Could Nurse Flaxseed have given my gran the overdose? I had heard of nurses doing away with their patients to ease their pain. Some patients even gave their consent for this to happen, but my gran wouldn't be one of them. She would never have given her consent. She would never have backed down so easily. If that were the case Nurse Flaxseed would have just told her right out, wouldn't she? Maybe she was tired of my gran's complaining?
"Wait a minute. Could you at least tell me what the medication is for?" I asked quickly.
"Sure, it's for depression, stress, anxiety. Mental illness, mostly."
Stress? That would fit in with my theory about Sherri Longley!
I thanked the nurse and left. I had some serious thinking to do. Should I confront Sherri?
Later that day, Eddy called in and after I'd told him what had happened at the doctor's, he took the pill bottle away to get it checked for fingerprints at the lab.
C h a p t e r10
I decided to confront Sherri and I went along the next morning when I would be sure her kids were at school and safely out of the house.
When she answered the door she looked taken aback, as though she had been expecting someone else and was caught off guard. I don't think she was pleased to see me, but she was pleasant enough and let me in.
"It's you again. I'm sorry if I was rude to you last time you were here, it had just been a bit hectic around here. Saturdays always are with the kids," she said laughingly, but inside I don't think she felt much like laughing.
"Is there something on your mind?" I asked, hoping she would open up to me. We were sitting on the couch in her front room this time.
"What isn't on my mind? Where do I start?" She rubbed a hand through her messy blonde hair.
"You said you were on medication for stress. I was wondering what medication that is, if it doesn't sound too nosy. It's just that my mom stresses all the time and I wondered if it helped."
"Oh, I don't know the name of it off the top of my head. I'll get you the bottle." She disappeared upstairs and came down a few seconds later carrying the bottle.
I looked at the name and though it was similar to the one I had just sent to the lab, it was not the same! I didn't think Sherri was gran's killer. She just didn't seem clever enough to come up with such an idea, those kids of hers had fried her brain!
"They help a little but there's no miracle cure."
"Are these the only ones you've taken?"
"Yeah. It's the problems themselves that need to be taken away before I'll feel better. Why just now, when you knocked on the door, I thought you were the bailiffs. I'm expecting them at any moment. I have terrible debts. That is why I tried to get rid of you the other day because I was afraid they'd come when you were here, and I was so ashamed!"
"Oh, I'm sorry," I said, feeling ashamed that I had accused her of killing my gran.
"It's okay, we'll get it sorted. My dad said he'd help me pay it off and we might have to go and live with my parents for a while until it's sorted out."
"Well, if you need anything just pop across. I'll be happy to help where I can."
I left the house feeling glad I hadn't mentioned that I had suspected her. I don't think it would have helped one jot! Now I just had to find out who did kill gran!
There were now three suspects left, Midge Dexter, who I knew was hiding something but I wasn't sure it was murder, my neighbour, Louisa Froome, who I was hoping didn't do it as I had to live next door to her, and Nurse Flaxseed.
I was beginning to think it was the nurse! She seemed to want to get rid of me way too soon!
∞∞∞
E D D Y S H I L L E R C A M E B A C K to me on the fingerprints with a verdict I didn't like at all. "I'm afraid it's inconclusive evidence," he said, while we were sitting in Lulu's diner having lunch.
I must have looked puzzled because he immediately went into a explanation of what this meant. "That basically means there are too many fingerprints for me to come to any valid conclusions."
"Whose fingerprints are on there?"
"The nurses are definitely there."
"Right, that doesn't prove anything, because we know she administered them to gran."
"Right. And the chemists are there. As for the rest, I can't tell. These bottles get passed on from person to person."
"So, we are looking for whoever takes these meds, or else it's the nurse."
"I doubt it was the nurse. She has her position to think about."
"Hmmm. Can I ask a favour of you, Eddy?"
"Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?"
"You haven't heard it yet. Hear me out."
"Okay, go on."
"Well, I was wondering, if you used your police influence you might be able to get me an interview with Nurse Flaxseed and we can get it out of her."
"You were, were you? I don't like it, Bryony."
"Why not? She's more likely to tell me if you are there."
"She won't even tell the police about her patients."
"But she might be able to give us a clue. Please. For me?" I asked, batting my eyelids at him.
"Oh, okay. We can try, but if this gets back to the Sheriff, I'm done for."
"Leave the Sheriff to me. I can handle him, he's a pussy cat."
"That's easy for you to say, your job isn't hanging on a thread."
"But just think, if we're successful and we find the culprit, the Sheriff will have to promote you."
"Don't push your luck too far, Bryony."
"Oh, I won't," I said smiling mischievously.
I waved to Lulu and ordered two more lime and mint milkshakes, my favourite flavour these days. Just to get Eddy in the mood to confront the nurse!
C h a p t e r11
Nurse Flaxseed had no choice but to let us straight through to the treatment room, but she made no secret of the fact that she was not too pleased with the idea!
"You might as well tell me straight out what you want to know. Get it over with!" She said shortly.
