‘You’ve told me what I need to know.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Thanks. I won’t take any more of your lunch break.’
‘What? Come on, Jon, you can’t stop there. What’s happening?’
He grinned, as if he’d known all along that she couldn’t confine herself to just answering his questions. ‘Two boys, both twelve years old. They’re in the school changing rooms so they both have bare feet and legs, and there are a lot of hard surfaces around.’
‘Which would explain the dislocated toe.’
‘Yes. Alan says that Craig stamped on his toe, and dislocated it. He jumped back and Craig stumbled, falling on the tiles.’
Chloe frowned. ‘Well, I suppose that’s possible. Not very likely though. What does Craig say?’
‘He’s not saying anything. Not a word. I’ve got a teacher from the school, and both mothers here, and all three of them want me to sort this out and tell them exactly what happened.’
‘Well, you can’t, not categorically. We can say what might have happened, but they’re going to have to sort what actually did happen between themselves.’ Jon knew that as well as she did. ‘What’s your interest in this?’
‘I just want to know. Because if the cause of Alan’s injury doesn’t explain its severity, there may be some reason for taking a few more X-rays.’
True. But that was something that would usually be assessed in her own department, not A and E. Jon knew that as well as she did. ‘And...?’
‘Because we’re not busy at the moment. And I’m on my lunch break.’
That wasn’t good enough either. ‘Yes. And?’
Jon puffed out a breath. ‘Okay. If you must know, I think that Craig’s been bullied. He has psoriasis, and Alan referred to him as “Flaky Craig” a couple of times when he thought that his mother wasn’t listening. He’s very obviously playing the victim with his mother and teacher, but he’s quite cocky when they’re not around.’
The look in Jon’s eyes was reason enough. ‘Would you like me to talk to him?’
Jon shook his head. ‘I don’t see...’
‘Don’t worry. I’m not going to confront him with anything.’ This was perhaps one area where her experience was a little more useful than Jon’s. ‘I get the odd alternative version for how someone’s come by an injury. A and E sometimes isn’t the environment to tell your doctor that you broke your ankle having sex.’
‘I don’t know about that. We get our share of unlikely injuries. Goes with the job.’ His brow creased. ‘Someone broke the
ir ankle having sex?’
‘Don’t ask. I still can’t work out how she managed to get into that position... All I’m saying is that Alan might be a little more forthcoming with a different face. One that hasn’t already been kind to him. You have been kind to him, haven’t you?’
‘Of course. It’s not my place to judge anyone.’
‘So why don’t you let me give it a go? If his mother agrees.’
Jon got to his feet. ‘Okay. I’ll speak to her.’
* * *
Jon had spoken with Alan’s mother and the teacher who was with the boys, and they’d agreed to sit out of his direct line of sight, while Chloe spoke to him. He wondered what she thought she might say that would convince Alan that the truth was better than the obvious lie he’d told.
Or perhaps she wouldn’t need to say anything. She walked into the consulting room, leaving the door open so he could stand in the doorway with Alan’s mother, watching and listening. Chloe was immaculate as usual, a dark skirt and shoes under a white coat. When she sat down opposite Alan, her smile was composed but held a touch of the confidante. Jon would have told her pretty much anything.
‘Hello, Alan. My name’s Dr Delancourt. I’m doing a survey—would you mind if I asked you some questions? About how you hurt yourself today.’
Nicely done. Alan nodded, and Chloe turned the page in the notebook she carried, taking a pen from her pocket.
‘Thank you. It looks as if you’ve been in the wars.’ Chloe flashed him a mischievous look. ‘Did you win?’
Get the boy to brag a little. Jon felt Alan’s mother shift uncertainly from one foot to the other beside him.
‘Yeah, I won. I showed him.’