A Thymely Death, page 16
Sheila and Walter can predict who will die next. Were those people going naturally…or were they pushed to an inevitable conclusion for other reasons? She rolled away from Michael's sleeping body to lie on her side. And then what about Mr. Ulrich's death certificate? It says he died from Parkinson's disease. Maybe he tried to swallow a bite of cookie and a crumb got caught in his throat. Surely the coroner would have found evidence… Maybe not. People make mistakes. I only know that my gut tells me that Raleigh wasn't necessarily to blame…
Olivia closed her eyes to concentrate.
People die at retirement facilities, that's not new. But do so many people die in just a month?
Olivia's eyes opened. She curled her body so that her knees touched her chest.
In a fetal position, she remembered a conversation with her mother.
"Would you rather live in a care facility?" Olivia had asked that day. "Professionals will be on call 24/7. You might feel more comfortable."
"Olivia, I'd rather you had a little money left when I'm gone, to pay bills and get on with your life."
"You are more than money to me, you're my mom and I don't want you to go."
Olivia remembered sobbing as her mother held her hand. She was so patient with me those last months.
The months of treatments and the fear of loss had washed away during the weeks of outbursts. Olivia realized finally that she'd care for her mom at home. She got the courage to tell Don and went ahead. Not because of the money, but because she wanted to spend all the time she had left with Mona.
Olivia punched her pillow into a ball and then rolled over on her back. Head sinking into the softness, she closed her eyes. Finally her breath softened, becoming more regular. Aware that sleep approached, she sighed and then fell asleep.
When she awoke the next morning, Michael was sitting on the side of the bed. "I brought you coffee." His lips grazed her cheek. "You have to get to work and I have to drive down the hill."
She opened one eye, seeing steam rise from the mug. "Hot," she said, closing her eye.
He placed the mug on the nightstand. "I feel bad. Since I was tied up all day and then I fell asleep last night, you didn't have chance to tell me more about your new job."
"Yes, you did fall asleep.” She opened her eyes, raising her head, and thumped her pillow. Shoving it against the headboard, she leaned back to smile at him. "While you were asleep, I processed my first day of work."
"Are you going to like Hello Age?"
"I can tell you more tonight." She touched the outside of the coffee mug. "Still hot."
"Give it one more minute to cool down. Do you mind if I shower and get going? I have a lot to do today."
A ping went off inside her head. Her eyes opened wider. "Are you okay? Anything you want to tell me?" She tossed out the question just to see if he'd duck or volley.
"I'm great," he said. "Just perfect. Going to see my lawyer about business. I'll be back for dinner, let's say around six?"
Olivia swung her legs over the side of the bed. She lifted the coffee mug to her lips and took a sip. "Lovely, just right."
Michael tousled her hair, making his way toward the bathroom. She heard the shower start, then smelled the sweet scent of lavender-musk body wash.
When he emerged from the bathroom, she'd left the bed to look out the window toward the woods. He had a thick towel wrapped around his waist. "How about I bring dinner home? I can stop at the Thai restaurant on the way up the hill."
"Satay chicken?"
"And two entrees," he added, "with pineapple rice for you."
This time Olivia circled the driveway at Hello Age fifteen minutes earlier than the day before. Steering toward a parking spot, she noticed a barn at the very back of the lot. I wonder what that's used for.
She parked the Ford in the shade. But instead of heading to the nursing care and employee entrance, she walked in the opposite direction toward the outbuilding.
Drawing closer, Olivia smelled a distinctive odor. Smells like fresh paint. A five-gallon can with three brushes and a metal lid opener stood by the front entrance. The door was closed, but an open lock hung on the hasp as if waiting for someone to return.
I don't want to knock because of the wet paint. So instead she removed the lock, hanging it on the metal hasp as she tugged to pull the door open.
"Anybody here?" When no one answered, Olivia stepped inside. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she looked around.
"Not what I expected," she said aloud.
