Polly Dent Loses Grip (A LaTisha Barnhart Mystery) (15 page)

Chapter Twenty

Shocked my hair straight when I came out of Matilda’s apartment and met up with Thomas Philcher, in the process of unlocking the door to his. His smile beamed warmth, and I wondered at the possibility of all that oozing charm being nothing more than a scam. He had to know the rumors going around about him being a bank robber.

Dressed to kill, as always, I could see where the rumor of him having money might have footing. On the other hand, it wasn’t a crime to love good clothes. Or hats. Or shoes. Though it did cost a pretty penny. Ask me how I know.

“Whoo-wee, you must rob a lot of banks to buy such nice clothes.” Problem with that great line was timing. My timing was way off, because I delivered it just as Thomas looked down to unlock his door. Drat. How could I analyze his expression if I couldn’t see his face? “Maybe you could give my husband Hardy some pointers.”

Thomas lifted his head as he twisted the doorknob and opened the door. I x-rayed his face for hints of subterfuge or dishonesty, but only that beatific, peaceful smile remained. “Though I would love to speak with you, Mrs. Barnhart, I’m afraid I’m not feeling well. Please, if you see Gertrude, will you send her my regrets? I tried to find her, but I just didn’t have the strength to continue my search.”

“Do I need to call a nurse or something?”

“That won’t be necessary. I get these spells on occasion. I do hope you enjoy the evening festivities.” He bowed his head in my direction and the door closed.

Nothing frustrates me more than laying a trap that totally backfires, leaving me no further along than when I began. I’d have to leave the whole Thomas Philcher affair to Hardy’s expertise. He’d know what to do. I hoped.

For the second time, I headed toward the cafeteria, determined to dig deeper. I tugged out the cell phone from my pocket and noted the time. Since it wasn’t quite quitting time
,
I might be able to catch Sue Mie and find out why she left me on the second floor. Speaking of nurses, another nurse, one I hadn’t seen before, trolleyed her cart down the hallway. Must be snack time again. Sure ate a lot around here.

“Do you know where I can find Sue Mie?” I called up the hallway.

The little brunette girl didn’t stop moving the entire time she answered me. “Sue left the building earlier. I think she was sick or something. I haven’t seen her.”

That explained why Sue had looked like she did. “Are you new here, honey?”

“I’ve worked here for two years.”

“Sue Mie’s a sweet little thing. What’s it take to be a CNA?”

“You have to go to school.” She trundled her cart closer and knocked on the door. “It’s not as long as for an LPN or RN. Eventually I want to go on and get my RN.”

When the door creaked open she exuded friendliness and efficient competency, checking off the name of the person before pushing her cart even closer. I could finally read her name tag. Kimberly. There was no answer at this door, so I decided to ask one more question.

 
“Is a CNA allowed to dispense medications?”

Kimberly shook her head. “Only an RN can do that, but a CNA can do it if she’s taken a Med Tech class.”

An interesting fact that I tucked away. One never knew when a piece of information might come in handy.I gave Kimberly a wave as she prepared to distribute her next snack.

The idea that Polly’s fall may have been the result of her medication had occurred to me before, but there was no way I’d ever be able to prove it without having access to records. Medication labels always warned against side-effects, most including dizziness. So what if Polly’s side-effects kicked in as the treadmill was going? On the other hand, I couldn’t shake the thought that such a side-effect, even resulting in a fall, would cause death. Even if Polly had been fragile
—
and she didn’t give that appearance at all
—
a broken hip, a broken arm, a concussion, yes, but death?

Downstairs, caterers in white coats moved all around, shuffling trays and pushing carts. So Hilda Broumhild had the night off. I stepped into the dining room and inhaled. Things were shaping up, and Otis Payne pointed and directed like the commander-in-chief he was.

His co-chief sidled up beside him; I’d recognize those shapely knees anywhere, not to mention the blond hair and dark roots.

Otis seemed more irritated by her presence than grateful. Of course, if someone was sucking up to me like a leech, I’d be howling. To his credit, Otis didn’t shake her off, though I thought he might have been tempted. Deciding it best not to agitate him any more
—
a first for me and I was proud of it
—
I veered toward the kitchen and ducked inside after one of the caterers.

The doors swung shut behind me as my eyes followed the paths of the various white-uniformed people milling about. Crazy, is the word that comes to mind. That’s when my chest vibrated. That really got my attention, I can tell you that. It took me a second to realize my cell phone, in my breast pocket, was singing a tune and buzzing like a baby’s lips. I punched the button and stuck the thing to my ear as I retraced my steps.

“You going to have to speak up,” I admonished on my way through the dining room.

