Page 27 of Backwater Justice

“Well, she doesn’t look all that okay to me.”

“Oh, you know what I mean.” Myra gave atsk-tsk.

“How about this? We call her parents and have them call their PCP, and they can all meet us here?”

“Or maybe we can bring her to his office?” Myra offered.

Vanessa watched the two of them as if she were at a tennis match. “Excuse me. But can we please call my parents?” she said softly.

“Absolutely.” Annie whipped out her phone. It had rhinestones to match her boots.

“Ah, you brought the fancy one,” Myra teased.

“I am a fashion icon.” Annie perched her phone in the palm of one hand. “Phone number, honey.”

Vanessa thought hard. “I usually just tell my phone to call Mom. Or call Dad.”

The two women looked at each other and shook their heads. “Kids.”

“My dad’s office. Google ‘Rowan Plumbing Supplies’.”

Annie typed quickly. The contact information appeared almost instantly. Technology certainly had its good points. She hit the round circle with the phone icon that said CALL.

After two rings, a pleasant man’s voice answered. “Rowan Plumbing Supplies.”

“May I speak with Mr. Rowan?” Annie asked.

“Speaking. How can I help you?”

Annie handed the phone to Vanessa. “Daddy? Daddy!”

“Nessie, honey, is that really you?” The man was gasping.

“Yes, Daddy. It’s me.” Tears were running down her face.

“Where are you?”

“In the hospital.”

“Oh my Lord. Where?”

“Well, I’m not exactly in as in ‘in’ the hospital. I’m in the building.”

Annie motioned for Vanessa to give her the phone. “Daddy, there is a lady here who wants to speak to you.”

“Hello, Mr. Rowan. My name is Annie De Silva. It’s a very long story, but we found Vanessa in the stairwell of the hospital. She’s been through quite a traumatic experience and needs some medical attention. Her injuries aren’t life-threatening, but she’s pretty banged up.”

“What do you want me to do? Where should I go?”

“Can you phone your primary care physician and ask him if we can all meet at his office, including your wife?”

“Of course. Of course. Let me put you on hold while I try to get him on the other line.”

Annie smiled and nodded at Myra and Vanessa. It seemed like an eternity before Mark Rowan returned to the line. “He can see us as soon as you can get her there.”

“What is the address?” Annie repeated what he was saying as Myra put it into her phone’s GPS.

Myra looked up. “Should take us about twenty minutes.”