The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone (59 page)

As my phone chirped when the car pulled up, I made my way across the room with Courtney and noticed to my horror, the man from the NSC car park perched in the corner. His eyes shifted as I glanced at him.

I grabbed Courtney’s hand. “I’ll drop you off firs,” I told her.

“No, it’s the wrong way Ava, I’ll walk” she said but I shook my head firmly.

“NO! I’ll drop you off.” She gave me a quizzical look but nodded when she saw my expression.

I knew the man was after me but I didn’t want to leave Courtney alone, just in case.

My stomach started fluttering as we exited and climbed in the taxi but when he didn’t follow I questioned my suspicions, maybe it was coincidence and he was just having a drink but somehow, somewhere in my mind I doubted it.

* * *

I arrived back at Mason’s and grit my teeth before I opened the front door, taking a deep breath and walking into the kitchen but relaxed when it was empty.

Pouring a coffee from the glass carafe that was warming; I sighed heavily and slid onto one of the stools, rubbing my aching neck as I heard Mason approach behind me. He was silent but I could feel his anger permeating the air in the kitchen. “Out with it then,” I sighed without turning around but he remained silent. “Oh fuck you, Mason.” I hissed as I climbed off the stool and stomped past him but his hand shot out and grabbed my arm.

“Not so fast, Ava.” I rolled my eyes and resigned myself to the reprimand I knew was coming. To be honest I was so physically and mentally exhausted I just wanted to climb into bed and sleep for a week so I decided to let him blow-off and sit back and watch.

Climbing back on the stool I faced him and placed my hands in my lap. “Okay, I’m ready,” I sighed, rubbing my eyes. He still stood silently watching me and I rolled my eyes. “If you’re not gonna have a go I could really do with some sleep, Mason.”

I shivered as he stalked over to me and placed a finger under my chin, tilting my head back and searched my eyes. “Why, Ava?” he asked quietly.

I frowned. “Why what?” I replied and he shook his head at me.

“Not good enough, why?” He cocked his head.

“Mason, I’m not into games. Just say what needs saying, I’m tired” I bit back. His nostrils flared slightly and I saw a flash behind his eyes but refused to back down.

He bit his bottom lip and nearly snarled at me. “You know what this is about Ava. Tony.”

I closed my eyes, suddenly feeling really ill but I swallowed it back and huffed. “Mason, I didn’t tell you about Tony because I knew you would react like this and to be honest it’s not even important. I work with the guy, that’s it.”

The room started to spin and I grabbed hold of the worktop and took a deep breath. Mason didn’t seem to notice my discomfort and grabbed my chin harshly. I reared back and he took a deep breath and let go. “That’s a load of shit, Ava. You didn’t tell me because you wanted to hide it from me,” he growled and my temper started to rise.

“What the hell Mason, why would I want to hide it from you?” I asked as a cold sweat started to break out all over me.

Oh god, I felt weird. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths through my mouth.

“You tell me, Ava?” Mason’s voice had taken on a higher level but my ears had started pounding and my head was spinning.

“I . . . I . . .” I tried to speak but my mouth had gone dry and I squinted against the brightness of the kitchen lights. Were they always this intense?

“You what, Ava?” He had started to shout. “You can’t tell me a truthful answer can you?” He was starting to blur and I scrutinized him as his face swan before me. “Oh, don’t fucking look at me like that. There’s something you are hiding, you can’t even fucking defend your self can you?” he demanded and I tried to stand, holding onto the worktop.

“Mason, I . . . I . . .” I tried to suck in a breath but I was struggling, my lungs were screaming at me and my legs had gone tingly and numb.

“Just tell me this, Ava” he roared. “Is this baby mine or Tony’s?”

My mouth dropped open and I started to pant, sweat dripping off my forehead as an intense pain ripped through my stomach. I doubled up as my legs gave way and darkness surrounded me.

CHAPTER 26

I OPENED MY eyes and felt sick, my head was pounding and I could feel something stabbing me in the arm. Groaning I tried to sit up.

“Ava?” Mason breathed, “Baby, lie still and I’ll fetch a nurse” he whispered with a voice full of concern.

“Mason?” I blinked at the lights. He flicked them off as he leaned over the bed and pressed a red button, “Where am I?”

“You’re in hospital,” he said softly and smoothed my hair back.

“What? Why?” I asked, highly confused.

