A BICYCLE BUILT FOR SUE Daisy Tate Copyright HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF www.harpercollins.co.uk First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2020 This e-book edition 2020 Copyright © Daisy Tate 2020 Cover design by Caroline Young © HarperCollinsPublishers Cover illustration © Lucy Davey / The Artworks Daisy Tate asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library. This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins. Source ISBN: 9780008322755 Ebook Edition © June 2020 ISBN: 9780008322762 Version: 2020-06-08 Dedication This book is dedicated to all of the Mind, Samaritan and 111 call handlers. You save lives. Thank you for being there. Contents Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Chapter Twenty-Nine Chapter Thirty Chapter Thirty-One Chapter Thirty-Two Chapter Thirty-Three Chapter Thirty-Four Chapter Thirty-Five Chapter Thirty-Six Chapter Thirty-Seven Chapter Thirty-Eight Chapter Thirty-Nine Chapter Forty Chapter Forty-One Chapter Forty-Two Chapter Forty-Three Chapter Forty-Four Chapter Forty-Five Chapter Forty-Six Chapter Forty-Seven Chapter Forty-Eight Chapter Forty-Nine Author’s note Acknowledgements Keep Reading … About the Author Also by Daisy Tate About the Publisher Incident No – 38928901 Time of Call: 11:43 Call Handler: SUE YOUNG Call Handler: You’re through to the NHS 111 service, my name’s Sue and I’m a health advisor. Are you calling about yourself or someone else? Caller: Yeah, hi. Ouch. Ooo. Buggerbuggerbugger! [Groan of pain] Call Handler: Sorry, umm … sorry, hello? You’re through to the NHS 111 service. Are you calling for yourself? Caller: Yes. [Sharp inhalation] Call Handler: I’m Sue. May I have your name please? Caller: It’s Carol. [Muted swearing] Call Handler: Hello, Carol. How can I help? Caller: Not sure. Call Handler: Do you believe you need medical care? [No response] Carol? Can you hear me? Carol? Caller: I’m here. You alright? Call Handler: Oh, phew. I thought the line had gone. I’m well. Thank you for asking. Carol, can you tell me why you’re ringing today? Are you suffering with your breathing at all? Caller: No. Call Handler: Do you require a doctor? Caller: I might. Call Handler: Can you explain why you are ringing today? Caller: I’ve stubbed my toe. Call Handler: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Have you stubbed it badly? Caller: No, but it’s sore. Call Handler: I’ll bet it is. Is there anyone there with you Carol? Caller: Yes. Call Handler: Good. Can they help you if you require any assistance? Caller: It’s my cat. Call Handler: Okay. Well … Carol, is there anything I can help you with now? [No response] Carol, perhaps it would be a good idea to make an appointment with your GP? Are you registered with someone locally? Caller: I just wanted someone to know I was in pain. Call Handler: I understand. Caller: Do you? Do you really? [Ends call] Call Handler: Carol? Oh. She’s hung up. Are we meant to ring them back if they hang up? What? A stubbed toe. Okay. I’ll leave it there then. What’s that? I’ve not ended the call? I thought I’d pressed the—Ah. This one? You’d think I’d’ve got the hang of it by now, thank you. Raven was it? Raven. Good. I’m Sue. Sorry? Yes. Of course. I’ll just push— Incident No – 5938272 Time of Call: 17:23 Call Handler: SUNITA ‘RAVEN’ CHAKRABARTI Call Handler: You’re through to the NHS 111 service, my name’s Raven and I’m a health advisor. Are you calling about yourself or someone else? Caller: Yes, hello. Umm … sorry … I’m calling about myself. I’ve just had my tea … Call Handler: Okay. Are you alright? Caller: [No response] Call Handler: Can you tell me your name please? Caller: It’s Reg. Call Handler: Alright, Reg. What can I help you with? [No response] Reg, do you require a doctor? Caller: I was hoping I might have a slice of cake. Call Handler: Sorry? Caller: Yeah, well … I’ve had my tea. Is it alright? Call Handler: Is what alright? Caller: I was wanting to have a slice of cake. Call Handler: I’m sorry, Reg. I’m not understanding what you’re asking. [No response] Reg? Is there a medical situation I can help you with? [No answer] Reg? I’m just going to put you on hold for a moment. [Muffled laughter] Caller: [Angry noises] I TOLD YOU! I WANT TO HAVE A SLICE OF CAKE! Call Handler: Alright, mate. Okay. Caller: I’m not your mate. I’m asking permission to have a slice of cake! Call Handler: Are you a diabetic? Caller: No. Call Handler: Is there any reason you shouldn’t have the cake? Caller: I ate my vegetables. Call Handler: Well done. What type of cake is it? Caller: Chocolate. With sprinkles on it. Call Handler: I’d say go for it, then. Caller: [Silence] Call Handler: Reg? Reg are you there? Caller: [Sound of china and cutlery] Call Handler: Buh-bye, then. Welcome to 111, may I take your order please? Would you like me to super size that, sir? Oh, shit. I thought I’d – Cheers. Normally I press the mute button before I – Incident No – 5278374 Time of Call: 19:11 Call Handler: FLORENCE WILSON Call Handler: You’re through to the NHS 111 service, my name’s Flo and I’m a health advisor. Are you calling about yourself or someone else? Caller: Yes, sorry. This isn’t technically an emergency, but I think I might need an ambulance. Call Handler: Those are usually 999 calls, love, but let’s see if I can help. Are you calling about yourself or someone else? Caller: It’s for my husband. Call Handler: Is he breathing? Caller: No. Call Handler: Is he conscious? Caller: No. As I said, it’s not urgent. But it’s
