Takedown by Heather Atkinson (latest books to read txt) 📕

“We’ve already told Tariq and his friends to get out of there,” said Caleb. “We didn’t want Ben and the others coming along and shooting them.”

Vance just nodded, coughing.

“What the hell are we going to tell the hospital?” said Kevin.

“That we were in the fire at our apartment block,” replied Faith.

“But that was a few hours ago. They’ll ask why you didn’t turn up sooner.”

“We’ll say we thought we were okay but we started to feel ill, so we decided to get hospital treatment.”

“We all stink of smoke and you and Vance are covered in smuts.”

“We just stick to the story, no matter what they ask. Just drop us off and the rest of you go back to the safehouse. The fewer of us there are to question the better.”

“We can’t just leave you there,” said Caleb. “What if Ben and the others turn up?”

“They won’t do anything to us in the middle of a hospital and they probably think me and Vance died in the fire. We’ll call you when we’re ready to be picked up.”

“I think it’s the only thing we can do,” said Jason. “You two really need a hospital.”

Kevin pulled up outside A&E. Faith practically slid out of the passenger seat and walked around the van to help Vance out of the back. He staggered out, his arm going around her to keep himself upright, nearly sending them both crashing to the ground.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” said Caleb, worry in his eyes.

“We’ll be fine,” said Faith, voice hoarse. “We’ll call you.”

He nodded and pulled the door shut. The car set off, Abi still following in her own vehicle. Faith and Vance limped inside, the receptionist’s eyebrows rising higher the closer they got to her desk. She recoiled from the strong stench of smoke emanating from them.

Faith cleared her throat before speaking, wincing at the pain. “Me and my brother were in a fire earlier and we’re having trouble breathing.”

Vance released a gasp and collapsed to the floor.

“Vance,” cried Faith, kneeling beside him, ignoring the curious stares of the people sat in the waiting area.

She held his hand while the receptionist called for help.

Faith lay in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask over her face. The ache in her chest had eased and the coughing had stopped. She was exhausted but refused to fall asleep until she knew how Vance was. She hadn’t seen him since he’d been whisked away after he’d collapsed.

The curtain around her bed was pulled aside by a young doctor.

“Hello Faith,” he smiled, very chirpy for the time of night. “How are you feeling?”

“Rough,” she mumbled. “How’s my brother?”

“Resting in bed with an oxygen mask, just like you. We’ve done a blood count on you both to make sure there are enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around your body and both were a little low, more so Vance’s than your own. But it showed you didn’t inhale anything toxic, which is very good news. Neither of you are showing any mental confusion or distress, so I anticipate a night in here to keep an eye on you both and if you have a good night you can leave tomorrow.”

“Can’t stay,” she murmured. “Want to go.”

“I’m sorry Faith but that would be reckless. You both have quite low blood pressure and your oxygen saturation levels aren’t back up to normal. Leaving our care too soon could be very bad for you both.”

Faith knew he was right. “All right, I’ll stay. Can I see my brother?”

“He’s already been taken up to the ward. You’ll be going up in a few minutes.”

“The same ward?”

He nodded. “Ward Seven.”

“I need to call my family…let them know…” She started coughing again, talking agitating her chest. She gestured to the cabinet by her bed in which was her jacket. “My phone…”

At her direction he found the phone and handed it to her.

“Try not to talk for long,” he told her.

“I won’t,” she replied.

“A porter will be along in a few minutes to take you up to the ward.”

“Thank you.”

When he’d gone, she pulled the mask off her face and dialled Caleb’s number.

“Faith, thank God,” he said. “How are you?”

“We’ll both be okay but they’re keeping us in overnight. Ward Seven.”

“We’ll come there right now.”

“It’s too late. Come in the morning. We’ll both need clothes.” She paused to cough. It was a loud, hacking cough that made her sound like she smoked thirty a day. “What did you do with the car?”

“Took it to my friend’s scrapyard. It’s being crushed. He wasn’t impressed about being dragged out in the middle of the night but the cash I gave him shut him up.”

“Good. Is everyone okay?”

“Fine. Just worried about you and Vance.”

“We’ll be all right and we’re safe in the hospital. Be careful, Ben and the others will be desperate to end this.” She paused to wince at the ache in her throat.

“Faith, are you there?”

“Sorry, throat sore. Need to go. Call Matthew, tell him…”

“I already have and you don’t need to worry about the firefighters bothering us again tonight. They got called out to deal with a fire at a warehouse on Division Lane. Funny eh?” he said, a grin in his voice.

“Hilarious,” she said flatly.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything. We’ll be there as soon as visiting starts.”

“Get some rest. See you tomorrow and thanks for everything you did for me today.”

“Anytime sis.”

She smiled weakly as she hung up, shoved the phone back into the cabinet and settled into the pillows, finally allowing sleep to overtake her.

CHAPTER 20

From his car, Matthew watched the transit van speed towards the small fire damaged industrial unit on the edge of town. He’d