“Shush,” he whispered and I retched.

“Mason, I’m gonna be sick” I cried.

He lifted me up and held out a grey paper kidney bowl as the nurse rushed in. “Ava, how are you feeling?” she asked as I vomited, stunned that it seemed black in colour. Was she stupid, how did she think I felt? I was throwing up for Christ’s sake. I glared at her and she laughed. “I know, sweetie but I meant have you got any pain?”

I did a quick inspection and nodded, “My stomach hurts, like cramps” I told her as I puked again. She smiled sympathetically.

“Oh my God, the baby?” I cried to Mason.

“It’s fine, Ava. It’s okay.” He smiled as his fingers tenderly stroked my cheek.

“What happened?” I couldn’t remember a thing apart from Mason shouting at me. I reared back from him as I remembered his last words.

He frowned at me, “Baby?”

I shook my head in confusion. “You . . . you said . . . you don’t think it’s your baby,” I breathed, my heart clenching as I recalled his words.

He sighed and nodded. “I do! I’m sorry Ava, I was just mad,” he whispered and the nurse glanced at us.

“I’ll just go and get you some water, Ava” she said before she slid from the room.

“How could you even question it, Mason?” He had hurt me really bad this time, his lack of trust had me seriously thinking about our relationship.

He brushed my cheek with his knuckles, “I’m sorry Ava. It’s just that you hid the fact that you worked with Tony so my imagination went overboard.”

I stared at him, my eyebrows high, “Your imagination went overboard?” I scoffed, gobsmacked. “And what do you think now?” I asked, cocking my head.

He hesitated.

“Get out” I growled. He stepped back, stunned as his eyes widened on me.

“Ava?”

“I SAID GET OUT” I yelled. The nurse came back in with a doctor.

“Ava, please. I believe you,” he tried again and I turned my back to him.

“Just go Mason.” I bit my lip harshly to halt the tears that wanted to flow and I heard him stomp out and slam the door.

“You okay, love?” the nurse asked as the tears finally won and flowed down my face.

“Yeah.” I sobbed. She rubbed my arm, “Why am I here anyway?” I asked, looking at the doctor for the first time.

“Did your partner not tell you?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t really give him a chance,” I snorted.

He sat on the edge of my bed and looked at me seriously. “Miss Stone, we have run some tests and we have found traces of toxins in your blood stream.”

I frowned. “What?” I asked, “I don’t understand, what toxins?”

He sighed heavily. “Miss Stone, we think you may have been poisoned.”

WHAT THE FUCK?

“Wh . . . what?” I stammered as my stomach heaved again. He paused while I vomited again.

“There was only a trace luckily; any increase on the amount you ingested could have been fatal.”

“Jesus!!”
I breathed.

“We have given you a charcoal rinse and I’m afraid you’ll feel ill for a couple of days, however I’m pleased to say your baby is fine and shouldn’t suffer any adverse effects to the poison,” he smiled.

I glared at him. “
Shouldn’t
suffer? Is that a guess or a guarantee?” I asked harshly.

“Miss Stone, there are no guarantees I can give you but I’d say it should be okay.”

I rolled my eyes. “Aren’t there any tests you can do just to make sure?”

I was starting to panic, I needed Mason but at the same time I couldn’t bear to look at him. I needed to make sure my baby was safe. “Please?” I practically begged him but he shook his head.

“Any invasive tests we do now, while the foetus is in its early stages would be counter-productive.”

I frowned “What?” He was beginning to piss me off with all his evasive answers.

“What I’m saying is, the tests we can do have more chance of harming your baby than the poison in your system. The placenta is a wonderful filter, Miss Stone.” He smiled and patted my hand. “We need to ascertain how the toxins got in your system. Can you tell me all you have had to eat or drink all day?” he continued and flipped a page on my patient chart.

“Well, I didn’t eat this morning but had a homemade tuna sandwich which I took into work myself.” He gave a simple nod then looked at me to encourage me to carry on. “Uhh, that’s it really. I had a couple of coffees and a vodka and cranberry at the pub, oh and then a cranberry and soda.”

I pursed my lips and grabbed his arm when he was writing the information down. “Would this . . . this toxin taste bitter?” I asked, a sudden thought occurred and he scowled.

“Possibly, like I said you only had a trace so you may not have tasted anything peculiar.”

