Random Targets Read Online Free Page B

Peugeot did not belong to Angel. Surely he’d made a mistake about the number plate; easily done in all the confusion.
    Angel was at home studying. She had told him earlier that she had no intention of going out. She was safe, unharmed.
    So why hadn’t she been answering her phones?
    He fumbled for his phone and speed-dialled Angel’s mobile. It rang three times before Angel’s voicemail kicked in.
    Shit.
    He stared down at the car, refusing to believe the evidence in front of his eyes. The blood on the front seat made his heart leap in his chest.
    After a few more seconds of paralysis, he leaned inside the Peugeot and flicked open the glove compartment. The first thing he saw confirmed his worst fear. It was the Rod Stewart CD he had bought Angel for her last birthday. He held on to the Peugeot’s roof to steady himself. Then he drew in a couple of long breaths and tried to focus.
    He needed to find out where Angel was and how badly she was injured. He had no religious convictions, but that didn’t stop him praying now that she wasn’t among those who had been killed.
    He rushed over to where the fire officers were tackling the engine blaze. None of them knew who had been in the Peugeot. They suggested he talk to the paramedics or the traffic officer who was keeping a record of all those who were injured and required treatment. As he dashed around Temple felt somehow detached, as if out of his body and watching himself. It was a chilling sensation.
    Eventually he found the officer who was keeping a written record of the casualties. And sure enough the name Angelica Metcalfe was on the list.
    And she was alive!
    ‘She was in a red Peugeot,’ the officer said. ‘I’m afraid she suffered severe injuries and was taken to hospital by air ambulance about an hour ago. We recovered her handbag and were able to identify her.’
    A wave of relief washed over the detective. He asked the officer if he knew how badly hurt Angel was but the guy said he didn’t know.
    ‘I got the information from a paramedic,’ he said. ‘I didn’t actually see her myself.’
    Temple decided to go straight to the hospital even though he was the investigating officer in charge of the crime scene. Too bad if the move drew criticism from higher up the chain of command. But first he sought out DS Vaughan who was shocked to hear about Angel. He and she were good friends and usually worked as a team.
    ‘You just go, guv,’ Vaughan said. ‘Don’t worry about what’s going on here. We’ve got it covered. Call me when you know how she is.’
    Temple commandeered one of the fast-response BMWs and told the driver to take him to Southampton General Hospital.
    ‘Get me there as quickly as you can,’ he said.
     
    The police driver dropped him outside the emergency entrance and he hurried in.
    Not surprisingly it was full to capacity. He walked past the queue at the admittance desk and stopped a male orderly who was carrying a clipboard.
    He showed the orderly his warrant card and said, ‘I need your help. A police officer named Angelica Metcalfe was brought here by air ambulance from the M27. I want to know where she is and how she is.’
    The orderly must have sensed from his tone that he wasn’t about to be fobbed off. He told Temple to wait while he went to find out. Temple stood there feeling dread pour through him. The scene around him appeared chaotic and the staff were extremely busy. All the seats in the waiting area were taken andseveral people were nursing physical injuries. He saw two uniformed police officers enter through swing doors and was about to approach them when the orderly appeared at his side.
    ‘Miss Metcalfe is in resuscitation, sir,’ he said. ‘I’ve been asked to take you there.’
    At the entrance to the resuscitation area Temple was met by a chunky nurse with bottle-blonde hair and a husky voice. She introduced herself as Nurse Fisher and asked to see his credentials.
    ‘Angel is not just one of my officers,’