Chapters (82)
- Cover
- Dedication
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
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The CEO was seated behind a large desk, talking to a young couple facing him. ‘You can wait outside now, thank you,’ Mr Bridges said, dismissing the security guard.
The PA left with the guard. Only once the door was closed did Mr Bridges speak. ‘This is Mr and Mrs Ryan – Grant and Chelsea,’ he said.
‘Detective Constables Beth Mayes and Matt Davis,’ Beth said to them.
It was obvious how upset they were; Grant was clearly struggling to contain his anger and itching to have a go at someone. Chelsea’s eyes and cheeks were red from crying. Beth drew over a chair so she was sitting at right angles to the couple. Matt remained standing in case quick intervention was required and Grant needed restraining.
‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ Beth said as she sat down.
Chelsea sniffed while Grant’s face grew harder. ‘Fucking awful the way we’ve been treated! Bad enough our kid dies, but then to get rid of her body so we can’t even say goodbye! We came back today to be told she’s gone for good!’
‘That wasn’t how I phrased it,’ Antony Bridges said in an even, slightly patronizing tone. ‘It’s regrettable this has happened and we will of course hold an inquiry. Although it will take time to gather together all the information.’ Which antagonized Grant even further.
His face bulged with anger. ‘I want him arrested!’ Grant shouted, jabbing a finger towards the CEO. Matt took a step towards him. ‘Then I’ll sue the lot of you.’
‘I understand how upsetting this must be for you both,’ Beth said gently. ‘And we’re here to investigate. Could we start by going back to what happened yesterday?’ She took out her notepad and pen.
‘You tell them! I might hit someone,’ Grant said to his wife, and cracked his knuckles.
Chelsea sniffed and took a deep breath. ‘I had a baby yesterday,’ she began, her voice thick with emotion. ‘We knew it was going to be stillborn – it was very early and badly deformed.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Beth said, looking up from writing. ‘My heart goes out to you both.’
Grant seemed slightly less riled now he knew his concerns were being taken seriously.
‘Thank you,’ Chelsea said. ‘I was prepared for it, as much as you can be. Our midwife was fantastic. She asked us if we wanted to see our baby but advised us against it. She felt it would be too upsetting.’
‘But we wanted to see our baby today,’ Grant added.
‘I understand,’ Beth said, and looked at Chelsea to continue.
‘When Grant and I went home last night we talked about our loss. I also spoke to my sister. She thought we should see the baby as it might help us come to terms with what happened.’
Beth nodded sympathetically.