Read Online Unclean Spirit by Julieana Toth - Free Book Online

had no conception of the difference between sitting by the train tracks and sitting on the train tracks! Then there had been Hillie Perkins. Hillie was an angelic six year-old whose flaxen hair, delicate facial features and radiant turquoise eyes set her apart from the usual ER fare. Hillie's physical presence was certainly commanding, but it paled in comparison to the natural charisma that the child possessed. What could possibly be wrong with this perfect little girl? Saul had wondered.  Hillie had been brought to the ER by her mother, a rather nondescript woman whose own appearance seemed to belie any genetic link to the child. There seemed to be a close bond between mother and daughter, however, that transcended physical attributes and Saul listened closely as Mrs. Perkins explained that Hillie had been complaining of a stomachache all day. 
                  "Doctor, I know that kids get tummyaches all the time, but when it didn't let up I was concerned that it might be Hillie's appendix."
                  Saul had been impressed by Mrs. Perkins' obvious intelligence and foresight. Not all parents would have made the connection between a stomachache and appendicitis.
                  As it had turned out, Hillie's workup was completely negative and, aside from a little epigastric discomfort, the child seemed fine. Saul had seen no reason to admit Hillie to the hospital and had decided to discharge her with a tentative diagnosis of gastritis.
                  After giving Mrs. Perkins all of the appropriate discharge instructions, Saul had felt Hillie's small hand take hold of his own as she said, "Thank you, Dr. Feener. I'm sure I'll be okay now."
                  Almost eight months later, Saul was shocked to see Hillie Perkins' name in the Sunday newspaper. Even though Saul had treated hundreds of patients since Hillie, he had never forgotten the beautiful child and he felt heartsick as he read the brief newspaper article.
    Authorities have disclosed that Mrs. Eleanor Perkins of 1406 Belcourt Drive has been charged in the death of her six year-old daughter, Hilda Leanne. The child died thirteen hours after her admission to Payne Memorial Hospital. Autopsy results, as yet unconfirmed, suggest that Hilda Leanne had ingested a substantial amount of strychnine. The District Attorney's Office has consulted Dr. Louise Rice, a Houston psychiatrist, to examine Mrs. Perkins. Although Dr. Rice has declined to comment on the case, sources in the D.A.'s office say that Dr. Rice is an expert on a condition known as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, a little known disorder in which a parent intentionally causes the illness of his or her child. The parent's intent is not to kill child, although death is sometimes the end result of the parent's actions. On the contrary, the child's illness is what allows the parent to play the role of martyr, thereby garnering the attention and admiration of others.
     
                  Munchausen's, Saul vaguely recalled hearing something about it in medical school. Sweet Jesus, he'd thought, my stupidity caused that child's death!
                  It had been ten years since Saul had treated Hillie Perkins, and he was still doing penance for his perceived role in her death. Nothing anyone had ever said had convinced Saul that he had not missed some telltale clue of Munchausen's in Eleanor Perkins' behavior and so he constantly endeavored to ensure that he would never again make the same mistake. 
     
                  "DOCTOR, CHARLIE TOOBIN'S HERE TO SEE YOU."
                  Saul's head nearly split open. Wanda was a good woman and a hard worker but Saul simply could not break her of her habit of hollering into the intercom.
                  "Okay, Wanda, bring him on back."
     
                  "You say this popped-up instantaneously?"
                  "Ain't it the