It was the Saturday morning after the Friday night dance, the first Alexandra school dance of the year. Hayley Brown woke up with a smile. She had been dreaming of Daniel Samuels. They had gone to the dance together, slow danced and then he walked her home and kissed her on the cheek. In her dream she was kissing his lips and it was perfect. But her bliss was short-lived as her little sister Laura came flying back into their room and dove under the covers with her in her bed just shaking with fear. “Laura…” She whispers “It’s ok…..shhhh…” She holds her sister to her, both of them in identical threadbare nightgowns with the arms too short.
“He’s waiting for you Hay…….he’s talking about you. Don’t go out there…..please..” Laura cowered into the comfort of her older sister like she was afraid she’d never see her again.
Hayley’s father’s voice boomed out from the kitchen “Hayley!” He bellowed “Hayley Annabelle Brown you come out here this instant girl!”
Hayley buries her face in Laura’s hair and shudders and then gives her sister a little kiss on her forehead “Stay here…..it’ll be ok….I promise.” She climbed over Laura and slowly sort of tiptoes into the kitchen “Yes Daddy?” She answers his call timidly.
“Mason Stanley left the dance at a little after 8:30 pm. Did you know that Hayley? Unless you snuck off to meet him and make a whore of yourself you did not go to the school dance with Mason.”
Hayley shrank into herself and shook her head. Her mother was at the stove putting a baking sheet of bacon into the oven under the broiler looking jumpy as she often did when her father was in one of those moods.
Now Craig Brown’s eye twitched and he smiled but it was not a friendly smile “When were you going to introduce us to this Daniel Samuels? I saw you all leaving….with that nosy suit of a lawyer. You forget I work in the school my girl. I can find out who’s who in what class. If the boy is a Samuels then he’s a rich little Jew like the rest of them. I looked up their firm. You think he’s too good to bring home to Mommy and Daddy? You think our simple ways will soil you in his eyes?” He had been sitting at the kitchen table with some newspapers but now he got up and began to undo his belt and pull it out as he advanced on Hayley, his volume increasing “You don’t think the little Jew boy doesn’t already know you’re a whore?!” He grabbed her by the hair roughly and turned her around holding her at arm’s length like he often did when it was time for the belt.
Hayely cried out and struggled “Daddy please….please I’m sorry I lied. Please….please…” She was sobbing now.
Craig yanked her back and spoke right into her ear “Well that’s a good girl. Sorry is a start….now just admit your sins and we can cleanse them. Fornicating with the Samuels boy like a cheap street walker….did he pay you or did you give it to him for free?!”
Now Molly is shaking at the stove “Craig….leave her alone!” She bravely interjects.
Hayley looks at her mother with shock and fear. She was defending her, but that might make it far worse. So she tried to distract her father and put the attention back on herself “I didn’t have sex with Daniel, or anyone Daddy. I’ve never done that. He just walked me home. He kissed me on the cheek. He’s not like you say and neither am I. Let me go….please…”
Now Craig shoves Hayley back out and winds up brandishing the belt “More lies! No rich Jew boy wants a little piece of trash like you. You’ll be nothing but a whore…” He whips her once with the belt, but not too hard. He’s warming up. But he knows it still hurts as she tenses up.
“Stop it!” Molly hisses at Craig “Just stop it….and don’t call her that.” She starts for Hayley to try and reach her but Craig steps forward and backhands her with the belt in his hand sending her flying back.
“You shut your goddamn hole woman...and let me discipline our daughter!” Now he wound up to give Hayley another wallop. “What are you Hayley? Let me hear you say it!”
Hayley was crying so hard she could barely speak “I’m a whore…” She barely whispered as she felt the belt come across the backs of her legs.
“Louder…..your brothers and sisters need to hear you.” He held her by the hair painfully.
Molly clawed her way back to standing and was crying too. She glared at Craig and then pulled all the newspapers off the table and began to ball them up quickly shoving them in the oven under the broiler with the now almost burned bacon. She couldn’t allow this but knew there was no way to “call for help”. A fire would bring help without her calling anyone. She couldn’t bear this. Then she grabbed her rolling pin and advanced on her husband “YOU LET HER GO NOW!” She screamed hysterically.
