Emergency at Bayside Read Free

quiet calm tones. ‘The trees are holding the car and the firefighters have secured us; we’re fine for now, but until the rest of the equipment arrives it’s probably safer not to try moving you.’
    He didn’t add just how tenuous her position had been before the emergency services had arrived— didn’t casually throw in how both he and Ken had literally put their lives on the line by climbing into the car to be with her.
    He didn’t have to; Meg had been out to enough accidents to know the score.
    ‘You’re going to be okay.’
    ‘Stay,’ she croaked, her eyes still screwed tightly shut.
    ‘Oh, I’m not going anywhere; you’re stuck with me for a good while yet. Do you know where you are?’
    It seemed a silly question, especially given what he had just told her, but Meg knew he was testing her neurological status. ‘In my car.’ Her voice sounded gravelly, shaky. ‘Or what’s left of it.’
    ‘That’s right.’ He squeezed her hand as she started to cry. ‘But it’s only a car; you’re what’s important here. Do you remember what happened? Can you remember what caused the accident?’ He watched the tears squeezing out of her closed eyes and, realising he was distressing her further, decided instead to try a different tack. ‘We’ll go through it all later, at the hospital. Let’s talk about nicer things. Tell me about yourself, Meg.’
    She tried to shake her head, but the collar and Ken held it still. ‘I’m tired.’
    ‘Come on, Meg. If I’m going to stay with you, the least you can do is talk to me.’ His voice was sharp, forcing her out of her slumber. ‘Have you got a husband? A boyfriend? Tell me about him?’
    ‘We broke up.’
    ‘Ouch.’ He gave a low laugh. ‘Trust me to say the wrong thing.’
    Her eyes opened a fraction, wincing at the bright morning sun glimpsed through the broken tree. Golden-brown eyes, he noticed, almost amber in the bright sunlight, thick black eyelashes framing them, glistening with a new batch of tears. She turned her amber headlights to him. ‘He was cheating.’
    That was a simple way of putting it, but she was too tired and it was all just too damn complicated to explain.
    ‘Then he’s a fool.’ Flynn said decisively. ‘Forget him.’
    ‘That’s what I’m working on.’
    Flynn laughed. He was shining a pupil torch in her eyes now. ‘I meant while you’re stuck here. Think of something you really like. I’m not suggesting anything this time; I’d probably just put my foot in it again. What cheers you up?’
    She didn’t answer; frankly she couldn’t be bothered. Closing her eyes, Meg wished he would just go away, leave her alone to rest a while.
    ‘Meg!’
    Reluctantly she opened her eyes. ‘I’m tired.’
    ‘And I’m bored. Come on, Meg—talk to me. If I’ve got to sit here with you, the very least you can do is entertain me.’
    ‘The beach.’ Running her tongue over her dry bloodstained lips, Meg cleared her throat as best she could. ‘I like going to the beach.’
    ‘Do you live near it?’
    ‘Not really.’ She was really tired now, her eyelids growing heavy again, the need to sleep overwhelming.
    ‘A bit too expensive, isn’t it? Come on, Meg, stay awake. Stay with me here and tell me about the beach.’
    ‘Mum and Dad…’
    ‘Do they live near the beach?’
    ‘On the beach,’ she corrected
    ‘And I bet you’re round there more often than not?’
    She actually managed a small laugh. ‘Mum says I use the hotel…’ No, that wasn’t right. Everything was coming out muddled. Meg forced herself to concentrate. ‘I use the house like…’ She never finished her sentence, her eyes gently closing as she gave up trying to explain.
    ‘Like a hotel?’ The torch was blasting back in her eyes now. ‘I bet you do. So, come on, what do when you go to the beach? Body surf? Water ski?’ There was a tinge of urgency creeping into his voice. ‘Open your eyes and tell me what you do at the beach, Meg!’
    The sun was