“I see, and Mrs. Kerry’s belongings, when did they go missing?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask her. She only told me when I mentioned my shoes. Why are you investigating again?” George crossed his arms over his chest.
“It seems some possessions have disappeared from these people also. I have a fairly good idea who did it, but I can’t prove it.”
“Who?” Everyone asked at once.
“Did anyone ever notice a woman in nightgown and robe, uncombed hair wandering around?
“Yeah, I think her name is Myrtle. She’s allowed in the solarium, but sometimes she wanders too far and they come looking for her. You don’t think she’s stealing our stuff?”
“Well, think about it. She’s wearing a loose robe. It wouldn’t be difficult to hide something under it. If you absconded, as George put it, with a pair of shoes or an umbrella, how would you hide it? Or even a sweater. Other than the jewelry, most of the stuff that disappeared is difficult to hide.”
“She took jewelry?” George put his hand to his cheek. “Oh, my.”
“I’m not positive it’s her. But anyone walking out of room carrying stuff would surely be noticed. I saw her last time I was here. She ignored us, which I thought was odd since there was so many of us. When I looked back, she was gone. She had to have gone into someone’s room and since she’s from skilled nursing, it certainly wasn’t hers.”
“So what do we do about it?” Elmer stepped forward. “I mean, how do we catch her and if we do, then what?”
“Good question. The best way to catch her is to keep your eyes open. All of you.” I directed that comment at George. “Everyone has to work together. If you catch her, you can report her. Maybe you’ll get your stuff back.”
“Maybe we can just talk to her,” Genevieve said. “I’d hate to get the poor woman in trouble. I bet she doesn’t even realize she’s doing something wrong.”
“That may well be. You do whatever you all think is best. I have to go, but I’ll be back.”
Delores came and hugged me. “You can’t leave until you tell us what you did to your foot.”
I laughed. “I didn’t do anything to it. It’s tendonitis.”
“Oh my,” Edith said. “I had that once. I hope it gets better soon. You shouldn’t be walking around on it. Didn’t your doctor tell you to stay off it?”
“Yes, but I have the walking boot.”
Edith shook her head. “That doesn’t mean you’re supposed to be out and about. It’s to immobilize your foot so you can’t bend it and use that tendon. You’d better get home, elevate it, and ice it. That’s the best thing you can do for it.”
“Okay, I’ll do that.” Sylvia and I bid them goodbye and left.
“What a group,” Sylvia said. “Do you visit often?”
“Actually, I just met them. This was only the second time I’ve been here. My sister’s husband is Delores’s nephew.”
“I’d love to visit them again. I wouldn’t mind working in a place like that.”
“I thought you wanted to be a beautician.”
“I do, but I’d love to be a beautician here. Do they have a building for independent living also?”
“I have no idea, why?”
“They often do and some of them have a beautician on staff.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes, I find them delightful. They remind me of my grandparents.”
I laughed. “That’s wonderful. I think it’s a career you should pursue once you finish your schooling. How long is that going to take anyway?”
“About 13 months. I can’t wait to start. The sooner I finish the better.”
Sylvia dropped me off and boy was I glad to be home. My foot hurt like hell. Much as I hated to admit it, Edith was right. I needed to stay off it for a while. Therapy was enough. I shouldn’t be walking around, but I sure would like to go to our cabin. Maybe Ed would take me up there for a couple days. It’d be good R&R. I decided to ask him when he came home.
Chapter Twelve
I must have dozed off because all of a sudden Ed was standing over me. “Are you okay, baby cakes?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, I’m fine. Just a little tired.” I sat up and rubbed my eyes. “I was thinking, how about we go up to the cabin for a few days? I need to stay off this foot and it’d give me a chance to relax.”
“Only if you promise you won’t start cleaning. You remember how that place looked?”
“How could I forget?” I’d not been back since we discovered the body. Ed had been up there several times doing his thing.
“It’s pretty dirty, Bea, I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. I know you; you’ll start cleaning and really mess up that ankle.”
