Author Archives: adrianli88

‘What time did she die?’ In truth, she did not know why she even asked. ‘Must have happened just before the rendezvous, around one-ish? It was fortunate that you sorted her resuscitation status and ceilings of care in time so, thank you for that or we’d have had a futile arrest call to deal with,’Continue reading “Chapter Seventeen”

Either the room had been given an injection of light or the ailing detective was becoming paler as the night wore on. A fan had been drafted into the room to help with Shinji’s fevers, the Get-Well cards became victims, gunned down by the breezes fired from the spinning blades. The patient was turned awayContinue reading “Chapter Sixteen”

‘What creepier stuff?’ ‘I’m surprised no one mentioned it at Induction, but wait, it’s the sort of story that would bring smiles and intrigue so of course they wouldn’t tell you. Plus, the conspiracy remains that it was a coverup.’ ‘What are you talking about, Rob?’ ‘The ghost?’ Was he joking? ‘The ghost of MelissaContinue reading “Chapter Fifteen”

The crimson pinhead-sized light on the card-reader turned green in response to Philippa’s badge. There was a soft click as the glass doors leading out of the hospital back exit unlocked. The shrill as they opened reminded her of the eerie image at the conclusion of that cryptic video. Just as Rob Gadra had described,Continue reading “Chapter Fourteen”

‘How is Mr Nyarko?’ Justin asked. ‘He’s better,’ replied Philippa, ‘thanks to you. I’ll keep him an eye on him throughout the night. If the nurses bleep you about him, can you divert them straight to me please?’ ‘Sure.’ ‘And the rest of the wards?’ Gemma asked. Philippa felt guilty; she should have been theContinue reading “Chapter Thirteen”

00:55 ‘Here,’ she said handing both her phone and scarf to Shinji Nyarko, as if she was the suspect being interrogated at the police station. ‘Can you pass me that?’ Philippa heaved a tattered sports bag onto the bed next to Shinji Nyarko. The detective fished for a lead then began transferring the images. ‘TheContinue reading “Chapter Twelve”

Philippa Haven thanked the nurse for the message then hastily shut the door behind her. ‘Not on this; too risky in case the killer can trace it. Use a hospital computer, but forward it to this email,’ said Shinji as he wrote down the address on the back of a Get-Well card and handed itContinue reading “Chapter Eleven”

Philippa told Shinji Nyarko about handover where she had been introduced to the members of her team and when she received the phone call at the end of the meeting. ‘Was anything particular about the voice on the phone? Anyone you might recognise?’ ‘No.’ ‘How did it sound?’ ‘Most likely modified through an app ofContinue reading “Chapter Ten”

A detective… The disclosure of her predicament was undeniably a serious temptation but just as Philippa Haven contemplated this, the killer’s haunting words slithered into her mind: if you do, there will be consequences – serious consequences. That was when her bleep made her gasp, because this was neither A&E nor any of the wardsContinue reading “Chapter Nine”

Thursday 3rd October 2019 00:00 A serendipitous comment had yielded Philippa Haven a potential first clue. It made her consider the possibility of yet more clues lying within the perimeter of Bed Sixteen. What was the significance of the scarf that did not belong to Jonathan Wickshaw? Perhaps it was not a clue at all,Continue reading “Chapter Eight”

‘Hi, it’s the medical registrar. You called?’ ‘Yes, my name is Effy, I’m a nurse calling from the Chartwell Unit.’ Philippa Haven had no idea where that was. Hospital tours were noticeable for their absence at inductions. Honestly, the lack of common-sense was mind-boggling. ‘One of our patients is unwell. Justin is doing a bloodContinue reading “Chapter Seven”

Shortly after Jonathan Wickshaw’s death… Philippa Haven took a few deep breaths and unfolded a sheet of paper from her dress pocket. She read the sentences three times over and felt her throat begin to swell up with horror. The riddle continued to make no sense except for the final, haunting line – one whichContinue reading “Chapter Six”

The moment was one that always felt as if a switch had been flicked, when emotions at opposite ends of spectra came into play, transferring from one person to another. When a doctor became worthy enough to debut holding the medical registrar bleep, it was both a frightening yet proud occasion. But that usually changedContinue reading “Chapter Five”

20:00 The hospital was a twenty-minute walk from the accommodation. By car, it was doable in less than five. Tonight, Philippa Haven chose the latter method of getting to work. For a moment, she sat in silence. The warmth of her hatchback’s interior was like a friend visiting from abroad. Here they were clinging toContinue reading “Chapter Four”

The Education Centre, where the local induction was being held was supposedly the newest part of the hospital but it hardly lived up to that hype. The fresh white paint struggled to conceal the jaundiced undercoats and the floor was in desperate need of a thorough hoovering. A set of automatic doors played open sesameContinue reading “Chapter Three”

Eight hours earlier… ‘The National Health Service is not how it once was,’ said Dr Steer. ‘I have been a consultant for nearly thirty years and for the twelve of you sitting here today, your role as a medical registrar has turned into a peculiar one. The modern registrar is burdened with more administrative tasksContinue reading “Chapter Two”

Wednesday 2nd October 2019 23:00 The odour of death was rife on the ward. It lingered between the seven members of the team; their weariness epitomised by the faint rods of light above the bed. They glanced at each other with the same burning question: could they have done more? Death was commonplace in hospitalsContinue reading “Chapter One”