Things got hazy after this point. Hazy from the smoke now coming out of the oven. Hazy from the skirmish between Molly and Craig as he tried to keep a hold of Hayley and Molly started hitting him with the rolling pin. Craig eventually overpowered Molly and wrestled it from her hand and then as Hayley was about to run off he stuck her with it full on across the middle of her back and she howled.
Maddox had been in his room with Dustin, telling him not to leave as yet another fight started. He was a little stunned when his mother started to really defend Hayley and moe when Hayley also fought back, verbally at least. He heard his sister scream in pain and he could hear the belt. Something went ‘snap’ in his head. He heard it and he came out of the bedroom to find the main part of the apartment all smoky and his father raising his hand to his Hayley again with the rolling pin. “Fuck!” he yelled. His father meant bad business tonight. He ran forward. “Dad, stop it.” he knew this fight was over that new Jewish kid, whose father or brother had been there not too long ago. He knew how his father was and Hayley could wind up hurt bad, and if she did there would be no doctor. She’d just have another ‘cold’, like they all got. He snatched the rolling pin from his father and, quick as thought, brought it down over the back of his head. His father collapses into a heap on the floor.
The smoke alarm started blaring. Flames shot up and out of the oven. The air was thick and putrid. Molly was down low somewhere but she yelled to her older children “GET THEM OUT!! GET LAURA AND DUSTIN OUT…..Go Maddox…..Hayley go…..RUN ALL OF YOU!”
Maddox heard his mother and coughed. He rushed into his bedroom. “Come on, Dustin.” and, reply or not, he grabbed his brother's hand and dragged him out of the apartment and outside.
Dustin was terrified and was about to run and hide in the closet, like he always did when Maddox came in and pulled him out of the building. He stared up at their windows with wide eyes. “Mommy….”
Hayley coughed and sputtered and scrambled. Her back was in agony but she heard her mother and ran to the room she shared with Laura to get her out “Laura!!! Laura come with me please!”
Little Laura was frozen with fear still in Hayley’s bed with the covers up around her ears “I can’t...I can’t move…” She coughed a bit.
Hayley was frantic “Laura you have to! There’s fire!” She ran to the bed and ripped the covers off her and scooped her up. Laura was 9 but small for her age and very thin. Hayley could carry her although right now it was painful. But adrenalin made her move as fast as she could crouched back through the smoke to the door to the stairs and down them. By the time she was out the door and they had joined her brothers the fire truck and the ambulances were pulling up with sirens blaring. “OUR MOTHER!” She screamed to the firefighters but her voice horse from smoke. She coughs and sputtered and just urgety pointed. She could care less about her father but please let them save her mother. The EMTs herded the kids into one ambulance but it didn’t take off. They were treated on the scene with oxygen. Their mother was taken in the second ambulance and rushed to the clinic. Once the children were deemed ok the first ambulance was used for their father, who was knocked out but not an urgent case like their mom who could barely breathe. The four children stood there in front of the building with firefighters wrapping blankets around their shoulders until the fire was out. Maddox was old enough to be left with the responsibility of caring for his siblings when it was all over.
At the clinic Molly is rushed off on one gurney to a room but Craig Brown ends up in the care of Dr. Jasper Rogers. Craig is unconscious and at first it’s assumed to be smoke inhalation but then upon examining Craig Jasper notices a bump on the back of his head, a blow was struck? Jasper examines him and has blood drawn to check for toxicity from the smoke. The man’s mouth is open and Jasper notices his gums are receding. He’s no dentist but it’s an obvious recession. Did they have dental records? He’d have to check with Dr. Beaulieu on Monday...no Tuesday as it was the holiday weekend. His hair is thinning and greying but maybe it was just genetics. Jasper frowned a bit at the year the man was born on the ID they found in his wallet. They were the same age? Craig was 45? He had a lot of lines in his face. Maybe he lived a hard life. As a nurse comes and goes Jasper requests to consult with Dr. McKinney once Molly Brown is stabilized. He’s still pouring over the chart beside an unconscious Craig.
