Chapter 8














































































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The next morning there was still no sign of Anna. Claire went down to the river to have a think.
I miss her so much. Please God let her be alright. For the kid�s sake as well as Nicky�s. She�s my best friend. I don�t know what I�ll do without her. If only I knew where she was. Where was it she mentioned in that note? The old railway. Stanley Bridge is an hour away. And how did she hurt her? I have to find out.

 Claire got up and made her way to her car. She started driving down the motorway. She just carried on. Signs whizzed past her. Not looking at any of them she carried on. A sign for the turn off for Stanley Bridge came up. She cut into the left hand lane of the motorway and started to go up the slip road. Eventually she came to Stanley Bridge. There were signs for the railway station everywhere. Stanley Bridge had three. She hoped she chose the right one. A few minutes later Claire came to an old abandoned part of town. There was one police car in view but no policemen. There was a warehouse to her left and the rail station to her right. She got out of her car and looked through the windows of the small rail station. It was only one room and it was completely empty. She made her way across the road to the warehouse. There was a small side door that was open so she walked inside. It was dark. The dust and cobwebs were so thick you could tell nobody had been there for years. Claire choked on a cobweb as she made her way through another door and into a big hall. The hall was empty apart from a shelf that went all the way around the room. The shelf made way for a flight of iron steps on the other side of the room. Looking up Claire saw a metal walkway leading round one side of the wall. At the end of the walkway was a door. The door was closed and the glass panel from the top half was missing. Claire made her way to the iron steps and proceeded to climb them. She reached the top and her heart started to race. Her breathing got quicker as she wondered what was behind the door. Anna�s dead body or something else? She made her way to the door. With each step she took her heart rate got quicker. She got to the door and waited outside listening to any sounds that might be coming from the room. She heard nothing. She opened the door and there were boxes making a little walkway. She looked around the left hand corner but there was nothing there except for a mattress, which looked like somebody had been sleeping in. Claire carefully made her way to the right of the boxes. She looked behind them and she saw a figure sitting on a chair with their hands tied behind their back with their head slumped down. She screamed. The figure in the chair raised its head and there was a sudden scuffle coming from the hall. She heard footsteps running up the iron stairs and across the walkway. All she could do was stare at the figure who was trying to figure out where the scream came from. All of a sudden three lights shined on Claire�s face. Claire stiffened up. It took her a few seconds to realise they were torchlights. As the people came into focus she saw six policemen standing beside her. One of them shone their torch on the figure in the chair and made their way over to it. The policemen untied the figure and helped it to its feet. As they both came closer Claire managed to get a better look. �Anna?� �Claire?� They both hugged. �Come on let�s get you out of here� said the policeman that untied Anna. �I�ve missed you so much� said Claire as they walked out into the sunshine. One of the policemen dialled a number on his mobile phone. �Inspector? We�ve found her. We�re going to take her to the London Royal to get checked out. ETA 1 hour.�
�Thank you Jones� said the inspector on the other end of the line.

The inspector put his phone away then turned to the others with a smile on his face. �They�ve found her. Or shall I say your little lady found her� he said to Mark.
Nicky started to cry. �Is she ok?�
�She�s alive. She�s being taken to the Royal Infirmary.� Nicky ran over to him and hugged him. �Thank you so much.�
�That�s ok. Let�s go and see her. We�ll be there before them though.�
�I don�t care. Can someone look after the kids?� Nicky asked the others.
�Sure� said Shane.

An hour later Anna, Claire and the police arrived at the hospital. Nicky was waiting by the entrance. Anna started to walk towards him with her hand on her stomach. She looked like she was in so much pain. Nicky ran over to her and hugged her. Anna was still crying. �Are you alright? Did she hurt you?� asked Nicky without taking a breath. �She punched me a couple of times.�
�Where?�
�In my stomach.�
�What? The baby?�
�It hurts so much.�
They went inside.

The doctor came in and examined Anna all over. �How many months are you?� he asked.
�Three months� replied Anna.
�Have you felt it kick yet?�
�No. I haven�t felt it move.�
�I�m going to order a scan. I can�t tell much right now because your abdomen is bruised.�
�Is that bad?� asked Nicky.
�No not at all. My main concern right now is your baby.�

Half an hour later Anna was having the scan. The doctor listened with his stethoscope at first. Then he turned the machine on. An image suddenly appeared on the screen. The doctor smiled. �Is everything ok?� asked Nicky. �Everything is fine� said the doctor. He turned the sound on so they could hear the baby�s heartbeat. �You�ll just have to rest for two weeks then get back to normal. You can go home now but I�d like to see you in the ante-natal clinic next week just to make sure.� He printed off a picture of the baby and gave it to them. Anna and Nicky got outside and they spent five minutes in each other�s arms. �I love you� said Nicky. �I love you too.�

That night everyone gathered at Anna and Nicky�s house. Nicky stuffed his face with crisps all night. When he wasn�t eating crisps he was attached to Anna�s arm. He couldn�t believe she was home. The kids wouldn�t go to bed that night so all three of them slept in Anna and Nicky�s bed. First thing next morning they went out looking for another school for Josh.

The next week Anna and Nicky went back to the hospital for another scan just to make sure everything was ok. �Well the bruising has gone down quite dramatically and the baby is fine. Just keep resting for the next week to get over it then you can go back to work. Nothing too strenuous! I�ll see you back here in a month�s time.�
�Thank you� said Anna.
�No problem� said the doctor and he left the room so Anna could get dressed.

Nicky took Anna shopping the next day for paint and things for the nursery. �I reckon it�s a boy so we should paint it blue.� Said Nicky with his hand on Anna�s stomach. �I can feel it.�
�The thing is inside me. How can you feel it and I can�t?�
�Father�s touch� said Nicky with a smile. �So what do you say? Blue?�
�Why not. A sky blue, not dark blue� replied Anna moving onto nursery furniture.
�That reminds me� said Nicky. �We have to get Jordan a new car seat. She�s gotten too big for that one.�

That night Claire phoned Anna.
�Hi Claire!�
�Anna can you do us a favour? Nobody else can do it.�
�What�s that?�
�I don�t really want to ask you because your so busy and all.�
�Claire, just ask me.�
�Well me and Mark want to go to Sligo this weekend and nobody is free to look after the kids.�
�Me and Nicky will look after them.�
�Are you sure?�
�Yes that�s fine.�
�Thanks Anna.�
�No problem.�
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