Shadows in the Night [Hawkman--Book 12]

by Betty Sullivan La Pierre

  “At least there's help available to call in case you need it.” Hawkman glanced at Maggie, then again pointed out the window. “I noticed even another extension on the other side. What's that building?”

  “It houses people with Alzheimer's. There's no way they can leave without the staff knowing. Each patient has a wristwatch they always wear. It's rigged so it sends a message if they pass through one of the doors they're not supposed to. Then employees can also keep track of them in case they get past the line.” She threw up her hands. “A real state of the art contraption if you ask me.”

  “Very interesting,” Hawkman said, and then changed the subject. “I don't want to tire you out, but there's a couple of questions I'd like to ask you about your friend, Sybil.”

  “I'm doing fine. Go ahead.”

  “How well did you know her?”

  “We were friends before we came to this place. After her husband passed away, her health declined to the point she was afraid to drive, and it became too much for her to take care of their huge two story house. Sybil's children wanted to share their homes throughout the year, but she didn't want to be traveling all over the country every six months. She and I talked about this place after I'd broken my hip.” Maggie scowled, “The break wasn't so bad, but the pneumonia and having this horrible arthritis about did me in. No way could I ask George to drive me all over the place. Here they have a bus that will take you wherever you want to go, plus they have all the arts and crafts I love to do. So Sybil and I examined different places, but fell in love with this one; decided to check in together and be roommates. Then she ups and dies on me after almost three years. The doctors said her heart gave out. I miss her so much.” She peered into Hawkman's face with moist eyes. “Sybil never mentioned a heart problem.”

  “Are any of her children nearby?” Hawkman asked.

  Maggie pulled a tissue from the box on the coffee table and dabbed her cheeks. “One son lives in Klamath Falls. The other children live out of state.”

  “What's the boy's name?”

  She pointed across the room to a small desk built into the wall. “George, look in the first drawer and hand me my address book.” She tapped her temple. “I think his name is Jason, but let me check for sure.”

  George handed her the small tome and sat back down. Maggie thumbed through the pages.

  “Yes, here it is.” She read off the name, address and phone number. Then she lowered her lids into a questioning gaze. “Don't you want to write this down? Surely you can't remember all this stuff.”

  “I have a confession,” Hawkman said, pulling the recorder from his pocket. “I don't like to take notes.”

  She shut the book and broke into laughter. “George, you've hired the right man. I like him, and if any one can find the truth, I think he can do it.” She reached over and patted Hawkman on the knee. “You're my kind of cowboy.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Hampton. I can't promise we'll find a killer, but will do my best to put your minds at ease.”

  She waved a hand. “Please drop the ‘Mrs. Hampton’ bit; I'm not that old. Just call me Maggie.”

  Hawkman stood. “Maggie, I think I've overstayed my visit, but I plan returning tomorrow evening with the man I've hired for your approval. What's a good time for us to come?”

  “Around six thirty. I'll make sure I've had my dinner by then.”

  He turned toward George. “I hope you'll have had a talk with the management, so we can start the surveillance no later than Friday.”

  “I have an appointment at ten in the morning.”

  “If they don't agree with the plan, we might find it a bit difficult to move around without their permission.”

  George made a face and waved a hand. “Don't worry. It's in the bag.”

  Hawkman headed for the door. “I'll see you tomorrow evening.” Stopping, he turned and pointed at Maggie. “Don't forget to take your medicine.”

  She flitted her fingers in the air and chuckled. “Oh, my, you sound like George.”

  When Hawkman passed the recreation room, several people had gathered and a few were playing a game of cards. He paused and decided to cross over to the front door, to see where he should park next time. Cars in the parking lot were in special slots, each with a reserved sign in front. He spotted a two year old Cadillac and figured that it just might be George's. Strolling across the parking lot, he meandered over to the rear of the car and could see the writing on the placard which read, ‘Reserved for Hampton'. He smiled as he went back through the building and across the open alcove displaying the fish pond. The lights glistened off the waterfall, but it felt too chilly for anyone to be outside. He walked through the assisted living area and out the door where he'd parked his SUV.

