Too Sweet to Die

by T. Doyle

  I checked on my patients and returned to the nurses’ station.

  Marabel’s weary sigh and I-should’ve-stayed-in-bed expression greeted me. “I need a favor.” She rubbed her temples to soothe what appeared to be an epic headache.

  “Were you on duty last night?”

  “No, I got here a few minutes early and Mavis left faster than Mrs. Eddleston heads to Dairy Queen on double coupon day.” She stood and stretched. “It feels like I’ve been here all night.”

  “Well, how can I help you?” I asked.

  “Carl McGuffin, Jenny’s ex-husband, gave permission to the police to search Jenny’s room. He took her for coffee to distract her. Which made Evie cry harder.” Marabel’s eyes nearly rolled to the back of her head. “Could you call Ray and ask him to come in? He needs to think about getting his mom to sign a power of attorney for him before she gets any worse.” Marabel looked down the hallway and then glanced back at me. “It needs to be soon. Carl told me he’s going to ask Evie to marry him. Jenny will flip out.”

  “No.” I breathed out the word. “He better not be telling that to Jenny right now.”

  Marabel shook her head. “No, he understands it’s not going to help matters. But he and Evie want to live together, and I guess he’s old-fashioned about cohabitating.” Marabel’s face twisted into a frown, and I wondered if she was picturing Evie and Carl kissing.

  I wished I could get that memory erased from my brain. I shuddered and shook the vision away. “Who should Ray talk to about the legal stuff?”

  “Tyler Rigby specializes in family law, and a lot of people use Hank Warrens,” Marabel said.

  “Thanks.” I pulled my phone out. “I’ll let him know.” Not wanting to hear any background noises on his end, I texted Ray. Call me! It’s about your Mom and Tyler Rigby!!! I figured the exclamation points would spur him to answer.

  I stared at the phone and waited for the “Ray is typing” bubble to appear. Nothing. I charted and looked at Violet’s notes about a dietary change for Mrs. Almond.

  My phone rang. I jumped, grabbed my phone, waved to Marabel and walked toward the linen closet.

  “What’s going on?” Ray asked.

  I closed the closet door behind me. “The short version is your mom may have planted drugs in Evie’s room. The cops are searching Jenny’s room while your dad is distracting her. And did you know your dad wants to marry Evie? And someone in your family needs to get a power of attorney for your mom before she…before her illness degenerates further. And maybe you could talk to Tyler Rigby about it because he handles family law.”

  Ray cursed. It was low, slow, and mournful. “I’m sorry, Ray. That’s a lot to handle. Maybe your sister, Amanda, wants to get involved?”

  He snorted. “Probably not. What do I need to do right now?” His voice rumbled, sounding sleepy. I could hear him turning on water.

  “If you could come over and maybe calm your mom?”

  “Yeah.” Ray paused. “Dad promised he wouldn’t announce his engagement until after he moved out of rehab, so keep that a secret for me.”

  “I will. Marabel told me, but only because Carl told her. I think he wanted Marabel to know in case your mom doesn’t handle the news well.”

  “Nice understatement. About Tyler and family law, is he any good?” Ray asked. I could hear the sounds of a coffee pot hissing.

  “Ingrid loves him. Oscar never mentioned anything bad about him.”

  “I’ll be there in thirty minutes. If you can, stall the cops. I want to talk to them before they leave.”

  “You got it.”

  I opened the linen closet door and bumped into Nora. “Really?” I stepped around her walker.

  Nora raised a brash eyebrow. “I couldn’t hear anything you said. Who were you talking to? Was there someone in there with you?” She peered over my shoulder, rolling up on her toes, proof that her physical therapy was working.

  “No.” I opened the door wide. “I was on the phone for a private conversation. Private. As in I don’t care to discuss it with you.”

  Nora clucked her tongue. “Fine. Be that way. See if I share any of my great gossip with you.”

  I hugged her shoulders. “How would you feel if a nurse talked about your condition to someone else?”

  Nora narrowed her eyes like she was measuring my words for truth. “Fine.” Her face softened into its usual pleasant expression. “But you’ll tell me what you can?”

