The Sirens Ring Out

Chapter 3

Charlie pulled out her phone and dialled the number. She was almost beginning to give up and then finally someone picked up.

"Hello, is this uh.... Mrs Dernz?"

"Yes? How can I help you?"

"Well I'm Mia's friend. Well she's had a small incident. Nothing to worry about, but she's at Trinity Hospital."

"Oh no." She says in a worried tone. "Well, I'll be right there, It'll take me an hour. I could meet you at the entrance?"

"Uh.... Yeah sure."

Bear sticks his head out of the window. "Well boy we've got an hour on our hands. What do you say? Should we go back and look for Mia's phone? I'm sure it's around there somewhere. C'mon."

Charlie takes a look at her watch. She was going to be late for the first time at her new job. Great! At least my reason is legit.

Charlie hops into the car and Bear bounds into the front side passenger seat. She had exactly one hour to try and find Mia's phone and be back at the hospital. She reached the parking lot and put Bear on his leash. "Come on Bear, let's go!"

Bear tugged lightly at his leash and came to a halt a few meters away from where they find Mia earlier. Charlie looked over the edge taking care not to fall. She spotted something glistening a few meters down the slope. There it is. I can manage this slope. Bear whines as Charlie puts her foot down. "It's alright buddy. I'll be right back."

She places one foot carefully below and a few inches of soil get loose. She grunts as she bends down to reach the phone while holding onto a branch of some kind. "I've got it. Yes!" she exclaims loudly. She climbs back up only to be greeted by a concerned Bear wagging his tail. Charlie glanced down at her watch. She needed to be back at the hospital.

She waited at the hospital scrolling through the news. When she wasn't at work she always read the news, or she had it going on in the background at home. The only time she didn't, was when she was out running or when she really got too into work.

"Excuse me," Charlie turned around only to be greeted by a worried but kind face. "Are you Charlie?"

"Yes, you must be Mrs Dernz. Please, let me show you to the reception desk."

"Mia Dernz was just brought in an hour ago?" Mrs Dernz asked the nurse at the desk. The nurse looked up and then back down at her computer, clicking a few keys and then looked back up at them.

"Please take a seat, she should be out in a few minutes. She's got a fracture but we're getting a cast for her so she needs to wear that for six weeks and then come back in."

Mia's mother let out a sigh of relief as did Charlie. "Thank God, she's going to be fine. I figured that it was either a sprain or a fracture."

"Thank you so much for taking care of Mia. You must be her girlfriend." The woman took her hand to thank her.

"Uh... No... um... I'm her friend sorta. I was walking my dog and I guess she decided to go to the same place. My dog found her and I just brought her here."

"Either way, thank you."

"Hey, you guys." A familiar voice spoke. "I see you've met each other." Mia hobbled on her crutches.

"Mia, honey. I'm so glad you're okay." She hugs Mia. "This, is why you need to move back in with us." Mrs Derns points at Mia's leg in a white cast. Mia clears her throat and smiles sheepishly at Charlie.

Charlie's watch buzzes and she looks at the time flashing back up at her. "Uh Mrs Derns it's a pleasure to meet you. And uh... Mia...I guess I'll see you whenever you're done with that crazy work assignment." Mia smiled at the white lie Charlie had just told.

"We'd better get you home. And Charlie," Mrs Dernz turned to Charlie. "I would love to have you over for dinner. I mean you did save my daughter's life."

"Oh no, Ma'am there's no need for that. I was just doing what I do best." Charlie relayed her cop explanation like a robot.

"Nonsense, Mia will text you the address. I will hear no more excuses."