The Nancys by R W R McDonald

Author:R W R McDonald
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2019-04-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The drive to the old hospital took one minute and twenty-seven seconds. We pulled into the empty carpark. Roots from the surrounding trees had split the concrete drive, weed islands growing up among the cracks and bumps. The whole place seemed a bit sad and lonely to me. Mum had said hundreds of babies had been born here, including her and Uncle Pike. I thought about all those happy families chatting and taking their babies home. Today it was silent except for the odd squawk of a seagull.

I opened my door and got out. ‘First thing, I guess, is to check if the power’s on. That, and if we can find Ms Everson’s head.’

‘Whoa on the head,’ Devon said.

His drawing of the sad face with a teardrop came to mind.

‘I don’t care,’ Uncle Pike said. ‘Anything that proves Sally didn’t do it.’

‘But her head, really? And why are we checking the power?’ Devon said. ‘I thought we were just looking for a saw?’

My uncle made an ungracious exit from the car. ‘Lucky I wore underpants today.’

‘Eeew,’ I said.

He laughed and straightened himself out. ‘Does anyone know we’re here? After that last horror show …’

‘Ummm, you’re the oldest,’ Devon said to him and smiled at me.

‘I’ve texted Sam,’ I said.

‘Okay,’ Uncle Pike said. ‘I wonder if we should tell anyone else? I assume the police aren’t bothering to find the killer.’

A killer on the loose. My mouth felt dry. ‘Sam’s pretty reliable.’

‘I guess,’ my uncle said, completely unconvinced. ‘He’s not the sharpest tool. Are you sure he’s not adopted?’

‘Mr Campbell is his stepdad.’

‘Still doesn’t explain it,’ Uncle Pike said, settling into his crutches.

The old hospital’s dark windows had gone from sad to scary. There were lots of places someone could hide and watch us. I was glad for the warmth of the sun.

At the front entrance, the panes in the main double doors had been smashed in. Pieces of broken glass were scattered on the ground and crunched under my sneakers as I pushed against the doors, but they were locked. The gaping bottom panels looked big enough for me to climb through, but before I could Uncle Pike snaked his arm through a jagged hole and unlocked the door. ‘Looks like someone worked out how to get in.’

We walked into a foyer with a large green marble reception desk. Jumbled leaves and rubbish covered the floor. Faded light filtered through the front doors and grimy windows, but further ahead the main corridor was dark. Devon’s voice boomed in the silence. ‘It reminds me of one of those places in a zombie movie.’

My heart pounded. ‘Thanks for that,’ I whispered.

‘Shit—sorry, Tippy,’ he said. ‘Didn’t mean to spook you.’

‘It’s okay.’ I found some switches and flicked them on and off but nothing happened. I turned on my torch. Its beam cut a short path down the corridor. Halfway along were the remains of a small party: beer bottles, some smashed, a blue-and-red beanie and a white sock. On further investigation they didn’t seem to have belonged to Jill Everson.

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