  “You’ll be the first to know.” I closed the door and walked with Nora back to the nurses’ station. She continued on toward her room.

  I needed caffeine, and an ice-cold Diet Dr. Pepper sounded really good. I nodded to the ward clerk, Eric. The scrawny twenty-something must have slipped in late, again. “I’m going to grab a soda. You want anything?”

  He lifted his water bottle. “I’m good.”

  I speed-walked toward the machine straightening the dollar bills between my fingers. A man hunched in front of the vending machine and restocked the bottles. Slowly.

  I bounced on my toes.

  He looked at me.

  I recognized him, more the sparse growth of hair pretending to be a mustache under his nose. I was remembering him from somewhere else.

  “What do you want?” Impatience laced his tone. He wiped his hands down a faded t-shirt that may have been navy blue or black when first purchased, but now it had a gray cast to it. His dark pants were frayed at the cuffs that rested over his dark shoes covered in gray dust.

  “Diet Dr. Pepper.” I held out my two dollars and eyed his shoes. The gray dust… from the Salty Pickle parking lot.

  He pulled a cold bottle from the machine and two quarters from his pocket. “Here.” He handed the soda and change to me and then snatched my money.

  “Thank you.”

  He turned back to the machine. Surly and rude. Definitely the guy Ray and I saw in front of the Salty Pickle.

  Marabel motioned me into her office and closed the door behind me. She sat and pointed to a chair in her office. “The police didn’t find anything in Jenny’s room, thank God. And the stuff in Evie’s room wasn’t medical marijuana. They were Percocet and Fentanyl pills and the cops said they were packaged for resale.”

  “That’s not good. That’s also a whole different situation than Nora’s suggestion that Johnny’s kid was selling medical marijuana. Have his kids been around?” I asked.

  “They both were here last night. I checked the guest log.” Marabel’s lips tightened. “But I can’t picture either one of them doing that. I mean, I’ve seen them selling sunglasses and purses, but Percocet?” She rubbed her temples again. “I told the police, though, just in case.” She met my gaze. “And why would the kids leave drugs in Evie’s room? Do you think it’s possible Jenny planted the drugs?”

  “It’s possible,” I admitted. I decided not to mention Jenny’s death-by-Burking plot. “But where would Jenny get the drugs?”

  Marabel raised an eyebrow. “Would Ray have access?”

  “Absolutely not.” I sat stunned at her accusation and then a little embarrassed because really, how much did I know about Ray? “Maybe Jenny found the drugs and decided to plant them in Evie’s room.”

  “Which brings us back to having a drug dealer on the property.” Marabel rested her head in her hands and leaned her elbows on her desk. “The police will dust the bags for prints and if Jenny’s are on them, I think there’s enough for them to charge her with a felony.”

  “They wouldn’t,” I whispered. But my heart raced and I felt cold. Last week I caught Jenny about to smack her husband with a fly swatter. She’d been plotting Evie’s murder and spreading rumors about her. It wasn’t hard to imagine her planting drugs in Evie’s room. But where would Jenny get them?

  Marabel interrupted my thoughts. “They might, which is why Ray definitely needs to get the power of attorney paperwork filed. The police are curious how the drugs made it into Evie’s room. Which reminds me, Mr. Nelson bought twenty camer
as for the hallways. If the patients ask, explain they’re security cameras, and they’ll only be in the public areas. I don’t want anyone worried that we’re spying on them in their bathrooms or bedrooms.”

  “Okay. Ray should be here soon. He wanted to talk to the cops, too.”

  “Find out if he knows where Jenny might’ve gotten the drugs.” Marabel sounded like a boss, not a friend, and I worried about Jenny’s future.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ray walked by the nurses’ station, nodded, and continued to the cafeteria. He’d contained his hair under a knit cap, but his beard seemed to want to leap off his face, as if the hairs wanted to avoid the awkward conversation with his parents and were trying to pull Ray in every direction but forward.

  More residents filled the hallway, some headed toward the cafeteria to follow Ray, while others took an interest in the activities bulletin board located three doors down from Evie Feeney’s room.

  Fifteen minutes later, Ray’s father huffed past my station, his cane snapping against the linoleum. A granite grimace replaced his usual easy smile. He turned into Evie’s room.

