She made herself look out the window. Not that there was anything to see. Several blank-faced houses probably with aircon on inside. She turned back to him. ‘She has to be worried about Eve and Lex’s baby. I understand that.’
Douglas nodded and glanced ahead to the pub, as if the reason for all this tragedy might jump out and wave at him. She wished. Then he said slowly, ‘They’re six hours’ drive away at Diamond Lake.’
She chewed her lip. ‘That’s not far enough for Blanche. Though to give her credit she’d be concerned even if Eve wasn’t pregnant with the next heir to the Mackay kingdom.’
Douglas looked thoughtful as they drove slowly up the street. They were nearly there. ‘Are you concerned about your sister’s unborn child?’
Sienna frowned. ‘I’ll admit it crossed my mind for the first time today. I’d thought her far enough away before coming here. Talking on the phone to the mothers in Brisbane today has really made it hit home. I’m glad she isn’t here. It made me want to rush out and scan her – which you’ll be glad to know I have mastered the urge not to do.’ Her brow creased as she thought about that. ‘Although Eve might refuse a scan anyway. She’s not a believer in pre-empting disaster.’
Perplexed he said, ‘Meaning?’
‘Like Callie, she’s not convinced about the idea of searching for disabilities in pregnancies. Even if an ultrasound showed some congenital aspect of her baby to be concerned about, she’d believe all will be well until proved otherwise at birth. Or deal with it then. It’s not a bad way to be,’ she said, considering it reflectively.
They pulled up at the pub. He said slowly, ‘I’ve never thought about that aspect for parents – the ramifications of having ultrasounds in pregnancy. Finding a suspicion of something unexpected and having to make a decision on life and death.’ He switched off the engine and turned to face her. ‘That’s huge. How terrible for them.’ He rubbed his chin. ‘If your child had an abnormality picked up on a scan what would you do?’
She blinked at him. This was an out-of-the-blue big question she didn’t want to think about. ‘I don’t know, Douglas. Though I’ve had many patients in that position and wouldn’t like to be in their place. Thankfully, I never will be – because I’m not having children.’
They were parked, but he hadn’t turned off the ignition fully and the aircon blew forceful cool air at her. Blew his astonishment her way too.
His brows rose. ‘Never have children? Ever?’ His eyes drifted to her cleavage and ridiculously she felt herself blush.
He smiled. Raised his hands in apology. ‘Sorry. Your girls distracted me. I meant you have time. Seems a shame to let all that brain power go to waste.’ He said ‘brain power’ but he was looking elsewhere. Her neck grew hot.
Very softly she said, ‘Stop it.’ Her brain was scrambled enough without throwing that red herring at her. She reached for the door handle. ‘I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. I don’t have time for a family.’ Then she looked back at him pointedly. ‘You should talk. You’re older than me.’
He glanced around the parking area as he switched off the engine. ‘True. But I’m doing my part to keep small communities small.’
Phew. He wasn’t serious. In that case she could laugh it off. ‘Good job, Sergeant. Now we can go help the local economy by spending Blanche’s money.’
‘You spend Blanche’s money. I’ll spend my own.’
The first thing Sienna saw was Alma leaning on the bar watching them. Sienna felt like a bug under a microscope. She hadn’t met anyone like Alma before and she looked at the woman again. Petite, maybe one and half metres tall, crinkled crepe-paper skin. Wise eyes that said she’d seen a lot, been scarred, but had risen from the ashes. Though she was more like a wrinkled emu than a phoenix. Sienna guessed she probably had seen a lot, running an outback pub and all.
Despite the thorough perusal all the publican said was, ‘You two here for tea? Maddy’s just arrived. It’s fish and chips and salad tonight, you okay with that?’
They nodded and Alma turned from the bar to pour them both a lemon squash from the fridge.
‘I don’t even have to ask,’ Douglas said to her and indicated the preparation of his drink.
‘I know you won’t have anything else, Sergeant, and the doctor likes a cold drink.’ The publican pointed a finger at Sienna. ‘If you wanted wine, well, I could probably take the silver bag out of the box and squeeze that last bit out of the cask?’
