A Midsummer Night's Scream

he approved her visiting.
    Mel immediately called back. Naturally, the doctor wasn’t available. Mel left a message that he had received the physician’s message and agreed that it would be a good idea if Mr. Turner’s sister visited and that he’d arrange for it. There was a chance, however remote, that she might understand what her brother was trying to say.
    Social services would want a lot of paperwork filled out before they could get her to the hospital. And they’d have to arrange for a van with a lift for her wheelchair. Mel told the man he spoke to that he’d authorize Officer Jones, who knew her best, to come and get the forms to Sven’s sister and return them.
    That would generate at least fifteen or twenty more pieces of paperwork in triplicate for everyone to file.
    But Officer Jones said, “I could borrow my aunt’s van. Her late husband was in a wheelchair and it’s equipped with a mechanical ramp. She never even drives it anymore. She’s got herself a little Honda.“
    “Officer Jones, have you any idea how much time, trouble, and paperwork this has saved? Are you sure you want to do this?“

    “Nobody uses the van anymore. I like Old Lady Turner, and will be glad to fetch her and bring her home.“
    “You’re a good man. Thank you. And I wonder if—I shouldn’t even ask this, but I will. If there’s any way you can find out what they intend to do with all that money, I’d like to know.“
    “I’ll do my best to think of a way to bring it up,“ he said. “She likes talking to me. Is it important?“
    “Frankly, no,“ Mel admitted. “It’s sheer curiosity. Don’t bother if you don’t feel comfortable about this.“
    “I’m curious, too.“
    Mel said, “I’ll call the hospital back and tell them you’re bringing her to visit her brother. Be sure to go in with her and see if you can decipher what Sven is trying to say.“
    “He’s talking?“
    “Not exactly. He’s about half conscious and trying to say something. Nobody can tell what it is. Maybe his sister will understand him better than strangers.“
    Mel decided he should also be there at the meeting of brother and sister. But only in the background. He was casually loitering in the hall outside Sven’s room when Officer Jones wheeled Miss Turner out of the elevator. She greeted Mel politely. “Thank you, Detective VanDyne, for making this possible.“
    He smiled and nodded and followed them into the room.
    “Wheel me as close as you can,“ she said to Officer Jones.
    When she was close enough, she put her hand on her brother’s forearm and said, “Sven, I’m here. Hilda is here. And I’m going to see to it that you don’t lollygag around in this bed for much longer. Sven, open your eyes and look at me.“
    He turned his head toward her, his eyes opening slightly, a bit cross-eyed.
    “That’s better,“ Hilda Turner said firmly, and patted his arm rather roughly.
    Mel and Officer Jones exchanged looks that said, She’s a tougher lady than we knew. Mel realized that it was probably she, as the big sister, who had bossed Sven around since childhood, and he was accustomed to obeying her.
    “You’re going to get much better with me around, Sven. If nice Officer Jones can bring me here every day, or even every other day, I’m going to see that you come home soon, good as new. Do you understand me?“
    Sven, confined by tubes and monitors, managed a slight nod.
    “All right. Now tell me this word you’ve been saying over and over,“ Hilda said in firm voice. “Rabbit.“
    The nurses, the doctor, and everyone else in the crowded room clearly understood it this time.
    “Rabbit?“ Hilda asked. “What does that mean?“
    “Rabbit!“ he repeated loudly, then closed his eyes again and took a deep breath after this effort.
    “Sven, take a nice nap,“ his sister said, pressing a freshly ironed handkerchief to her eyes. “I’ll be back soon. You are going to recover.“
    She looked up at Officer Jones, and he turned her wheelchair around gingerly so as to not run over anybody’s feet or some tubing or pull the plug out of some important bit of medical equipment. Mel held the door open and followed them.
    “You’re a courageous woman, Miss Turner,“ Mel said. “And I suspect you, and only you, can make him recover.“
    “Would you like to go down to the lunchroom and have a cup of coffee or tea?“ Officer Jones asked Miss Turner.
    Her voice was now a bit shaky as she said, “That would be very