"First-things-first, I think my gran was given an overdose that led to her death, and I need to know more about the medication you were giving her?" I began.
"I've already told you, I can't tell you!" The Nurse sighed out.
"Yeah, 'cos of the patient confidentiality thing, but my gran is dead, and I am sure you can tell me about her."
"Bryony, leave this to me," Eddy whispered and I
nodded to him to continue.
"Nurse Flaxseed, I wonder if you could tell me a little about Nelly Womack's final hours, if that's okay?"
I rolled my eyes as he sounded so professional.
"Yes, she had been ill for about a week and her neighbour, Louisa Froome, was worried about her. They didn't really get on, but she thought someone should check up on her, and so I went to see her."
"Can you tell me what might have led to her illness?" Eddy asked.
"Yeah, 'cos she was full of life when I spoke to her on the phone a week before," I put in, costing me a weary look from Eddy.
Carolyn Flaxseed ignored me and said, "to be honest, I think she was laying it on thick, as they say. She said she was afraid of someone, I thought it was all in her mind and I put it down to senile ramblings."
"How predictable!" I said indignantly.
"Bryony, please," Eddy whispered, softly squeezing my hand. I smiled and wisely remained silent.
"Perhaps it was a mistake on my part not to take it seriously but I have seen it a lot in old people."
"So, you gave her no meds?" Eddy asked.
"If you want to come to that conclusion, you do so."
Eddy nodded, we both took that as confirmation that there was no medication and we left, discussing the case as we walked away from the surgery.
"I think we can safely rule out the nurse as I thought," Eddy said.
"It has proved two things, though. My gran was afraid of someone before she died, and that medication did not belong to her."
"Then who was it?"
"I'll bet it was either Midge or Louisa, or both."
"But the Nurse said Louisa was concerned about her and sent her round, why would she do that when it might have incriminated her?"
I nodded slowly as I took this in. "You have a fair point. I think there is only one plan of action."
"What is that?"
"I need to ask the Sheriff if he will speak to Midge Dexter."
"Good luck wth that. I can't see it happening."
"It may be the only way."
∞∞∞
E D D Y W A S R I G H T T H E Sheriff wasn't too welcoming about the idea of speaking to Midge. I called in at the station to see him the very next day and he just stared at me when I suggested the idea, even after I'd gone through the evidence with him.
"His wife is on medication, right? Isn't she an invalid?"
"That's right, and that is exactly why I don't want to talk to Midge, alright?" He shouted.
"But he would have access to her medication!" I shouted back. I was pushing my luck.
"Just leave it, Miss Womack, will you?"
"It's Bryony and no, I will not leave it! This is my gran we're talking about!"
He stood up and opened the door of his office as a sign for me to leave and I took the hint. I paused in the doorway on my way out and said, "you are just being stubborn 'cos you know you've missed something. You are too proud to admit it, that's all."
His lips parted as though he was about to speak, but he seemed to think better of it and I left him in silence.
* * *
A F T E R A D A Y S N U G G L E D up in bed with Sunny by my side for comfort, I had a renewed determination to act alone. I didn't want to get Eddy involved as I was concerned for his job.
So I waited for nightfall and putting on a red woollen coat, as it was a chilly night, slipped out. I had left my car on the road, away from the house, so that Louisa wouldn't notice me go, my car being a noisy starter, and once I had reached it, I set the engine going and pulled off.
I reached the Dexter's house and did a similar trick of leaving the car parked at a safe distance away and waited to see if Midge would go out.
I waited about twenty minutes and at last, his great, dirty truck came hurtling passed me and I knew I was safe to carry out my plan. I slowly walked up to the house and positioning myself under the window of where I assumed his wife's bedroom to be and peered in.
I gasped in surprise at what I observed inside!
C h a p t e r12
One thing was certain, Mrs Dexter was no invalid! She was walking around the room in a nightdress, occasionally she would turn around and around, making me feel dizzy just watching.
Her hair was a mass of grey curls that looked as if it was a long time since a brush had gone through it. No, Mrs Dexter was not an invalid, she was mentally ill!
I looked across at her bedside cabinet and there were loads of the same pill bottles aligned there! I squinted to try and read the labels, but the writing was just too tiny! I needed to find a way of getting inside.
I crept around the back of the house to see if there were any windows open and I saw a few embers burning in the grate of the fire, the remainders of something Mr Dexter had been burning.
Not finding a way in here, I decided to go back to Mrs Dexter's window and try knocking on it. I wasn't sure what would happen, but I was getting desperate and I thought I would try sweet talking her!
She turned to face the window after I'd knocked and smiled vacantly at me.
"Mrs Dexter, I've come to nurse you!" I called through the window.
She came across and opened the window, "come in, my sweet." She sounded calm enough and so I climbed inside slowly and put my arm around her to reassure her.
"I see you have your medication," I said. I walked to the bedside cabinet and took up one of the bottles. The label was the same! This was what had killed my gran.
"You just settle yourself down here and I'll get us both a nice drink," I said, patting the edge of her bed. To which signal she sat down obediently, still with that sweet, vacant smile on her face.
