The Changeling - Chapter Six

The Changeling

Chapter Six

After the bones had been taken away for analysis, the house became strangely silent.

There had been a few days of frenzied activity, checking the house and gardens for more evidence.

An item had been found with the bones – a metal box. The forensics team had said that it was almost as though the child had been holding it in its arms. John didn't know what the box had contained. He guessed that he would find out one day.

Like he guessed he would find out who he really was!

Blood had been taken for genetic analysis, to find out if he truly was Henry or not. He still couldn't get his head around what had happened. Still didn't know who he really was.

His childhood had been a little strange, but still, his parents loved him. Wrapped him up in cotton wool almost. They just didn't have it within them to kill their own child.

But even if they did, why would they take another Mother's son?

There were so many unanswered questions, so many uncertainties.

The newspapers had been full of the story of the skeleton in the garden, guessing as to its identity and what had caused the child's death. After a while, the newspapers lost interest in the story and stopped reporting on it.

The weeks passed and John began to feel calmer and stronger. He went back to work. To start with, his colleagues wanted to know all of the gory details, but as they only knew as much as John, they soon became bored and stopped asking.

**********

One month on, the phone rang. 'Hello, John Thompson speaking'

'Hello Sir, Chief Inspector Manning here, I have some news. May I come to see you?'

John and the Inspector sat in the lounge drinking tea. 'Well, Mr Thompson, we have some results to share with you. But maybe I should call you Mr Maxwell now, as the genetic testing has confirmed that is who you are.

I am pleased to say that your parents are still alive and would love to see you. Your Mother has always said that she believed you to be alive and well and she has finally been proved right!'

'The bones have been examined and they do appear to be those of John Thompson. The bones show numerous fractures, which coincide with John's hospital records'

'But how did he die?'

'I'm afraid that he met a violent end. His skull was badly fractured, and there is no doubt that that is how he died. As so much time has passed, there is really no way of knowing what caused the injury, but we suspect foul play. The coroner still has more tests to carry out, which will hopefully shed more light on the matter.'

'There is one more thing that I would like to share with you Sir,'

The inspector pulled the small metal box out of his bag. 'We found this buried alongside the body, and wondered if you knew anything about it.

He handed John the box. It was a small tin, the sort that used to contain biscuits. He opened it, and nestled carefully within it was a teddy bear. John looked at it in surprise.

'I've seen this bear somewhere before,' He said, trying to place where.

He got up and walked to the sideboard, taking out the photo album and flicking through the pages.

'Yes, here it is, he said – there's a picture of me, I mean him, holding the bear, but in the picture it has a ribbon around its neck. But the ribbon is missing now.

He looked at the bear, puzzled. Something was niggling at the back of his mind. The ribbon! Yes! The ribbon!

'Inspector, I know where that ribbon is! It was tied around the box with the newspaper clippings in!'

Sadly he realised that this small fact showed with certainty that his parents really did have something to do with this child's death, that they did bury him, along with his beloved teddy.

Why, why did his parents steal him, and why did John die. He would probably never know the truth now!

The Changeling - Chapter Seven

The Changeling

Chapter Seven

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50 years earlier

Maggie and Den Thompson sat beside their son's hospital bed, trying to calm the fractious toddler.

'I wanna go home!' John sobbed. 'I want my teddy!'

'It's OK darling, we're just waiting for the doctor to visit and then we can go home!' Said his Mother soothingly.

'Wanna go NOW!' Shouted John.

A soft knock came at the door. 'Come in' Said Den.

A white coated doctor entered the room. He walked up to John and tousled his hair. 'And how is my favourite patient today?' He asked, smiling.

'Arm better. Wanna go home!' Said John, looking petulantly at the doctor.

'OK, OK.' Chuckled the doctor. 'You can go home. I just need to talk to Mum and Dad a minute, then you can go. But mind you, don't go running riot and falling over with that sling on!. I don't want you back here again.'

The Doctor turned to Mr and Mrs Thompson. 'Can we step outside and speak for a moment please?'

John's parents nodded and followed the Doctor, looking at each other anxiously.

'Is John OK?' Asked Maggie. 'I thought you said it was only a small fracture and that it would heal on its own with the sling in a few weeks.'

