Miss No One, Mark Ayre [romantic love story reading .TXT] 📗

from the sofa and was standing at the edge of the kitchen portion of the room. After his comment to Christine, he turned back to Abbie, met her eye but spoke as though she was not there.

"I barely know Abbie, but with some people, isn't it obvious what kind of person they are and how they'll react in certain situations from the off?"

Christine and Ana were looking between Ndidi and Abbie. Both resisted the urge to talk.

"This Bobby situation is tearing you up. If you don't go to him, it'll destroy you. But you won't. You're fixated on doing the right thing, on saving Isabella. It doesn't matter we've not heard from Orion, and I've said I don't want your help anyway... you're going to tell yourself you have no choice. You've cast your lot, and you have to see the job of saving my daughter through to the end."

Taking a step forward, Ndidi continued to hold Abbie's eye. She was still clutching her phone tight. Although so far she had been caught on the doctor's words, on thoughts of how Bobby was, she knew Ndidi was right. Soon, her mind would try to push her concerns away; she would rationalise ways of ignoring Bobby's condition so she could continue with the job at hand. It didn't matter her house was a smouldering wreck, her boyfriend might die... how many times had she said the little girl was everything?

"You're not thinking straight," said Ndidi. "Therefore, you can’t be trusted to make a decision, so we'll make it for you. Three votes, majority rules. Does Abbie stay cooped up in this box of a flat or go to her boyfriend? I'll go first. She goes."

Christine's jaw dropped. She hadn't seen that coming and couldn't speak when Ndidi looked to her.

"You've already made your vote clear," he said, "which means Ana can remain in indecision. Her vote is unnecessary. Now that's sorted, I suggest you get going. Send Bobby our love."

Turning, Ndidi made his way back across the living room. As though connected to the detective by an invisible string, Abbie seemed to jerk from the counter and stumble after him. Before he could reach the sofa and sit, she grabbed his shoulder.

"I know you never wanted me around, but it's a mistake to push me away. Your daughter's chances of survival are much improved, having me on your side. Sorry if that sounds arrogant."

"It does sound arrogant," said Ndidi. "Although I'm loath to admit it, I think it's probably also true."

Shaking free of Abbie's arm, Ndidi took another step towards the sofa but didn't sit. He put a head in his hand then sighed.

"How quickly can you reach the hospital where Bobby's being treated?”

Abbie considered. "Assuming I don't get stopped for speeding? Little over an hour."

"I think I have the measure of you," said Ndidi, "but it's clear you don't have the measure of me. I'm not trying to get rid of you because I want to handle this situation alone. That was what I wanted, but the longer I spend with you, the more I believe you'd be an asset to rescuing Isabella. I pray when Orion calls, you can be involved in whatever we do next."

Christine and Ana reentered the room. Ndidi smiled at them, then returned to Abbie.

"I know what it's like to fall in love. Never again will I get to see my wife. While you may not be as in love with Bobby as I was with Leilani, I promise you do not want to live with the regret of not seeing your man if this could be the last time. So here's what I'm proposing. You get in your car, you speed up or down to the hospital and sit with your man, talk to your man. When the time feels right, you speed right back here where we'll still be waiting."

"Unless we aren't," muttered Ana. Ndidi pointed to her.

"Right, because Orion might call. But if he does, I'll call you. We'll discuss the situation and decide how best to proceed. As a group. As the Self-Loathing club should."

He raised his hand as though to place it on Abbie's shoulder, then dropped it. He looked at Christine.

"Abbie was right. I lashed out at you because I hated myself, but I shouldn't. I did the right thing, passing that information to anti-corruption, and Leilani gave her life doing the right thing as well. You may hate it, Christine, but you're doing the right thing, too." He turned back to Abbie. "Now, you do the right thing. Do right by Bobby, then do right by Isabella. You don't have to choose between the two, and I pray you won't. You can have both."

Abbie turned. Looked to Ana, who seemed to consider for a moment, then gave the smallest of nods. That was good enough for Abbie. She looked to Christine, who rushed forward and threw her arms around Abbie.

"Go get him."

Thirty-Four

By driving well over the limit most the way to the hospital, Abbie made the trip in only 67 minutes. It seemed to take longer than that to find a parking space. Once she had, she paid for the ticket and bolted into the building.

From the receptionist, after giving a fake name, Abbie learned where she could find Bobby. When she arrived, there was a nurse in the room. Abbie hovered nearby, her head bowed until the young man left, then she stepped inside.

It had occurred on her drive over the police would know by now whose house was rubble. They would have entered Abbie King into their system, and what messages would have appeared? Probably an arrest warrant. Something explaining Abbie was armed and dangerous, hobbies include assault and attempting to murder serving police officers.

Now they'd be looking for her; Bobby would be listed as a known associate.

So Abbie waited for the nurse to leave and ducked in when no one was watching.

The room looked like any intensive care hospital room in a non-private hospital. The bed