Free Sam: A Novel Of Suspense by Iain Rob Wright Page A

Sammie is physically healthy before we explore anything
else.”
    “Are
you qualified to perform medical tests?”
    “Nope,
but I haven’t been sued yet.  Besides, it’s not as hard as it looks.”
    Frank
opened the door to Sammie’s rooms and stepped outside to join them.  “Your
equipment is all set up.  What’s all the rest of this junk you’ve left out
here?”
    “Oh,
you know, just an Ecto Containment Unit, proton packs, the usual.”
    Frank
stared at Tim blankly.
    Tim
shook his head and sniffed.  “That was a joke.  The small machine that looks
like a coffee maker is a blood analyser.  The larger machine on the right is an
ultrasound machine and heart rate monitor.”
    “Where
did you get all this stuff?” Angela asked.
    “Various
places.  Auctions mostly, but some stuff I got pretty cheap from China.  They
don’t give a shit who they’re selling to over there.”
    Angela
stood beside one of the cherub statues outside Sammie’s door.  “Let’s get
started then.”
    Frank
backed them as they walked into the bedroom.  Tim brought his doctor’s bag with
him and set it down on a nearby dresser against the wall.  He opened the clasp
at the top and pulled the two sides apart, then reached in and pulled out a
syringe.
    “What
do you plan on doing with that?” Frank demanded.
    “I
thought I would use it to play darts.”  He sighed.  “What do you think I’m going to do with it?  I’m going to draw some blood.”
    “He’s
already been poked and prodded enough.  I don’t know what you have to learn.”
    “Well,”
said Tim.  “If you don’t mind, I would like to take a small amount of blood
anyway.”
    “You’re
very welcome,” came Sammie’s reply from the far side of the room.  The boy was
looking out of the large bay window that stood in front of his crayon-covered desk. 
For the first time since Tim had arrived, Sammie was wearing clothes.
    Frank
rubbed at his eyes and shrugged.  The man seemed extremely tired.  “Well, I
suppose if Sammie doesn’t mind…just do what you need to do.”
    Tim
nodded and headed over to Sammie, who had already rolled up one of his shirt
sleeves to offer out his veiny arm.  There was a knowing smile on the boy’s face
that made Angela feel uncomfortable even from ten feet away and just observing.
    “Okay,
Sammie,” Tim said soothingly.  “This will just feel like a little pinch.”
    “It’s
okay.  Pain doesn’t bother me, Mr Golding.  Go ahead and take your blood.”
    Angela
watched in anticipation while Tim rubbed Sammie’s arm with a disposable swab. Next,
he uncapped the syringe and placed the nib against the boy’s flesh.  Angela
moved up closer, mainly to get a closer look at Tim’s medical skills, but also
because she wanted to be nearby if Sammie had another bout of aggression.  She
needed to watch Tim’s back the same way he had watched hers.
    Tim
prodded the needle against Sammie’s skin, but there seemed to be resistance. The
nib unable to penetrate the skin.  Tim moved the needle away and repositioned
it somewhere else along the boy’s arm.  He pushed the needle again.  Angela
cringed as the needle scratched against flesh.
    Sammie
was smiling politely.  “Is there a problem, Mr Golding?” 
    “I…er…I
am finding it hard to break a vein.”
    “Perhaps
you should try harder.”
    Tim
cleared his throat and suddenly seemed very nervous.  Angela wasn’t sure, but
his hands might have been shaking as he continued struggling with the needle. He
still seemed unable to break the skin.
    Tim
prodded and poked, stabbed and pricked.  Eventually the needle went in. 
    It
went in deep.
    A
torrent of blood arced high into the air. The dark-red arterial spray soaked
Tim’s face.  He stumbled back, spluttering and spitting.  His thighs hit
against Sammie’s desk and he tumbled onto his knees. 
    Angela
ran forward to help her colleague, but quickly realised it was Sammie who
needed the help.  The boy was