cautiously opened the door and waved us in. “Oh, thank the Lord. I prayed you’d come. They shut down the switchboard, but of course I have my cell phone.” Her hands trembled and her voice shook with emotion. “Please help Mags. I’m afraid for her.”
Babette, who personified Southern hospitality, settled Irene into a wing chair and prepared tea. In times of stress, her impeccable manners and nurturing instincts came in handy.
“Tell us what happened,” I said. “We don’t have much time.”
Irene nodded. “I was with Mags at her place when Nurse Ross brought up a parcel. Naturally we opened it. Who could refuse a treat, especially one that was wrapped so beautifully?”
“Brown paper wrapping or fun stuff?” Babette asked. It was a good question, one I wished I had thought of.
Irene hesitated. “Why, now that I think of it, there was no outer wrapping. Just really pretty foil with a ribbon.” She took a deep breath and continued. “Turns out it was candy. Belgian. An entire pound. Well, Magdalen doesn’t care for sweets, and I’m a diabetic so I can’t partake. We gave it to Nurse Ross instead—for the floor staff, you know. Lots of people do that. It’s a fairly common practice.”
I knew where this tale was going, and the picture wasn’t pretty. Judging by her sturdy build, Nurse Ross liked candy. A lot.
“I don’t suppose a card was enclosed?” I asked. A poisoner would hardly sign his own name, but every clue was important.
Irene shook her head. “No. Just one of those computer messages saying, ‘Best Wishes.’ No name. We joked that Magdalen had a secret admirer.”
“I bet you probably get a lot of parcels,” Babette said slyly. “Amazon delivers everything. Amazin’, isn’t it?”
I saw where she was headed and applauded her. At times my friend was sneaky enough for both of us.
Irene frowned. “Mail and parcels are delivered every day at noon. Right before lunch. It makes a special treat, don’t you see. That way everyone can ooh and ah about it at our tables. Nurse Ross never brought things to our door before.” She backtracked, as if afraid she was maligning the departed. “Not that we’d expect her to. The staff is very busy, and Nurse Ross had other things on her mind.”
“Like what?” Babette cut to the chase per usual
“Mags thought Carole—Nurse Ross—had a beau. Someone she met here, I think. Maybe a relative of one of the residents.”
I hated to be unkind, but Carole Ross hardly seemed a figure of romance. Still, I was glad her final days had been joyful. Romance nourished the soul of everyone, man or woman.
I poured each of us another cup of chamomile tea, hoping to calm Irene and continue the narrative. Any minute either Pruett or the sexy sheriff would probably interrupt us and spoil everything. “When did Magdalen disappear?”
Irene’s eyes filled as she recalled her friend. “I went out to the elevator and found her—Nurse Ross. She was on the floor, with the candy spilled all around her. I’m afraid I screamed bloody murder.” She flushed. “That’s really not like me, you see. Mags and several other residents came right out. When she saw what happened Mags didn’t faint, but she got so pale, I thought she might. She has a dicey heart, you know.”
I recalled that recently there had been some mix-up with Magdalen’s heart medication, a mix-up that had involved Nurse Ross. “When did Magdalen disappear?” I asked.
Irene put her head in her hands. “I can’t say for certain. You see, more people crowded around—seemed like every resident in the building came out—and between that and all the wailing and chattering, I lost track of Mags.” As she raised her head, Irene’s eyes filled again. “Some friend I am. I let her down.”
I had to think quickly. No doubt Sheriff Page’s troops were conducting a thorough search of the entire facility. They would find Magdalen if she was still there. If—a small word with a world of meaning. “Think hard, Irene. Does Magdalen have any friends who live nearby or places she likes to visit?”
Irene shrugged helplessly. “I can’t think of any. None of us even has a car. We rely on public transportation or the staff.”
Staff? That gave me an idea. Babette would call it an inspiration. “What type of car did Nurse Ross drive? Do you recall?”
Another shrug from Irene. “Some kind of sedan. Black, I think. Nothing that stood out.”
Babette rolled her eyes, but I stayed steady. “Great. Anything else strike you? What about her cell phone? I presume Magdalen had one.”
That brought a smile to Irene’s face. “Oh yes. Mags is technically savvy. A computer whiz too. Wouldn’t think it to look at her, but anyone with a problem went to Mags for help, even some of the staff. Nurse Ross got her to do several things.”
Hmm. A new and somewhat surprising side of Magdalen Melmoth had emerged. My own prejudices made me assume that a woman in her eighties would fear or reject technology. What other aspects of her character had I overlooked?
The sound of footsteps in the hallway announced the arrival of company and a temporary end to our inquiry. I answered the door and admitted Dr. Fergueson and Sheriff Aleita Page. The lithe form of Wing Pruett lurked behind them, beckoning me. I nudged Babette and made what I hoped was a graceful exit.
“You get some rest, Irene, and we’ll speak with you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” Babette said. “I’m sure Magdalen is just fine.” Whenever Babette fibs about anything she bites her lip. She didn’t fool me and I’m fairly certain Irene saw through her as well. “You call me if you need anything,” Babette said as we hastily ducked out and joined Pruett. Better to beat a hasty retreat before the sheriff or Dr. Fergueson barred the door.
“Keep walking and don’t say a word.” Pruett’s benign smile was an obvious ruse. He pressed the elevator button and waved us in before him. “According to the ladies downstairs, they monitor these elevators. Guess nothing is sacred anymore.”
We walked single file through the front door, into the parking lot, and to my car. Fortunately, Pruett and I weren’t competitive. Still I couldn’t wait to steal the march on him by sharing what we had learned. The needs of my dogs came first, of course. I opened the rear hatch and released them, giving them the Schutzhund command for go. They immediately streaked off into the backfield and freedom. Pruett wrapped his arms around me as we watched them, admiring their grace and beauty.
“What did Irene say?” he asked. “I figured you two were up to something, so I tried to distract Aleita as long as I could.”
I looked up into dancing eyes, striving mightily and unsuccessfully to look innocent. “I’m pretty sure you did a good job of distracting the sheriff. More than enough.”
He shrugged. “Always was an overachiever,” he said trying hard to sound modest. “She’s a sharp cookie, though. Wasted in this Podunk place, if you ask me.”
I forced myself to forgo the foolishness and focus on the only thing that mattered: Magdalen Melmoth. “They suspect poison, I suppose. That candy was meant for Magdalen.” I recited a faithful account of Irene Wilson’s testimony.
Pruett
