The Sholes Key (An Evans & Blackwell Mystery #1) by Clarissa Draper

ambulance.”
    “And?” Dorland asked as he pulled into traffic.
    “We’re going to go visit the son in the hospital.”
    Hospital parking was scarce. The closest place to park was two streets away in a residential area. An inhabitant of that neighborhood, obviously irritated by the constant flow of illegal parkers, was out of her house before Dorland could take the keys out of the ignition.
    “Can’t park there,” she yelled at Theo, pointing at the large “No Parking without Permit sign” above her head. “I’ll call the police, and then your car will be towed.”
    “Don’t bother,” Theo said to her. He reached into the back of Dorland’s car, pulled the ‘Police’ sign from underneath the passenger seat, showed it to the woman and placed it under the windscreen. “Watch our car for us, will you? Make sure nothing happens to it.”
    As they walked off, they heard her front door slam shut.
    The hospital was as full as the car park, but they had no problem finding their way around after locating the directory. They stopped at the gift shop before heading toward pediatric care. The brown-haired boy they were looking for was ready to leave the hospital. He sat on his bed wearing a Bart Simpson t-shirt, purple trousers, and Velcro trainers. He kicked his legs back and forth under the bed while flipping through a book about dinosaurs.
    “Funny that you like dinosaurs,” Dorland said.
    “Why?” the boy asked.
    “Because I found a dinosaur with your name on it down at the gift shop.”
    “It had my name on it?” He put his book down and leaned over to see the dinosaur hidden behind Dorland’s back.
    Dorland stood there. Finally, Theo grabbed the dinosaur from him and said, “See this dinosaur, do you recognize it?”
    “No.”
    “Well, this yellow polka-dotted dinosaur told me he’s lonely. What? What did you say?” Theo held the dinosaur’s mouth to his ear. “You want a friend named Steve? I don’t know anyone named Steve.”
    “My name’s Steve,” the boy shouted. “Do you think I could be his friend?”
    “I think you’d be a great friend.” Theo handed him the stuffed animal.
    “What do you say, Stevie?” said a woman’s voice from behind the officers.
    “Thank you,” replied Stevie, clutching the dinosaur tightly to his chest.
    Blackwell and Dorland turned around to see an older woman wearing a tracksuit. “You police?” she asked.
    Theo nodded and pulled out his warrant card. “We’re here about the missing persons report,” he said, quietly enough not to be heard by the boy. “Can we talk outside?”
    They left the room while Dorland entertained the young boy with dinosaur puppetry.
    “I’m Eva McCauley, Stevie’s grandmother,” she said. “This is awful, just awful. Stevie is confused right now; he keeps asking where his mother is. What am I supposed to tell him?”
    “I don’t know. Why is he here?” Theo asked.
    “Just a virus. He’s feeling better now.”
    “I’m glad. That’s a bit of good news in this situation. I just have a few questions. First off, has she ever left before? Or left Stevie alone for extended periods of time?”
    “No, she wouldn’t, especially when he’s sick like this. Never.”
    “Maybe she was frustrated or depressed or maybe she just needed to get away for awhile.”
    “You don’t know my daughter,” Eva said, getting angry.
    “No, you’re right, I don’t, but this sort of thing happens all the time when the situation at home proves to be too much.”
    “No. I can’t believe that, not when Stevie’s sick. No, never.”
    “When was the last time you talked to her?”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” Eva said. “Couple of weeks ago. Sometimes I avoid her calls. She’s always ringing but not wanting to talk or say hello, it’s always to ask me to watch Stevie. I can’t just drop everything and rush over. I’ve a job, too.” She lowered her voice when she heard Stevie giggling in the room. Standing quiet for a moment