Page 83 of On the Edge

‘She’s in safe hands,’ Nel said.

He nodded.

‘Grab the spine board, Carl!’

The dressing on Poppy’s head was drenched with blood.Donna reached for a new one, ripping it open.

Carl reappeared.Nel helped them move Poppy onto the stretcher, following as they carried her to the car park.

Jack and Jimmy stood by Nel’s side as they lifted Poppy into the back of the ambulance.Nel closed her eyes, sick at the thought of telling her sister what had happened.When she opened them, Lauren’s car was turning into the car park—as though Nel had manifested her somehow—and screeched to a stop.

Lauren ran towards the ambulance.‘Is it Poppy?I’ve been looking everywhere for her!’

Nel opened her mouth, but no words would come.

There was fear in Lauren’s eyes.When she saw her daughter, her face twisted in pain.‘Poppy!’

Nel stepped forward and touched Lauren’s arm, but she flinched.

Donna looked up at Lauren.‘Are you her mother?’

Lauren nodded.

‘She’s had a big blow to the temple.She’s stable but we need to get her to hospital.You can come in the ambulance.’

Lauren turned to Nel.‘Did you see what happened?’

‘I didn’t … He must have hit her across the side of her head …’ Nel was still trying to make sense of it.

‘Who did?’Lauren’s eyes moved to Jack.

‘No,’ Nel said quickly, ‘it was Ryan.’

‘What?’Lauren shook her head, confused, and looked back at Jack.‘Who are you?’

‘I’m … I’m Jack.Jack Barnett.’He hesitated, then held out his hand to her.Lauren looked at his hand, then she gave a short little laugh as though the gesture was absurd.He put his hand back into his jacket pocket.

‘What are you doing here?’Lauren asked.

‘I was … we were … we just …’ Jack stammered.

Poppy must have arranged to meet him here, Nel realised, and lied to Lauren about where she was going.

Lauren glared at him.‘Stay away from my daughter.’

Jack stuttered again.‘But—’

‘I said, stay away from my daughter,’ Lauren hissed.

‘We’re ready to go now,’ Carl said.

Lauren got in the back, then turned around and glared at Nel.‘This is all your fault.’

Carl shut the doors.Nel stood frozen, paralysed by the words, the accusation, as the tail-lights came on and the ambulance rolled out of the car park, its siren piercing the cold night.

‘I see why Poppy didn’t want to tell her mum about us,’ Jack said.

Nel blinked back tears and gave him an apologetic smile.‘She’s just scared,’ she said as Jimmy and Constable Richie joined them.