Sienna forced a smile. ‘No, thanks. I don’t often drink alcohol.’
Alma nodded as if not surprised. Sienna felt as if she’d let her down. She supposed the woman did own a pub which relied on drinkers. ‘Have you always lived here, Alma?’ It was not like Sienna to be curious, but Alma intrigued her, just like Maddy did. She needed to be careful with that or Alma would be asking favours.
‘Nope.’ She flung her hair like a bird in a bath after wetting its head. ‘Old Shirl was the publican before me, I came from Wilcannia. She said she’d seen possibilities for me. First one who did.’ She cackled out loud as if that was the biggest joke. ‘That Shirl had a dry, black sense of humour that more than bordered on politically incorrect. We got on well.’
Sienna could imagine that but the thought drifted when Douglas asked, ‘What happened to Shirl?’
Alma stared at the cloth on the bar and smoothed it with her work-worn fingers. ‘When she got sick I bought the pub off her. We was close by the end, the sister I never had.’ The old lady looked distantly tragic for a moment. Then she brightened and glanced at Douglas. ‘Hooley dooley, we enjoyed listening to the races on the radio together.’ She raised her finger instructionally. ‘You gotta limit a flutter to a fifty-cent stake. That’s the secret to enjoying a bet.’ She winked at Douglas. ‘Isn’t that right, Sergeant.’
‘Sounds very sensible to me,’ Douglas said. ‘I heard a few rumours that you do okay with your wagers, Alma?’
The finger travelled to her lips in a secretive sign. ‘I’ve won a few good ones with small outlay. Two hundred to one still happens. Had a nice, tidy nest egg by the time Shirl was thinking about selling the pub.’
‘So you bought this pub with winnings from fifty-cent bets?’ Sienna didn’t believe it.
‘It’s true. One really big win started it.’ Alma turned thoughtful. ‘Me and Shirl, we were determined to stay afloat. I paid her back by looking after her until the end. It was a privilege, and a lesson. Even for me, sometimes, the lady is there, but you can’t rely on her luck.’
Chapter Fifteen
On Friday morning, as promised, Blanche Mackay strode up the path of the police residence at nine a.m. Before she’d hit mother-in-law status, Eve had called Blanche an avenging flagpole, but now they both thought of her more as an outback queen stampeding everywhere. Probably because she stood tall and thin with a splendid nose and looked magnificent on a horse. Though Sienna hoped her new niece or nephew wouldn’t inherit their paternal grandmother’s proboscis.
Opening the door to her visitor, Sienna supressed a sigh at being checked up on already. Blanche presented like an advertisement for RM Williams as she stood at the entrance to Douglas’s modest residence. The house was way too small for her height and her personality.
‘Ah. Sienna. Good. What have you discovered?’ Blanche fired the question as she strode in with long, swift strides which brought her to the end of the hallway too quickly.
Sienna watched her as she turned around and strode back. She felt her lips twitch. ‘It’s early days yet,’ she said drily. ‘Not much has been achieved,’ that she couldn’t have done from her own office in Sydney. Then, pointedly, she said, ‘Hello, Blanche.’
Blanche threw back her thick grey hair and Sienna chastised herself for likening the action to a horse tossing its mane. ‘Oh. Sorry. Yes. How are you, Sienna?’
‘Fine.’ Tongue-in-cheek, she said, ‘You?’
Blanche waved that away. ‘Microcephaly. Those poor babies and their mothers. You need
to find out why and stop it happening again.’ She winced. ‘Imagine if one of my grandchildren . . .’ Her voice trailed off.
‘By the way. Congratulations on your coming grandchild.’ Sienna wondered how long Blanche had known about Eve’s baby and she hadn’t. Was she really that bothered by that? Of course not. But Eve’s pregnancy would be a factor for Blanche to jump so quickly on this danger to the bloodline.
Though, yesterday, Sienna had come to the same conclusion. If she was honest, she didn’t want her sister hanging around here either in her present vulnerable state, and the urgency of finding a cause had ramped up with startling intensity.