Dr. Susan McKinney gave Molly Brown oxygen and cleaned her up a bit. She’d taken in a lot of smoke and she had a large bruise forming on her right cheek. She may have fallen where the firefighters found her, she supposed. Molly would need some time on oxygen to recover from her smoke inhalation, so Susan admitted her with plans to check up on her through the evening. That was easy for her, since she lived in the building. As she is taking Molly’s vital signs and making notations in her chart, a nurse comes in and tells her that Dr Rogers is asking for a consultation. Nodding, Susan puts away Molly’s chart and heads downstairs to the room Jasper is working in. “What’s up, Jasper?” she asks as she washes her hands and puts on a fresh pair of gloves.
Jasper looks at Susan with a conflicted expression “Something’s off here with Craig Brown. And I don’t mean his injuries. He’s supposed to be 45 years old...my age. But there are some weird hints. I mean maybe he’s been a drug addict or an alcoholic. Toxicology might reveal lifestyle factors. But his gums are receding and he has a lot of lines in his face. Could just be genetics. But look here on his arms and neck….age spots….skin tags...a fair number. And his knuckles. This isn’t an age thing but his knuckles look like they’ve had some action. Maybe he’s a boxer or does some kind of material arts. I can’t explain why but all this together is making me feel there’s more to the story. Do you know this family? The Browns? And how’s Molly Brown doing?”
Susan looks at Craig Brown while Jasper talks to her. She starts with the ‘easy’ part. “Molly is upstairs. I admitted her with smoke inhalation.'' She inhales and exhales. “She was found on the kitchen floor, overcome by the smoke. She has a bruise on her cheek that might have come from falling.'' She looks Craig Brown over. “The Brown family is one of our more … eccentric families.” she replies, carefully. “I came here 15 years ago, but haven’t seen any of them, really. Maddox when he hurt himself playing sports, but other than that.” she licks her lips and looks down at the man. “Molly is a stay at home mother. Craig here … he doesn’t like me much … nothing he’s ever said but …” she shrugs. “But I have rubbed a few people the wrong way .. it can be hard coming from a Chicago emergency room to a tiny Canadian clinic and not have my big city bluntness ruffle feathers.” she chuckles. “He isn’t into boxing, as far as I know. I talk to a lot of the police on a regular basis and … haven’t heard Craigs name.” but given Susan’s history, that means next to nothing.
Jasper takes in everything Susan is telling him with just a look of unease. “I’ve seen a lot of damage to the bones of the hand and he’s got quite a bit. I know his work is manual labour but this is….did you say Molly has a bruise on her cheek? I’d like to measure that….and his fist width. I can’t explain why I just….there’s something really off with this guy Susan. I don't’ to assume…..I’m glad he’s not associated with the police I suppose.”
Craig Brown begins to stir, not fully wake but just move a bit and his breathing changes.
Susan nods. “Yes. I have some klaxons going on in my head also.” she scoffs slightly. “SO the big city doc and the prison doc smell something off. Measure away. Suspicion of Domestic abuse.” she gives him that go ahead. “No matter what happens, I’ll take any heat.” she it the head doctor and all decisions wind up being hers. She backs up her staff. But Craig is also starting to wake.
Jasper looks relieved that he has back up and quickly measures the knuckle area just in time. As he writes the number on Craig’s chart, the man wakes.
Craig Brown is disoriented as his eyes open “Mmmm.... wha.... where am I?” He rolls a bit and tries to sit and then feels the back of his head “Agh...” He winces.
Jasper looks at Susan and then leans over Craig “Mr. Brown you’re at the Alexandra Clinic. There was a fire and you had a bump on the head. I’m Doctor Rogers and you know Doctor McKinney.”
Now Craig looks agitated “I don’t do doctors!” He fights harder to sit up.
Susan steps forward. “Mr Brown, we advise you to remain at least overnight for observation, but if you’d like to leave we can’t stop you. We just need you to sign a form, alright?” she doesn’t fight him on it,but will insist he sign the release. She quickly goes to the phone and calls the front desk. “Milo, can you bring an AMA release on a clipboard to room 3 please and thank you.”
Craig swings his legs over the side of the bed and pushes himself to standing but he’s unsteady “ I don’t need to sign any god damn form. Where’s Molly? Where are the kids?” He looks afraid but not for the welfare of his family. He wasn’t changed to a gown yet and he came in with no shoes so he’s in sock feet trying to walk out of the room.
