"There's only the one place to dump trash, evidently, and what's better, look!"
Hannah joined her. The door about halfway up the other side was a welcome sight, it was a single one letting through just enough dim light to see. Both of them squinted through the glass and metal twin of the other door. "I don't see anyone and we're in luck," Hannah whispered. "There's a stairway just inside."
Cautiously, Hannah tried the door. "It's unlocked too. Someone's watching over us!"
"Someone always does. But if that door is open that means the one who emptied the trash is probably coming back. Hurry and get in."
"She's in room eight," Hannah reminded Flora on the way to the second floor.
Flora stepped carefully and quickly climbing the stairs without a sound or a backward look.
Hannah followed just as silently, one hand on the stair rail, the other holding the silk flowers against her pounding heart.
Pausing at the second floor entrance, they looked as far down the empty hall as they could see. The floor was deserted, dimly but adequately lit.
"There it is, Flora! Number eight is right across the hall, couple of doors down."
They moved quickly and stole into room eight to look down on the patient in the bed.
"I've never met her," Hannah said softly. "But she looks about the right age, and the chart on the bed has Carrington on it."
Flora moved closer to the bed, bending toward Mattie. "I'll see if I can help her."
She gazed down with love and compassion on the still face as she put both her warm hands on Mattie's cold ones that lay on top of the white sheet-blanket.
Suddenly, Mattie's eyes flew open.
For two or three seconds which seemed like an eternity, Flora's brown eyes and Mattie's faded blue ones looked into each other's souls.
There was a noise outside the window at the front of the building and Mattie's eyes closed as suddenly as they had opened.
The noise was the low but unmistakable purr of a large and expensive automobile. Their fear made it sound like it was on the second floor with them. Someone had arrived and parked near the front door.
"It must be the doctor," Hannah gasped. "No one else would be coming here now."
"I've done all I can, let's go." Flora gave Hannah a gentle push to get her started.
Hannah recovered quickly, bolting to the door to look down the hall.
Wordless with fright, they retraced their steps down the stairs. Hannah held her breath, unaware the arrangement she clutched was making red marks through her sweat shirt.
They made it safely to the outside door and ran pell-mell into the parking lot, white feet flying through the darkness.
Flora was already fastening her seat belt when Hannah slid into the car and tossed the arrangement into the back seat.
"You're fast, to beat me as scared as I was!"
"Yeah, wings on my feet," Flora panted. "But I can hardly speak, I'm so out of breath. What do you suppose they would have done if they'd caught us?"
"I don't know, I didn't plan on getting caught," Hannah's giggle bordered on hysteria. She turned the lights on bright as they exited the dark parking lot. Eyes hunting the white line at the edge of the road, they rapidly put distance between them and the clinic.
"That car we heard must have been the doctor like I thought. I saw a big car pulled right up to the double doors."
Flora looked back, an uncertain expression on her face, "Is this the way we came?"
"No, there's a truck stop close by where we can get a cup of coffee and I can calm down before driving back. If that's all right with you?"
"Definitely. A cup of coffee sounds good to me right now."
It was a relief to pull into the busy and brightly lit truck stop. Every inch of it was lit up including the place where the big trucks parked, and the activity and other people were reassuring after their panicked escape from the dark parking lot.
Flora was impressed with the new truck stop's gift shop and varied necessities for truckers and other travelers. She admired the wide choice of pastries as they entered the restaurant. Looking around, they chose a booth where no one was seated close enough to overhear their conversation.
They had their coffee and pastry in front of them before Hannah ventured to ask Flora about Mattie.
"What do you think? Could you tell if Mattie's really been poisoned or maybe has a disease or something? And could you tell if you helped her?"
Flora's forehead wrinkled in concentration, weighing her words. "I don't know about the poison. I do know I didn't feel the presence of anything harmful."