Old furniture, rolled-up rugs, and boxes filled the room. Against every wall, chairs and tables had been stacked. At least six dining tables had been turned over, with boxes crammed between the upside-down wood legs. A narrow stairway rose up behind the furniture, heading to a loft. The opposite wall provided a backdrop for several china cupboards and two six-foot-tall bookcases. This place looks like a used furniture store.
She inhaled, smelling the familiar scent of lemon oil furniture polish, along with a touch of mildew. Probably from the old fabric on the sofas. Walking closer to a china cabinet, Olivia reached out to pull open a drawer. Inside she found silver cutlery, knives, forks, and spoons.
She lifted one knife, feeling its heft in her hand. Not silver plate, more like the expensive kind. Must be worth a fortune if it's a service for twelve. She slid the drawer closed. A scraping sound from the loft above made her look up.
"Anybody here?" she called again, feeling her heart flutter. The rickety stairway, dusty and worn, did not look safe. Walking closer, she put out her foot, tentatively testing the bottom step. Probably just a cat or maybe a mouse…
As Olivia drew her foot back, she heard her name.
"Olivia Greer. What the hell?"
Spinning around, she saw Flex Million. He glared at her from the doorway.
"This is private property," he announced, his eyes narrowing. He looked her up and down before adding, "Unless of course you came to visit me."
Olivia shrugged. "I called out, but no one answered. Since the door was unlocked, I thought I'd have a look. Part of my Hello Age campus tour."
He shrugged. "Oh yeah, I remember, the campus tour. This is your second day of work and you're already snooping around."
"Not snooping. I'm learning about my new job location. You must know that's important." She felt embarrassed. She also felt agitated, as if he had an advantage. He's standing in front of the door. This is just the situation I wanted to avoid.
"If you didn't come to find me, then get back to your own job. Temporary assistants belong in their office, not in the maintenance area."
Olivia ignored his threat. She turned to look over the room. "What is all of this, if you don't mind me asking? Looks like a used furniture store."
When he didn't move away from the door, Olivia pointed to the wood hutch. "That looks expensive. My mom had one like that, filled with all of her treasures, ones she collected over the years. I looked in the drawer—"
"You what?" He walked closer to pull open the drawer and look inside. "You can't do that, this isn’t your stuff." He shoved the drawer closed. "It belongs to the residents."
"Just curious." Olivia's voice sounded calmer than she felt.
"You better leave that silver alone," he warned.
Since he no longer blocked the exit, she edged closer to the door. Before he could stop her, she shoved the door with her foot and stepped outside. Moving a few feet away, she pulled her phone from her pocket. If I pretend to take a call, I'll look less scared. Boy, he gives me the creeps, but I don't want him to know. It would give him power over me that I don't need.
When he stuck his head out, she announced, "Gotta go clock in. Thanks for the tour."
He sputtered and disappeared inside, closing the door behind him with a yank.
She began to sprint across the parking lot.
Approaching the entrance, she took shorter strides, and as she drew closer she came to a walk. By the time she stepped inside, she was no longer out of breath. On the elevator she thought about what she'd learned. So Hello Age has a storage area for lots of antique furniture and valuables. Maybe residents keep their extra belongings there instead of foisting them on family members. Not everyone appreciates old stuff, even if it was Granny's from a bygone era.
The elevator door slid open. She looked toward the reception desk. No Elsie this morning. Olivia walked toward her office when a familiar man appeared behind the desk, whistling softly.
Walter rested his gnarled hands on the counter and looked at her. "What can I do for you?"
"I wanted to say hi to Elsie."
"Out sick. How can I help you?"
"I met you last week at the Ulrich funeral. I've been hired as the new part-time administrative assistant." Remembering how residents could forget names and faces, she added, "My name's Olivia Greer."
"Yep. I remember you. Sheila told me they hired you. What brings you to the front desk?"
"I have an aunt who's looking for a retirement community. I wondered if you had any brochures I could share with her?"
