‘What if it wasn’t the mother who left the baby here? It could’ve been the father, or a relative?’
‘Highly unlikely.’ His sense of superiority shone through. It was part of his personality, whether justified or not. ‘And ifit wasn’t the mother who left the baby, the appeal won’t go to waste. Someone somewhere must know something. I’ll keep digging until we find out who this baby is.’ He lifted his hand in acknowledgement to someone beyond the doors of the airbase before he looked back at Nadia. ‘Ready?’
Of course she wasn’t, but if she could help in any way, she would.
They both stepped outside and into the spring sunshine.
Conrad stood taller, his chest puffed up; he was getting camera-ready. In a suit because he was a detective rather than a police officer, he was full of self-importance just as Maya always said he was. But Nadia couldn’t care less how much he thought of himself or how much he talked the talk. All she wanted was for him to be as good at his job as he claimed to be and when Hudson nodded over to her from nearby to encourage her, she took a deep breath, ready to do this.
The first attempt to film the short segment was hampered by the shrill ringing of the telephones, which sounded all around the base for The Skylarks.
Shortly after The Skylarks took to the skies in the helicopter behind the airbase building, the crew began their filming again. It took three takes but Nadia was at least used to being a spokesperson for the charity, which made public speaking a little easier. Not that there were that many people here; most would see it on their TV later or online, wherever the segment was shared.
Notification came a little over an hour after the segment was recorded with the time and the channel where it would first be broadcast. The Skylarks were still out on the job they’d been called to and in the office between tasks, Hudson put the television on and stood beside Nadia, ready to watch.
Nadia, one arm across her body, her opposite elbow resting on it with her fingers to her lips, was paranoid she’d not donewell enough to convince the mother to come forwards. ‘I hope I did okay.’
‘I think you did better than okay.’
‘Any second now…’
They waited for the segment to come on.
‘You know I can’t stand Conrad, but he made a good call having you talk. I wouldn’t mind betting you come across just as kind on camera as you are in real life.’
Nadia wasn’t a nail biter but if she was, she knew her nails would be destroyed by now. ‘Let’s hope it helps.’
Within thirty seconds, there she was, on screen with the police detective.
The segment began with them standing there, the sound of the helicopter fading away in the background – the crew must have recorded the take-off and cleverly edited the footage to make sure the air ambulance was a part of the finished television coverage. What Nadia and Conrad each said had been pre-decided and the importance of what she was doing had dampened down her nervousness.
Conrad’s voice, usually a boom, and commanding presence changed tone when he spoke. And even though nobody was keen on Maya’s ex-husband, Nadia had to hand it to him. Today he had done a good job.
‘Yesterday, just after 4p.m., a baby was left in a box at the doorway to this very building.’ Conrad briefly put a hand out to indicate the glass doors behind them and the signage above which readWhistlestop River Air Ambulance. ‘Myself and my fellow officers would like to praise the team here for their fast thinking and the transfer of baby Lena to the nearest hospital where she remains safe and well. Here with me today is operational support officer, Nadia Sutton, who found the baby yesterday.’
It felt odd watching herself on screen. She remembered Conrad handing over to her, the feel of all eyes upon her.
‘We know the baby is called Lena because her name was written on a piece of paper tucked beside her in the box. I could see that Lena had been well looked after and, following a thorough examination by doctors at the hospital, I’m delighted to say that Lena is not injured and there are no immediate health concerns. However, we desperately would like to locate Lena’s mother or whoever left Lena with us. If you are listening, please do come forward.’
Conrad took over. ‘We have trained officers and medics ready to provide support. Please get in touch by calling the emergency services or going into a station or a hospital.’
As the segment concluded, Hudson switched the television off. ‘You did great, you know. This will be shown online, hopefully often, and on the television again. We’ve done everything we can.’
‘So why don’t I feel any better?’
He came to her side, put his hands onto her shoulders. ‘Because you care; never apologise for that. But remember sheissafe, sheiswell.’
She wanted him to wrap her in his arms, to feel the security of his hold, but she knew she couldn’t let herself want that. They were friends; that had to be as far as it went.
‘I’m going to call the hospital, see what stage they’re at finding a foster carer.’
‘Can you let me know what they say? I’ll be in my office; I’ve got some calls to make.’
‘Sure.’
She left the main office where the team gathered for meetings and followed the corridor through the reception to the other side where her little office stood. She closed the door behind her. She needed some time to get herself together: the eventsof yesterday, a restless sleep, a television appeal, Hudson – her emotions were bubbling towards the surface in ways she couldn’t quite get a hold of. She kept thinking of Lena, in a box of all things, the mother, whoever she was, what would happen from now.
When Nadia emerged, Hudson was on the phone in the main office. The Skylarks were heading back inside the building from the hangar. Brad, one of the critical care paramedics, took the cool box of bloods through to the room where they were stored until they were needed for the next mission. He’d be putting away the drugs too which were always kept in the building rather than the helicopter and signed out before each job. Business as usual around here when Nadia felt as if her world had been tilted, that she was having to face up to all that she’d lost, all over again, given the events of the past twenty-four hours.