'Yes, yes, that's right,' Said the Doctor, 'But there's something else I want to talk about.'

He ushered Maggie and Den along the corridor and into a small office.

'Please, sit down.' he said. 'I want to discuss John's injuries.'

Den and Maggie looked at the Doctor, who sat across from them behind a mahogany desk.

'It was just an accident,' Said Maggie. 'He fell off the swing, he's always falling and hurting himself. He's an active lad.'

'I've looked through his notes, he's had quite a few accidents and fractures in the last year hasn't he.'

'As I said, he's an active lad', said Maggie, looking confused.

The Doctor rested his hands on the desk, leaning towards the couple. 'Well, I'm sorry to say that his numerous injuries have flagged him up as a possible victim of abuse, and we have had to report the matter to social services. John will be put on a watch, and if there are further injuries, then will have to take the matter further and involve the police!'

'What are you trying to say! Are you saying that we would hurt our son!' Den shouted at the Doctor.

'We would never hurt him. How dare you accuse us of that! We love him, I don't understand how you could think that! We're taking our son home. We're taking him home right now!'

Den and Maggie stood up, and marched out of the room, back to their son.

'Come on John, we're going home, right now!' Said Den hurriedly.

Maggie helped John to get dressed, being careful of his broken arm, the boy looked from his Mum to his Dad and back, confused.

'Mummy, why you cry? Daddy, why you angry? John is a good boy!'

'I'm sorry John', Said Maggie, drying her tears. 'You are a good boy. Mummy and Daddy are a bit sad, but it isn't about you.'

John hugged his Mother with his good arm. 'Smile Mummy and Daddy', he said, looking uncertainly at them.

Den gathered his son into his arms and the family walked out of the hospital, back to their family home.

The Changeling - Chapter Eight

The Changeling

Chapter Eight

For the next few weeks, Den and Maggie didn't let John out of their sight. His arm began to heal and he was soon back to his normal, active self.

'I still can't understand why the Doctor thought that we could ever hurt him.' Maggie said, smiling at her son, as he sat on the floor, playing with his cars, making brum, brum noises.

'I know', replied Den. 'We just can't let him have another accident. They would probably take him away from us and the police would investigate.'

'But surely they wouldn't say that we had hurt him? They can't send us to jail, we've done nothing wrong! Said Maggie, tears in her eyes.

'It is a worry,' Said Den. 'We can't prove that we didn't hurt him! This is a nightmare. Anyway, it's a lovely day, shall we all go for a little walk.'

'John,' Said his Dad gently, 'Do you want to go for a walk?'

'Park, park,' Replied John happily.

'Go upstairs and get your coat then, and we'll be off,' Said Den, smiling.

John left his cars and pattered across the room in his bare feet and, with his favourite car still in his hands, he ran up the stairs.

Den and Maggie smiled at each other, happy that John was happy!

'Coming down in minute,' shouted John.

Maggie climbed the stairs, smiling, to help John get ready.

John ran along the landing towards her. Too late, Maggie saw the toy car at the top of the stairs.

'JOHN' She screamed as her son's foot stepped onto the car.

In slow motion John slipped and fell. He toppled backwards, the back of his head hitting the ground with a sickening thud. He slid and tumbled like a rag doll down the stairs, caught by Maggie half way down.

'John, John,' she screamed.

John looked up at his mother, his eyes wide and afraid. She hugged him tightly. 'Its OK baby, its OK, Mummy's got you!'

She carried John to the sofa and sat with him on her lap.

'Maggie, we need to call an ambulance, he's badly hurt,' Den said in a shocked voice, looking down at the pale, quiet face of his son.

John's eyes closed and he made a strange, gurgling sound. He became limp and still in his Mother's arms.

'JOHN, JOHN,' Maggie screamed! 'No, dear God no,' She shook her son, willing him to open his eyes and smile up at her. But John would never open his eyes again!

'I'm going to call an ambulance,' Den said shakily, sitting down beside his wife. 'We need help.'

Maggie looked down at the lifeless body of her son and back at Den, confused, devastated, numb.

Minutes passed, Den sat next to his wife. 'We have to phone,' He said quietly.