"That's strange. There must not be any poison, then. I heard they thought there might be two kinds of poisons involved. Maybe it's out of her system by now. It's a good sign at least, that you didn't find any effects of it now. But, do you think you were able to help her?"
"No, I don't," Flora was positive. "She doesn't need my help, Hannah." She leaned forward, emphasizing her words. "Hannah, there's nothing WRONG with her!"
Chapter 12
"Joyce, let me talk to Fields. Tell him I'm calling from between a rock and a hard spot." Cas never got his feelings hurt by Joyce's unfriendly attitude. He just used her like any other piece of unfeeling office equipment and expected her to do her job. She did.
Laurence Fields answered immediately, "Cas, what's bugging you? Or is it who?"
"The way you phrased that, I guess you know."
"I've got a pretty good idea," Fields sighed. "Don't tell me, let me guess. It's dawned on junior there's going to be no body to autopsy, no inquest to waste time looking busy, no trial to make money on, and, most cruel cut of all, no pictures of him in the paper being a hero and pushing his career until something happens. Is that it?"
"Seems to be. He's a pint sized pest but he's pressing me to arrest Minnie Anderson for attempted murder. I can't deny there is a lot of evidence. The tests showing the two poisons in Mattie's system and the poison found at the cabin, both in the drink and the cream she was using. There's also the fact that Miss Minnie was the last visitor we know about. I don't think he's ever heard of the words circumstantial evidence. I put him off, but he's on me like a duck on a June bug. I told him I'd get back with him tomorrow, that we had a couple of things to check out. I feel like I'm hanging on by my toenails the way he's pushing."
"I resent being pushed as much as you do, but don't worry, Archie's got everything we need now."
"Can you tell me about some of it?"
"Sure. The place where Eugene works, the Rid-A-Pest people, are cooperating with us so there should be no problem. We've got access to the poisons locked in with that and the nursery service willing to testify as well. The exterminator jumped at the proof Archie had that they were being ripped off. They will testify for us and they have a good witness to throw in besides their own support."
"Witness? What witness?"
"Never mind, it's a long story. They had their own investigation going. What's important is you can call junior and promise him his pound of flesh." His lip curled, "He's not the type who would care a lot about whose flesh it is."
"Well, THAT I believe! Let me know what you want me to do, or if you hit a snag."
"Me? Hit a snag?" Startled disbelief dripped off the words.
"Yeah." Cas laughed. "I forgot who I was talking to. I'll call him." Cas grinned as he replaced the receiver.
* * *
There was no sound in the hospital room but Katie's footsteps.
Eyes closed, Mattie's peaceful features seemed unaware of anything around her including Katie's anxiety.
Katie nervously paced the small hospital room, torn between duty and love. The times she had relied on Mattie for advice and support came to her mind now that she was alone and couldn't call on her for the wisdom an older sister could give. She walked back to the chair beside the hospital bed, her eyes on Mattie as she slept.
She sat down in the chair, her eyes searching Mattie's face. At least she looked
at peace. "If only I knew what to do," she breathed aloud softly. Speaking softly aloud helped somehow, kept her from feeling so lost and alone in the silence. "Oh, Mattie, I need you."
At that moment, Mattie opened her eyes. Katie leaned forward so Mattie could see her.
"Go." Mattie said clearly.
"Mattie?" Katie held her breath, waiting for Mattie to say something else. It was the first time Mattie had spoken, hope made her heart beat faster.
After a few seconds of hopeful waiting there was no change of expression that she could see and no more words from her sister. Gently, Katie took her hand. It was warm, alive.
Again, Mattie's eyes flew open. "GO!" The one word sounded positive, then her eyes closed again.
Katie stood up, still leaning over to study Mattie's face, her heart pounding in her breast.
"It's a sign! That's what it is. It's a SIGN!" She spoke a little louder, wondering as always, if somehow, on some level, Mattie could hear her.
Then she straightened, a determined expression on her face. She glanced again at Mattie who now slept serenely on, then she strode resolutely around the bed and picked up the phone.
