she was running towards her future rather than away from her past. She didn’t want to get pigeonholed, which was the danger if she’d stayed put, but there was no need to explain everything. Seb didn’t need to know it all. Unlike at home, she could choose to keep her secrets. This was her opportunity to tell people only what she wanted them to know and she intended to make the most of it.
‘Well, I reckon there’s plenty in Sydney to keep you so busy that you won’t have time to think. And I promise not to introduce you to any eligible men. Unless you ask me to,’ he added. He finished his beer, pushed back the cuff of his shirt and looked at his watch. ‘I have a meeting to get to but can I give you a lift home first?’ he asked as he picked up his helmet.
‘That would be great,’ she said, but she should have said no.
Seb offered her his leather jacket to wear for protection, just in case something untoward happened. His hands brushed hers as he slid the jacket over her arms and when his fingers brushed her neck as he fastened the strap of his spare helmet under her chin Luci thought she might melt on the spot. And she still had to get on the bike and sit behind him and wrap her arms around his waist. She wasn’t sure her brain could be trusted to convey all those messages.
She should have declined his offer, she’d remember that next time.
But it was too late now. She’d been on a motorbike before. It was probably no different from cycling—it would all come back to her once she got on. Her ex had a trail bike that he’d used to ride around his parents’ property and to school. He would pick her up every morning and give her a lift, but they’d been seventeen then. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d ridden on the back of his bike, and as she wrapped her arms around Seb’s waist and felt his body heat radiating into her she thought she certainly didn’t remember feeling like this.
The bike vibrated between her thighs. She pressed her legs into the seat as she held on tight. Her face was tucked against his shoulder blade and she could smell him. He smelt fresh and tangy; there was a trace of citrus in his aftershave, lime perhaps.
She probably should have walked home but she was glad she hadn’t. She was quite happy right where she was.
LUCI’S MORNING STARTED with orientation at the family and community health clinic attached to North Sydney Hospital. She spent the morning getting her ID, setting up her email and running through the safety policies and procedures for the site. Once the administration side of things had been dealt with, she would start work. The course participants would be given a case load as the service tried to get through their waiting list. The system was under the pump, there were always more people who needed the service.
Her diary showed her running an immunisation clinic. It was an easy, straightforward introduction that didn’t require her to have detailed backgrounds or rapport with the clients. She worked steadily through the hours after lunch. She had bumped into Seb once but it seemed that the staff worked autonomously and she was almost able to forget that he was there. Almost.
But all that changed when her two-thirty client didn’t keep her appointment. Melanie Parsons had booked her son, Milo, in for his six-month check and immunisations. When she failed to arrive Luci pulled up her file on the computer. There were numerous entries and lots of red flags.
This woman was a victim of domestic violence. Her past medical history included three full-term pregnancies, one miscarriage and a long list of broken bones and medical treatment for bruising and lacerations. And they were only the things she’d consulted a doctor about. Luci would bet her house that there were more incidents that had gone unreported.
Luci picked up the phone and dialled the client’s number. The community health centre’s policy stated that all no-shows had to be followed up with a phone call. She checked the file again. It was possible that Melanie had just forgotten her appointment or was catching up on some sleep; it couldn’t be easy having three children under the age of five.
But the phone went unanswered.
Luci needed to be able to record a reason for the non-attendance. In instances where that wasn’t possible she had been told to let the co-ordinator know. She went to discuss the situation with Gayle, the health centre co-ordinator, to find out what the next step in the process was.
Gayle brought Melanie’s notes up in her system.
‘Can you discuss this with Dr Hollingsworth?’ she suggested. ‘He knows Melanie, he’s treated her before.’
Luci heard the unspoken words and she’d seen the supporting evidence in Melanie’s file. Seb had treated her for injuries sustained at the hands of someone else.
She knocked on Seb’s open door.
‘Have you got a minute?’ she asked. He was entering notes into the computer system. He looked up and smiled. His blue eyes sparkled and Luci felt herself start to blush.
‘Sure.’
She stepped inside and closed his door. She didn’t want anyone else to overhear the conversation. ‘Melanie Parsons. Do you know her?’
Seb nodded. ‘Is she here?’
‘No. She had an appointment to get her baby’s six-month immunisations but she hasn’t shown up. Gayle suggested I talk to you about her.’
‘Have you called her?’
‘Yes. There was no answer.’
‘Do you know her history?’
Luci nodded. ‘I’ve read her file.’
‘Someone will need to call past her house and check on her. What time do you finish?’
‘I don’t think I should be the one to do a home visit,’ Luci objected. ‘She doesn’t know me from a bar of soap.’ She was not the right person for that particular job. Someone who had already established some rapport with Melanie would be far more suitable.
‘I agree. But if our timing is right we can go together. You can immunise the baby and I’ll see what’s up with Melanie,’ Seb replied. He clicked his mouse and opened his diary. ‘I should be finished by three-thirty. Let me know if that works for you.’
* * *
Seb was waiting at Reception for her when she finished her clinic. ‘Do you want me to drive or navigate?’ he asked her as he signed out one of the work cars and collected the keys.
‘I don’t think I’m game to drive on your roads,’ Luci replied. The streets of Sydney were narrow, winding and steep, not at all like the wide, straight roads she was used to. ‘But I should warn you, my navigating skills might not be much good either as I’m not familiar with Sydney.’
‘No worries. I’ll get the map up on my phone.’ Seb handed her his phone and she followed him out to the car.
It wasn’t long before Seb pulled to a stop in front of a squat red-brick house. It had a low wire fence and a front lawn that needed mowing. There was an old station wagon parked under a carport at the side of the house and a couple of kids’ bikes were lying abandoned behind the car in the driveway. The house could do with a coat of paint but it looked lived in rather than neglected. Luci had seen plenty of houses just like it in country towns in her district.
The driveway gate squeaked as Seb pushed it open, announcing their arrival. He closed it behind Luci before leading the way up the concrete path to the veranda. He knocked but there was no answer. The screen door was locked but the front door was ajar. Someone was home. Luci could hear the sound of children playing.
‘Melanie?’ Seb called out. ‘It’s Dr Hollingsworth. You missed Milo’s appointment at the clinic. I need to know that you are okay.’
* * *
Through the screen door Luci could see movement in the dark passage. A