CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Iris started her morning by quickly stopping by Dr. Elander's office to have her blood redrawn. She then hurried to meet her husband at Heidi's school.
In the principal's conference room, Jim and Iris were delicately questioning the children in Heidi's class as well as others. Parents were also present during the questioning as well as the principal to keep the children comfortable as much as possible. Thus far, none of the children had been able to provide any direct evidence indicating the presence of a pedophile.
Sitting across from Iris and Jim now was Heidi's best friend, Emily, who Iris began to question gently. Iris held a little girl doll and asked if Emily had ever been touched in a certain way by pointing to the doll. Emily thought very hard and then asked if Iris wanted to play the "Happy Game". Iris glanced at Brass before she continued.
"Emily, what's the Happy Game? I like to learn new games, don't you?" Iris said with a forced smile.
"Well, you play patty-cake and then put your hands other places until you feel happy there too," Emily said.
"You're being such a good helper, Emily. Can you show me on the dolly where else you played patty-cake?" Iris gently persisted.
"Sure, I like to help," giggled the child, as she began to move her hands to parts of the doll's body that turned Iris's stomach. She fought to maintain a happy expression on her face. Brass's jaw was set and his face like granite in spite of the gentle smile he had to project. Emily's parents sat nearby with pale faces as they also struggled to maintain their composure.
"Honey, who else played the Happy Game?" Iris asked softly.
"Lessee…Billy…Monica….and Heidi did," the child exclaimed happily. "When is Heidi coming back? She's my bestest friend."
Iris struggled to know what to say. "Heidi told me to tell you that you're her bestest friend too." She finally said with moist eyes, still unable to shed any tears, as if that part of her had died with the little girl.
Brass now asked Emily, "Sweetheart, can you tell us who played the Happy Game with you and your friends? Was it Mr. Gonzalez who sweeps the floors?"
Emily's head suddenly dropped and she became scared in her actions. "Not supposed to tell anyone…it's a secret…I said cross my heart and hope to die."
Iris took over for Jim. "Emily, Heidi was my friend, so that makes you my friend too. Heidi can't tell me who played the Happy Game with her but can you help me find out? It will help Heidi."
Emily looked up with trusting eyes to Iris. "Heidi's my friend and now you're my friend. Teacher said not to tell a big person."
Brass locked eyes with Iris as Emily's parents gasped.
"Sweetie, what teacher said this to you?" Iris maintained her gentle persistence.
"Mr. Nat did," Emily replied, as her parents jointly embraced their daughter, their faces reflecting shock and disbelief.