“The doctor thinks food poisoning and I concur. They’ve taken a sample of blood to run tests, so hopefully we’ll know soon after you arrive at Cheltenham Hospital. Why don’t you try to rest?”

The ambulance wasn’t using its siren, which, she thought, as it swayed, was a good thing. And she did feel tired …

When she next woke up, she was aware of multiple noises and, in particular, the sound of an ambulance siren getting closer. Not hers. Some other poor person who was in trouble.

“Thank you. I’ll take her from here. Are those her notes?” asked an efficient sounding man with an accent she couldn’t place.

“I’m with her,” said Sujin.

“Family?” asked the man uncertainly.

“Partner.”

Despite the numbness and the pain seeping into her limbs, Keya felt a flutter in her chest. She liked the idea of Sujin calling her his partner. Although, she reminded herself, in work terms, technically they were partners, and members of the same team.

But she tried to hold on to the warm feeling of hope as bright lights, the smell of disinfectant, and multiple voices invaded her senses.

She’d been lifted from one trolley to another and the new one wheeled smoothly along corridors until they entered a ward. A woman in a bed looked at her with concern as she rolled past. A woman who looked like Peggy, her neighbour.

But then a blue curtain was pulled around her and she, Sujin, and the ebony-skinned man with the efficient voice and manner were on their own.

“This is where I leave you,” said the man. “A nurse will be in to see you soon. Good luck.”

“Thank you,” she tried to mutter. She wasn’t sure if she’d been successful, but he smiled at her sympathetically before he left.

It was just her and Sujin.

“Water,” she croaked.

“I’m not sure I can give you any at the moment. We’ll have to wait to see what the doctor or nurse says.” Sujin looked down at her and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. At least she could feel that. And her toes were tingling. Was that a good or a bad sign?

The blue curtain was swept aside and a man and a woman wearing navy blue entered.

The dark featured man in his fifties stopped and said, “Sujin Kerr. I heard you speak about the importance of protecting forensic evidence on patients suspected of being victims of crime.”

Keya thought Sujin was blushing. And she had no idea he lectured on his work. How many other attributes did Sujin have that she wasn’t aware of?

“This is my partner, Sergeant Keya Varma, and she isn’t a victim of crime. Or not that I’m aware of,” he added thoughtfully.

“Sergeant Varma. We’re still waiting for the blood test results from Cirencester, but in the meantime, do you mind if I examine you?”

Keya shook her head and prepared herself to be prodded and probed once again. She neither knew nor cared if Sujin remained in the examination area with her, but she did wonder what had happened to her uniform. She instinctively knew she wasn’t wearing it.

“Your vital signs are fine, and your body is stable,” the doctor said reassuringly. “Can you feel this?”

Feel what? Keya wondered.

“I think her throat is dry. Can she have some water?” Sujin asked.

“Yes, of course. Nurse Roberts?”

But the blue-clad lady had already left. She returned with a plastic glass, which she handed to Sujin. After helping Keya into a sitting position, she took the glass back and held it to Keya’s lips.

Keya felt better for the water and to be sitting up. She looked at her right arm and tried to raise it. Relieved, she watched it rise from the bed but then it stopped, hovering in mid-air, refusing to move up any further. Frustrated, she allowed it to drop back on the bed.

The doctor watched as she tried the same with her left arm. But it wouldn’t move. Only her fingers trembled.

“Not bad. There is movement,” said the doctor.

How could he stand there and say that? Her arms weren’t working. Was she paralysed?

“Try to lift your right leg.”

Keya lifted her bare leg easily off the bed.

“Excellent, and the left,” instructed the doctor.

Again, she lifted the leg easily, although she felt it tingle.

“It tingles,” she croaked.

“That’s good. You can feel it,” the doctor insisted as the nurse raised the glass to Keya’s lips again.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I’d say poison. Would you concur, Sujin?”

Sujin nodded. “Yes, I agree. Keya’s been poisoned.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

Poisoned! How could she have been? Who’d want to poison her? Her thoughts raced through her mind.

“Steady,” the nurse reassured her, placing her hand on the top of Keya’s arm. The relief of being able to feel it did calm Keya down.

“In order for the drugs to work, and to start reversing the nerve damage and paralysis, you must remain calm,” the doctor told her firmly but compassionately.

“Doctor,” said another blue-clad nurse as she handed him a tablet.

The doctor took the black-backed tablet and stared at it. “Of course, but rare,” the doctor murmured to himself.

The nurse moved away from Keya’s bed and took the tablet as the doctor stepped forward.

Sujin also moved closer, placing a protective arm on Keya’s shoulder.