On her way to Clary’s that evening, Leefe stopped at the art store, picked up some silver chains, and then took the alley behind the shop, a walk she loved. From up here on the bluff, it was downhill to the beach and her house. June evenings turned Lake Michigan alive with blues and greens, ending with a strip of dark gray just before a thin white line where the sky met the water.
The bright day had sunk into a rusty dusk around her. Black shadows fell across the town square ahead. She squinted, seeing a dot of red in the square’s darkness. Leefe walked faster. Was she seeing red tennis shoes? She began to run, ignoring the ache in her side.
Devi was curled against the base of a statue with her arms protectively over her face.
“No,” Leefe said, seeing blood on the bricks. She went to her knees, put her head down to the small face, and felt the weak breath. Very carefully, she lifted Devi’s arm an inch or two. A shallow scratch ran across Devi’s cheek into the little shirt, and blood was crusted on her long eyelashes from a cut above her eye. Leefe’s hands shook as she called nine one one, and then Clary.
Had no one seen this little girl? People were closing businesses and walking toward their cars. Turning, she realized that Devi was in the darkest part of the shadow, and farthest away from the sidewalks and streets. If she hadn’t come out of the alley, she might not have seen her.
Lights and sirens blasting, Jesse arrived first, followed by an ambulance that drove across the bricks. Clary pulled up, parked behind Jesse’s cruiser on the street, and ran toward them.
“What happened?” Clary said, breathless.
“I don’t know. I was on my way to your house and saw her red tennis shoes. Somebody hit her, or maybe she fell? I think the cuts are shallow, but why isn’t she waking up?” Leefe looked back at the alley, feeling as if she’d swallowed her heart.
Devi’s mother sometimes picked up men in that alley, and her father often caught the night shift at a small company that made skids, about a block away. There was an older brother that had gone through her day care, but Leefe saw none of them in the gathering crowd. It was hard to breathe, and something gave way inside her. Her eyes smarted. A warm arm pulled her close, and she leaned into Clary’s body.
“Take her to St. Cat’s. Notify Dr. Bergs on your way in,” Jesse told the EMTs and turned to Leefe. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
Leefe explained her trip from the day care center to the town square. Jesse nodded and then glanced at Clary’s arm around her.
“Why did you call Clary?” Jesse said.
“I was going to stop for coffee at Maureen’s on my way home. We talked about it today.”
Jesse scowled at both of them. “You saw each other earlier?”
“I took some books to the day care.” Clary dropped her arm and backed away as the medics moved the gurney to the ambulance.
“You should have called me.” Jesse leaned close to Leefe, her voice low. “This is a homeless kid. It’s my job.” She tapped Leefe’s forehead.
“I did call you.” The always-lurking anger rose up inside Leefe.
“No, you called nine one one, not me,” Jesse said, her face all sharp.
Leefe clenched her jaw and stared into her eyes until Jesse turned away.
“I’ll look for the mother, or her father down at the skid place, and catch up later.”
“Ride with Devi,” Clary said, hand on Leefe’s back, guiding her. “I’ll bring your backpack and meet you at the hospital.”
Leefe climbed into the ambulance, heart pounding as sirens cut the air again, and it began to move. The EMT had a stethoscope on Devi’s small chest as the big vehicle bumped off the curb. She reached for the little hand just as Devi opened her eyes and began to cry.
*
The evening was fully gray as Jesse walked back from the alley toward Clary, the light from her flashlight bouncing off the walls. Clary slung Leefe’s pack over one shoulder and waited.
“What was that about?” Clary said as they walked to their vehicles.
“What?”
“That insulting tone of voice you used on Leefe.”
“She knows what to do in these situations. She has her orders.”
“Leefe wasn’t on a job for you.”
Jesse stopped at her squad car. “What’s the deal with you, all close, and your arm around her?”
“Damn it, Jesse. She was about to cry. That’s what my arm was doing around her. What’s wrong with you?” They stood close.
“Leefe doesn’t cry. You’re wrong about that.”
“How do you know she doesn’t cry? And stop talking like you own her. She cares for that little girl,” Clary said. “I like the way she stood up to you.”
“Have you been training her?”
“No, but it’s worth consideration,” Clary snapped, and then stepped back with a deep breath. “Let’s not argue. I’ll go to the hospital.”
Jesse lost her scowl, collapsing onto her car seat. “I’m sorry I’m crabby. I’m tired.”
“How’d the dinner go last night with Piper’s parents?”
“Piper’s mother hates it that she’s living with a woman. Me.” She looked away. “It makes it hard on Piper, believe me.”
Clary nodded. “I believe you. Call if you find Devi’s family.”
After Jesse drove away, Clary got into her car, talking to herself. She was sorry about Piper’s mother but she was still angry at Jesse. “The hell you say, Lowden. You were just plain rude.”
*
Once again, the hospital ER was busy. Clary spotted Leefe on a blue plastic chair. She could hear a child wailing above the noise.
“Is that Devi crying?” Clary said as she watched feet under the cubicle curtains and tried to eavesdrop.
