Read Online False Positive by Andrew Grant - Free Book Online Page B

But never mind that now. Come on. Back inside. Fast.”
    â€”
    The doors to the Pediatric ER were at the end of a long, brightly lit corridor on the first floor of the main Children’s Center building. They were painted to resemble the air lock of a spaceship, and madethe entrance look like a warm and welcoming alternative to the inhospitable terrain depicted all around it.
    Devereaux badged the triage nurse and asked her if any unidentified seven-year-old boys had been brought in, either unconscious or DOA.
    â€œNope.” The nurse stretched both arms above her head. “None. Been a quiet shift. Boring.”
    â€œOK. How about—” The doors slid open behind Devereaux and a man hurried inside. It was Joseph Crane. He was holding the plastic T-Rex that Dillon had been playing with at the house.
    â€œMr. Crane?” Devereaux stepped across to block Joseph’s path. “What’s going on?”
    â€œDillon’s toy.” Joseph Crane was breathing hard. “He left it in the car. Went to fetch it for him.”
    â€œDillon’s here? Why? Blood test?”
    â€œWhat? No.” Joseph screwed his eyes closed for a moment. “This is a day from hell. He fell off the couch. Hit his head on the bookcase. I need to get back to him…”
    Devereaux moved aside, waited for Joseph Crane to disappear around the corner, then turned back to the triage nurse.
    â€œDillon Crane. What can you tell us? Accident?”
    The nurse shrugged. “Not for me to say.”
    Devereaux turned to Loflin, and her expression told him she was thinking the same thing.
First one kid disappears…
    â€œJan, I need you to talk to the Cranes. Take them for a cup of coffee. Both of them. Together. Find out what happened. And don’t let them out of your sight till I join you.”
    â€”
    Devereaux pulled the curtain open a couple of inches and poked the head of the stegosaurus he’d borrowed from the stash of toys in the waiting area through the gap. He heard a delighted squeal from the cubicle, then drew back the curtain a little farther and slipped inside. Dillon was sprawled out on a hospital cot that had tall guardrails attached to each side. He was still wearing his Mickey Mouse sleep suit. His T-Rex was clutched tightly to his chest. And a bandage had been taped to his forehead, above his right eye.
    â€œDillon?” Devereaux crouched down so that he was at the same level as the boy. “It’s me again. Cooper. Remember me? I came to your house this morning.”
    Dillon nodded, hesitantly.
    â€œGood.” Devereaux smiled. “Now, I was wondering. Would it be OK if my dinosaur plays with your T-Rex? He’s called Steggy. He got left behind by all his friends.”
    â€œYay!” Dillon sat up and brandished his T-Rex. “Dino Wars! Come on!”
    Dillon grabbed the stegosaurus and played out a furious battle, complete with ferocious cartoon sound effects. The T-Rex was soon victorious, and Dillon ended up on his back with the models collapsed at his side.
    â€œDillon?” Devereaux reached out and retrieved the stegosaurus. “Steggy really enjoyed that, but he doesn’t want to fight anymore. He just wants to be friends. Would that be OK? That they’re friends?”
    â€œI guess.” A confused expression covered Dillon’s face, as if he’d never considered such a possibility before.
    â€œIn fact, Steggy was hoping he could come back to your house tonight. Maybe have a sleepover? What do you think?”
    â€œYay! Dino sleepover!” Dillon sat up and held out his hand. “Can he come? I WANT him to come!”
    â€œWell, I’m not sure.” Devereaux pulled a puzzled expression. “Would there be room at your house? Remind me what it’s like.”
    â€œMy bedroom’s ’normous. I share it with my brother.”
    â€œYour brother Ethan?”
    Dillon nodded.
    â€œ
Maybe
Steggy could