  Once inside his vehicle, he gave Jennifer a call and let her know he'd be late. She sounded exhilarated, as she knew he'd started a new case, and wanted to know the details. He hadn't enlightened her previously, so promised to tell her all about it when he arrived home.

  Driving toward Copco Lake, Hawkman's mind drifted to Maggie Hampton. Quite a live wire mentally, but he could see her body had deteriorated and understood why she felt George couldn't take care of her needs. She had the freedom to come and go as she pleased, but Hawkman felt she had no desire to leave the Morning Glory Haven comforts. He'd come to the conclusion that both the Hamptons’ minds were sharp and he doubted their fears were false. It made him eager to dig into the lives of those now deceased. He'd need medical histories and hoped he could acquire them through their children, instead of having to go though Detective Williams to legally obtain the records.

  He planned to spend time at the facility so he could meet the staff and other residents. It might make it a little easier to find out about individuals and eliminate certain ones as being suspects.

  He came to the bridge over the Klamath River and could see the lights shining through the windows of the house. His wife seldom turned in before eleven, which meant he had a good hour of being questioned before bedtime.

  When he pushed open the door, Jennifer jumped up from her computer and greeted him. “I can hardly wait to hear about your new case.”

  Hawkman laughed. “May I put my briefcase down and grab a beer?”

  She grinned. “Only if you hurry.”

  They retired to the living room, and Miss Marple, their Ragdoll cat, leaped into his lap. “So what do you want, you little monster?” he asked, running his hand down her furry back.

  “I think she's tired of me. I had to scold her several times today.”

  “Uh, oh, our little pest has been a naughty girl.”

  “Forget about her; she's not going to tell you a thing.”

  Hawkman threw back his head and guffawed. “Okay, so what do you want to know?”

  “What does this new case involve?”

  “Possible murders at Morning Glory Haven.”

  She straightened in her chair. “You've got to be kidding.”

  “Nope.”

  “You're going to be talking with a group of people who can't hear, have a hard time getting around, and won't remember what happened fifteen minutes ago.” She rolled her eyes. “Boy, you've taken on a doozy.”

  He raised his brows and turned down the corners of his mouth. “You mean you don't want to help me out? You might be surprised.”

  She shook her head vigorously. “I think I'll pass.”

  “What if it gets intriguing?”

  Jennifer played her fingers across her chin and looked thoughtful. “Well, I might change my mind.”

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  * * *

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Thursday morning Hawkman arrived at his office, poured a cup of coffee, sat down at the desk and picked up the receiver. He reached Kevin and instructed him to be at the parking lot of Morning Glory Haven at six-fifteen. He'd show him up to Maggie's room where they'd meet the Hamptons. Afterwards, they could roam the halls and get the lay of the building.

  He
then punched on the speaker phone so he'd have his hands free to take notes and dialed Susan Palmer's number.

  “Hello.”

  “Is this Susan Palmer, the daughter of the late Fred Horn?”

  “Yes, it is. Who's this?”

  “My name's Tom Casey, a private investigator in Medford. I've been hired by George Hampton to look into the untimely deaths of some of the patients who resided at Morning Glory Haven. He mentioned your father, so I wondered if you have a moment to answer some questions.”

  “I met Mr. Hampton and his lovely wife, Maggie. This is really uncanny. I had many problems with my father's death. I'd just visited him the day before he died and we'd gone for a walk. He was cheerful and full of life. It really shocked me when I got the call the next day. I've had all sorts of doubts about his sudden death.”

  “Did you have an autopsy done?”