"Oh, we got brochures." He reached under the counter, coming back with three glossy folios, all showing happy residents on the front cover. "We've got one brochure for every group," he added. "Is your aunt a woman of color? I have this one with Asians on the front, this one with blacks, and this one with other tones of brown skin."
Olivia looked at him sharply. Does he realize how he sounds? She decided to ask, "Are you being sarcastic?"
Walter's eyes suddenly softened. "Nice catch, young lady. I thought you'd just come for the job, but I see you are a keen observer and aren't afraid to ask good questions."
Olivia returned a smile as he continued to talk. "Sheila said you spent your lunch break with her yesterday. I was pretty sure I liked you when she told me that, but now I know I like you. Here's the info you want." He shoved the glossy brochures across the counter toward Olivia.
Olivia pushed them back. "I don't need these and I don't have an aunt."
"And so you lied to me." His bushy eyebrows wiggled up and down.
"I did lie, but I'm feeling very peculiar about this place and I want to talk to someone. I have an innate curiosity. I call it my inner detective." She smiled engagingly.
When he stared at her, she continued, "I feel like something's being hidden right in plain sight. I was up last night trying to sort out what was keeping me off balance, besides your bus driver, Flex Million."
"Oh, he's a creep. Let's make that clear. Even the old ladies have figured him out." He leaned on the counter. "So say more about what's bothering you exactly."
Olivia sighed. I am confiding in residents when I've been strictly ordered to keep my mouth shut as a member of staff. I've gotten involved with these people. Only two days on the job and I'm already worried about them.
"For one thing," she leaned over to whisper in his ear, "how much does this place cost?"
He stood up straight, a serious look on his face. Gesturing with his index finger, he nodded to invite her to his side of the desk. When she walked around, he pointed to a small black box on the counter.
Her eyes flew open. "Someone listening?" she mouthed.
His head bobbed up and down.
She returned to her side of the counter before speaking. "I have to get to work," she said in a loud voice. "Nice chatting with you." Olivia waved and winked.
Okay, so now I'm really uncomfortable. Why would management need to eavesdrop on an old man volunteer at the reception desk?
A tingle of apprehension raced down her spine.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
A few minutes before two o'clock Olivia shut down her computer. With only a light to turn off, she was ready to go home.
She had to admit the solitude of her office affected her mood and spirit. Sitting by myself, inputting data about the dead makes me feel jumpy and out of sorts. She made a hasty exit through the building and into the parking lot. She ignored the outbuilding and unlocked her car. I'm not going to think about Flex Million or that crazy outbuilding for the rest of the day.
Once out of the parking lot, she turned onto the mountain road. The sense of relief felt immediate. It's only two fifteen, I'm going to stop at Mother Earth and buy myself a new plant. Maybe that will help settle my nerves. As she drove into town, the sun made her blink as it lowered behind the trees. Scattered bits of light bounced off her windshield. She lowered her visor, keeping her eyes on the road.
After she found a parking place, she walked toward Mother Earth. The wood gate stood slightly ajar. Olivia opened it slowly, anticipating the serenity of the garden.
Someone had recently watered; drops of water still clung to leaves. She took a moment to appreciate the smell of fresh loamy soil.
"In the back," called a voice, "be with you in a minute."
Olivia took note of the greenhouse a few feet away. I bet that's where the houseplants are. She entered the glass door, inhaling the humid earthy aroma. Varieties of fern attracted her instantly. She stood in front of a lacy maidenhair fern, resisting the urge to touch the tender leaves. I want them all, but only one today. Her eyes shifted to a larger fern in the back.
"Are you in the greenhouse?" came the voice.
"I'm right here," she answered.
"Let me know when you're ready to check out."
Olivia picked up a Boston fern and looked under the plastic pot for the price. I could transplant you into a bigger clay pot; I bet you'd like it in our bedroom in that sunny corner next to Maidenhair. Ferns like to hang out together. That's what I've heard. Decision made, she left the greenhouse, making her way to the cash register. She heard a strong voice speaking angrily. Instead of interrupting, she ducked to the side.
