I apologize for taking so long to get another chapter up. I was away for three days weekend before last, and this weekend I attended a local self-publishing conference. Between that and the three classes I'm taking, I haven't had as much writing time as usual.
Chapter 50.
House arrived at the diner at five, but Cameron wasn't there. He called her cell. No answer. He called the clinic.
"Hi Doctor House," Carol sounded slightly flustered.
"Is Cameron still there?"
"No, she left about twenty minutes ago. I hate to tell you this, but I'm worried. She's been upset much of the afternoon about Hannah. Did Allison tell you Hannah left early, unnerved by what she saw in one of our files?"
"Yes." He inhaled deeply. What had Cameron gotten herself into? "Did she say what she was planning? Cameron I mean."
"No, but she asked for the phone number and address of where Hannah lives."
"And where is that?"
"About half a mile south of the high school. Not the best neighborhood, poor rather than dangerous, though." She rattled off the address.
"OK. Thanks. And Cameron says congrats are in order."
Carol's voice softened. "Thank you. We're thrilled, of course."
"If you don't hear from either of us in the next couple of hours, call out the National Guard." He was out of his seat before he finished talking, raced to his car faster than he had in a while, and tore out of the parking lot, heading north, then west when he hit the major crossroad before the center of the town. He'd been on this road many times before, going out to the bay, to their new home, or to the high school. When he reached the school, he turned south again. The street he wanted was eight blocks south.
The houses were much smaller in this area, and many were run-down, needing paint or new siding and/or repairs to wooden steps. Hannah's family lived in one of the better-maintained places. He saw no signs of Cameron's car. The house was dark. Now what?
Before he left, he got out of his car and stepped carefully around the back of the house. Without streetlights, the place was like a cave, helped by the massive overhanging trees. An owl hooted not far away, but that was the only sound to fill the air.
The tiny backyard was covered mostly in grass. No flowers, no vegetable bed. The house didn't have a garage or shed. Did Hannah's family have a car? And where were they?
He reached his car again when a twenty-year-old station wagon pulled up in from of it. A family piled out, a father, mother, and three kids, all dressed in what he thought of as Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. The oldest kid, a girl, fit the description Cameron gave for Hannah.
"Can I help you?" The father's deep voice held an accusatory tone.
House's first thought was, He won't try anything with his family around. "I must have the wrong address." House rattled off the number and street of the only one he knew of in this neighborhood.
"That's three streets over." The man turned and led his family up the walk to the house.
The only thing House could do was get in his car and turn around, drive back the way he came. But he still didn't know where Cameron was if she wasn't at the Briggs' home. His heart beat faster and faster until he reached the diner and saw her car, parked in front. That's when he finally let out his breath. He realized she'd driven to work with him in the morning, and probably walked back to Edna's to get her car.
He entered the diner and found Cameron sitting in her usual spot. "Been waiting long?"
"Not very," she said.
"Saw your car..." He left it open for her to explain.
But she didn't bite. Instead she shrugged. "Needed a walk, but once I reached Edna's, I was too tired to walk back."
"Uh-huh." He nodded but his eyes said he didn't believe it. Still, he let it go.
"So, were you able to confirm your diagnosis?" She smiled.
"Yeah. Still kicking myself for not thinking of it sooner. Am I losing it?" He rested his head on his arms on the table.
She shook her head. "No. You're just used to looking beyond the obvious."
Chrissy approached, a frown marring her pretty face. "I tried to talk to Hannah today, but she wasn't very receptive."
"I'm not sure you should get close to her after all." Cameron pursed her lips.
"Why not?"
Cameron shook her head. "Because… Let's just say, you're better off not."
Chrissy left, the frown remaining on her mouth.
"You know that's only going to encourage her," House warned.
"She's too smart to try anything dangerous."
"Like you?" His eyebrows crawled up his forehead.
She narrowed her eyes.
Their food arrived, followed by the team.
"The patient's already responding to treatment." Simpson slid in next to House.
Jacobs and Magnani sat opposite him, next to Cameron. Jacobs pointed to Cameron's open roast beef sandwich and mashed potatoes. "That looks scrumptious."
"I'll let you know whether it tastes good too." Cameron took her first forkful of meat and gravy, then sighed with delight.
"Guess we'll have to come up with another patient next week." Magnani grimaced.
"But meanwhile we can enjoy the weekend. Except you." Simpson grinned. "Rocco drew the short straw and will have to drive into the hospital tomorrow to check on the patient while Heather and I are free to do whatever we want."
Magnani frowned at him, but Jacobs patted his hand. "I'll go in with you, Rocco. I'm sure Bart can find his own form of amusement."
It was Simpson's turn to frown.
Listening to their banter, Cameron's own tension melted. "We haven't made any plans for the weekend, but I have to cover the clinic in the morning."
"I'm sure we can come up with something." House stuffed his mouth before saying anything else.
Cameron studied his face, but he'd assumed a blank expression. She wondered what he had in mind, although she could think of a few things.
The team members ordered the same thing House and Cameron had. Chrissy looked like she wanted to say something, but bit her lip and walked away to turn in the orders.