“What’s wrong, Ed? Something’s bothering you. And it’s not the cabin or me, you’re worried about something.”
Ed stood and paced the room. “Some money’s missing from the Senior Center.”
“Did you tell Callie?”
Ed shook his head. “I don’t want to involve her. At least not yet. I want to make sure it’s not a mistake. Horace is going through the books again.”
“You don’t think it’s a mistake, do you?”
“My gut tells me it’s not.”
“How much is missing?”
“About six hundred dollars.”
“That’s a lot of money. Any idea where it went?”
“I think someone embezzled it.”
I didn’t like the sound of this. Embezzlement was a serious offense. “Who had access to the money?”
“Besides me? Dang near everybody.”
“What do you mean everybody? I thought only the treasurer and secretary had access to it.”
“For the most part, but depending on who was running activities and fundraisers, they have access to the money.”
“Have you talked to anyone about this?”
“So far just Horace, that’s why he’s going through the books. I don’t know who else to approach.”
“Do you want me to look into it?”
“Good lord, no! Let see what Horace comes up with and if necessary, I’ll talk to Callie.”
Guess Ed didn’t want me nosing around. But still, if someone took money, he was liable to get the blame. I didn’t like this. Didn’t like it at all. Already the wheels started turning. There had to be a way to investigate without Ed knowing and without creating alarm and suspicion within the group. But where to start?
“I’m warning you, Bea. Don’t even think about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know that look. Promise me you won’t go snooping around.”
“I promise I won’t go snooping around.” Didn’t mean I wouldn’t ask a question or two.
“Maybe we should go up to the cabin for a few days. Give us something to do and keep you out of trouble.”
I shook my head. “No, you’re right. I’d only want to clean. I’ll be better here if I rest. Besides, I have therapy.” As if I’d go up there knowing this. Nope. A plan already formed in my mind. Matilda Gardner was in charge of the bake sale. Maybe we’d have a little chat about how much it brought in.
Chapter Thirteen
The next morning, pain shot from my hip down the back of my leg all the way to my ankle. Great, just what I needed, my damn sciatica acting up again. I eased my way to the side of the bed and pushed up on my elbow. Apparently tendonitis wasn’t bad enough. Probably from wearing that damn boot. Opposite leg of course. So now I had pain on both sides of my body.
I maneuvered my feet to the floor. It wasn’t the first time this happened. I had to stretch, help work out the stiffness. I stood tentatively, leaned forward with my hands on the dresser, stretching my leg out behind me. Didn’t do much good. I sat down to put on the lovely boot. Stupid thing was a pain in the neck with all those Velcro straps. Strongest darn Velcro I ever saw. Once it stuck, it was like scraping flies off flypaper.
Wasn’t the easiest thing to put on, especially bendi
ng over. My stomach got in the way. I bent over farther and tried to pull the straps loose. I lost my balance and toppled head first, just barely missing the dressing. I lay there a minute trying to get my bearings. For two cents I’d take that damn boot and fling it across the room. Not that it would do much good. Probably put a ding in the wall and Ed would have a fit. And where the heck was Ed anyway? Surely he’d heard the big thud. Or maybe not if he didn’t have his hearing aids in. Darn man didn’t remember to put them in unless I reminded him. More than likely didn’t want to.
Well, I was down there now, maybe I’d have better luck putting it on. I slid around, pulled my knee up, and tried to position the boot. Didn’t take long to realize that wasn’t going to work. Only one thing to do. I got to my knees, grabbed a hold of the bed and pulled myself up. I really needed to lose some weight. This was insane. I sat for a few minutes to catch my breath.
I finally managed to get the darn thing on. Thank God I didn’t have to put two of them on. My arm hurt from trying to catch myself when I fell. My ankle wasn’t feeling particularly good, and my hip and butt hurt down to my calf. For two cents I’d go back to bed.
Problem was my hip hurt worse when I was lying down. Last time it happened the doctor said give it a rest, stay off it, stay in bed. Yeah, like that was going to work. I hobbled to the kitchen, praying Ed made himself breakfast.