Her eyes on Mattie, Katie dialed the number Cas Larkin had given her.
"Pine County Sheriff's office," Gladys answered.
"May I please speak to Sheriff Larkin?"
"He's not in just now, but he will be soon. Can I be of help to you, or would you like to leave your number for him?"
"I'll leave a message, then, yes. My name is Katie Ellis, that's E as in edge, L as in love, L I S. Will you please tell him I'm coming? He will know what I mean."
* * *
At Rid-A-Pest, Eugene looked around and saw he was the last serviceman to sign in when he reported to work.
"No, I'm not," he corrected himself. "Elkins hasn't gotten here yet according to the log."
Just then the receptionist appeared at the door from the office and beckoned to him. "Mr. Austin?"
"Yes, what is it?" Eugene assessed her figure and her legs beneath the short skirt as he covered the distance between them.
Instinctively backing away she told him, "Mr. Buchanan wants to see you after you've finished your first job and had lunch. About one o'clock, he said."
"All right." He stopped, not going any closer. "Do you know what it's about?"
"No, sir. He just said to tell you." She turned away quickly and returned to her desk.
Eugene picked up the supplies he needed, his mental state making his actions slow and deliberate as he mulled over what Buchanan's summons meant. The summons with no explanation filled him with a chill foreboding. He had had contact with the plant manager only as a member of the service group. There had never been any personal conversation between them, even when he was hired. A man from personnel had done the orientation and introduced him to the other servicemen.
"This is no time to lose my nerve, he told himself. I've covered myself well and with the turnover they have, I doubt I'm going to get fired. Maybe he's going to give me a raise." Eugene smiled to himself thinking about a raise. It was just as possible as anything negative, as careful as he'd been. "I'll see what he has to say."
Before he left Eugene took time to look out toward the receptionist's desk. The girl wasn't there and the manager's office door was open. He decided against asking any questions that wouldn't be answered anyway and left. He would know soon enough why he was being called into the office.
As a precaution, Eugene looked over the orders he had on his clipboard. There were three of them, only one had to be done before the one o'clock appointment with the manager. It was a treatment which he could easily finish in time.
There had only been one of the no records jobs this week. 'I did that treatment for the lady on Murray Street where I did the landscaping. But I already had the supplies on my van for that, and there's no way anyone could know about that or what was on the van. And there was nobody here when I got back. He went out whistling and nodded at Elkins who was just coming out of the public phone booth across the lot. He didn't give it any thought until later that Elkins didn't have on his work overall at the time.
He finished his work, being extra polite to his customer and feeling Rid-A-Pest was fortunate to have him on its staff. He stopped at a fast food place to get a sandwich before returning to the plant.
When he went in he washed his hands and used the mouthwash he kept in his glove compartment before entering the office. He told the receptionist he was back and waiting for his one o'clock appointment to see Mr. Buchanan.
She nodded without getting up, feeling safer with the desk between them, the way he always looked at her. His sitting there made her nervous and when the hands of the clock finally crept to five till one, she picked up the phone to announce him, early or not.
"Mr. Buchanan," she said without looking at him. "Eugene Austin is here."
He noticed the first name and the absence of Mr. as his boss said, "Send him in."
Eugene gave up trying to look cheerful as he walked toward the door. He could still feel the coldness of the receptionist's attitude and now had the gut feeling this meeting was not going to be a good thing.
"Have a seat, Mr. Austin." Buchanan did not smile as he indicated a chair. But then, Eugene had never seen him smile, even when he addressed the men to make an announcement.
"Eugene Austin, sir."
"I got a call from the sheriff this morning, asking me to allow you time to meet with him about a case he is working on."
Eugene didn't answer, wondering what that could be about, and Buchanan continued.
"It's in regard to Mattie Carrington. I understand you're a friend of the family?"
"Yes, sir," Eugene felt relief relax his taut muscles, thinking it must be something routine.
