affected by their environments that we have to know as much as we can about their surroundings,’ she went on. ‘About what impacts on their lives.’
‘I’ve become fond of the Fletchers,’ said Harry. ‘I hope you can help them.’
So different, this morning. So completely unlike the man she’d met.
‘I’ll certainly do my best,’ she said. ‘But it’s very early days. This is really just a fact-finding mission.’
Harry put his mug down on the desk behind him. ‘Anything I can do,’ he said, as he turned back.
So cold. A different man. Just wearing the same face. Still, she had a job to do.
‘Tom was referred to me by his GP two weeks ago,’ she said. ‘He was presenting with extreme anxiety, difficulties at school, trouble sleeping, aggressive behaviour – both at school and at home – and even the possibility of psychotic episodes. Taken together, these are all very troubling symptoms in a ten-year-old boy.’
‘I know his parents have been very concerned,’ said Harry. ‘As have I.’
‘I don’t know how much you know about psychiatry, but—’
‘Next to nothing.’
Jesus, would it kill him to smile? Did he think this was easy for her?
‘The normal procedure is to see the child first, to establish some sort of rapport – even trust, if possible. If the child is old enough, which Tom is, I try to get them to talk about what their problems are. To tell me why they think they’ve been referred to me, what’s worrying them, how they think it might be addressed.’
She stopped. Harry’s eyes hadn’t left her face but she could read nothing from his expression.
‘It hasn’t worked too well with Tom yet,’ she said. ‘He’s really quite skilled at saying the minimum he can get away with. When I try and steer him towards talking about the various incidents – with this odd little girl, for example – he just clams up. Claims it was all a bad dream.’
She paused. Harry nodded at her to continue.
‘Then I try to bring in the rest of the family,’ she went on. ‘I observe how they interact with each other, try to spot any tensions, any sign of discord. I also take a full family history, medical and social. The aim is to get as complete a picture as possible of the family’s life.’
She stopped. This was proving even harder than she’d expected. ‘I’m following,’ said Harry. ‘Please go on.’
‘There’s always a physical examination,’ said Evi. ‘Of the referred child and any siblings. I don’t carry it out myself, I find it interferes with the rapport I try to create with them, but Tom, Joe and Millie have all been examined by the GP.’
Harry was frowning. ‘Are you allowed to tell me what he found?’ he asked.
Evi shrugged. ‘They’re fine,’ she said. ‘Physically, they’re all healthy children, with no significant medical issues, all developing normally. I’ve carried out a couple of evaluation tests myself with them. If anything, in terms of speech, cognitive functioning and general knowledge, Tom and Joe seem particularly well developed for their ages. Both would seem to be of above average intelligence. Does that accord with what you’ve observed?’
‘Completely,’ said Harry, without pausing to think. ‘When I met them they were bright, funny, normal kids. I liked them a lot. Still do.’
The Fletchers were his friends. He wouldn’t be able to be entirely objective. She’d have to win his trust too.
‘It might also be worth mentioning that the GP found no evidence of abuse with any of the children. Either physical or sexual. Of course, we still can’t rule it out entirely, but …’
He was glaring at her. Maybe he needed a reality check.
‘When a child is as disturbed as Tom appears to be, it would be irresponsible to ignore the possibility,’ she said, knowing her voice had hardened. Something in Harry’s eyes flickered back at her.
‘The most significant feature of their case, for me,’ continued Evi, consciously trying to lower and soften her voice, even though he was starting to piss her off, ‘is that the family’s troubles seem to date from their moving here.’
Definitely something in his eyes.
‘Tom’s record at his old school was exemplary,’ she said. ‘I’ve spoken to his former GP, his old football coach, even his old scout master. They all report a normal, well-adjusted, happy child. Yet the family moves here and it all goes wrong.’
Harry had dropped his gaze. He was staring at the floor now. He looked sullen. Did he imagine she thought he was to blame?