Next morning Dawn felt the crystal on her necklace pulsate slightly as she presented her I.D. to the police officer on the fourth floor hospital corridor. She felt it glowing warmer, and brighter, as he checked her pass, and she closed her jacket to conceal it. She paid no attention as he returned her pass and directed her to the ward. She quickly scanned every one in the reception area and corridor. It pulsed at full intensity as a nurse approached, and the two women exchanged a brief glance of acknowledgment.
The intensity diminished as the women walked off in opposite directions but never faded completely, and was quite strong by the time she reached the ward. Pausing briefly to check nobody was looking she swiftly removed the necklace, shimmering bright lilac, and thrust it in her jacket pocket.
The Spencers, a couple in their late twenties was at Tommy’s bedside. The athletically built man, John, had his left arm round his wife’s shoulder as she held Tommy’s right hand. Langan’s eyes focused on the pale blue glow of Mrs. Spencer’s necklace. Dawn silently cursed, under her breath, How could she be so dim?
Langan asked, “Is that one of those emotion stone necklaces?”
“What?” Mrs. Spencer replied, flustered. “Err, eh yes,” she grabbed hold of it. “It is, yes.”
“Just a novelty thing, really.” John added.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” said Langan. “But I thought they’d gone out of fashion years ago.” He stared as the woman tried to conceal it under her blouse. “May I have a look, do they actually work?”
“Well obviously it does,” John said, “because her anxiety levels and, err, stress are pretty intense, well as you’d expect in a situation like this.”
“Yes but it’s only just started to glow, and,” Langan studied it intensely’ “it’s like the liquid is swirling inside it.”
“No, well, it’s probably being glowing all the time,” John said, as he pulled his wife close to him. “Well if I’d noticed, I’d say it obviously started when we got the shocking news.”
“No it’s definitely just started.”
“Well they’re not scientific,” Dawn interjected. “Just crystals that respond to varying levels of temperature.” She shrugged.
Langan turned to face her. “Dawn I wasn’t expecting you here. I thought you were coming into the office this afternoon.”
“I wanted to see how Tommy was, and if there are any signs of recovery.”
Langan pointed to the woman. “This is Thomas’s mother, Mrs. Spencer.”
Dawn reached out her hand, “Hi Mrs. Spencer pleased to meet you.”
“Amy. Please call me Amy.” She pointed to the man, “and this is my husband John.”
Dawn shook his hand, “hello John. Pleased to meet you both, but I’m so sorry about the circumstances.”
“Who did this?” he asked, “who would snatch a little boy from his bed? Take our little Tommy.”
“Has he ever gone missing before,” Langan asked. “Even for just a few hours, or returned home late from school or a friend’s house.”
John said. “No we’ve only just moved to …., He’s not been out, err.” He looked at Amy, “He’s only ever been out of the house with us hasn’t he darling?”
Great! Dawn Thought, He’s putting on a great concerned father act.
“Well what about at your previous address?” asked Langan. “Any problems there?”
“No. None. Why is the FBI involved, and why all the questions?” Amy asked.
"Don’t over do it.”
“Is there something you should be telling us?” she continued.
Langan didn’t have time to answer before a Chinese woman in her mid twenties, tall and elegant, in a doctor’s coat entered. “Good morning I’m Doctor Cheung,” she pointed to the short rotund woman with her. “And this is Nurse Jackson. We need to check on Tommy if you wouldn’t mind leaving us alone for a few minutes please.
“He’s going to be all right, isn’t he?” Amy asked as Langan and her husband walked to the door “Why won’t he wake up?”
“He’s not suffered any injuries or trauma so it’s probably just shock. The brain’s way of dealing with all the events, and his whole ordeal, it may take a day or two to come to terms with it.”
Nurse Jackson took hold of Tommy’s left arm as Cheung said, “we’ll do a test for any drugs he might have been given.” She smiled, “but it’s just a precaution. I think he’ll be fine.”
Dawn froze as the nurse put the needle in Tommy’s arm, “I’m sure they hadn’t given him any drugs,” she blurted. “He was fine when we got him to the ambulance, but then he sort of...fainted. Well,” she gestured anxiously, “maybe as you said the, err the whole experience was just too much for him.”
“Maybe,” Cheung nodded sagely. “Now if you will please leave us to continue our examination.”
Dawn reluctantly followed Mrs. Spencer out of the room and projected a message to her. //Don’t look back, just act normal. I’ve got to prevent them testing that blood, and I need you two to carry on just as you are.//
When they reached the office where Langan and an F.B.I. counselor were waiting, Dawn excused herself to go for a glass of water.
Nurse Jackson placed the vial containing Tommy’s blood sample on a trolley as she and Doctor Cheung walked to the next ward. Dawn watched the orderly push the trolley along the corridor and thought to herself, There’s got to be a dozen stops for him between here and the lab. Maybe I can get it when he goes into a ward. I’ll ask him for something, for a brush, bucket, anything, get it when he goes to…
//Distract him!// Dawn was startled by the thought projected to her brain.
//Distract him now!// The thought came again
“Err, Mr. Porter!” she called out.
When the orderly turned to look at Dawn, a nurse stepped from a doorway, knocked over the trolley, and fell theatrically to the floor clutching her shin, as bottles and surgical implements showered down all around her. The shocked orderly bent down to help the nurse, and apologized profusely.
“No. It’s my fault,” the nurse replied. “I was rushing to my next appointment.” As she clambered to her feet she said “I’m so sorry for this mess. I’ll help you put everything back.”
Dawn felt her necklace pulsate rapidly and could feel the gentle heat of its glow through her jacket. Then she recognized the nurse from earlier and smiled at her. “Is anything damaged or broken?” she asked, as the orderly lifted the trolley upright. Dawn bent down and picked up several bottles “I think these are okay.” As the orderly turned to take them from her the nurse pulled a vial from her pocket and deftly switched it with Tommy’s sample.
“I’m really sorry,” the nurse said, as the man replaced the last container on the trolley. “I’m new here and I’m late for my next appointment.” The glow of Dawn’s necklace faded as the nurse strode off. She projected the thought, May //the wisdom of our Emperor ever guide your path, my sister.//
//I strive only to serve.// Dawn replied.
Chapter Seven
A.V.I.