Sienna said, ‘It could just be a coincidence.’ Because it needed to be stated.
Blanche shook her head. ‘I don’t believe that. Not three babies in this small town.’
‘It’s unlikely. But not impossible,’ Sienna demurred. ‘It could be an infection. One that comes in cycles and struck while these ladies were at the same gestation. Or it could be exposure to a chemical or some toxic substance. But again that’s usually exposure at a certain time during the pregnancy to cause that particular congenital change. Whatever caused these changes could be gone now.’
Blanche frowned. ‘Like a pesticide overspray on a certain date?’
What would they spray? The place was hardly a fruit bowl. ‘Something like that. I’m talking to the mothers. As you know they all live on stations a fair way from each other and two of the babies are still in Brisbane under care. Though, I’ve spoken to those mothers on the phone.’
Blanche glanced through the doorway at the small bedroom-cum-office. ‘Why are you working out of here?’
Sienna observed her surroundings. ‘Because we have air conditioning and internet. The health centre is too small and I’d have to shift everything every clinic day.’
Blanche frowned. ‘I should have ordered you a mobile office. I could still get one.’
Sienna could almost hear the thump, thump of a chinook helicopter rotor. See the vision of an office on a rope swinging over the town. You had to admire Blanche’s one-track mind. And she’d be out of Douglas’s house quick smart. ‘It’s not worth it for a week or two, maximum,’ she said quickly.
Blanche frowned, clearly frustrated by her inability to help. ‘Is your accommodation satisfactory? The meals?’
Why? Would she fly in a celebrity chef? ‘Meals are perfect. Thank you for arranging that as well.’ Last night had been fine anyway. She thought of the communal shower and had already decided she might shower down here. Tempt Douglas. The idea appealed. ‘Everything is short term.’ Including Douglas, her inner voice added. She shied away from that one. ‘I’m not here for long.’ She glanced pointedly at her watch. ‘But I’d better get started.’
‘Do you need help?’
For a ghastly moment Sienna thought Blanche was offering her services. The last thing she needed was Blanche under her feet. Or herself under Blanche’s tapping foot. ‘Thank you. That’s very kind of you.’ They both knew Blanche didn’t offer just to be kind. ‘I’ll manage what I need to do. Most I’ll do on my own, but I’ve arranged a clerk.’
Blanche’s gaze narrowed like a kingfisher on a fat worm. ‘Let me know the cost and I’ll pay her.’
Sienna nodded. ‘Sure.’ If she got around to it. Maddy’s stipend would be small for that tiny time and Sienna could cover that.
Blanche quivered. Disappointment that Sienna hadn’t solved the mystery yet caused her nostrils to flare, but apparently she fought it successfully because she straightened. ‘I’ll go, then. I’m on my way to Longreach. Do you need any extra equipment?’
She thought of the blue case and her coffee machine ensconced in Douglas’s kitchen and smiled dryly. ‘I’ve brought what I need with me.’
‘Excellent. I’ll leave you, then.’ Blanche shot her one last intense stare. ‘I’ll be back Monday. Let’s meet at the hotel for lunch at say twelve. See how you’re progressing.’
‘It may not be worth coming.’ Sienna inclined her head non-committally. ‘Why don’t you make it Tuesday? I don’t expect it will progress much over the weekend. That’s why I thought I’d come early and get all set up for next week. It took me two days to drive here.’
Blanche frowned and finally nodded, then strode out, her long, moleskin-covered legs covering the ground fast as her riding boots hit the concrete path. Bizarrely, the sound of her feet chirped like cicadas. She held her head poised as she scanned the area, as if the answer would be on a sign somewhere. She was erect and determined and fierce in her need to solve the mystery and sort that unacceptable risk to the families in her jurisdiction.
Blanche was an inspirational person, like Eve said. She could ride like the wind, shoot from the saddle and manage a crew of stockmen with the lift of one hand. A tireless woman, Sienna thought, with a huge heart, like Phar Lap’s. Then she wondered again how Eve could live with her, even on the part-time basis Blanche had promised and apparently stuck to.
