The Real Macaw: A Meg Langslow Mystery

like most people’s idea of a hospital. They’d hung curtains on the windows and art prints on the walls, and painted the walls in soft, dark colors. The room I’d been in with the twins had been forest green with tan woodwork and a framed reproduction of a Rousseau jungle print on the wall beyond the foot of the bed. Grandfather had slate blue, chocolate brown, and Picasso.
    Unfortunately, the hospital’s efforts didn’t do much to disguise the fact that you were in a hospital room—they just made it look like a cross between a hospital room and a budget motel chain. A drop ceiling with acoustic tiles made the room less cold and echoing than the corridors, but it was still clearly something you’d usually only see in an institution. And it was hard to forget you were in a hospital when you were attached to an IV bag and a couple of monitors that beeped or hummed every few seconds.
    “I know what you mean,” I said. “I’ll see you later.”
    Out in the hallway I found Dad and the chief halfway down the corridor, talking quietly.
    “—have to wait and see,” Dad was saying.
    “What about hypnosis?” the chief asked.
    “That can be successful in cases of this kind,” Dad said. “But I think trying it right now might be premature. Too stressful for the patient, and not really that likely to produce results. The first thing to do is let the brain heal.”
    The chief nodded.
    “Can you wait a moment, Meg?” Dad asked.
    I wanted to say no, I was going home to be with my kids. But he and the chief both looked exhausted and I didn’t want to cause either of them any more hassle. So I nodded, and Dad dashed back down the hall toward my grandfather’s room.

Chapter 23
    “Just a moment. Yeah, right,” I murmured, although not loud enough for Dad to hear. I’d known him to say he’d be back in a moment and not turn up for hours. I looked at my watch. Fifteen minutes, I decided, and then I was going looking for him.
    I went down to wait by the elevators. There was a bench, but I was afraid if I sat down, I’d keel over fast asleep. So I stayed vertical, pulled out my cell phone, and called Michael.
    “Josh and Jamie’s residence,” Michael answered.
    “I’m glad you have your priorities straight,” I said. “How are they doing?”
    “They woke, they cried, they received new diapers, they ate, they burped, and they’ve gone back to sleep to work up the energy to do it all over again for you when you get home. How’s your grandfather?”
    “Conscious, and starting to sound like his old self again. He may or may not ever remember how it happened, but Dad says he’ll be fine.”
    “Good,” he said. “I want the boys to get to know their great-grandfather. Even if he is disappointed with how much slower human babies develop compared to the young of other primates. Orangutans, for example.”
    “He said that?”
    “I think he was joking.”
    “He’d better be,” I said. “Or I’ll go and whack him a few more times myself. Sorry to leave you to handle so much of today all by yourself.”
    “No problem,” he said. “Rose Noire was here most of the day, and when she had to leave, I recruited help. For the record, Clarence is a fairly promising babysitter prospect, but Caroline’s technique clearly shows that she’s had a lot more experience feeding creatures with hooves or claws.”
    “Oh, dear.”
    “Not to worry,” he said. “She was a hoot. That reminds me—in case Rob asks, our little video camera’s in the shop.”
    “In the shop? Why? What’s wrong with it?”
    “Nothing’s wrong with it, and I’ll probably let him borrow it once I’ve had a chance to download all our video. We can replace a lost camera, but I wouldn’t want to lose this week’s footage of the boys. And Rob already lost his own this weekend.”
    “Yes, he left it down here at the hospital while he was documenting his grandfather’s illness. I’ve got it.”
    “I’ll tell him. He’s been tearing the barn apart and starting to worry that one of the larger dogs might have eaten it or buried it.”
    “I’ll bring it home when I come—which will be as soon as Dad finishes here. I’m supposed to give him a ride. In just a moment, which damn well better be less than half an hour or he can walk home.”
    “No rush,” he said. “I’ll be here with the boys.”
    “And you have a full day of classes to teach tomorrow,” I said. “I’ll try not to be too late.”
    “As long as—oops,