  “No, we didn't. The doctor said his heart gave out. We accepted the diagnosis, as he'd had some minor strokes right after mother died. I wanted him to come live with me, but he wouldn't think of it. That's one of the reasons we talked to him about moving into Morning Glory Haven. When he accepted, we felt much more comfortable knowing he wouldn't have to drive unless he wanted, as transportation was available. Also help was only a few steps away if he needed it. We were very impressed with the facility. It was ranked one of the highest in the state, so we felt good about it being close to familiar surroundings and his friends. Also, if the time came when he needed twenty-four hour care, all we had to do was move him to the next building.”

  “I understand and, yes, I agree it's a lovely place. Who was the doctor in charge of your father?”

  “His regular cardiologist is a woman, Dr. Eva Paulson. Dad told me, after going into the home, even with his normal appointments, she'd stop by about once a month or send one of her colleagues, just to see how he was doing. He really liked her and so did we. He didn't care too much for the associate. His name was Dr. Jeff Grahm.”

  “Did your father take medication on a regular basis?”

  “Yes, and as far as I know he was very good about it. He was also diabetic and kept good control over his blood sugar.”

  “I won't keep you any longer. I'm sure questions are going to arise as I dig deeper into the investigation. May I call you back?”

  “Absolutely, Mr. Casey, I'm thrilled you're looking into these untimely deaths. Please thank Mr. and Mrs. Hampton for hiring you.”

  “I sure will. Nice talking to you.”

  Hawkman tapped the desk with his fingers after hanging up. Glancing at his notes, he pulled the phone directory from the drawer and looked up Dr. Jeff Grahm. Mrs. Palmer didn't mention if he was a cardiologist. When he located the doctor's name, he found he had a private practice and was only listed as a MD. She spoke as if Grahm was an assistant to Dr. Paulson. He'd check this out, and circled the doctor's name.

  Flipping through the pages, he hunted for Dr. Eva Paulson. He didn't find her under physicians, so assumed she was affiliated with one of the local hospitals. Scanning the residential section, he discovered several Paulsons, but nothing under Eva. Her personal phone might have been listed under her husband's name.

  He thumbed through the notes he'd taken off the recorder after the visit with Maggie. He doubted Jason Patterson, Sybil's son, would be home, but decided to try. After punching in the number Maggie had given, he listened to it ring several times before an answering machine came on. Hawkman left a message, explaining who he was, the purpose of the call, and asked if he'd please contact him as soon as possible.

  Tonight he'd talk with George Hampton about any information he might have on his checkers buddy, Eddie Parker. He also hoped Hampton had good luck with the management meeting. If all went well, it would make the job of interviewing the staff a lot easier. He'd also like to find out how many deaths had occurred at the home in the past six months.

  At this point, he felt stymied by how little he could do until he had more freedom and information. He looked forward to the meeting this evening and hoped to hear Hampton had made progress.

  He kept himself busy during the afternoon by updating his books and getting checks written for bills. Before he knew it, time had rolled by and he found himself hurrying to get out of the office to meet Kevin.

  Hawkman pulled into the parking lot at Morning Glory Haven and spotted his colleague, arms folded across his chest, leaning against his pickup. He parked nearby and strolled over.

  “Are you ready for this exciting venture?” Hawkman asked.

  Kevin guffawed. The two men entered the lobby of the building. Hawkman pointed out the living room and the recreation room with juke box. He led Kevin to the elevator, then down the second floor hallway to Maggie's door where he knocked lightly.

  George invited them in and pulled up a couple of extra chairs. “Have a seat and we'll get this meeting under way.”

  Maggie soon came out of the bedroom, scooting the walker. Her fancy white pant suit decorated with sequins down the front, around the cuffs on both arms and legs, gave the appearance of an attire one would wear to the opera. Even her white flat heeled shoes had rhinestones embedded around the toes in a unique pattern. She gave a sparkling smile as Hawkman introduced Kevin. “My goodness, what a handsome young man. I don't think I'll mind being looked after by you two, for sure.”