Praise the Lord, he not only made himself breakfast, he stood there with a platter of waffles stacked a foot tall. Breakfast for a week.
“Morning, honey pot.” He set the plate on the table and held out my chair. “How are you this morning?”
“Don’t ask and I won’t have to lie to you.”
“I noticed you spent a restless night. Ankle bothering you that bad?”
I shook my head. “No. My damn sciatic nerve is acting up again.”
Ed set a plate in front of me. “Awe, shucks, that’s too bad.”
I couldn’t help but notice the grin that escaped before he turned away. He figured I was incapacitated. Guess he didn’t know me as well as he thought he did. I’d figure a way to get around. Right after breakfast I’d call Ethel. She was always up for doing something. I wasn’t about to let a little thing like sciatica keep me down. Never had before. Besides, the more I moved around the better it felt. It was sitting or lying down when it hurt the worst.
No sooner had I poured syrup over my waffle, the phone rang. Ed grabbed it.
“Hello. Hi, Ethel, yeah she’s here. Hold on.” He handed me the phone with a warning look. “Don’t think you should be running around today. You need to rest.”
Rest? Me? Who did he think he was talking about? When did he ever know me to rest? Did this man forget who he married? I took the phone and smiled. Let him think what he wanted. Wouldn’t make any difference to me.
“Hi, Ethel. What’s up?”
“Just called to see if you needed anything from the grocery store. I know you can’t drive with that boot.”
“I’d love to go with you.” Did my sister honestly think I’d pass up a chance to go out?
“Are you sure you’re up for it?”
“Of course I’m up for it. I can still walk you know. That’s the whole reason for the boot.”
“I thought the doctor told you to stay off it for a while, to rest it.”
As if I was going to listen to the doctor. I’d go crazy sitting around here all day. Besides, if it was okay to do therapy, it was okay to go to the store. “I rest it plenty in the evenings. When are you going?”
“I’m leaving shortly. I just have to put a load of clothes in the washer. Are you ready or do you need more time?”
“I’m just finishing up breakfast. I’ll be ready when you get here. See you in a bit.” I ended the call and looked at Ed. “Don’t even say it. I’m fine.”
Ed shook his head. “Damn fool woman. You don’t listen to anyone. Don’t complain to me later about how bad it hurts.”
I ate the last of my waffles in silence. No point starting an argument that neither of us could win.
About ten minutes later, Ethel pulled in. I grabbed my purse, planted a kiss on Ed’s head, and hurried out the door.
“Feel like a trip to Jason’s Farm Market?” Ethel leaned over and hugged me when I got in the car.
“Absolutely. I love that place. Just hope I brought enough money.”
Halfway there my hip and leg hurt like heck. I couldn’t get comfortable no matter which way I moved. Wouldn’t have been so bad if I could’ve pushed the seat back for more legroom, but there was so much junk on the floor in the back seat, it wouldn’t move. “What the hell’s back there, Ethel?”
Ethel glanced over the seat. “Oh, sorry, that’s Greg’s toolbox. I forgot it was there.”
“Do you think we can put it in the trunk on our way home?”
“Uh, sure, okay, if we can find room.”
“What do you mean if we can find room? What the hell’s in the trunk? You really ought to clean this car out.”
“I have to drop some stuff at Lottie’s on the way home. Some games and stuff for the kids. You don’t mind stopping, do you? If you’re okay, that is. I can drop you at home first if you want, but Lottie offered to make us lunch.”
“Lottie’s going to make us lunch? That’ll be something to see. How about we call and tell her we’ll bring lunch?”
Ethel shook her head. “No, she said she found a new recipe and wanted to try it out.”
“Oh, so we’re guinea pigs. What if we don’t like it?”
“Actually, it sounded pretty good. Cauliflower salad instead of potato salad. I don’t think she can mess it up.”
