The Plague Doctor by E. Joan Sims

nasty-tasting concoction without a fuss. After a particularly bad bout of whooping cough in my fourth year, I developed a hatred of lollipops and the pharmacist.
    Needless to say, Dr. Baxter’s office did not hold many pleasant memories for me. The one good thing was that I did remember every inch of the place. I knew right where his desk and his files were. This would be a piece of cake.
    We sat in silence and watched as the owners of the Main Street stores turned off their lights and locked up to go home for dinner and a good night’s sleep.
    I found myself yawning in the toasty warmth of the car just thinking about it. I stretched my shoulders and neck and casually looked out of the back window. I was horrified to see the red glow from the brake lights extending like a beacon from our hidey hole!
    â€œMother,” I whispered harshly, “do you have your foot on the brake?”
    â€œOh, my goodness!”
    She took her foot off the pedal and we lurched forward into a large overhanging evergreen bough. The heavy limb slapped forcefully against the wide glass windscreen and snapped off one of the windshield wipers. It went flying into the air and fell in the middle of the street with a loud metallic tinkle.
    â€œTurn off the engine now!” I hissed. “Damn! We might as well send up a flare just in case some poor idiot hasn’t noticed us!”
    â€œThat’s it! I’m leaving. I’ll walk home. You two can fend for yourselves. I’m just not cut out for a life of crime. Paisley, you’re obviously much better at this than I, you do it.”
    She pulled the keys out of the ignition and threw them in the back seat. I turned around to try to locate them in the dark and saw a car approaching. I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, or rather, by the collar of her Calvin Klein black leather jacket just in time to prevent her from opening the car door.
    â€œDuck down! Somebody’s coming.”
    Cassie and I dove for the floor at the same time and banged each other on the head so hard we saw stars.
    â€œOw! My God, Mom, I always knew you were hardheaded,” she whispered. “I think I’m bleeding.”
    I struggled to clear the ringing in my ears, “Don’t be a goose. That’s just something wet down here on the carpet.”
    I felt around with my hand on the floorboard.
    â€œYuck! Wet and sticky. Remind me to get the car cleaned this weekend.”
    â€œSure thing. If we’re still at liberty.”
    â€œAre they gone, Mother?”
    I dared a peek up over the seat.
    â€œYou mean, is he gone?’”
    â€œHe who?”
    â€œHoratio, that’s who!”
    I could hear the anger in her voice.
    â€œDid he see us?”
    â€œI certainly hope not! How could I ever explain this utter nonsense to him?”
    â€œWhat in the world is Mr. Horatio Raleigh doing out at this time of night?”
    â€œMaybe he’s two-timing you, Gran.”
    â€œDon’t be foolish, Cassandra. You know we don’t have that kind of relationship.”
    â€œMaybe you don’t, but he does.”
    â€œHe probably has a stiff to prepare for a funeral tomorrow.”
    â€œDon’t be vulgar, Paisley.”
    Cassie and I sat back up in the seat and looked around cautiously. All the stores were now closed. The only sounds we heard were the katydids and the crickets singing in the yards of the big houses that still bordered the edge of the business district of Rowan Springs.
    â€œIt’s now or never,” I whispered. “You still with us, Mother? Or are you going to fink out again?”
    She sighed dramatically, “I’m here, aren’t I? Just please do it quickly.”
    â€œOkay. Here’s what we do. Mother, you open the front door and push down on the little button so the overhead light won’t turn on. Cassie will sneak out of her door, and I’ll get out on this side. We’ll cross over the street up by