Out Of His Depth, page 20
Chapter 113
A week after leaving Galaxy Starlight behind on the Pilot boat that was the first to arrive to check for people left behind, Barker walked down the corridor of the Princess Margaret Hospital on Shirley Street in Nassau, to the room where Lucy was recovering. The doctors had found no bullet so had cleaned and stitched her wounds and insisted she get some rest. Today she would be allowed to leave, as long as she returned for a check-up in a few days time before leaving the island. When Barker entered the room Lucy was sat on the edge of the bed waiting, bags packed.
“Someone’s keen,” he said, smiling.
Lucy smiled back and stood up with her weight on her good leg and gathered the metal crutches she’d been given.
“No need. I’ve arranged a wheelchair to get you down to the entrance.”
“I’m walking out of here under my own steam John,” Lucy said with a stern look.
“OK,” Barker put his hands up in submission. “I was just trying to help.”
“I know, but I’ve been sat up in bed for nearly a week apart from a few physio sessions. I’ve got to move.”
“Fine. Let me carry your bag.”
“Thank you for upgrading my room. The ward wasn’t great”
“Least I could do, under the circumstances.”
Barker grabbed Lucy’s bags after helping her with her crutches and waited until she started moving towards the door. They made slow progress to the nearest lift and waited for a ride down three floors to reception.
Outside the front of the building a white taxi was waiting. Lucy moved to one side to let other people come past her whilst Barker loaded her bags into the trunk and came back for her. He opened the back door, took her crutches, and helped her sit down inside.
“Not going to be that easy getting out,” Lucy said.
“We’ll manage,” replied Barker as he climbed in next to her from the other side.
“How far is the hotel?”
“About ten minutes.”
“I thought you said you’d been staying close by?”
“I did while you were in here, but it was a bit basic. OK for me on my own but I thought you deserved a bit of luxury. We can afford it.”
The taxi pulled away from the hospital entrance and headed into the town centre.
About eight minutes later the car pulled up outside the Rosewood Baha Mar hotel. Lucy stared out of the window, smiled, and turned back to Barker, “Bet this is expensive.”
“No idea, I haven’t booked yet. But the hotel I was in before said it would be quiet – too expensive for your average tourist, and all Starlight’s passengers have been repatriated now. And it’s still early season. We might have it to ourselves.”
A doorman appeared and opened Lucy’s door and held out his hand, “Allow me.”
Barker jumped out of his door, said “I’ll get the crutches,” and ran to the trunk. Another man had already opened it and was loading the bags onto a trolley to take inside.
Lucy grabbed the crutches and straightened up as she began to walk towards the door, with the doorman opening it for her and Barker following. The reception inside was all white marble, tropical plants and handmade wooden furniture. Barker noticed the reception desk and headed over. One of the young women behind the desk greeted him as he turned to make sure Lucy was next to him.
“Good afternoon Sir, how can I help?” said the young lady.
“I believe the Towne Hotel enquired about availability for me this morning. I’d like to book two rooms for three nights please.”
“OK sir, I’m sure that won’t be a…”
“One room.” Lucy interrupted and said to the receptionist. “One room is fine thanks.”
Barker turned to look at Lucy who raised an eyebrow and smiled. He caught his breath for a second and turned back, “One room please.”
Chapter 114
Outside in a side street facing the hotel, another white taxi sat idling in the warm morning air. In the back seat sat a tall, olive-skinned woman with long black hair tied in a ponytail wearing a white linen dress, a floppy wide-brimmed hat and expensive sunglasses, clutching a large straw handbag. She leaned forward, handed some cash over the driver’s shoulder, and in a soft South American accent, said, “I’ll get out here, thank you.”
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Steven Lea, Out Of His Depth
