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Certain details in this story, including names, places and dates, have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.
HarperElement
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First published by HarperElement 2019
FIRST EDITION
Text © Cathy Glass 2019
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2019
Cover photograph © Voisin/Phanie/Getty Images (stock photo posed by models)
A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library
Cathy Glass asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
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Source ISBN: 9780008341985
Ebook Edition © September 2019 ISBN: 9780008353728
Version: 2019-06-03
Contents
1 Cover
2 Title Page
3 Copyright
4 Contents
5 Chapter Eleven: Exasperated and Worried
6 Chapter Twelve: Play Nicely
7 Chapter Thirteen: Not Responsible
8 Chapter Fourteen: Hospital
9 Chapter Fifteen: A Breakthrough?
10 Chapter Sixteen: My Fault
11 Chapter Seventeen: Accused
12 Chapter Eighteen: Leaving
13 Chapter Nineteen: Shocking
15 About the Publisher
LandmarksCoverFrontmatter
List of Pagesvvi112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201202203204205206207208
Chapter Eleven
‘It’s only happening after contact,’ I told Tess on the phone. Very worried, I’d telephoned her straight away, and thankfully she was still at her desk at 5.30 p.m. Lucy and Paula were taking care of Kit and Molly. ‘Either the children are getting very upset at contact and they’re reacting by being sick or it’s something they’re eating there. I can’t think what else it can be.’
‘They weren’t ill on Wednesday, were they?’ Tess pointed out.
‘No. So what was different? I’ll keep a close watch on Kit’s rash and take him to the hospital if necessary. They haven’t got any other symptoms and I’ve given them nothing new to eat. We’re having lasagne for dinner, which they haven’t had before, but we haven’t had dinner yet.’
‘How did they seem when they came out of contact?’ Tess asked.
‘Quiet, but not obviously upset.’ Tess would know that most children took time to adjust to seeing their parents at contact, not because they didn’t want to see them, but because they were anxious at being in care and only seeing them occasionally.
‘I’ve read the contact supervisor’s reports for Monday and Wednesday,’ Tess said. ‘Nothing stands out. I won’t get today’s report until Monday. I think I should observe contact on Monday. Will you tell Molly and Kit I’ll be there, please?’
‘Yes, and Tess, I’m still waiting for the details of any food they’ve had at contact.’
‘I’ll chase it up. Is it all right if I give the contact supervisor your email address and ask her to email you the details direct?’
‘Yes, please,’ I said. ‘I find it difficult to believe it is anything they’re eating there, as Aneta will be monitoring what they have closely, but I need to include it