“Mr. Brown!” Jasper pleads “You need medical care. And if you’re refusing treatment you do need to sign off. Please sit down.” He looks at Susan. Clearly this man had refused before?
Susan gets in front of the door. “You DO need to sign the form, Mr Brown.” she tells him, firmly. She’s smaller than him, but her personality is large. “As for your wife, she has been admitted for smoke inhalation. Your kids are back in your home, from what I understand. They were treated and released at the scene.”
Milo opens the accordion door with the form, looking carefully at Craig before stepping back into the narrow hallway.
Susan takes the form. “Just sign at the bottom and I’ll fill out the rest.” she tells him. “Clearly you are in a hurry to get back with your family and I won’t stand in the way of that. However I will also not leave this clinic open to liability so … sign or stay.” she looks like she is going to make an issue of it and the only way out of the exam room is through her.
Craig stares down at Susan but he’s not a particularly tall man “Your people are always so.....feisty. I’ll sign and take one of those itty bitty forms you like so much for my Molly. The children and I can care for her. We don’t have much use for doctors in our family.” He smiles menacingly at Susan and then at Jasper, ignoring the nurse.
Jasper looks impressed by Susan and then offended by Craig’s words and tone “Watch your words Mr. Brown. We don’t tolerate any verbal abuse or bigotry in this facility.”
Craig lets out a little laugh “Well then by all means let me take my words and wife. I know the laws Doctor. I said nothing illegal.”
Susan isn’t intimidated. That Craig Brown is a bigot is of no surprise to her. Or maybe it was because she was female. Or both. She hands him the clipboard. “Your wife is currently unconscious.” she informs him. “Once she regains consciousness and can sign the waiver, she will be allowed to do so, if that is her wish. Until then, she is in MY care and I will not release her without a court order. That is the law.”
Jasper folds his arms and stares Craig down as Susan lays it out. He is taller but he knows he’s no fighter and he hopes Craig just signs and leaves.
Craig rips the clipboard roughly from Susan and signs and then shoves it back at her. “Fine. But I will be checking on her.” And then he shoves past Dr. Rogers and walks off in his socks.
Susan takes the clipboard and moves out of Craig’s way as he storms out in his stocking feet. Then she looks at Jasper. “He is not a pleasant person …” she holds up the clipboard in her gloved hand. “But I got his fingerprints, so … whatever, right?”
Jasper watches after Craig storming and then nods at Susan “You’re incredibly polite. What a fucking asshole....” Then he has to grin “Susan, that’s the best news I have heard all day. You said you’re in regular contact with the cops? Let’s make contact and see if they might have something on him.”
Susan snorts a little. “I have to be, but that’s just professionally. Between me and you … asshole barely covers him.” she nods. “Come on, let's go to my office.” They more or less share an office in the basement and once they are there, Susan sits and motions to her comfy couch for him to sit as she dials. “Hey Josh. No .. I actually need you to send someone over to run some prints on a patient I suspect of abuse.” she lets her eyes go a little big, but innocently. “NO I didn’t take his prints. That would be highly suspect. I just gave him a clipboard … so his prints are on that. Yea, I can do that, no problem. It’ll be over there in about 10 minutes.” she hangs up the landline and looks at Jasper. “Someone will be over to pick the clipboard up. They’ll dust it for prints and … if there’s anything in his past, they’ll know.”
Jasper can’t help but smile “Dr. McKinney...I feel like you may have done this dance before. Quick thinking with the clipboard. I’m still used to all my patients already being fingerprinted with their rap sheets a click away. Maybe it makes me suspect everyone now. I would love to be wrong. I would love for Craig Brown to just be a garden variety bigot who’s an irritation but has never lifted a had to his wife. And they have what...3 kids?” He blows out a breath. “Josh? That’s Josh Greene, the police chief? Still getting to know some of the infrastructure. What’s he like to coordinate with when you have to? I mean clearly he was receptive to this...today.”
Susan winks at Jasper. “You were lucky. All of your patients had already been incarcerated. Mine … some of them could have been or were wanted but .. without fingerprints …” she shrugs. “I’d love that too .. and they have FOUR kids, not that a single one of them is in our database. Mostly Maddox because of his sports injuries. Or injuries he was sent to me after games or practices. Let’s face it. I’m a cynic.” She nods. “Yes, Josh the police chief. I’ve known him for a long time … Adum too when he was chief. It’s like a family, the PD, FD and Medical. So if I need a favor .. they help me out.”