I gasped. “Oh my God, the barman in the pub bought me a drink but I only had a sip of it because my friend said I shouldn’t be drinking while pregnant,” I explained and then another thought crashed its way into my brain. “COURTNEY” I panicked, “Oh my God, my friend had a drink from him as well.” I tried to climb out of bed but the doctor held me back.

“Miss Stone, I don’t recommend you leave. We need to keep you in for observation and to do another flush of your system in four hours.”

I shook my head rapidly. “NO! NO! NO! I NEED TO GET TO MY FRIEND” I screamed at him.

He held me firm. “Miss Stone, please calm down,” he soothed.

“YOU STUPID MAN, LET ME GO!” I was crying now, the thought of how much Courtney had drunk was filling me with terror.

Mason appeared in the doorway from the corridor. I quickly thought how pleased I was that he hadn’t left me. “Ava, what’s wrong?” He rushed over to me and glared at the doctor who was holding me down. He held up his hands to placate Mason and moved back.

“Mason.” I exhaled, “You have got to check on Courtney.”

He frowned. “Why?” I tried to get up again. Nobody was bloody listening to me but Mason held me tight, “Ava?” he urged harshly to get my attention.

“Mason, the drinks in the pub were spiked and Courtney drank more than me. I only had a sip but she had a full glass,” I sobbed and he shot up.

“I’m going.” He kissed me briefly and charged out of the room.

“Now please lay still, Miss Stone. I’m sure your partner will check on your friend shortly,” he said sternly and I curled my lip at him.

Dickhead!

“
I need to know if you would like me to call the police for you?” he asked.

I hesitated. “Uhh, I’ll have to talk to my boyfriend first.” He looked at me curiously but nodded and left the room.

* * *

I was tapping my fingers impatiently waiting for Mason to get back.

The time seemed to stop. I was constantly checking the wall clock in the room and huffing when I realized it was only 10 minutes since I last checked. I couldn’t settle and was terrified that Courtney was lying dead somewhere or doubled up in agony.

My sickness had died away and the stomach cramps were getting easier to cope with but my head pounded and I turned down the overhead lights again.

I was getting anxious about all the things that were happening to me. Why and who was doing this to me? Why would the barman try and poison me but then the other man’s face swam before me and I had a fleeting thought that he might have bought the drinks and spiked them.

I checked the clock again just before Sam walked in to my room. “Sam! Have you heard from Mason,” I interrogated him as soon as he entered.

He walked over to me and sat on the bed, grasping my hand, “Ava, Courtney is fine. Mason rang me and asked me to get over here to let you know.”

I exhaled deeply. “Oh, thank god.” I sobbed, letting the tears flow free, the pent up fear rushing out in one gush.

Sam wrapped me in his arms and pulled me tight. “Shush Ava, it’s okay” he soothed as I let it out and wept into his shoulder. I felt him stiffen as I heard someone enter the room but he shook his head slightly and still held on to me.

I cried for a long time, my body refusing to stop as the fact that someone was trying to kill me and that Courtney was okay sank in.

I felt the bed dip and Mason’s arms envelope me as Sam passed me over to him.

“Shush baby,” he whispered as he stroked my hair. “I love you Ava, I love you so much,” he breathed in my ear.

I nodded and squeezed him tighter, unable to make my mouth move to repeat the words to him. He pulled me onto his lap so I could snuggle into him and I felt myself drift off as the tears exhausted me and Mason stroked my back comfortingly.

* * *

I woke sometime later when someone was changing the saline drip in my arm. I was still snuggled on Mason’s lap as he leant against the headboard and Sam was sat in the corner chair.

The nurse smiled at me when she saw my eyes open. “Hi Ava, how are you feeling?” she asked gently. I nodded and stretched.

“Okay, I think,” I told her as Mason rubbed my back and kissed the top of my head.

“Hey,” he whispered softly and I smiled up at him. He leaned into my ear “Baby, I’m so sorry.” I nodded but didn’t say anything else.

The nurse left the room and Sam came over and sat on the bed again. “Ava, I need to know what happened, sweetheart.”

“I need a drink first.” My throat and mouth were still dry and I thought I may have trouble explaining.

Sam nodded and poured me a drink from the scratched plastic hospital jug and handed it to me as Mason continued to stroke my hair as I took small sips.

“How is Courtney?” I asked Mason as I passed the cup back to Sam.