  I worried about Jenny’s ability to provoke those responsible for her care. Ray’s dad had the legal power of attorney to send Jenny to a long-term care facility far away from Forest Forks. Out of sight, out of exasperation range.

  Yelling ensued from Evie’s room, and I learned sweet Evie knew some colorful words, and she became an alto when angry.

  Kristi flew past my desk, dressed in scrubs, so she’d come from work. She tossed a wave in my direction and entered the fray in her Aunt Evie’s room. The yelling stopped.

  The residents returned to their rooms or toddled to the cafeteria, no doubt to see if Ray could calm his mother as effectively as Kristi soothed her aunt.

  I did my patient rounds, checking vitals, and ensuring meds were administered.

  Mrs. Almond frowned at me from her bed. “I hate oatmeal.” She pushed the tray away. “Honestly, Charlie, why can’t I eat what I want?” She crossed her bony arms.

  “The doctor wants to keep your heart healthy. Would you prefer Cream of Wheat?” I checked her blood pressure, which was running a little high.

  “No. I want bacon and eggs. My heart is ninety-two-years-old. That’s ten years older than the average dead person. Could you talk some sense into my doctor? Please, Charlie.” She patted my hand and blinked her watery-brown eyes at me.

  “I’ll talk to him.” I picked up her tray, placed it outside, and returned. “What would you like for lunch?”

  “Ham and cheese sandwich, with the fruit salad, please.” Her warm smile lit up the room.

  “I’ll put your order in right now.” I made a note in her chart and returned her smile.

  Back at the nurses’ station I handled Mrs. Almond’s lunch request. I hoped her doctor would understand Mrs. Almond vetoing his low sodium, low fat diet in favor of flavor.

  Kristi stomped past the nurses’ station, eyes bugged out and clenched fists. She looked ready to murder, and she was headed toward the cafeteria and Jenny.

  I grabbed my lunch bag. “I’ll be in the cafeteria if you need me,” I said to the ward clerk, Eric.

  “‘Kay.” The man was a lump of enthusiasm. But when he was present, he answered the phones politely and the nurses’ aides loved him for some reason.

  Ray and his mother sat near the coffee bar with a Scrabble board between them.

  Kristi pulled a chair next to Ray, leaned over and whispered. Her body posture with rigid shoulders, the red in her cheeks, and the way she emphasized her words with a poke to his chest, looked like she wanted to scream.

  Nora sat on the loveseat fifteen feet away and faced them with a bag of popcorn in her lap and pure interest in her gaze.

  I crossed the room and sat next to her.

  “This is better than Jerry Springer,” she said.

  I pulled out my sandwich. “You’ll be glad to hear, Evie finally calmed down.”

  “That’s good. She shouldn’t get so riled up.” Nora pointed her finger at Jenny. “That one is either brilliant and playing us all or missing more marbles than we first suspected.”

  Jenny’s attention focused on the Scrabble board, but she’d glance at Ray every few seconds.

  He didn’t look at his mom. He listened, mouth closed, eyes studying his hands which rested on his knees. And he blinked when poked by Kristi. He was physically present, absorbing Kristi’s wrath, and remaining calm.

  Jenny may have created a storm, but Ray weathered it.

  Jenny’s previous antics–spreading rumors that Kristi’s aunt had STD’s and plotting Evie’s murder–made her the number one suspect for planting drugs in Evie’s room. This was bad.

  “Security cameras are being put up in all the hallways today,” I said. If Marabel wanted all the residents to know, telling Nora was faster than an overhead announcement, seeing as many of our residents were hard-of-hearing.

  “Day late and a dollar short,” Nora said.

  “Where do you think the drugs came from?” I asked.

  “I told you, Johnny’s kid.” Nora stuffed a handful of popcorn in her mouth.

  “Which one?” I asked.

  “I don’t know, they’re twins.” Nora gave me the side-eye and then went back to watching Jenny.

  “It’s not funny,” Kristi said loud enough for us to hear. She stood and pointed at Jenny. “If you don’t leave Evie alone, I will file a restraining order against you. Do you understand? You’ll have to leave here. I’m not kidding.”

