Devil’s Waltz. By: Jonathan Kellerman

cadets at inspection.

Cindy settled in the rocker with Cassie in her arms. Cassie molded to

her like butter on bread. Not a trace of tension in the little body.

Cindy closed her eyes and rocked, stroking Cassie’s back, smoothing

sleep-moistened strands of hair. Cassie took a deep breath let it out,

nestled her head under Cindy’s chin, and made highpitched contented

sounds.

I lowered myself to the floor and sat cross-legged-shrink’s analytical

lotus-watching, thinking, suspecting, imagining worstcases and

beyond.

After a few minutes my joints began to ache and I got up and

stretched.

Cindy’s eyes followed me. We traded smiles. She pressed her cheek to

Cassie’s head and shrugged.

I whispered, “Take your time,” and began walking around the room.

Running my hands along the dustless surfaces of furniture, inspecting

the contents of the toy case while trying not to look too

inquisitive.

Good staff. The right staff. Each game and plaything safe, and

age-appropriate, and educational.

Something white caught the corner of my eye. The buckteeth of one of

the LuvBunnies. In the dim light of the nursery the critter’s grin and

those of its mates seemed malevolent-mocking.

I remembered those grins from Cassie’s hospital room and a crazy

thought hit me.

Toxic toys. Acridenial poisoning.

I’d read about a case in a child health journal-stuffed animals from

Korea that turned out to be filled with waste fibers from a chemical

plant.

Delaware solves the mystery and everyone goes home happy.

Picking up the nearest bunny-a yellow one-I squeezed its belly, felt

the give-and-rebound of firm foam. Raising the toy to my nose, I

smelled nothing. The label said MADE IN TAIWAN OF LUVPURE AND

FIREPROOF MATERIALS. Below that was an approval seal from one of the

family magazines.

Something along the seam two snaps. A trapdoor flap that could be

undone. I pulled it open. The sound made Cindy turn. Her eyebrows

were up.

I poked around, found nothing, fastened the snap, and put the toy

back.

Allergies, right?” she said, talking just above a whisper. “To the

stuffing-I thought of that too. But Dr. Eves had her tested and she’s

not allergic to anything. For a while, though, I washed the bunnies

every day. Washed all her cloth toys and her bedding with Ivory

Liquid. It’s the gentlest.”

I nodded.

“We pulled up the carpeting, too, to see if there was mold in the

padding or something in the glue. Chip had heard of people getting

sick in office buildings-‘sick buildings,’ they call them.

We had a company come out and clean the air-conditioning ducts, and

Chip had the paint checked, to see if there was lead or chemicals.”

Her voice had risen and taken on an edge again. Cassie squirmed.

Cindy rocked her quiet.

“I’m always looking,” she whispered. All the time-ever since

thebeginning.”

She covered her mouth with her hand. Removed the hand and slapped it

down to her knee, pinkening the white skin.

Cassie’s eyes shot open.

Cindy rocked harder, faster. Fighting for composure.

“First one, now the other,” she whispered-loud, almost hissing. “Maybe

I’m just not supposed to be a mother!”

I went over and placed my hand on her shoulder. She slid out from

under it, shot up out of the rocker, and thrust Cassie at me.

Tears streamed from her eyes, and her hands shook.

“Here! Here! I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m not meant to be a

mother!”

Cassie began whimpering, then gulping air.

Cindy thrust her at me again and, when I took her, ran across the

room.

My hands were around Cassie’s waist. She was arching her back.

Wailing, fighting me.

I tried to comfort her. She wouldn’t let me.

Cindy threw open a door, exposing blue tile. Running into the

bathroom, she slammed the door. I heard the sound of retching,

followed by a toilet flush.

Cassie squirmed and kicked and screamed louder. I got a firm grasp

around her middle and patted her back. “It’s okay, honey.

Mommy’s coming right back. It’s okay.”

She coiled more violently, punching at my face, continuing to

caterwaul. I tried to contain her while providing comfort. She jerked

and turned scarlet, threw her little head back and howled, nearly

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