I replaced the bottle and went to leave the room. The door was locked! I took out one of my hairgrips and picked the lock with it, slipping into the hallway where I found the key to the door on the sideboard and relocked the door.
I found the room where I had spoken to Midge before, and went to look in the fire. As I thought, the embers had disappeared but there was a piece that had remained behind. Taking up the poker, I carefully dragged it out and picked it up.
It was the photograph of my gran and Midge after the rodeo competition, but it was neither of these two I was concentrating on right now. It was another face, that struck me and I now knew who had killed my gran and why!
I went into the kitchen to make Mrs Dexter a drink and took it in to her, holding the cup as she drank out of it. When she had done, I sat down beside her and placed my arm around her shoulders again.
"May I call you Liza?" I asked.
"Oh, yes. My sweet!" She cried, clapping her hands together.
"You knew my gran, Nelly, didn't you, Liza?" I asked gently.
"Nelly, yes, yes." She started to rock her body up and down.
"Did you give her some of your medication? You did, didn't you? Don't be frightened, you can tell me."
"Yes, yes. She needed putting out of the way. She was a bad person. She hurt my husband," she muttered.
"Because of what happened at the rodeo?"
"Yes, rodeo, yes."
"You went to confront Nelly first?"
"Yes."
"Did your husband know of this?"
"No."
"But he found out?"
"I can't remember." She was starting to get agitated, so I left it here. I knew enough!
As I was trying to get her to settle in her bed, I heard the front door close and the next minute, Midge Dexter was standing in the doorway of his wife's bedroom. He was staring at me, his face was pale and his eyes wild. He knew I knew!
"She needs her medicine!" He shouted eventually. He ran towards Liza and quickly administered her a dose of tranquillizers, after which she settled down in her bed and slept. Midge beckoned me into the front room.
"How did you get in here? What did you say to her?" He shouted.
"I do feel sympathy for you, Mr Dexter. But I know your wife killed my gran. She has just told me as much," I said gently.
He turned to the mantel shelf and placed both his hands upon it, starting to laugh uncontrollably.
"You found out, didn't you? You were searching for that photograph, not because it would incriminate you, but your wife! You knew I was the only one to see the photograph and you also knew that I had never seen your wife and would never suspect her. Especially as you were telling people she was an invalid and had never been out of bed for years!"
Midge, who had gotten control of himself again as I was speaking, said, "she is locked away now for her own protection, but the day she killed Nelly, she used to come and go as she pleased. It was Louisa who told me she threatened Nelly and then when she turned up dead, I knew. That's when I started locking her away. I went to search your gran's house for the pills too, I couldn't find them either. No one would have ever found out if you hadn't started snooping around." He spoke quietly but I could see the strain he had been suffering coming out with every word.
"Did Louisa know?" I asked.
"Not about my wife, but she knew I wanted some things from your gran's house and she knew my wife had become mentally ill."
"Do you suppose she guessed the truth?"
"I think she might have. I could see it in her face sometimes." I could tell by his voice that he had started to lose control now.
As he was still facing the fire I quietly took out my mobile while keeping him talking and sent a message to Eddy's mobile telling him to fetch the Sheriff, hoping he would hear it! To my relief, I got a reply moments afterwards with a thumbs up symbol on it.
All I had to do was keep Midge calm until the Sheriff got here. It wasn't too difficult, as I talked to him about how he and his wife first met and that seemed to work.
The Sheriff turned up in the doorway as I was in the middle of talking to him and I signed for him to be cautious. He'd had the sense to come in plain clothes and he crept towards Midge, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
I could see the Sheriff was the only person who could bring him round as Midge was better as soon as he saw him and he fell on his shoulder and wept.
I looked at the Sheriff from over Midge's shoulder and I could see that now was not a good time to say, I told you so!
"It's alright, Midge. Everything will be okay now. We'll look after Liza for you," he said soothingly.
∞∞∞
"W E L L, B R Y O N Y. T H A N K S T O you, Liza Dexter is going to get the help she has been needing for a long time. Good work, girl!" Lulu said, at the diner the next evening where me and Eddy had gone to celebrate my win.
"And I've finally found out what happened to gran, also that she was not the dear old gran I'd thought she was. I can sleep easier in my bed now, that's for sure!" I said.
"Even the Sheriff had to admit you were right all along, though he did give me a ticking off about helping you," Eddy said.
"Aww, he wasn't too hard on you, was he?"
"No, it was just a friendly warning, apparently."
"I'm glad, I wouldn't have wanted to cost you your job."
Lulu disappeared to see to some other customer's and out of the blue, Eddy leaned into me and kissed me on the lips.
I kissed him back for a moment, but then I pulled away. It just didn't feel right! I realised he wasn't really my type. I realised then that I didn't really have a type!
"I'm sorry. I kind of got carried away," Eddy said.
"I am too. I like you, Eddy, but not in that way. At least not yet."
"I'll get you another milkshake, then!"
"That's fine by me!" I laughed.
Rodeo Granny Page 5