Echo's voice, sounding harsh, spoke out. "I moved here to open a nursery and plant shop. It has nothing to do with you. I didn't even know you lived in Lily Rock."
She held her breath.
"You don't even know your own mind. You may think it's a coincidence, but I mail you a check every month, and you knew where I lived by my return address. Stop kidding yourself."
That's Cookie.
"I keep telling you to use direct deposit like everyone else. Then we wouldn't be having this discussion," Echo retorted.
"And you are changing the subject yet again. Are you here to stalk me? Do I need a court order?"
Olivia's stomach clenched. She stared at the plant in her hand. Maybe it's okay to interrupt this fight. They aren't getting anywhere. She called ahead to give them notice. "Is anyone at the register?"
Cookie looked up. "Hey, Olivia." His eyes darted at Echo and then back. “I think I already told you we used to be married.”
"Only for a few years," Echo said dryly. "Then he left me for another woman. No warning. Just goodbye."
Cookie rocked back on his heels, biting his lower lip.
He doesn't dare disagree. She'll only ramp up the anger. Olivia looked at the plant in her hands. "Glad to see you remained friends." She held back a grin, raising her eyebrows at Cookie.
For a minute she thought he'd explode, but then he took a breath. He nodded at her.
"How much is the plant?" Olivia asked, leaving no room for more squabbling.
Echo took the pot. "Ten dollars with tax," she said, slipping the fern into a paper bag.
Before she could pay, Cookie said, "See you later."
"Later," Olivia called. She turned to Echo. "Thanks so much," she said, lifting her plant from the counter.
"Oh, you're welcome. Now that you've heard us arguing, I might as well ask, have you known my was-band very long? I mean, you're single and he's single and I just thought you may have met, you know, in a Lily Rock bar or something. He used to work at the academy."
"I did meet him at the academy," Olivia admitted. "He's dating a friend of mine." As soon as she said it, she felt regret. Oh man, I blew it. She doesn't need to know that her ex is dating. Not if she's the type to move her business right next door. What are you thinking, Olivia? "Nothing serious though," she added quickly. "They're mostly friends, at least colleagues, that's what it seemed like, weeks ago, months really, not even important after he left the academy and started his bakery in town."
Stop babbling, Olivia. You sound like an idiot.
"Is that so…" Echo looked thoughtful. "He didn't mention anyone to me. What's her name again, your friend?"
Olivia ignored her question. "I have to go now. Thanks for the plant. Love your nursery and garden." She walked briskly away, holding her purchase to the side to protect the delicate fronds.
Once on the boardwalk, Olivia looked next door toward Thyme Out. I want to check on Raleigh, but I'd better put the plant in the car first.
Fern on the back seat, she rolled down the window an inch for air before locking the car and walking back across the street. She entered the bakery. "Where is everyone?" she asked Cookie, who stood behind the counter.
"We cleaned and painted, but the usual crowd hasn't returned. Business has been slow since the break-in. I don't know what else to do." He used a towel to wipe the already clean counter.
"So this one incident keeps the coffee drinkers of Lily Rock away?"
"Honestly, I'm wondering if my only employee may be the reason. People can be uncomfortable with the gender thing, and the walls were filled with gender references."
Olivia looked around the room. "I don't get that, but I can't argue with the evidence. No one is here." She glanced into Cookie's eyes. He shook his head.
"So another topic? You and your ex really don't get along."
"You can say that again. Want a muffin or a cookie?"
She came closer to inspect the freshly baked items. "What do you do with all the extras at the end of day?"
"I can sell some as day-old, but mostly I send them to Hello Age. The residents aren't picky."
Olivia laughed. "A resident offered me one of your thyme shortbreads just a few days ago. And then Flex said he came to pick up trays of cookies for some event. I think they keep dozens of cookies frozen at Hello Age, just in case they need them."