  Jenny’s face morphed into a what-did-you-just-say scowl. “I’ve done nothing to Evie. I have no idea what you’re talking about. Raylin, this woman is threatening me. You heard her.” Jenny looked around the full cafeteria. “You all heard her. Maybe I’ll get a restraining order against you and your crazy aunt who seems to think it’s funny to blame me for things.”

  Kristi’s face turned raspberry. “It’s not a threat. Ray, you have to make her understand.”

  Ray nodded and put his hands up in surrender. “I’ll call you later, Kristi.” His eyes seemed to plead with Kristi to let him handle the situation.

  “Raylin, I want you to take me home. My. Home.” Jenny blinked rapidly.

  She was lucid. She was angry. She was scared.

  Kristi stormed out of the cafeteria.

  Ray did that weird eye thing in my direction, like he was trying to communicate, but I had no idea what he was trying to say.

  Nora nudged my knee. “Ray wants you to join them.” She looked over at my uneaten sandwich. “Is that ham?”

  “Turkey.”

  “Why is it pink?” Nora said.

  I looked at my sandwich with the pink turkey. I sniffed it. “Smells like salmonella.” I teased and tried to remember when I last bought turkey. I needed to clean out the fridge.

  “Really? What does salmonella smell like?” Nora leaned over and sniffed.

  “I don’t think it actually has a detectable odor. But I’m not eating this sandwich.” I stuffed it back in my bag and pulled out my apple. “I’ll catch you later.” I stood and walked over to Ray, pulling Kristi’s vacated chair closer and sat. “Morning, all.”

  Jenny placed tiles on the scrabble board. “Cremate, double word score, double letter score for the C and E. That’s thirty points.” She grabbed some new tiles.

  “Good one, Ma.” Ray sounded unruffled. He stared at the board. “Hey, Ma, speaking of legal stuff, if you really want me to handle that kind of stuff for you, you gotta sign a couple of forms.”

  “You’d really do that for me, Ray?” Jenny asked, one eyebrow cocked.

  “Yeah.” He added tiles to the board. “Edible. Let’s see, that’s ten points.”

  “Ha!” Jenny picked up her tiles and slid them into place. “Bezel and I get the triple word score. Forty-eight points.”

  “Ma, you’re cheating. Z is on a triple letter score. It’s thirty-six points.” He stared at his tiles and then at the board.
He scratched his beard. “So, about the forms, you want me to handle your legal things?”

  “I don’t have legal things to handle.” Her tone and stink-eye told me she was completely present.

  “You’d be surprised,” I said.

  “Dad is your power of attorney and since you two seem to be fighting, maybe it’d be better if Amanda, Connor, or I took over. Just so we can file your taxes, stuff like that.” He lifted his shoulders in a careless shrug. “Unless you want to keep Dad in charge of that stuff.”

  “No. He doesn’t want to do that for me anymore.” She nodded her chin. “You gonna pick a word or just stare at the board all day?”

  Ray tapped the table. “I’m just trying to decide how badly I should win.”

  “Bring it, little man.” Jenny’s brown eyes twinkled.

  Ray held onto a tile, hiding the letter. “If I win this game, you’ll sign the legal papers?”

  She waved. “Fine.”

  His face morphed, happy, maybe even a tad pirate-like. “Juiciest.” He played the tiles, landing on two triple word scores. “That’s 102 points.” He winked at his mom. “And I’ve still got vowels.”

  She looked at her tiles. “You’re not kind to your mother.” She placed an ‘H’ on the triple-letter square, spelling ‘eh’. “Give me the thirteen points and I’ll sign whatever papers you want.”

  Ray pointed at me. “I’ve got a witness, and we have to shake on it.” They shook hands and then he added thirteen points to Jenny’s score.

  “Jenny, have you seen anyone suspicious lately?” I asked.

  “Hmm. I don’t trust the boy who brings me my breakfast.” She moved her tiles around.

  “Why’s that?” I asked.

  “He’s so cheerful in the morning. That’s not right.” Her cynical tone and wry smile punctuated her disbelief in morning people.

  “Agreed. But, I was thinking more of someone who could be selling pills to patients,” I said.

  Ray looked from the board to me. “Here?”