“They’re on their way, but Daisy is worried the kid may have broken his arm. He could need some pain relief while they cut him out.”
Daisy’s Daycare was at the opposite end of Main Street from the clinic, but it was a long road. That, the thought of a child in pain, together with the possibility that he might have to take the boy to the emergency room if his parents weren’t around, or didn’t have transport, factored into Leon’s thinking as he drove the short distance.
The morning had been a quiet one, which was just as well because his mind insisted on replaying the events of the previous evening.
Dr. Lamb had taken Joy’s body away in the coroner’s wagon, promising a speedy investigation. There hadn’t been anything more to do. After the police had gone, Leon had secured Joy’s house, feeling that pang of sorrow again for the woman who had been almost a friend. As he was leaving, Bungee had emerged from the undergrowth and, scooping the fluffy ginger tom cat under one arm, he’d taken him home with him. He had no real expectation that the cat would stay, but it felt like one final thing he could do for Joy.
Flora had accepted the offer of a lift to the daycare center from Laurie. Leon had watched her as they drove away. He could have kept his eyes on Laurie or Joe Nolan, but, for some reason, all his attention had been focused on Flora. She’d had quite the introduction to a new town and the impact was plain. Her face was pale and, when she lifted that glorious mass of hair back from her neck with one hand as the police cruiser drove away, he could see her trying to process what was going on.
Because what the hell was going on? If someone knew Joy had been stabbed, why all the mystery of the strange calls to the police and the medical examiner? The answer seemed obvious, but it still left too many unanswered questions. Had the person making the calls murdered Joy? If so, why would he, or she, be in such a hurry to let them know about the death? It was as if the killer, or someone linked to them, was determined to flaunt their crimes.
Leon had spent the morning puzzling over those questions in between seeing patients. He also devoted a considerable amount of time to wondering how Flora was bearing up. Finding an excuse to call her had taken a strong grip on his imagination and he was annoyed with himself. He didn’t do this. Didn’t do other people. Didn’t do caring. Not anymore.
When you’ve been responsible for the death of your wife and your unborn child...well, I guess you’re allowed to say to hell with the rest of the world.
Within a few minutes, thoughts about the previous day were put to one side as he pulled up outside the low-level, white-painted daycare building with its brightly colored railings. He winced as he left his car and the sound of screaming greeted him. If the decibel level was any indication, a nasty injury awaited him. He followed the noise around to the rear of the center.
One of the daycare assistants unlocked the gate to admit him, and he took in the situation with a swift glance. A child was lying on the ground with his arm wedged under the climbing frame. A woman sat beside him, rubbing his back and talking quietly to him. The screams weren’t coming from the kid who was stuck. Another boy, identical to the one who was trapped, had his arms wrapped around the woman’s neck. This child was the source of the high-pitched wailing.
Daisy stood nearby, watching the scene with a blank expression that Leon could only attribute to panic. Her staff, apparently taking their cue from the boss, also seemed to be in shock. They wandered around helplessly. The other kids were either crying or dashing about overexcitedly.
Leon took charge. He loosened the screaming boy’s grip on the woman’s neck and, keeping hold of his hand, took him to Daisy. “Get this little guy away from here. Make sure he can still see his mom and his brother so he knows they’re okay, but distract him.”
“Cookies will do it.” Now she had emerged from under the stranglehold, his suspicions proved correct. It was Flora. She spoke directly to her clinging son. “Mommy will be right here with Stevie. He’s going to be just fine, Frankie.”
Her son’s cooperation hung in the balance briefly, but he looked up at Daisy, the tears suspended. “Cookies?”
“Cookies.” Daisy seemed to regain some of her composure. “The ones you like with the chocolate chips.”
Leon glanced over his shoulder as he knelt beside the climbing frame. “Maybe you could get the other kids out of the way as well?”
Daisy nodded, signaling to her staff. The whole group followed her inside.
“Thank you.” Flora gave a relieved sigh. “Stevie’s staying very calm, but the noise and the audience weren’t helping.”
Leon observed that she’d removed her light-weight jacket and slipped it under Stevie’s head so the rough surface of the play area wasn’t too uncomfortable against his skin.
“Do you want me to deal with this?” The daycare center always called him if there was a medical problem, but this was an unusual situation. Flora was a doctor herself and more than capable of caring for her son.
“Oh, yes.” Now he got a closer look, he could see she wasn’t quite as calm as he’d thought at first glance. She was doing that remarkable mom-thing of keeping it together for Stevie’s sake. “I would never try to treat my own kids. Not for anything big. The nerves get in the way, you know?”
“Then let’s take a look at Stevie, shall we?” He had to lie at an awkward angle with his face up close to the little boy’s to be
