The Lab Test Read online

  THE LAB TEST

  Book Six of the Sydney Harbour Hospital Series

  Chris Taylor

  COPYRIGHT NOTICE

  SMASHWORDS EDITION

  Copyright 2016 by Chris Taylor

  (All Rights Reserved)

  LCT Productions Pty Ltd

  18364 Kamilaroi Highway, Narrabri NSW 2390

  ISBN. 978-1-925119-33-6 (Ebook)

  ISBN. 978-1-925119-34-3 (Paperback)

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  The Lab Test is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  Books by Chris Taylor

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Epilogue

  Note to Readers

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to my sisters, Nicole, Julie, Catherine, Marina and Donna.

  And as always, to my wonderful husband, Linden. I love you.

  BOOKS BY CHRIS TAYLOR

  The Sydney Harbour Hospital Series

  (in order)

  The Perfect Husband

  The Body Thief

  The Baby Snatchers

  The Final Bullet

  The Debt Collector

  The Lab Test

  The Stolen Identity

  The Cliff Top Killer

  The Likeable Fraudster

  OTHER BOOKS BY CHRIS TAYLOR

  The Munro Family Series

  (In order)

  The Profiler

  The Investigator

  The Predator

  The Betrayal

  The Deception

  The Negotiator

  The Christmas Vigil

  The Ransom

  The Defendant

  The Shooting

  The Maker

  Sign up for my newsletter and keep up to date with new release dates, exclusive content and other offers at: http://www.christaylorauthor.com.au/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/

  Find out more about all of Chris Taylor’s books, including the hugely popular Munro Family series by visiting her website at: http://www.christaylorauthor.com.au/about/books

  PROLOGUE

  Dear Diary,

  Why do I do this to myself? Why do I treat myself with such disdain? Where’s my self-respect?

  I could say it’s just the way I am—a product of my dysfunctional childhood—but that would be a cop-out. After all, my little sister managed to rise above the filth and squalor of our home life.

  Sabrina, the beautiful one, the perfect angel, the girl with the softest heart. I should hate her—the girl who has everything—and yet, I don’t. Does that make any sense?

  One thing is for certain. I’m on a fast road to nowhere.

  * * *

  Danielle Porter braced herself against the hood of the pickup, her arms stretched as wide as her legs. Her black lace panties had been discarded, her short skirt was hitched up high. The man behind her continued to thrust into her, hard and fast and uncaring. His large hands were tight around her hips, digging into her flesh. She gritted her teeth and waited for it to be over.

  “Give us a feel of your big titties,” the man mumbled, still thrusting hard.

  Releasing her hips, his hands came around her ribcage and found their way under her cheap cotton bra. He squeezed her generous breasts and then pinched her nipples. She bit down on a familiar surge of pain.

  In high school, she was known as Dolly, after the country music star. She hadn’t been with a man yet who wasn’t fascinated by her breasts. It hadn’t taken her long to realize her breasts garnered plenty of attention. She’d started wearing tight-fitting singlet tops to display them to their full advantage. After all, any attention was better than no attention at all.

  The sound of a country music song playing from the jukebox could be heard over the grunts of the man who stood between her legs. He kept up his steady rhythm, almost in time with the music. His fingers squeezed and his hips thrust. His cock slid in and out. She half-lay, spread eagled across his hood and moaned every now and then for good measure.

  She’d met him a couple of hours earlier, in a bar on the edge of town. All he’d had to do was buy her a drink or two and she was his. A frantic, meaningless coupling between strangers that meant for a few moments, she got to block everything out—her redneck family, her failing grades, her innocent little sister.

  At the thought of Sabrina, Dani tensed. Shame warred with anger. She clenched her hands into fists. Why couldn’t she be more like her sister, accepting their unsatisfactory beginnings, but determined to strive for great things? Instead, she was letting history repeat itself, as bad as her drunken, uneducated parents.

  Tears burned behind her eyes and she hurriedly dashed them away. The man behind her grunted once, twice and then collapsed against her, spent. Filled with disgust and self-loathing, she didn’t even look at him while he pulled up his jeans and buckled his belt and then offered to drive her home.

  She shook her head rapidly back and forth, wanting nothing more than to be left alone. Tugging up her panties, she adjusted her skirt and took off toward the shadows.

  “Hey! Miss! Come back! It’s nearly midnight. It’s not safe to head off down there in the dark. Come back. I’ll take you home.”

  The concern in the stranger’s voice was enough to fill Dani’s eyes with hot tears. She couldn’t remember the last time an adult had shown her kindness. His attitude probably had more to do with the fact she’d just had sex with him, but she appreciated the sentiment just the same. Still, his thoughtfulness didn’t give her pause for long. She had no desire to prolong their brief association.

