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Back Day of the Accident
Chapters (71)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Dedication
  4. What readers are saying about
  5. Epigraph
  6. Prologue
  7. Part One
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. Part Two
  41. 33
  42. 34
  43. 35
  44. 36
  45. 37
  46. 38
  47. 39
  48. 40
  49. 41
  50. 42
  51. 43
  52. 44
  53. 45
  54. 46
  55. 47
  56. 48
  57. 49
  58. 50
  59. 51
  60. Part Three
  61. 52
  62. 53
  63. 54
  64. 55
  65. 56
  66. 57
  67. 58
  68. Epilogue
  69. Acknowledgements
  70. THE NEXT THRILLER BY NUALA ELLWOOD
  71. THE BEGINNING

24

Thursday 3 August

Sonia stays close beside me as we make our way along the high street towards Riverdale Surgery. Though I assured her when she arrived at the B & B this morning that yesterday’s trip to Larkfields hadn’t upset me, she could see by my swollen eyes that it had taken its toll.

‘Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?’ she says as we turn down a narrow side street and the sign for the surgery looms into view. ‘It’s just that I think the fact that the doctor is living in your old house could hamper your recovery process, Maggie. She’ll be a constant reminder of everything.’

I pause as we reach the automatic glass doors, standing back to let a woman with a pushchair out.

‘I know what you’re saying, Sonia,’ I say as we go through the doors and head into the large reception area. ‘But I like Julia. She seems to understand what I’m going through. And I need to start getting myself back together. I need to be strong if I’m going to have any chance of finding out what happened.’

Sonia nods her head as we approach the reception desk.

‘One moment,’ mouths the receptionist, holding her hand up. She is busy taking a call.

I smile then turn to Sonia.

‘Did you manage to get the phone?’ I say.

‘Oh, shit, I completely forgot,’ says Sonia, grimacing. ‘I’m so sorry. I was running late this morning, then my flatmate was hogging the bathroom. I tell you what, how about we pick one up on the way home?’

‘That would be great.’

‘Okay, ladies,’ says the receptionist, putting the phone down. ‘Sorry to keep you. How can I help?’

‘I’m here to see Julia, er, Dr Mathers,’ I say.

‘And your name is?’

‘Maggie Allan.’

I watch as she types my name into her computer, shaking her head as the phone starts ringing again.

‘Here you are,’ she says. ‘Ten thirty emergency appointment with Dr Mathers. She booked you in herself. You’re a new patient, is that correct?’

‘Yes,’ I reply. ‘Dr Mathers said that it would be –’

‘No problem,’ interrupts the receptionist as another phone starts to ring. ‘If I could just ask you to fill in these forms while you wait.’

She hands me a black clipboard with a purple and white form attached.

‘Here’s a pen if you need it,’ she says, handing me a black biro. ‘Dr Mather’s waiting area is just over there. If you take a seat she’ll be with you shortly.’

‘Thank you,’ I say, but my words are swallowed up by the telephone ringing again.