Page 9 of Doc Rock
It wasn’t her.
He stroked his hand over the electric guitar he clutched, and realised it was Sie’s. He occasionally played it in the show, and tonight, being the last concert he was planning on playing for a long time, it seemed only fitting to use it.
The set of the support act was drawing to a close, and Ford took that as his cue to head back to the dressing room and spend a bit of time with the band before they put on their final show.
When he walked into the dressing room, his heart sank.
Ryan looked like he was asleep on the sofa. But Ford had known the other man for many years. He wasn’t asleep; he was passed out, drunk or drugged.
The bottle of Jack Daniels that he kicked as he rushed over to the guitarist told him there was definitely alcohol involved.
“Shit,” Ford swore.
The other man’s chest slowly rose andfell, so at least hewasn’tdead.
Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he dialled Donnie, who answered immediately, “Ford?”
“We’ve got a problem. Come to our dressing room now,” he demanded.
Ford poked Ryan, hoping he was wrong and the other man was just asleep.
Even when heshovedhim hard, Ryan didn't respond.
Donniecamesprintinginto the room, with Scotty and Joel close on his heels.
“What’s happened?” Donnie’s eyes landed on Ryan, and he swore, “Fuck. What the fuckety fuck has that stupid arsehole taken?”
Ford shrugged and glanced at Scotty and Joel, who were both as clueless as he was.
His shoulderssaggedwith relief. The other two—like him—over the years,hadtheir ups and downs with drugs and alcohol. After they both did some stints in rehab, thankfully, they nowkeptit to alcohol and the oddbitof weed. Only Ryanwasstill hard into the drugs.
“No idea, man,”Joelsaid.“He did say something about a new dealer with some epic gear. But weweren’tinterested, so welefthim to do what hewanted.”
When Ryan was on a mission for drugs, there was no stopping him.
Donnie’s eyesscannedthe room,searchingfor any clue about what the guitaristtook, but therewasnothing out of the ordinary apart from the Jack Daniels bottle.
“Fuck. Right, there’s a first aid tent here. They’ve got a doctor. We need them now,” Donnie said.
“Shall we call an ambulance?” Ford asked, glad to have handed the responsibility over to Donnie.
“Not yet. Let’s get the doctor here first.”Donniereachedfor the radio on his belt.“I’vegota medical emergency backstage. Get me the doctor from the first aid post, immediately.”
Chapter 5
Mai
Mai got lost in the music as the support act played. She hadn’t been to a concert in years and had forgotten how music in an environment like this transported her to a different world.
Her feet tapped, and her fingers itched for a guitar to play along with the band. They were talented. The drummer was a little green, but shesawon the big screens that he was only young, and it wouldn’t take much togethim up to the quality of the rest of the band.
These kids were going places. Shefeltit in the buzz of excitement of the crowd, who hadn’t come toseethem but were being taken on a ride they were enjoying immensely, singing choruses that just a few minutes ago they hadn’tknown. It made a shiver run through her.
“Doctor,”a security guard called as they rushed into the tent.
Mai snapped out of her musical reverie.“Yes.”She leapt to her feet.
“We need you backstage now.”He gestured urgently.