  “Thanks,” she called out over her shoulder, “but I’ll be fine. I only live a little ways down the road. See ya ’round.”

  With the tears coming faster now, she hurried as quickly as her cheap plastic sandals would allow. Loose stones bit into the soles of her feet. A cool breeze blew in from the south and she shivered. The shots of tequila she’d tossed back earlier were now pounding in her head. She bit her lip against the pain of it and sniffled.

  She didn’t have to ask herself why she was crying. She knew darn well what was wrong. She was on a path of self-destruction and she didn’t have a clue how she’d gotten there, or how she was ever going to get off. All she knew was if she didn’t make some changes, her life would go completely off the rails and she might never get back on track.

  Her parents wouldn’t care. They’d hardly realize anything was amiss, but her little sister would be d
evastated…

  The thought drew Dani up short. Sabrina’s image swam before her. Her sister was sweet inside and out, with long blond hair and large blue eyes and the kindest heart Dani had ever known. Even now, she could hear Sabrina pleading for her to halt her self-destructive behavior, to look for the beautiful girl within. She was in there somewhere. Sabrina was sure of it.

  It was Dani who was uncertain; who refused to believe her little sister might be right. The sad truth was, there was no good in Danielle Porter and everybody but Sabrina knew it.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Twelve years later

  Danielle Porter glanced at the cheap plastic clock that hung on the wall of the Sydney Harbour Hospital pathology lab and her heart skipped a beat. In just under an hour, her day would be over and with it, the end of the working week.

  “Got any plans for the weekend, Dani?”

  She held the test tube up to eye level and checked its contents before turning to respond to her colleague.

  “Yes, Nigel,” she replied to the lab tech she’d worked with for more than four years. “As a matter of fact, I’m going over to my sister’s place this evening. We’re having a little celebration.”

  Nigel’s eyebrows rose and his expression filled with curiosity and hope. “What are you celebrating?”

  Dani bit her lip in consternation and thought fast. She shouldn’t have said anything. She could hardly tell a coworker she was celebrating her tenth year of sobriety and certainly not Nigel who had a crush on her and was hoping to be invited along. Nobody at the Sydney Harbour Hospital knew of her undesirable past and that was the way it was going to stay.

  “Um, you know… It’s kind of a family celebration,” she replied. “Something personal to the two of us. Nothing special.”

  Nigel’s face fell. “Oh. Are you sure I couldn’t tag along? I don’t have any plans and I’d love to meet your sister. You talk about her all the time. I feel I almost know her.” He laughed a little nervously and scratched his head.

  Dani looked away and wished she could find it in her heart to offer him even a scrap of encouragement. She’d known he liked her the first time they’d met, at an orientation day for new staff members of the hospital. When they realized they were both working in the pathology lab, he’d followed her around all day.

  He was about her age and with his shaggy brown hair and friendly eyes, he’d reminded her of an overeager puppy and while she’d been happy for the companionship, she’d made it clear all those years ago that she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend. Still, Nigel was nothing if not persistent and she had to admire that. It was persistence and sheer willpower that got her where she was—so far from the place where she’d begun. Though there wasn’t much else, they had that in common.

  “It’s very sweet of you to ask, Nigel,” she said now, aware that he was waiting for her reply. “But this is kind of a family thing. Maybe another time…”

  She left the offer hanging in an effort to let him down gently. She hated to see the disappointment in his eyes.

  “Yeah, okay. Maybe some other time,” he muttered and then wandered away.

  Dani sighed quietly and turned back to her desk. Sometimes she wished for the old Dani who would never turn down an offer from a man. The old Dani had been so much fun—at least, for some of the time. And then she remembered the pain and self-loathing that inevitably followed the fun and she was glad she was no longer that girl.

  It had taken a long time, and a lot of hard work and determination, but she’d risen above her lowly beginnings and found the beautiful woman inside, just like Sabrina had promised would happen if she’d only give herself the chance. Having her sister meet and marry the man of her dreams had given Dani further impetus to stick to the plan.

  She’d been free from men and alcohol for a decade. The two-year battle had been hard fought, but she was proud of the woman she’d become. A college graduate, a supportive sister, a loyal work colleague and friend. And the week before, she’d made the first mortgage payment on her very own unit. The tiny bedsit in North Sydney was hardly bigger than a shoe box, but it was hers and represented just how far she’d come.

