The Sister(23)
‘Let us be quite clear. This is a tragedy, the likes of which have never before been experienced by this school. Three young lives snuffed out, taken from us all,’ he snapped his fingers to make the point, ‘like that.’
He watched the clock high on the wall opposite him. A few seconds before the red second hand reached the twelve o’clock position, the Headmaster said, ‘Let us pause and reflect. We will observe a minute’s silence.’
When the hand had completed its three hundred and sixty degree sweep, the Head waited for another moment before speaking again.
‘Some of you may hear rumours concerning the unrelated, coincidental discovery of further bodies. This is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, and it is important we keep those events entirely separate in our minds. Apart from location, there’s nothing to link them at all.’ He turned the page over and placed it at the bottom of the sheaf. ‘This tragedy came about because extremely hot temperatures led to a desire to swim in unsafe and unfamiliar waters wholly unsuitable for any sort of bathing. It serves as a warning to us all, of the dangers of swimming outdoors, in ponds, rivers or lakes...
‘Finally, let us not forget the surviving boy. We must ensure he has the weight of our support behind him in the forthcoming weeks and months. He is currently undergoing therapy that will assist him in coping and coming to terms with this tragedy. I ask all of you, unequivocally, to help him in every way you can.’
Kirk stood at the back of the hall; head bowed. With assembly over, he followed the Headmaster into his office.
Chapter 19
Ryan’s intercom buzzed. ‘I have your next appointment, Dr Ryan, it’s Bruce Milowski.’
‘Thank you, Penny, and, by the way, it’s pronounced 'Miloffski' and not, 'owski'.’
‘Shall I send them in?’
Penny was still holding the receiver, awaiting his answer, when the psychiatrist came out to greet them.
‘Miss Milowski...Bruce. I hadn’t expected to see either of you again.’ Shaking their hands in turn, he placed a hand in the small of her back as he steered them into his office. Mrs Milowski coloured up red. It’s not Miss. She concluded that correcting the doctor would only increase the potential for further embarrassment.
Penny seethed. He never came out to greet anyone. What was so special about those two? It wasn’t the boy. The way the bitch just blushed up as if she’s in heat; she’s trying to get something going on.
She’d not tolerate it, not right under her nose.
He’d last seen Milowski eight years before while still a medical doctor. The boy had fallen and banged his head on a rock after becoming lost. It had been enough to trigger a mild post-traumatic stress reaction in the seven-year-old, and the boy had had trouble sleeping. After a brief examination, he’d assured Bruce’s mother that he would recover with no long-term effects. The boy had been one of his last patients prior to his Irish sojourn. It seemed odd to be treating him again. He’d grown into a young man with a troubled look on his face. Rebellion, defiance and denial, all those things were there, not altogether hidden behind the mask he wore. Ryan disarmed him with a warm smile; he had the confident bearing of a teacher about to take a class, the expression on his face sympathetic and priest-like.
The young man before him could have passed for older than his fifteen years; already there were signs of stubble on his flat cheeks and jawline. The boyhood features had gone, his face more pronounced and square, but the eyes were the same, pale blue and defiant. He now possessed broad shoulders and muscular arms that strained against the fabric of his sleeves. The tightness of his clothes gave him the appearance of a hillbilly kid, whose parents had dressed him in hand-me-downs because they couldn’t afford to buy new ones. Miserably self-conscious about such things, she noticed the doctor eyeing what her son was wearing. Their eyes met. He responded with a vague smile.
Quickly, she turned away, embarrassed. ‘We can’t keep up with him, he’s growing so fast. I’m sure he’s grown an inch since the accid—’
Bruce shot her a glance, and she stopped herself mid flow. They never talked about the accident. He’d block any attempt, by flying into a rage, and she didn’t want that in front of the doctor. She moved a step closer to her son, measuring her own height against his. ‘I’m sure it’s about an inch in the last two weeks.’
The awkwardness of the moment was not lost on Ryan. ‘Mm-m, please sit down.’
She sat; her son remained standing.
‘You, too, young man, if you don’t mind.’
The boy was reluctant to do as he was asked, exhibiting the sort of oppositional defiance common in adolescents. He was about to repeat his request, when the boy suddenly shuffled his feet and sat. So far, he’d not made eye contact with Ryan at all.
He explained briefly that he practiced certain pioneering aspects of psychiatry, which he felt appropriate for Bruce’s particular problems. When he’d finished, he opened a file and took out the consent forms Penny had prepared earlier. ‘I'd prefer it if we left any questions we may have until after our initial consultation. Time is a precious commodity, and I often find any queries – well, most of them anyway – are dealt with during the first session with me. Are we okay with that?’ His eyebrows rose, corresponding with the question. Neither of them answered.