  “Thank you, ma'am. You're not so bad yourself,” Kevin said.

  George laughed. “Don't pay a bit of attention to her. She loves to flirt and is full of baloney.”

  Hawkman turned toward George. “Did you have a meeting with management?”

  “Yes, I talked with the Executive Director, Mr. Robert Mackle, who in turn put in a call to the owner. Not wanting him to feel we were putting the home under scrutiny, I did as you suggested, and told him Maggie and I had received threatening phone calls, so I'd hired you to watch over my wife. At first, they were a bit anxious, but I think I satisfied their concerns by telling them I couldn't be here all day, and didn't want her left unguarded.

  “Great. Will they notify the staff to cooperate with us?”

  George nodded. “Mr. Mackle asked if you and your assistant could drop by their weekly staff meeting this evening.” He glanced at his watch. “In fact, they might be gathering right now. He wants to introduce you, so his people won't wonder where the strange men came from. I told him you'd be there.”

  “Good,” Hawkman said. “Did they put any restrictions on us?”

  “A couple. They asked you not to wear uniforms or carry a weapon. He felt if the residents saw men with guns, it would make them nervous.”

  “The no uniform request is fine, but we're licensed to carry our firearms and there might be a need for them. They'll be concealed, so it shouldn't cause any problems.”

  “If you desire, you can explain the situation to Mr. Mackle, as I know you don't go without yours,” George said, winking.

  Hawkman pushed his hat back with his index finger. “What he doesn't know won't hurt him.”

  About that time, a soft knock sounded. The woman Hawkman had seen downstairs, stood at the door. “Mr. Hampton, may I talk to you a moment, please.”

  He excused himself and conversed with her for a few moments, then turned toward the men. “Would you guys please come with me?”

  Hawkman, Kevin, and George followed the woman to the elevator, then down a long hallway on the main floor to the end where they turned into a room with a sign on the door, which read, ‘Conference'.

  All heads turned toward the two men. Expressions were wary and some even appeared frightened.

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  * * *

  CHAPTER SIX

  Mr. Mackle introduced George Hampton as Maggie's spouse, then turned the meeting over to him. George in turn explained the story he and Hawkman had concocted, then presented Tom Casey, the private detective he'd hired to keep an eye on his wife. Hawkman brought Kevin to the front and told how he, himself, or George would always be with
Maggie.

  “Until we get acquainted with the staff, we'll stop anyone from entering Mrs. Hampton's room, and ask for identification. I notice most of you wear name tags, which will help a lot. It will take us a few days to recognize the regular employees; but once that's accomplished, things should get back to normal and hopefully, we'll blend into your daily routine. We'd like your cooperation and patience while we provide Mrs. Hampton with protection. Thank you.”

  Hawkman stepped back and Mr. Mackle thanked him. The men left the conference area and headed back to Maggie's room. Hawkman flipped on his recorder as they again sat around the living room and discussed the plan.

  “Kevin will start the surveillance at noon Friday and stay until six, or until George arrives,” Hawkman said. “I'll take the alternate days, but you might see me around at other times, as I'll need to question the staff.”

  George turned to Maggie. “Does that sound okay to you?”

  She sighed. “I guess. So much for privacy. I'm afraid this is going to get very old.”

  Hawkman turned to her husband. “Tell me about your checkers buddy, Eddie Parker. Did he have family in the area?”

  He screwed up his face and put a finger in his ear. “I don't remember him ever talking about his family.”

  Maggie slapped his thigh. “Oh, George, he talked about his old maid sister all the time.”

  He furrowed his brow. “I don't remember him saying a word about such a thing.”

  She waved a hand. “Talk about getting senile, you're at the top of the hill and sliding down fast. Why, he talked about her constantly. You were too interested in getting into the checkers game. He called her Gracie. She'd visit him about once a week and he brought her in to meet me one of those times.”

  George looked surprised. “Really? Where was I?”