Page 367 of The Black Trilogy

“Look, lady, I just bought you a new paediatric wing. I think I’m good for a checkup.”

She glared at me, sucking in a breath. “Well...”

I gave up and marched past the desk towards the ER. She leapt out of her seat to follow me, but Black slowed her down by leaning on the lift-up section of her desk so she couldn’t get past. Oh, the joys of teamwork.

I left them arguing and went to find somebody who could actually help.

CHAPTER 25

FORTUNATELY, THE FIRST member of staff I saw was Dr. Beech, my favourite death-certificate-signing, press-conference-holding ER doctor.

“Hey, Doc.”

“Hi, Emerson. You’re looking in remarkably good health for a corpse.” He laughed at his own joke. “Great funeral, by the way. Bradley really pushed the boat out. Even had a live band at the wake. It was a shame you missed it.”

Flipping Bradley. Honestly, he’d use anything as an excuse for a party. I needed to have a word with him.

“It might have looked odd if I’d turned up, don’t you think?”

“Oh. Yes, I guess it would.”

“I’ve got two people who need to be checked out. Can you help? The receptionist out there’s convinced I’m dead, and she’s acting like Cerberus. Goodness knows how anybody ever gets medical treatment around here.”

“She can be a bit of a jobsworth, can’t she? I’ll come right out. What are we dealing with?”

“One pregnant lady, might well be about to pop, and one man who needs a thorough check over.”

“No problem. Did I tell you about our new fundraising campaign? We want to put in a sensory room for some of the long-term patients.”

“I’m sure I can be persuaded to make a donation.”

“Excellent. Nurses! Come with me.”

It was amazing how much red tape could be bypassed when a person had just been press-ganged into buying another addition to the children’s unit. Within a couple of hours, Black had been tested for everything under the sun, including glaucoma and West Nile Virus, “just to be on the safe side.” He’d been CAT-scanned and MRI-ed, and the nurse took so much blood he threatened to report her under the Geneva Conventions. And at the end of it all, thankfully, Dr. Beech pronounced him in good health, apart from a mild case of anaemia and a vitamin D deficiency.

After that, we went to find Akari, who was in a private room with a midwife sitting by her side.

“Miss Takeda here is in labour, isn’t that great news?”

It appeared Akari didn’t share the midwife’s sentiment. In fact, she looked downright terrified.

“Are you Daddy?” the midwife asked Black.

He looked as scared as Akari. “No! I’m...well...Uncle, I guess. The baby’s father isn’t around.”

“Never mind, at least she’s got someone to help. Have you been going to ante-natal classes with her?”

“No, no classes.”

“That’s not ideal.” She shook her head and tutted. “But not to worry, I can help you to prepare for the birth.”

Honestly, Black went white. I’d seen him in gunfights and I’d seen him in knife fights, but I’d never seen him look worried like he did when the nurse mentioned childbirth.

“I need some water.” He dashed from the room. Wimp.

Then the nurse turned on me. “Men! Just haven’t got the stomach for it. You’ll be staying though?”

“Me? F...er, no!”

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