A reedy thin voice came to me, but I couldn’t quite make out the words.

“Hold on there a second.” I burst into the hallway, glad to have left the craziness behind. “What’s that you’re saying?”

“Mrs. Barnhart. It’s Sue Mie, the CNA.”

“Girl, what you mean leaving me up there all by myself?”

She knew exactly what I was flapping about. “Please, Mrs. Barnhart. I need to talk. Can you meet me tonight? There’s a coffee shop down from Bridgeton Towers. If you go out the building and take a left, just look for it. It’s called The Nuthouse.”

Could have commented on that. Chose not to. “I’ll be there. What time?”

“Nine?”

“Order me a mocha with lots of chocolate.”

“Thank you.”

My return trip to Maple Gap just hit a major delay.

Hardy strutted around in his dark blue trousers and red tie like a banty rooster preparing for dawn. When Matilda appeared in her Sunday best red dress, Hardy bounced up to her telling her how pretty she was and how she looked so good in red. It’s a color I never touch. Makes me feel like a tomato. But red accents I can do, which is why my purple dress had crimson trim. Always did like the two colors together, and that’s before the society of red hat lovers started up. Been thinking about starting a chapter in Maple Gap.

After Hardy sweetalked his mother for a bit, he started in on me. “And you’re looking mighty cute yourself, Mrs. Barnhart.”

“Well,” Matlida piped up. “When you two are done cooing at each other, we need to get moving. I’m hungry.”

Hardy offered his arm to his momma. “You needs to remember to watch what you’re eating. LaTisha and I don’t need a repeat of the day your sugar spiked.”

Matilda took Hardy’s arm, her eyes sparkled up at her only child. “You’re a good boy, Hardy, watchin’ after me like you do.”

Hardy flashed his tooth that showed every bit of his pride at her words.

Matilda dragged him along as she hustled toward the door. “If we don’t stop dripping all this sweetness, my blood sugar’s gonna go up for sure.”

I followed the two down to the cafeteria hauling Matilda’s cane since I knew she’d be wanting it later. She enjoys Hardy squiring her around, but she’s also one to trot off on her own when she has a mind.

The dining room appeared to be about half full when we entered. Otis Payne mingling, greeting residents he probably never talked to any other time. I noticed right off that Mrs. Payne sat off to the side and looked ill-at-ease as she sipped from her water glass. Reminded me of our son, Bryton. Never much for people, you could always find him hunkered down behind a computer that never required him to open his mouth. His wife Fredlynn made up for his quiet side. Bryton never attended a company party without Fredlynn to help keep conversation going.

Momma chose a table in the far corner. Not a bad choice, really, since I could see the entire room at a glance, but my goal was to talk to Mrs. Payne. I got Hardy’s attention as he settled Matilda into her chair and pointed my eyes in the direction I was headed. Hardy nodded at me.

I greeted a few of the residents who’d sung with Hardy and I this afternoon, my eyes and ears cued for anything remotely resembling a clue, verbal or otherwise. The next table over, I stopped to chat with the two ladies who’d made the comment about Gertrude hoarding Thomas’s affection and attention and settled down to some serious sleuthing. I started off by greeting the one I knew was Sally.

“Sure had a good time singing with you gals this afternoon.”

 
The black haired lady held out a frail hand to me. “Mary here, and Sally and I love to sing. Are we going to do it again?”

I lightly squeezed her delicate fingers, “You come on up and knock on Matilda’s room, 207. Hardy and I will be here a few more days before heading back, but we’ll return often to visit with his momma. I’ll try and schedule a sing-a-long when I know we’ll be here to visit. That sound good?”

Sally piped up. “Love to sing. Used to have quite the voice, but age has made me scratchy.”

“It was the smoking, Sally,” Mary pointed out.

Sally squinted at her friend. “Best thing I did was give up those things.”

I glanced around the room. “I don’t see Gertrude anywhere.”

“Oh,” Mary did a little groan her throat. “She’s probably gone up to sit with Thomas. He doesn’t need a baby-sitter, but you’d think he did the way she flutters around him.”

So maybe the relationship was more one-sided than Gertrude wanted it to be.

I opened my mouth in an O. “You mean they’re not a couple?” These girls had the edge on things for sure.

“Oh my, no. Thomas loved Polly. . .” Mary stopped and exchanged a sad look with Sally.

Sally nodded, picking up where Mary’d left off. “Gertrude’s after his money. Thomas was a bank robber in his younger days. It’s rumored he has a million stashed away somewhere in his room. Gertie was born poor.”

This was getting good. “He robbed them all by himself?”

Mary did a little gasp. “Oh no. He had help.”