Free A House Without Windows by Stevie Turner

well?”
    “No.  You’re not going to see Daddy for a long time.”  Faye felt the evidence in the cellar would keep Evans away for hopefully the remainder of his life.”
    “ Oh good, I want to see my real daddy instead.  Where’s my real daddy?”
    “We don’t know darling, but I expect Mummy will try and find him soon.”
     
    As Hatton started the engine Amy clutched her book tightly to her:
    “Am I having an adventure like Philip, Jack, Lucy-Ann and Dinah?”
    “Of course you are.  It’s even bigger than theirs.”
    “Wow!”
    “Hey – I used to read those books when I was your age!”  Hatton smiled as he changed into second gear. “They’re the ones with Kiki the parrot aren’t they?”
    “Yes.  Kiki can talk and understand what Jack says.”
    “Good old Kiki.  I always wanted a parrot as a kid.”  Hatton laughed.
    “So do I, but I don’t think Mummy does.”
     
    As Hatton approached the hospital he could see a couple of his colleagues at the front entrance, and wondered whether the Press had already got wind of the story.  He hoped for Amy’s sake that she could be reconciled with her mother before the flashbulbs started popping and the whole story exploded in their faces.
     
    Picking up the child he was pleased to see the pavements around the hospital had been gritted.  He wondered whether it was for the patients’ benefit or to stop them taking legal action if they slipped over on the ice.  He rather favoured the latter.
     
    Treading carefully towards the front entrance, he saw PC Ford come towards him.
    “The Press are on their way.  There’s not much time left.  I’ll head them off here as much as I can. Roberts is on the back door.”
    “Good man.  Is the mother still on the maternity ward?”
    “Yeah.  It’s locked apart from visiting times.”
    “Get Greenslade outside the ward.  We’re going to need some backup.”
     
    “You don’t need to carry me now, the floor’s not wet.”  Hatton smiled and set the child down.  Amy, overawed to be in such a large building, suddenly took hold of his hand.  The small warm fingers in his suddenly reminded him of all the times when he hadn’t been there to hold his own children’s hands.  Margaret always took great pains to constantly remind him of the fact.
     
    “We’re going up in the lift, Amy.  Mum’s on the seventh floor.”  The lift doors swung open and Amy bolted towards the front entrance.
    “Amy!”  Faye was instantly on the alert and running after the fleeting child. “Come back!  We can go up the stairs if you want!”
     
    She caught up with the child and gave her a cuddle:
    “I’m not going in there.  No, I don’t want to!”  Tears had filled the girl’s eyes and she was panic-stricken.
    “You don’t have to go up in the lift.  Come on, I’ll walk upstairs with you.” 
     
    Faye and Hatton trudged up the stairs with Amy holding Faye’s hand.  She had calmed down by the time they reached the entrance to the maternity ward.  Hatton spoke through the intercom, and the door opened automatically.
     
    “Where’s Mummy then?”  Amy looked around and then looked back at Faye.
    “She’s in the side room darling; over there.  Off you go, and we’ll wait outside.”
     

CHAPTER 23
     
    Amy peeped around the door to the side room.  She saw a lady sitting up in bed feeding a baby with a bottle of milk.  Another lady and a man sat nearby.
    “You’re not my m ummy!”  She ran back out into the corridor. “Faye, that’s not my mummy in there!”
    “Of course it is.  Come on, I’ll show you.”
     
    Faye opened the door again:
    “Excuse me Dr Nichols, I just wanted to make sure it was you, and that they hadn’t moved you off somewhere else.”
    “Thank you so much for finding her.  I don’t think she recognises me now.”  Beth smiled as she finished feeding the baby.  She sat him up ready for winding.  Faye held out her hand towards the child.
    “Come in Amy.