"Sister?"
"Sister?!"
Cynthia was trying to keep her voice low so not as to disturb or be uncouth, but Sister Julienne was far too many steps ahead of her, turning from the Chapel corridor into the garden and around the corner the nurse had lost sight of her in her search that had scoured Nonnatus for some moments.
"Sister?!" Cynthia breathed as she turned around the brick facing, catching up with Sister Julienne after her swift departure earlier from the sitting room where she had left the visitors. The Sister had, however, already heard that she was being called and had turned back up the garden steps and into the hallway, an expectant look on her face but tempered with the knowledge that the Nurse was creating a racket behind her.
"I do believe, Nurse, I have told each and every one of you that it is simply not the case that we run around Nonnatus?" Sister Julienne scolded, knowing underneath it all that each and every girl respected these rooms and corridors and it was certainly not an act of disrespect in her reasoning for the half walk half run. She could see the Nurse was pink cheeked.
"You did Sister" Cynthia replied slowing her breathing down, urgency still bubbling in her stomach. "But, Inspector Barton is here and he wants to see you right now". Cynthia saw the Sister pause before she spoke.
"The Inspector?" Sister Julienne responded, shock evident in her voice with her forehead creasing. She had not seen Cyril Barton in weeks, perhaps even months, and it was a rare event he ever left his comfortable office on the top floor of the Police Station. For him to appear suddenly at Nonnatus was an entirely different prospect.
"Yes Sister", Cynthia carried on as they turned around. "He and Sergeant Graves have just arrived and want to speak to you".
The news of two senior Police Officers alarmed her even more. "Did they say why they needed to see me?" Sister Julienne asked, wondering - hopefully - perhaps if there was to be an event or something they needed Nonnatus' help within the community or whether, on the hand, it was news they would not savour. If it was something of a community nature it was usually one or two of the Constables would be sent around on their beat.
"No Sister. Only that they needed to speak to you most urgently and I was to find you regardless of where you were". Cynthia was struggling to keep up the pace that the Sister was walking, feeling her worry emanate at finding the two officers at the door, sombre looks on their faces and the speed at which she was pressed to find Sister Julienne.
The Sister slowed slightly as her thoughts ticked over in her mind. "Is Sister Evangelina still here?"
"No" Cynthia replied, fair hair bouncing as she shook her head. "She is with Chummy and Sister Bernadette on the home visits down by the docks".
Sister Julienne nodded as they continued to walk. Yes, she remembered that now; sending all three off on that frankly unenviable task this morning wishing she could have added perhaps Nurse Franklin but she could not leave the clinic to Nurse Lee alone. Sister Bernadette would have been her next port of call to accompany her if the worry on the Nurse's face was anything to go by but she now had little choice.
"Very well" Sister Julienne concluded, stopping dead as they entered the kitchen, seeing the two officers standing in the sitting room before them. "Will you join me whilst I speak to them Nurse? It is most unusual and when unusual things occur, you cannot be entirely sure that good tidings come with them too".
"Of course Sister", Cynthia replied following her wondering what was to come. No, she thought, as the two officers turned, still wearing those solemn looks; these are not good tidings at all.