Page 93 of One Left Alive

‘On its way.’

Ben pressed two fingers against the side of Morgan’s neck; she still had a pulse.

‘Is she breathing?’ Amy asked desperately.

He couldn’t speak but gave Amy a thumbs up. Gathering Morgan up into his arms he sat on the floor cradling her.

Both Harrison and Stan were in cuffs. Stan was bleeding heavily and pulling to get to Morgan.

‘Is she alive?’

Ben nodded.

Stan turned to try to get to Harrison. ‘I’ll kill you, you bastard.’

The officer holding Stan pulled him away from Harrison. Ben looked at them.

He pointed to Harrison. ‘Get him in the cage now. And uncuff the other guy.’

‘Are you sure, boss?’

‘Yes, he’s her dad.’

The officer mumbled an apology to Stan and released the cuffs. Stan lurched forwards, falling to his knees. He reached Morgan and tugged her necklace out of his pocket, passing it to Ben.

‘Give her this when she wakes up and tell her I’m sorry, I love her.’

Amy turned away. Ben saw the tears in her eyes. More sirens and then hammering on the front door. She ran to open it, relieved to see the paramedics. Both of them rushed towards Stan and Morgan.

‘You can tell her yourself you love her, Stan, you owe her that.’ Ben clasped her necklace in his hand. ‘But thank you.’

Stan’s eyes closed and he sank back against the stairs. The paramedic requested another ambulance. One of them began to work on Stan, applying pressure pads to the deep wounds; the other began to check Morgan over. Lifting her eyelids, he slid a pulse oximeter on her finger.

Ben held her as gently as he could and didn’t want to let go. He didn’t want to lose her; he’d only known her for a short time and yet she’d changed his life completely. He didn’t care if she didn’t feel the way he felt about her; being her friend was enough for him. He could live with that; he’d settle for anything. He didn’t realise he was crying until the second ambulance arrived and the paramedics brought a trolley in to lift her on to. Stan was already in the first and on his way to the hospital; Morgan would soon be following.

Amy passed him some rolled-up tissue. ‘You go with her; I’ll sort this mess out.’

‘Thanks, Amy.’

He followed the paramedics out and climbed into the back of the ambulance. He’d stay with her until she woke up and was only leaving if she told him to.

* * *

Morgan had been put in a side cubicle. Despite the bruising around her neck she was breathing unaided. Ben had told them he suspected she may have been drugged and they were waiting for the results of her blood tests to come back. Despite being squeezed onto the hardest, most uncomfortable chair for the last couple of hours, he found his eyes were closing; he was desperate for sleep. As he drifted off, he heard his name being called.

‘Ben.’

His eyes opened. Morgan was staring at him.

‘What time is it?’

He frowned and looked at his watch.

‘Four twenty-five,’ they said in unison, her voice a hoarse whisper.

She smiled at him. ‘Bloody insomnia; even when I’m stoned, I still wake up at that time.’

He leant forward and clasped her hand. ‘I was so worried about you.’