"This might be the last weekend of good weather." Simpson was over his annoyance. "They're predicting a cold snap this week."
"We've been lucky so far this fall," Jacobs said. "House said that with all the good weather your new place is almost done," she told Cameron.
Cameron nodded. "Can't wait to move in. We'll have to have a housewarming party when we do, let all our friends see what it's like." She ignored House's grimace.
Jacobs eyes lit up. "Oh, does that include us?"
"Of course it does." Cameron smiled. House's mouth twisted into a frown.
The rest of the meal was occupied with innocuous talk. Finally, the kids finished eating and left.
With them gone, House put on his serious face. "Whose car should we take?"
"What?" She stared at him.
"To drive to the Briggs' house. That was where we have to go, right?"
She recovered and swallowed saliva. "Yeah." She sounded resigned.
"They're home now."
"What?" she repeated.
"I figure they went to a prayer meeting or some such nonsense earlier. But they're all there now."
"Oh." Realization caused her shoulders to relax. She looked at her empty plate and sipped the last of her ice-diluted tea. "Okay. Let's go." She slid out and stood. "No time like the present. My car."
House's mouth bunched up. "OK, but I drive." They walked out into the still balmy evening air and got into the car. House retraced his recent route, out to where Hannah lived. Only one light shone in first floor windows, but the second floor was completely lit up.
They approached the house slowly, walking straight up a path of evenly-spaced stone pavers. No grass grew between them.
Cameron looked for a bell, but seeing none in the porch light, she reached a hand toward the simple knocker.
"Wait. Are you sure you want to do this? You don't have to."
"Yes I do. For Hannah." She let the knocker hit the door.
The man who opened it was taller than House. Lean and slightly stooped. His dark eyes were hooded with bushy eyebrows above, and his mouth set in a line. "What do you want?" He peered at them. When his gaze fell on House, he said, "You again. I thought you wanted someone a couple of streets over."
Cameron took a step forward and held out a hand. "Hello, Mr. Briggs. I'm Dr. Cameron. Hannah's been helping me at the clinic for the last month or so."
Briggs looked at her small hand with thinly veiled disgust. "You the one been filling her head with all that nonsense 'bout medicine?"
She pressed her lips together as she composed a response. "Hannah's a bright girl. I hope you encourage her curiosity about the world."
"Why should I? She's been taught enough about what's right and wrong, and her place in the world right here in her home. By her parents. As it should be." The gruff voice held so much anger.
"I was worried because she left abruptly this afternoon. I'm afraid we frightened her by telling her about some patients. Were you able to comfort her?"
"Don't hold with no comforting, nor coddling. After she told her mama 'bout those poor little babies, we prayed for them, the whole family together."
Nothing he said was a surprise to Cameron. She knew she couldn't change his attitude or his beliefs. Reaching Hannah, helping her to see other views, would be much harder than she originally believed. She pasted on a smile. "Thank you for that, Mr. Briggs. Please tell Hannah I was concerned." She backed away.
But of course House wouldn't let it go with that. "How many kids do you have?"
"That's not your business."
"Let's just say I'm curious. Hannah's the eldest, right?"
"Please leave." Briggs tried to close the door, but House's foot was planted firmly inside. "I'll call the authorities."
"Tell me, Mr. Briggs. Where did you take your family to pray?"
"Get out!" Briggs shouted and tried to push on the door again.
House responded with a twisted smile, but finally removed his foot and allowed the door to close. As he and Cameron returned to the car he said, "You were right."
"Right about what?"
"Hannah's not safe in that house."
"Do you think he's beating her?" Cameron voice sounded sad.
House nodded. "I think he's the kind of man who expects blind obedience." He got into the car. "Not military like my...father. No, this is based more on his religious beliefs. He's frustrated because the world, society, has different rules than he does, and he takes it out on his kids. The most minor infringement brings retaliation."
"So what can we do about it?" She shook her head. "We don't have proof, so we can't go to any authorities. I don't even know who to report this too. Are the other kids in danger too?"
"Very likely." He sighed as he turned the key to start the car. "Let's go home. Tomorrow we can investigate who handles cases like this – is there a child welfare organization in Shelby? What kind of proof do they need to start looking into a case?"
"Something tells me you want to help Hannah too."
"Let's just say I'm curious."
"You can empathize with her."
He didn't say anything.
They tried to forget about Hannah when they reached their place, but it was no use. Cameron turned on her laptop and started her search. "There's something called the Children's Welfare League of Shelby." As she read further, she said, "And guess who's active in it?"
He didn't hesitate. "Pamela and/or Anna."
"How'd you know?"
"They're the type. It's been a while since we talked to either of them, but I bet we can recruit them to help with this."
"I bet we can." Cameron closed the machine. "I'll call them tomorrow, tell them what we know, what we've observed."
"You might want to arrange for one or both of them to meet her." He pulled off his shirt. "But that's all for tomorrow. I'm off to the shower. Care to join me?"
"Yes. Maybe the hot water will ease the tense muscles in my back."