“If you say so.” I adjusted in my seat again. If we couldn’t move that damn toolbox, it was going to be a long ride back. Already it felt like someone took an axe and split my ass open. Thank God, we arrived at the market. I removed my seat belt and opened the car door before Ethel put it into park. I couldn’t get out quick enough.
No more had I gotten out of the car, I saw Matilda Gardner. One of the people I wanted to speak to. She was on the Bake Sale Committee. Maybe she could shed some light on the missing money. I hurried toward her, leaving Ethel to fend for herself. Matilda was an insipid character. How she managed to chair an event was beyond me. Could anyone be more dull?
“Matilda, dear, how are you?”
Obviously, I’d taken her by surprise. “Beatrice Lulu, hello. I’m fine. How are you?
She glanced at my boot. “Not so good, it looks like. What did you do to your foot?”
I explained about my foot. I wanted to get to the point about the money, but I couldn’t be rude. “You chaired the bake sale, didn’t you?”
“Yes, what about it?” Did I detect an offensive tone?
“How much did you bring in?”
Matilda shrugged. “A little over eight hundred. Why?”
“I see. That’s a goodly sum of money. Quite a successful sale.”
“Yes, it was. One of our best, actually. Why do you ask?”
A hint of suspicion in her voice, but suspicious of what? Did she know about the missing money? Strange the amount wasn’t far from what the bake sale earned. “Who takes the money to the bank for those fundraisers?”
Matilda adjusted her shoulders, stiffened, and glared at me. “What’s with all the questions?”
“Just curious is all.”
“You know darn good and well who takes the money to the bank. You’ve been with the senior group long enough.”
“Actually, I don’t.” Okay, I lied, I just needed to hear her say it.
“Whoever chairs the event takes the money to the bank. What difference does it make anyway?”
I didn’t much like her tone. “Well aren’t you a moody Judy this morning?” By this time Ethel had joined us. A gasp escaped her throat, letting me know I’d gone too far.
“If you ladies will excuse me, I have shopping to do.” Matilda harrumphed and hurried off.
“Well, th
at went well.” I grabbed hold of Ethel’s arm.
“You called that going well?” Ethel shrugged me off. “I swear, Beatrice Lulu, sometimes you’re the rudest person I know. What was all that about, anyway.”
Should I tell my sister about the missing money? Could I trust her not to spread gossip? Of course I could, what was I thinking? This was Ethel. “I’ll tell you about it later.” Now was not the time to discuss it.
Ethel took hold of my arm and we walked into the market. “If Ed finds out I talked to Matilda, he’s going to kill me.”
Ethel laughed. “If Ed was going to kill you, he’d have done it by now. You’ve certainly given him enough reasons.”
“Ethel Rosalyn Capony, whatever do you mean? I’ve never.”
Ethel stopped and looked at me. “Really? Are you serious? You honestly think you’ve not given Ed reason? Okay, not to kill you, that’s just an expression, but seriously, Beatrice Lulu, how many times has he told you don’t get involved and what do you do?”
She had a point. “I can’t help it. I’m just naturally curious.”
“More like a busybody if you ask me.” Ethel pulled me along. “Come on, let’s get our shopping done.”
“Busybody! You’re calling me a busybody?”
“Oh for heaven sake, let’s go. We have shopping to do and I’d like to get done today, if you don’t mind.”
Was I a busybody? Was that what people thought of me? Ed, too? I admit I meddle sometimes, like when I tried to fix Callie up. But I only do it for everyone’s good. It wasn’t like I interfered. I tried to keep my distance for the most part. I followed Ethel as quickly as I could with this damn boot. Why hadn’t I thought to wear my other shoe? At least it was higher and I didn’t walk lopsided.
I have to admit walking around the marketplace wore me out. My ankle hurt and I was tired, but damned if I’d admit it to Ethel. Not in this lifetime. I’d relax in the car on the way to Lottie’s. No way was I getting dropped off at home. I wasn’t an invalid and I sure as heck wasn’t going to act like one. Hopefully, Ethel moved the toolbox.
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