when he finally stopped pacing.

“An asshole,” Allyson returned.

“Are you dating him?” Crash glared through the small window of the door.

“No.” Allyson sighed. “Now, please sit down.”

She pointed to one of the chairs, but Crash linked his fingers and placed his joined hands on his head. He swallowed several times before he spoke.

“I can’t.” He swallowed several times before he spoke again. “They’re really gone?”

When she nodded, tears filled his eyes. Allyson grabbed a couple of tissues from a box on the desk and handed them to him. With a shaky hand, he accepted them as he blew out a puff of air.

“Do you know what happened?” Crash whispered as he eased down on one of the chairs.

“I don’t. I haven’t talked to the police, and I called you as soon as they both passed.” Allyson sat next to him.

“Whose blood is that?” Crash nodded toward her soiled scrubs.

She glanced down and cringed. It was hard enough for Crash to know his friend was dead, but to see Ellie’s blood all over Allyson was the same as a slap in the face.

“I worked on Ellie. I’m sorry, I should go change.” Allyson stood up.

“What am I going to do?” He grabbed her hand as he shot to his feet.

“You’ll get through it.” She reached up and cupped his cheek.

“They were family to me. Jesus, the kids.” Crash’s eyes grew huge, and his face paled.

“They’ll be okay,” Allyson assured him.

“You don’t understand. Wyatt and Ellie made me the kids’ guardian in the event of their deaths. They filled out wills after Mila was born.” Crash plowed his fingers through his hair.

“I’m sure you’ll have all the help you need.” She dropped her hand.

“Ally, I don’t know anything about raising kids. Christ, they’re still babies.” Crash started to pace again.

“Your parents will help, I’m sure, and I’m only a phone call away,” she promised.

Crash stopped pacing and stood staring out the office window for a few minutes. He needed time to process everything, but she had an overwhelming urge to pull him into her arms. She wished she could tell him neither Ellie nor Wyatt’s injuries seemed consistent with a car accident, but until the medical examiner confirmed it, Allyson couldn’t say a word.

“Can I see them?” Crash asked.

“I’ll take you in, but I have to warn you—they have a lot of injuries,” Allyson said.

“I’ve probably seen worse,” he muttered.

Allyson didn’t doubt that, but there had to be a vast difference between seeing horrific sights during wartime and seeing close friends who died so violently. She motioned for him to follow her and brought him to the trauma rooms. Thankfully, Witt didn’t wait because she was sure Crash probably would’ve put the guy in one of the ED beds if he’d accosted Allyson again.

She closed the door as they entered the room, and Crash’s step faltered as he moved next to the first gurney. The police put Wyatt and Ellie in the same room, probably to keep a better eye on the bodies. Allyson fought back tears as Crash spoke softly to Ellie and Wyatt.

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