“Yes, but they haven’t said anything yet. I was thinking of the first day they brought her to the day care about two years ago, too small for her age, and scared like she is now. Believe it or not, it’s only the second time I’ve heard her cry. She’s tough.”
“How old is she?”
“Almost six.” Leefe stared at the floor. “I shouldn’t care so much.”
“I saw how you care today.” Clary gave Leefe’s hand a light squeeze. “She’s almost six and is only now learning her colors?”
“Who would teach her?” Leefe turned with a straight look. “Her mother hustles guys for drugs, and her father works any job he can find. He’s never around. You should see how they live.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve had a lot of kids at the day care, and she’s the first child that’s captured me like this. You teach. Did this ever happen to you?”
“Not in the classroom, but once upon a time there was a child,” Clary said, and wondered if Jesse had told Leefe about Hannah.
The curtains parted, and an older doctor with a mask hanging around her neck stepped out. “Leefe, what on earth? Did Devi fall?”
“I’m not sure, Dr. Bergs. I wasn’t with her. I was going down the Main Street alley after I closed the day care, and she was on the bricks by the statue.”
“We have to report this. Has anyone located her parents?”
“Jesse’s group is looking. The older brother stopped by for Devi tonight at the day care and said they were on their way to the Food Plant to pick up something to eat later tonight.”
“Okay, go inside. She needs to see someone she knows. I want you to sign as the person who brought her in.” She turned. “You are…?”
“This is Maureen’s niece, Clary Stone. I called her,” Leefe said.
Dr. Bergs smiled. “What would we do without Maureen? She’s a wonderful woman.”
“I’m staying at her house this summer while they vacation with my parents.” Clary returned the smile as they moved into the cubicle.
Devi was sobbing softly, hands across her face, and Clary stopped. The gurney was so big and the child so small.
Dr. Bergs entered something on the computer in the room. “No broken bones, but we have to watch out for a concussion. She’ll probably have a black eye as well from that cut. I’d like to keep her tonight and monitor her.”
“Fine with me,” Leefe said, holding Devi’s hand. “I’ll stay if you need me.”
“It would be good. There’s a cot up there for you. I’ve dealt with her parents before, and—” Dr. Bergs stopped. “I can’t say any more, legally. I know you know her parents.”
Leefe nodded. “No signs of abuse or—?”
“No, and she’s grown over an inch since I saw her in December.” Dr. Bergs washed her hands at the sink.
“I’ve been pushing exercise, vegetables, and fruit. I’m glad to hear she’s grown.” Leefe turned to the doctor. “When did you see her in December?”
“The day before the big storm last winter. You didn’t know?”
“I couldn’t get to the day care, and Albie was snowed in with the kids.”
“The father brought her in just before it snowed. Winters are so brutal for these people. I gave all the info to Jesse.”
Leefe scowled. “Jesse never said a word.”
“As to abuse…” Dr. Bergs looked at the computer again. “Yes, it was that December storm. I’m not sure, nor was the other doctor that I called in to look at her. She definitely had some bad bruises on her back plus a raging bladder infection. With a child this young, who knows where she sleeps, if she drinks clean water, or if they have bathroom facilities. There were no contusions or vaginal tears, but she was sore, believe me.”
“So what do you think?” Leefe turned to the doctor, waiting.
“I can’t be positive is what I’m saying. I’ve treated the older brother, and the father seems responsible, but you never know. Check with me if anything catches your eye.”
“I know about the mother’s drugs and prostitution. Who knows what she drags into their lives.”
Clary leaned against the wall, watching them. Obviously, the doctor liked Leefe, from the genuine smiles and respect in her voice. They were open with each other, and they’d probably known each other quite a while. As a teacher, Clary’d been involved in conversations like this. It was never comfortable talking about abuse.
“All right,” Leefe sighed. “And you spoke to Jesse about this?”
“I did and told her to give you the information. I’ll see you upstairs.” She started to leave but turned back to Leefe. “How are you feeling? I was here when they brought you in.”
“It slowed me down, but today’s been a good day. Or it was.” Leefe looked back at the bed. “Devi, they’re going to take you upstairs. I’ll be there in a minute. Be a good girl for me, okay?” She leaned over and kissed Devi’s forehead. Devi nodded. The tears had stopped.
“Do you have my backpack?” Leefe said to Clary.
“It’s in the car,” Clary said. “Let’s get it and I’ll go upstairs with you.”
Leefe held up her phone. “I have to call Albie.” She talked a few minutes as they walked into the dark night. “Damn.” Leefe spat the word out into the parking lot after she’d hung up. “Jesse never said a word about Devi last December. Worse, I don’t remember bruises on her back, or the bladder infection. That’s on me.” She began to dial again. “Now I have to call Beverly.”
“With a storm that size, Jesse probably forgot, and you did too,” Clary said, but Leefe was already talking on the phone. Clary scanned the stars above them, remembering last winter.
That same violent storm had blown though Iowa and Minnesota first, past the hospital where she’d admitted herself to rest. She’d watched hours of it, blowing and howling around the brick buildings. Something hopeful had happened to her there, clearing a part of her mind as if the storm had carried some of the bad things away.