Devil's Waltz #7 by Jonathan Kellerman

Author:Jonathan Kellerman
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Los Angeles (Calif.), Child Abuse, Mystery & Detective, Delaware, Sturgis, Alex (Fictitious Character), General, Psychological, Mystery Fiction, Milo (Fictitious Character), Suspense, Fiction, Child Psychologists
ISBN: 9780345460714
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 1992-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

Cassie sat propped up in bed, wearing red floral pajamas with white collar and cuffs. Her cheeks were raspberry-pink and her hair was gathered in a topknot tied with a white bow. The I.V. had been disconnected and it stood in the corner, like a metal scarecrow. Depleted glucose bags hung from the arms. The only evidence her veins had been punctured was a small round Band-Aid atop one hand and the yellow Betadine stain below it. Her eyes glistened as they followed me.

Cindy sat near her on the bed, spoon-feeding her cereal. She wore a SAVE THE OCEANS T-shirt over a denim skirt and sandals. Dolphins cavorted across her bustline. She and Cassie looked more similar than ever.

As I approached, Cassie opened a mouth full of cereal-mush. A stray speck dotted her upper lip.

Cindy picked it off. “Swallow, honey. Hi, Dr. Delaware. We didn’t expect to see you today.”

I put my briefcase down and sat on the foot of the bed. Cassie looked confused but not fearful.

“Why’s that?” I said.

“It’s the weekend.”

“You’re here, so I’m here.”

“That’s very nice of you. Look, sweetie, Dr. Delaware came all the way to see you on a Saturday.”

Cassie looked at Cindy, then back at me, still muddled.

Wondering about the mental effects of the seizure, I said, “How’s everything?”

“Oh, fine.”

I touched Cassie’s hand. She didn’t move for a second, then drew away, slowly. When I chucked her chin, she looked down at my hand.

“Hi, Cassie,” I said.

She continued to stare. Some milk dribbled out of her mouth. Cindy wiped it and closed her mouth gently. Cassie started to chew. Then she parted her lips and said, “Hah,” through the mush.

“Right!” said Cindy. “Hi! That’s great, Cass!”

“Hah.”

“We did very well with our food today, Dr. Delaware. Juice and fruit and crackers for breakfast. Then we had our breakfast Krispies for lunch.”

“Great.”

“Real great.” Her voice was tight.

Remembering the short-lived moment of tension last time I’d talked to her—the feeling that she was about to tell me something important—I said, “Is there anything you want to discuss with me?”

She touched Cassie’s hair. Cassie started to play with another drawing. “No, I don’t think so.”

“Dr. Eves tells me you’ll be going home soon.”

“That’s what she says.” She adjusted Cassie’s top-knot. “I’m sure looking forward to it.”

“Bet you are,” I said. “No more doctors for a while.”

She looked at me. “The doctors have been great. I know they’re doing their best.”

“You’ve seen some of the best,” I agreed. “Bogner, Torgeson, Macauley, Dawn Herbert.”

No reaction.

“Got anything planned when you get back home?”

“Just getting back to normal.”

Wondering what that meant, I said, “I’d like to come out pretty soon.”

“Oh—of course. You can draw with Cassie at her play table. I’m sure we can find a chair to fit you—can’t we, Cass?”

“Fip.”

“Right! Fit.”

“Fip.”

“Excellent, Cass. Do you want Dr. Delaware to draw with you at your little bear table?” When Cassie didn’t answer she said, “Draw? Draw pictures?” and made scrawling motions with one hand.

“Daw.”

“Yes, draw. With Dr. Delaware.”

Cassie looked at her, then me.

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