Close To Home (Westen Series) Read Free

property,” Benjamin interrupted before she could finish.
    Clint swallowed the caustic remark poised on his tongue. Whatever he wanted to say to their mother, who very obviously neglected her sons, he’d say to her in person when he took them home. And he would be taking them home.
    While he set the boys’ wrists, Clint quizzed them about where they lived. It surprised him to discover they had only to cross the street to get to the clinic from their home. He also learned that the boys loved pets and apparently their mother let them keep whatever they brought home with them. At best count he determined they had two black garter snakes, four hamsters, two guinea pigs and a warren of rabbits.
    “The mommy rabbit had more babies,” Brian informed him.
    Despite his anger at yet another neglectful parent, Clint found himself enjoying his patients’ chatter. The boys were entertaining and outgoing, a nice change from so many of the shy children he’d seen in the ER who were victims of various forms of abuse.
    After each boy’s arm was encased in a plaster cast Harriett took them into the kitchen for cookies and milk, while Clint filled out their charts. He expected to find a litany of accidents listed in the boys’ files—a clear sign that some sort of abuse had taken place. Instead, he found only the usual sore throats and earaches that marked modern childhood, several cuts and scrapes typical of any active child, and the sledding incident the boys mentioned.
    This made no sense at all. Here sat two happy, confident children, with none of the physical or emotional signs of neglect he usually saw. And yet, what kind of mother took the time to leave a consent for care with the local doctor and allowed her sons to walk over to his clinic by themselves? Why didn’t she have a babysitter to watch over the boys?
    “Damn it!” He slammed his fist down on the mahogany desk that had been in his uncle’s office as long as he could remember. “They’re great kids. She’s crazy to let them fend for themselves! Anything could happen to them—like today.”
    His decision made, Clint jerked off his lab coat, threw it in the corner chair, and went in search of the boys. He was going to take them home and give their mother a piece of his mind!
    * * *
    Harriett tried to talk him out of it, but Clint was determined to investigate the situation at the twins’ home. It had been months since he’d really enjoyed taking care of patients. Holding the body of one dying child was enough for him. He wasn’t about to let anything happen to these boys now.
    So, in the end, despite his nurse’s cryptic remarks that things were not always what they seemed, he and the boys headed across the street.
    “Mommy is...” Brian said as he held Clint’s hand with his good one.
    “...sleeping now,” Benjamin informed him from the other side.
    “Who watches you when your mother is asleep?” Clint asked as they reached the old three-story colonial directly across from his clinic.
    “Mama does,” the boys answered in unison.
    Did this woman truly believe raising these boys in a small town protected them—that the safety of a small community negated the need for supervision? His blood started to boil again as his temper re-ignited.
    The boys led him up to the front door. He followed them inside. The condition of the front parlor stopped him in his tracks. Either someone was attempting to knock out a wall, or the boys’ mother let them entertain themselves by hurling hammers into the drywall.
    He took a step into the room, but two small hands stopped him, pulling him backward.
    “We’re not allowed...” Brian began.
    “...in the construction rooms,” Benjamin followed.
    “I’m sorry boys.” Clint stepped back. At least the woman has some sense. “Why don’t you show me where your mother is.”
    “Mommy’s upstairs,” Benjamin bounced up the steps, while his brother chose to hold Clint’s hand and walk up beside him.
    Despite his