He had his leather messenger bag over one shoulder and his coat already hanging over his arm.

“Her skin is burning,” I said, lifting June into my arms.

She felt hot enough to scald.

I grabbed the Braun thermometer from the changing table, wiped the sensor tip with an alcohol pad, and gently pressed it into her ear canal.

The digital screen loaded for two agonizing seconds.

The display flashed bright red.

The electronic chime sounded four sharp times.

One hundred four point one.