Sienna pulled out the copies of the standard Australia-wide congenital abnormality questionnaires the three mothers had filled in. The forms would have been completed at their hospitals when their babies were born, and included the background to their pregnancies and family history.
She’d read the relevant file on each baby and done a rapid analysis of any clinical factors, but they were few. There was a baby born with Down’s syndrome way back in Annette’s maternal relatives, plus a sister who had been to a third-world country and could have brought home the zika virus – but that had been years ago.
Then there was an episode of having the parental house insect-sprayed at the end of Lucy’s first trimester, which Sienna didn’t think was sufficient to be the cause. And Bella couldn’t think of anything. They all lived on stations, so perhaps chemicals of some form were used at that time of year for all of them, who knew? Sienna hoped she would very shortly. She would make sure that query was in the new questionnaires she was formulating.
Sienna wasn’t buying any of those factors as the main cause. There had to be an external factor. A connection. She threw down the papers.
She’d get Maddy to type up another set for interviews. She would email them to the two women in Brisbane and would talk to them on the phone again if they didn’t come home before she left. See if she could tease out a common factor or situation between them. She spent the next ten minutes adding other pencilled questions for Maddy to type.
She’d heard Blanche’s helicopter take off. Alma would be back later with lunch and Maddy a few hours after that for typing until five p.m. Douglas had left to follow a lead on a drifter who had stolen a handbag from a tourist and then interview a man about a missing truck.
Sienna considered another shower. Showers helped her think, and despite the aircon she felt sticky and clogged up in her thought processes.
As she opened the bathroom door and eyed Douglas’s space, she could almost feel his presence. Could inhale the subtle tingling scent of him. It would be marketable. She glanced with just a little possessiveness around at the small room and the big cast-iron tub. The tub didn’t have claw feet, but it did have the capacity to provide a lion of a bath. She’d ask Douglas what the consensus was on using that much water – she thought it came from the bore, which meant, of course, it would probably smell like sulphur, like the shower in the pub did. It gave you lots of hot water, but the smell didn’t make you want to linger.
It had been the same at Red Sand. Situated on the Great Artesian Basin, the bore water there came out about eighty-five degrees celsius so had to be cooled before it could be circulated into the town supply. The good news was, if allowed to stand to enable the gas to escape, and chilled, it tasted like the sweetest and cleanest water in the world. Maybe she could get one of those heating elements and reheat her cold bathwater so it didn’t smell.
She shrugged and fiddled with her necklace. She should have taken it off before her shower this morning because the sulphur had tarnished it alrea
dy. She’d get it cleaned when she went back to Sydney. These were all minor irritations she could live with. For now.
She glanced at the neat pile of precision-folded towels stacked on the bench. There was also a man’s deodorant and that old-fashioned but classic man’s aftershave – now her favourite secret scent since she’d met Douglas, although he had used the new one she’d bought him last night. She made a mental note to order more online for next Christmas. Maybe she could have Christmas with Douglas again. Perhaps he could stay with her through to New Year’s Day. Or fly back to her later in the week. She hadn’t done the whole spending New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour thing, and the idea of watching fireworks and especially bringing in the new year with you-know-who at midnight took on a whole new attraction.
Then her thoughts veered towards an event being the connecting factor for the cluster of affected babies. What had happened when those babies had been conceived? Or what abnormal events had occurred during their mothers’ pregnancies at a time that gave the same congenital problem?
Three babies born at roughly the same time having antenatal care in a town as tiny as this did seem like a strange coincidence. Alma had mentioned a camel race.
She spun on her heel and left the bathroom as she pulled her phone from her pocket and opened the calculator app on her screen. No matter where she worked it was far from unusual to have to sit with a woman and try to figure out when their baby could have been conceived. Her fingers flew as she typed in the birthdate of the second baby and came up with conception at the third weekend in July. The first and the third baby had also been born within a week of that date, and they’d all been assessed as term babies.
The Baby Doctor Page 8