  Satisfaction surged through her and she squared her shoulders. She’d gotten to where she was all on her own and she had a right to feel proud, just like Sabrina said. Dani didn’t need a man beside her to make her feel worthwhile. She didn’t even need a date on a Friday night. An evening spent with her beloved sister and her sister’s husband and the most recent addition to their family, their beautiful little girl, was all she wanted—and if her heart occasionally yearned for things to be different, she steadfastly ignored it. After all, she was only twenty-eight. Not exactly ancient. There was still plenty of time to find the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Wasn’t there?

  Refusing to waste another minute thinking about a non-existent boyfriend and the future they might or might not have, she put away the tissue samples she’d been testing, tugged off her gloves and tossed them into the trash. Rinsing her hands in the sink fixed to the wall behind her work station, she returned to her desk and entered the results. She glanced again at the clock on the wall and sighed with satisfaction. Finally, the day was done. Logging off, she gathered her things. It was time for the weekend to begin.

  * * *

  Dani took a sip from her glass of iced tea and relaxed in her favorite recliner. Her sister smiled and raised her wine glass from where she sat on the leather sofa opposite.

  “Here’s to a decade of sobriety, Dani. I’m so proud of you,” Sabrina said.

  Dani was filled with warmth at the love and sincerity in her sister’s gaze. “Thank you. It hasn’t been easy.”

  “I’m sure. You deserve every happiness.”

  Dani acknowledged Sabrina’s comment with a smile. Taking care not to spill her drink, she stretched her arms above her head and then flicked the lever to activate the chair. A moment later, she reclined in a prone position.

  “Make yourself comfortable,” Sabrina teased, a grin lifting the corners of her mouth.

  Dani shot her a smug look. “Thank you. I intend to. As usual.”

  Sabrina pulled a face at her and tossed a cushion in her direction. It landed short, as her sister intended.

  Dani laughed. “Ha! You missed! By the way, what are we having for my celebratory dinner?”

  “You’ll be lucky to get anything after that snide remark,” Sabrina joked. She took another sip from her wine glass. “Actually, I had plans to prepare a feast tonight—succulent pork loin chops, new baby potatoes, roast peppers, heritage carrots and steamed beans, but Marnie’s been out of sorts all day and I spent most of the time pacifying her. I’m afraid Chinese take-out is the best I can do.”

  “Hey, I’m all for Chinese take-out, as long as we can get deep-fried duck in plum sauce. So, what’s with Marnie? Is she teething?” Dani asked, taking another sip from her glass.

  “Maybe. But according to all the baby books, I think she’s meant to have all her teeth by now. She’ll be three next month.”

  Dani shook her head slowly in disbelief. “Three! It feels like yesterday.”

  Sabrina rolled her eyes. “Says Aunty Dani who hasn’t spent a single night pacing with a sick child in her arms or had a long, long day where nothing she does can pacify the little mite.” Sabrina softened her words with another smile and Dani took the gibe in the spirit it was intended and took another sip of iced tea.

  All of a sudden, she was bombarded with memories. The panicked phone call from Franklin to tell her the baby was on its way; the race to the hospital with her heart in her throat; arriving just in time to see little Marnie enter the world, a squalling, red mass of humanity. It was a wondrous, amazing, magical time she’d never forget. In an instant, she’d fallen in love with her tiny, red-faced niece. The feeling hadn’t dissipated over the years since her birth.

  “How are things going on the boyfriend front?” Sabrina asked.

  The question wrenche
d Dani back to the present. She choked on a mouthful of her drink, not at all fooled by her sister’s casual tone. Sabrina had a keen look in her eye and Dani knew from experience that her sister had the tenacity of a bulldog when it came to seeking information. A simple, vague answer wouldn’t be nearly enough. She swallowed a sigh of resignation and answered.

  “I thought we were done with this conversation, Sabrina. Let’s not go there again. We’ve only just apologized for the last time we argued over this.” She looked her sister squarely in the eye and continued.

  “I don’t want a boyfriend and I’m not on the lookout for one, so stop setting me up with Franklin’s friends. I’m perfectly happy on my own.” Dani thought fleetingly of her recent yearning to have someone special in her life and then firmly set the thought aside. There was a reason she’d sworn off men more than a decade ago. Men came with complications and she’d worked darn hard over the past ten years to simplify her life.

  Sabrina leaned forward, her beautiful blond hair falling across her face in a curtain of silken gold. Dani braced herself against what was coming. Her sister didn’t disappoint.

  “Bullshit.”

  Coming from that luscious, perfectly formed mouth, the expletive sounded shocking, but Dani knew her sister better than anyone. Sabrina looked like a golden angel and though she had the kindest heart, she also had a will of steel. She couldn’t have grown up in the kind of household they had without acquiring a backbone. She knew from past experience it wouldn’t be easy to convince her sister to leave the whole subject of Dani and her lack of a boyfriend alone.