Jasper nods along and then laughs lightly “I should have cynic...or maybe optimistic cynic tattooed on my face. Good to know about the fire and police types. I should uh maybe introduce myself so we’re all on the same page. So far I’ve lived a quiet life in those areas.” He laughs “For once anyhow. Adum Brate? I’m aware who the mayor is at least….How long have you lived here Susan?”
Susan sits back. “I should too … well no … because I am not always optimistic. How you could be having worked in the prison system says a lot about you.” she smiles. “Well, you can stop in and see them anytime, even Adum. Small towns and all. MOST of the time it’s a little sleepy town with mothers rushing their toddlers in to us because they fell off their bicycle or something minor. SO just walk right in and ask for the Chief .. Hank or Josh .. or tell the secretary you’d like a word wit the mayor. Adum is more open than Fred Sewid was. Less likely to wind up an old curmudgeon. I’ve been here for 15 years. Came from Chicago because I was burning out. Now I love medicine again … most days.”
Jasper takes it all in. He has a way of smiling without smiling sometimes and he does that about the toddlers and the mayors “Less likely. Just a fate of the town’s mayors or old men?” He chuckles. “Change of scene and less stress was my motivation too…..that and not getting shived. Chicago the windy city as they say. Talk about downsizing your life Susan. I do love the practice here. Even with the odd Craig Brown.”
Susan shrugs. “Well, Fred Sewid is indiginous. Born and bred on this island. Went to school here .. if you can call it schooling. The Academy was an Indiginous school for boys before Fred repurposed it into what it is now.” she laughs. “Yes … I was a little bored at first. But there’s always October to liven things up .. although we get the odd what the fuck cases all year round from time to time.”
Jasper grimaces “You mean like a residential school? Is it still the same building? What a horrible history but I know that’s our whole bloody country. People keep talking about October. Is it really that bad?” He looks a bit skeptical.
Susan nods. “Yes .. that’s what it was called. Call it my stoopid American brain.” she nods. “I never knew how much Canada and the US had in common.” she snorts. Then she sighs. “Yes. It's that bad. And this is only early October. DOn’t get me wrong. We have the occasional murder, rape .. hell we had a serial rapist running around for years … they arrested him and his MOTHER killed him, then burned the house down … but that was May. When fucksuppedness happens here it doesn’t go halfway. But in October … it’s much much worse …”
Jasper had chuckled and then nodded “We’re not so different at all. I’ve been to Chicago...a million years ago but it was a good trip. Nice people.” Then he frowns about October and shakes his head about the rapist, arson murder story “So not such a sleepy small town...great…”
Susan smirks when he talks about the nice people of Chicago. “So you were probably not on the west and south sides. Cause that’s where it’s at ..the knives and bullets. The nice folk don’t go there except to score drugs.” the cynic has never truly left her. She looks sideways at Jasper. “You worked on Brett Lancaster in July … that wasn’t very sleepy …” she reminds him.
Jasper laughs “Well I couldn’t find a dealer for my smack habit...that’s probably why I had to go to the art institute instead. Get high on Picasso and Klimt….” He jokes and then looks serious “Yeah that was not a light day or set of files to read though….although ironically it was uh...how met the love of my life.” He’s never announced his relationship to Susan but it’s far from private around town and Levi has walked him back from lunch once or twice and they’ve briefly kissed goodboye. At Jasper’s request one of those kisses was in front of the reception desk to halt the flirtations of Shelly Newcastle.
Susan laughs. “I actually worked on a gang banger nicknamed Picasso … he tit a lot of tagging. Like the graffiti on this building except he also shot people.” she then grins. “I heard about that.” she admits. “You scored yourself a lawyer .. go on boy!” she praises.
Jasper makes a face “Wow…..not the same Picasso but I guess everyone has their medium. Ugh.” Then Jasper actually blushes and laughs “Scored myself a lawyer? What are we in the high school locker room?” He laughs “I love Levi though. He’s….he’s my everything. My kids even seem to love him so it’s….I never imagined it could be this beautiful.” He gets a bit of a far off look and then snaps back “Enough about me. What about you Susan? Who’s name are we writing on the locker room wall for you?” He jokes.
