‘I’ll get her for you. Take a seat; she might be a few minutes.’

The row of plastic seating was empty, a quiet night in A & E. She sat on the last seat nearest the exit, in case she changed her mind and decided to flee before Dr Hadley emerged from the belly of the hospital.

Too late.

‘DS Grey. What are you doing here?’

She hadn’t even considered what she was going to say when asked that question. What the hell was she doing here? She stood up and walked over to where Dr Hadley was standing.

‘I … There’s no easy way to ask this.’

‘OK.’

‘Are you seeing DS Miles again?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, I heard some rumours around the office that you two were seeing each other. You know, like, dating,’ Imogen said, unsure why she could claim that was any of her business even if it was true.

‘No,’ Dr Hadley answered. ‘I don’t know how much he told you about when we went out that one time, but it was not something either of us wanted to repeat. But what if we were seeing each other? Would that be a problem?’ Dr Hadley folded her arms and raised an eyebrow.

‘No, no, of course not. I just wanted to let you know he was ill.’

‘Yes, I know, thank you. He came into A & E when he fractured that rib. I saw to him then.’

‘Of course, sorry.’

She could see a look of suspicion on Dr Hadley’s face. It suddenly occurred to her that the doctor could easily tell Adrian that she had been in here, checking up on him. She really wished she had thought this one through. Adrian made her a bit crazy, she had decided.

‘I was just passing, so I thought I would come and ask you. He’s really been quite poorly. I wondered if you could give me any advice on how to help him recover faster.’ Good one, Imogen.

‘The usual, really. Plenty of fluids, plenty of rest, no alcohol. No great secret to healing a fractured rib.’ Dr Hadley placed her hand on Imogen’s shoulder and looked at her earnestly. ‘Some things just take time.’

‘Well, thanks, Doctor.’

Imogen shifted backwards, unsure as to why she was so uncomfortable, but something about the way the doctor had just looked at her made her uneasy.

‘Don’t worry; I won’t mention this to Adrian if I speak to him,’ Dr Hadley said.

That was also a strange thing to say, just to offer like that. What did the doctor know that she didn’t?

‘Thank you, Doctor,’ Imogen said as Dr Hadley stepped back through the triage doors and into the hospital.