Buchanan opened the top drawer of his desk. "Here's the message I took. He wants you to be there at that time. I told him I would send you over there. You can put your coverall in your locker and go now, if you want to. Leave your clipboard at the desk and someone will take care of the rest of the work you have scheduled."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Eugene took the note and left before his relief could get too obvious.
"Friend of the family," he thought, feeling elated. "I like the sound of that."
He unzipped the coverall and put it in his locker. "I'd like to have told him what a really close friend I am." He grinned to himself.
* * *
Cas walked slowly. There were two cars parked in front of the flower shop. He hoped the customers would be gone by the time he got there. The last one was standing by the cash register as he entered. The merry little jingle of the bells on the door made him start slightly.
He nodded to Miss Mayme as she rang up the sale and continued on to the office. He gestured to Miss Mayme to come to the office when she finished.
It wasn't long before Miss Mayme joined Cas and Miss Minnie, wondering what had brought Cas over in the middle of the day. She thought uneasily it must be something important.
"I put the closed sign on the door," Miss Mayme volunteered.
"Good. I need to talk to both of you."
"Bad news?" She frowned, "Did he run?" Miss Minnie's brows drew together in a worried frown.
Cas grunted in disgust. "Not with the prize almost in his hands." He shook his head. "What I came to tell you is the prosecuting attorney is leaning on me about this case. I'm going to have to make an arrest."
Miss Minnie looked stricken. "You, you're going to arrest me?" Both sisters were pale, appalled at the idea.
Cas quickly laid his hand over hers, "No. I'm not going to arrest you. All I told him was I will make an arrest this afternoon. You two close the shop. Or call Connie, if you want to keep it open and be in my office at two o'clock. Tidbit has agreed to meet with us there."
"Tidbit," Miss Minnie chuckled, getting her color back. "It fits him."
"You mean Attorney Two-Bit Tidwell," Miss Mayme put in. "That's what I've been calling h
im."
"Right, that's just as good. Nobody calls Harold Tidwell Harry. He evidently wants to see that I do my duty. Anyway, I've got enough now. It won't hurt to go on and make an arrest while we've got our culprit here and unsuspecting. It will be hard on Katie, but there's no avoiding that."
Miss Mayme bowed her head. "I guess there's no other way?" She looked up, her eyes pleading for Katie. "Couldn't you, isn't there some way you could tell her later?"
"No. I'm sorry. I was wondering what to do if she refused, didn't want to come. But she called and left a message with Gladys. She will be there. It will be best for her in the long run, and she'll get over it. Maybe sooner this way. With this meeting to shed some light on things."
He got up to leave, "Be there at two o'clock. We'll get the arrest behind us and make Tidbit happy, get him off our backs."He allowed himself a small grin.
"But, are you sure this will make him happy?" Miss Minnie still looked worried. "He sounds like he's out for blood."
"Or at least ink," Miss Mayme put in spitefully. "Newspaper ink, I mean."
Cas nodded. "You've got that right. As Fields said when I told him about it, our prosecuting attorney doesn't really care who gets arrested, as long as I do arrest somebody." His eyes softened when he looked at Miss Minnie. "That's one of the reasons for having Katie there. To show him how wrong he was to suspect you."
"She's going to be a character witness for me," Miss Minnie said thoughtfully. "But, Cas? "
"Don't worry about it. Everything's been taken care of. Just be there at two o'clock." He left quickly and didn't look back.
* * *
At home, Connie had been glad to come in and keep the shop for the Anderson sisters and promptly made a call of her own.
"Connie! How nice to hear from you," Cathy Taylor sat down with the phone to get comfortable and talk. "I started to call a couple of times. What have you been doing all week?"
"I've been doing statements again, but I've only got a couple more before I'm finished with this batch."
"Good. I figured it was something like that keeping you busy. Let's go to Fort Craig and shop as soon as you get a chance."
Recipe for Trouble Page 19