Susan nods about Piccasso .. both of them and then almost giggles. “Oh. My. God, Jasper did you hear about the latest gossip by the water cooler? I am SO sure.” it’s several decades off with the whole Valley Girl thing, but Susan is a little younger than Jasper so it’s theoretically age appropriate. She shakes her head and snorts. “I am having a mad passionate relationship with Bob … Battery Operated Boyfriend. He doesn’t bitch about my hours or my tendency to work 14 day shifts in deepest fogs and pandemics. He isn’t offended that I'm smarter than he is and no one gets annoyed at an interracial relationship because he’s purple.” she huffs and rolls her eyes. “If I tried to go on a date, people would find out and throw themselves under the ferry just to fuck up my night.” she laughs.
Jasper cracks up at her antics and chimes back “Oh my god….” And then shakes it off “I’m more of a Kid’s in the Hall secretaries gossip than a valley girl.” He snorts about BOB and looks highly amused as she goes on “Well as a physician i support your choice in a sexual partner that helps you manage your stress while being low risk to disease and infection.” He sighs “I don’t think that’s fair….and there’s two of us now. If you have a hot night that goes beyond purple and batteries...I’m happy to be on call.” He offers genuinely.
Susan laughs and then looks wistful for a fraction of a second. “If I ever need that night off I will definitely let you know.” she promises. “But my relationship is pretty stable. Thanks.” she spears her throat. “And back on you …. Can I assume you and lover lawyer haven’t moved in together because sometimes YOU need to not go home RIGHT after your shift?” she winks at him, knowingly.
Jasper smiles and then coughs at her calling him out “Have you got a drone watching me Susan? And no, we don't live together because I have 3 wonderful teenagers who allow me rather little privacy. So uh...Levi having a place for us to be that’s not my house...is quite nice.” He admits. He shrugs “It works. If for some reason it ever doesn’t we’ll try to work it out to what it needs to be later on.”
Susan smiles. “That makes sense. I don’t have to worry about that with my dear Bob. He doesn’t even mind that my two bedroom apartment became a studio when the clinic got overrun a long time ago. But it’s all good. I’m happy. You’re happy. The kids don’t need therapy. Perfect life.”
A short man in a Alexandra Policemans uniform leans in the open door of the office. “Dr McKinney? I was told you had some evidence that needed picking up?”
Susan shrugs. “Not evidence, but this needs to be dusted for prints.” she holds out the clipboard.
“Yes ma’am. Thank you.” The cop takes the clipboard and puts it in a large plastic evidence bag. “Dr Rogers.” he nods and is gone a moment later.
Jasper had watched the interaction with the police officer and had greeted him with a nod. As he left he acknowledged him as well “Thank you very much.” And as soon as he was out of earshot he asks Susan “You know them all. I’m still learning. What’s that policeman’s name?” He sighs about the clipboard “And now we wait. Any thanksgiving plans? You don’t have to invite Bob’s family over do you?” He jokes “My kids and I have been invited to Levi’s father’s house. Well all except Duncan who’s been invited to his girlfriend's family’s. I’m happy for him, and for them but it makes me a little sad. If Miranda and Romeo pair off with people will we all be in different places on holidays? I’m getting old Susan.” He chuckles.
Susan chuckled, because she did know when all. “That was Jack Shue. He’s usually on the 3-11 or the B shift. Of course they switch around a lot, so don’t be surprised to see him at 3 in the morning.” then she laughs. “No, Bob will be alone on the holidays. I’ll be here, with the skeleton crew. One nurse, Anabelle Perkins … and yes, she’s seen the show.” she chuckles. “Another spinster like me.” she smiles a little sadly. “They do grow up and go on to other things. I remember a lot of the adults in this town as small children fumbling around trying to figure out life. I make some milestones in my head. Like Henry, that basset hound at the fire house, was just barely a puppy when Gareth and Jasmine gave him to Hank five years ago. Now Henry is a father with puppies of his own.” she smiles. “Big difference I know, but I’ll bet my thermometer that someday I’ll be watching all of your kids and their kids. But you're not too old. And you have a young movie hot lawyer to console you and make you feel young.” she winks at him and gets on with another October night.
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