Page 72 of Dead Serious Case 5 Madame Vivienne

“Something like that,” Sam murmurs. It may not be the exact truth per se, but I’m now familiar enough with Sam’s gift to know the information is accurate regardless of how he got it.

“If he handled the birth himself, it’s possible there were some complications,” Mabel muses. “Or we were short-staffed that night.” She shrugs and takes another sip of her tea. “What did you say the girl’s name was?”

“Vivienne Wilson.”

Mabel seems to ponder that for a moment. “Doesn’t ring any bells, but like I said, I’ve seen hundreds of young mothers over the years. There’s only a few that stand out, and it’s never for good reasons.”

“We knew it was a long shot that anyone would remember her, but we wanted to ask about the doctor who delivered the baby.”

“Can’t you just ask her?”

“I’m afraid she passed away,” Sam says carefully. “We’re trying to track down her son. She gave him up for adoption, but it seems he’s been lost in the system.”

“Aw, shame.” She hums in sympathy. “I hope the little love had a good life. I’ve seen a lot of them given up, especially by the young ones, and I can’t blame them. Being a mother is hard enough, doubly so when you’re little more than a child yourself.”

“The doctor’s name was Stanford,” Sam says.

“Oh, Hayden!” She smiles widely. “Of course I remember him. Such a lovely man. He was actually one of the junior doctors. We must’ve been really understaffed that night if he had to handle one of the deliveries. I was so sad when he left. Some of the doctors and consultants can get awfully high-handed and snippy with the nurses, when we’re the glue that holds that place together, but not Hayden. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. Always happy to pitch in and hell, never thought that was beneath him. He was lovely with all the young mothers too. Had a real way about him. Used to bring us all doughnuts from a bakery near his place. I was so sad when he and his partner moved away.”

“It seemed fairly abrupt,” Sam says, “and it wasn’t long after our friend gave birth.”

“Now that you mention it, it was really sudden. We didn’t even know he was planning on moving.” She frowned. “Just came into work one morning and said he was moving. Not even to another London hospital. It was further down south… um… let me see.” She stares upward as if deep in thought. “Somewhere near the coast, if I remember right, which was surprising for a born and raised Londoner. He loved the city. I’d never have thought he’d leave but it was… Cornwall? No. Devon.” She nods in satisfaction. “It was Devon he moved to.”

“And he didn’t say why?” I ask.

She shook her head. “His partner was offered a pub down there, I believe.”

“So you think it was because of his wife’s job, then?”

“Husband,” she corrects.

“Pardon?”

“Well, they got married once it became legal, but they adopted a baby not long after they moved, from what I heard. A boy.” She nods and takes another sip of tea.

I share a look with Sam and I’m pretty sure he’s thinking the same thing I am.

Is it possible that the good doctor ended up adopting Viv’s son?

It just all seems a little too convenient: the moving away abruptly, the disappearing off the radar, the adopting a baby around the same time, and a boy at that. I mean, we could be way off, but it’s worth following up.

“We haven’t been able to find Dr Stanford.”

“I think Hayden took his husband’s name, even before they married,” Mabel muses. “Maybe that’s why you couldn’t track him down.”

“Do you remember his husband’s name at all?” I ask.

“I did meet him a few times.” Mabel smiles at the memory. “Such a nice man, absolutely doted on Hayden. They made a lovely couple. Now, let’s see, what was his name?” Her eyes narrow and she taps her fingers on her mug as she holds it in front of her. “Lucas was his first name. Urgh, I can’t think of his surname though, sorry.”

“I don’t suppose you know the name of their son?” Sam asks.

She shakes her head. “Sorry.”

“That’s okay.” Sam reaches into the pocket of his Mac and pulls out a business card which he hands to her. “If you remember his name, do you think you could give me a call?”

“Sure.” She smiles and takes the card from him, setting it on the table in front of her. “Now, would either of you like a biscuit?”

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