Maggie looked up, her eyes full of tears. 'We'll go to jail,' She sobbed, we can't! I can't go to jail!

'But we have to do SOMETHING!' said Den.

'Let me just have some time with him, please,' Whispered Maggie.

They sat, cradling John. The hours passed. The room began to grow dark around them.

Maggie turned to Den, her eyes blank. 'John's tired, I think I should put him to bed.'

'But Maggie,' Pleaded Den. 'He's dead, look, he's gone cold and stiff. We need to get help, it's not to late!'

'No, no, you're wrong!, Shouted Maggie. 'He's just sleeping! I'm putting him to bed'

Maggie carried her son's lifeless body upstairs and gently put him to bed. 'Sleep well John,' She murmured. 'See you in the morning.' She leaned down and kissed him tenderly on the forehead.

She walked along the hall to her own bedroom climbed into bed, curled into a foetal position and fell asleep. Den lay down next to his wife cuddling her and cried himself to sleep.

The Changeling - Chapter Nine

The Changeling

Chapter Nine

Den awoke suddenly, the bright morning sunlight streamed into the room. He lay, and the events of yesterday crashed down upon him.

Singing! He could hear singing!

Down in the kitchen, Maggie bustled around, making breakfast. He pulled back the covers and walked downstairs, glancing at the still closed door of his Son's room.

'Ah, morning darling, it's a beautiful day.' She kissed him on the cheek, smiling and happy.

'We've run out of milk, I'll just nip down to the shop. I'll be back in a bit.'

Den stood, numb and confused and watched Maggie walk out.

**********

Maggie took a short cut through the park. What a lovely day, she thought, and sat down on a bench to enjoy the sunshine for a while. She felt strange today. Her head felt fuzzy, confused, but she didn't know why. Maybe a sit down would help.

**********

'Come along Henry, get a wiggle on,' called Jenny. 'Let's go for a little walk while Granny gets breakfast ready.' Henry smiled up at his Mother.

'Like park,' He said.

'OK, the park it is then,' Said Jenny, laughing.

Hand in hand they walked down to the park.

'Jenny? Jenny, is that you?' Called a voice.

Jenny looked around at the grey haired lady walking towards her through the park.

'It's Mrs King isn't it,' Jenny said, smiling.

'Yes, that's right dear, I haven't seen you in this neck of the woods for years, visiting your Mum?'

'Yes,' Said Jenny. 'My husband is away on business, so I thought we'd come down for a visit.' She smiled down at Henry. 'It's much nicer here than in smelly old London isn't it.'

Henry smiled up at his Mother. 'Like Park!' He said.

Jenny smiled at Mrs King. 'He's such a lovely boy.'

The two women carried on chatting, catching up on old times.

Neither noticed Henry slip away, nobody say him run across the park, chasing a squirrel with glee.

**********

Maggie sat on the bench, feeling a little better. A small noise beside her made her turn. A blonde haired boy sat down beside her.

'Me chase squirrel,' Said Henry, smiling up at Maggie.

'John?' Said Maggie in surprise. 'How did you get here on your own? Where's Daddy?'

'Daddy at work!' Replied the little boy.

'Well, it was very naughty of you to walk here on your own. Come along, let's go home.'

Maggie took the boy's small hand in her own, stood up and walked towards home.

The Changeling - Epilogue

The Changeling

Epilogue

POST MORTEM EXAMINATION

NAME OF THE DECEASED:

John Thompson

AGE:

3 years

REPORT:

The remains are that of a 3 year old child, identified via medical records as John Thompson.

The bones show signs of numerous fractures, spanning from birth until the time of death.

There is a partially healed fracture of the left humerus and several other fresh long bone fractures, which occurred either at or shortly before death.

There is a fresh basilar skull fracture, which is likely to have been the cause of death.

Examination of the bones reveals that they are fragile and show signs of the disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Genetic analysis of the remains confirms this diagnosis.

CAUSE OF DEATH:

Death was most likely caused by the basilar skull fracture, caused by Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

VERDICT:

Accidental death precipitated by pre-existing brittle bone disease. No foul play is suspected.



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THE END

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