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“The one who hit you has been charged anyway,” she said, “as there was damage, and we have witnesses.”
“Did you recognize him?” Hayden asked. “Or did he tell you who he was? I’ll bet he told you who he was.”
“No,” she said. “He wasn’t keen on telling us who he was.”
“Courtney Place,” Hayden said.
“Oh.” She digested that. “I don’t watch the soaps. Probably be good for his image.”
“As long as they don’t mention the ‘gay’ bit,” Hayden said. “As we’re being open here.”
“The other one told us who he was,” the male cop said. “Related to Lord Somebody, he says.”
“Wanker,” Luke said.
The female cop didn’t smile, but the male one did, a bit. “He continues to say you were stalking him.”
“Yeh, well, I wasn’t,” Hayden said. “I was waiting for a mate, like I said. Him.” He’d have jerked his chin at Luke, but his head still hurt, so he jerked a thumb instead. “I know him through my sister,” he added. No reason the “gay” part had to come into this where Luke was concerned. There was coming out, and then there was being sucked into the midst of a gay love triangle. In public. In New Zealand, the smallest, most curious place in the world. Worse, in New Zealand rugby, the ultimate home of manly men.
“Better to wait for the police,” the woman said, “than take matters into your own hands. Sir.”
“Which was why,” Luke said, “I didn’t hit either of them. I held onto them instead and waited for the police.”
“Better to let them go,” the woman said, “and tell us later. As they were known to the victim.”
“Yeh, nah,” Luke said. “I’m not much for letting things go.”
“Noticed that,” the male cop said. “All the same,” he added hastily at a look from the other one, “good that you left it to us.” He finished writing on his clipboard. “Well, that’s about it. If you’ll just read these over and sign.”
Luke read over his and signed his name. Hayden tried, but his eyes didn’t want to focus. Luke must have noticed, because he said, “I’ll read it to you.”
The female cop said, “We’ll ask that he read it himself. Procedure.”
Luke said, “Not with concussion. I’ll read it.” And did.
Hayden lay back against that rubbish flat ED pillow when the cops had gone, looking white and exhausted. “They’re going to wonder whether you’re gay,” he told Luke, apparently thinking that he still had to be witty and charming. “I wasn’t sure how to create a diversionary smokescreen. Possibly beyond my capabilities at the moment.”
“I noticed you trying,” Luke said. “When you said the thing about knowing me through your sister.”
“Well, yeh,” Hayden said. “Best I could do. D’you think the doctor’s coming back soon? And this is so not the way to do a first date. Fairly uncomfortably vulnerable, in fact.”
The doctor walked in just then and said, “No brain bleed visible now, but you’ll want to keep an eye on your symptoms. If they don’t improve within the next couple of days, and definitely if they get any worse, ring your GP to arrange more tests. If it’s bad, come back here. A bleed can develop over time.” He handed over a paper. “Things to watch for. Do you have somebody to stay with you tonight? It would be better.”
“Oh.” Hayden didn’t glance at Luke. He extremely pointedly didn’t glance at him, in fact. “I can ask my sister.”
“I’ll stay with him,” Luke said. “I’ve had a fair few TBIs, know what to watch for.”
“I can—” Hayden said, and stopped.
“Good,” the doctor said. “You can go home, then, but take it easy for a few days.”
“No worries,” Hayden said. “I’m a lawyer. I just sit and type.”
“Maybe not tomorrow,” the doctor said.
“But I—” Hayden began.
“Not tomorrow,” Luke said. “Eat. Drink. Rest. Monday’s soon enough.”
