Read Online In Too Deep (Knight & Culverhouse Book 5) by Adam Croft - Free Book Online Page B

tell them? Only that their mummy isn’t well and she’s being looked after by the doctors, and that we need to look after them until Mummy’s better.’
    Debbie smiled. ‘That’s good. We tend to find it’s best not to give anyone false hope, but to keep things positive at the same time. It’s a tricky balance.’
    ‘Oh, I know,’ Margaret replied. ‘It’s been horrendous, not knowing what to say to the poor things. I mean, you just don’t, do you? It’s not something you ever plan for.’
    ‘No. And thankfully it’s not something that happens to most people, but I have to say you’re doing an admirable job.’ Debbie smiled at her, hoping to relieve at least some of the tension in the room.
    ‘Is there any more news from the hospital?’ Larry asked, handing Debbie her cup of tea.
    ‘Nothing yet. They reckon she’s stabilised, though, which is a good sign. She’s not getting any worse, at least.’
    ‘But she’s not getting any better?’ Larry asked, frowning.
    Debbie paused for a moment. ‘Well, we don’t know. There are lots of different markers for improvement, I understand, but I do know that the doctors are keeping a very close eye on her. That’s the whole reason behind the induced coma.’
    ‘I just can’t stop thinking about it,’ Margaret said. ‘Those poor little blighters. Who on earth would do such a thing?’
    ‘That’s what me and my colleagues are trying to find out,’ Debbie said. ‘Is it alright if I speak to Archie and Lola now?’
    ‘Yes, of course.’ Margaret ushered Debbie through to the living room, putting on a rather unconvincing smile as she said, ‘Archie, Lola, this is Debbie. She’s one of the people who are helping your mummy. But she needs to ask you a few questions so that you can help her too, okay?’
    The children nodded, smiling slightly. It always struck Debbie how the innocence of childhood seemed to work in situations like this.
    ‘Lola, do you want to go and help Mrs Aldridge in the kitchen for a couple of minutes? I’ll talk to Archie first, and then I’ll talk to you.’
    Margaret took Lola through to the kitchen. She seemed happy enough to go.
    ‘What are you watching, Archie?’ Debbie asked, pointing to the television.
    ‘Spongebob Squarepants.’
    ‘Are you enjoying it?’
    ‘S’alright.’
    Debbie gave it a moment before speaking again. ‘Archie, do you remember last night? Do you remember going to bed at home and then coming over here?’
    Archie nodded.
    ‘What do you remember?’ Debbie asked.
    ‘Don’t know,’ came the shy reply.
    ‘Can you tell me about when you went to bed?’
    Archie nodded.
    ‘Who put you to bed?’
    ‘Mummy.’
    ‘And did you go to sleep?’
    He nodded again.
    ‘Okay. And do you remember waking up?’
    Archie seemed to think about that for a moment. Then he nodded.
    ‘Where were you when you woke up?’
    ‘In my bed.’
    ‘Okay, great. And who was there?’
    Archie looked up at Larry, who was sitting in the armchair with his cup of tea. ‘Mr Aldridge.’
    Larry looked at Debbie and swallowed.
    ‘And then what happened, Archie?’ she asked.
    ‘He said I had to go next door with him because something had happened.’
    ‘Did he say what had happened?’
    Archie shook his head. ‘He said he would tell me later, but we couldn’t stay in the house.’
    ‘Then what happened?’ Debbie could see Archie’s eyes narrowing. ‘It’s okay,’ she added quickly. ‘You aren’t in any trouble. We just need to find out what happened so we can help your mummy.’
    Archie swallowed, then appeared to grow in confidence. ‘Mummy always says not to go with strangers, but Mr Aldridge lives next door so I think he’s okay. And I could tell that it was serious.’
    ‘That’s very sensible of you, Archie. Your mummy’s right, but you did the right thing. What happened next?’
    ‘We went downstairs and out the side door to Mr Aldridge’s house.’
    ‘Okay. Did you wake up at all before Mr Aldridge came