Chapter Twenty-Two

“I was pushed out of my chair,” Jimmy insisted. “I didn’t fall out of it, like they’re saying. Someone came up behind me and deliberately tipped over my chair. I felt it happen.”

“Do you have any idea who could have done that?” Bethan asked.

“No, because I was sat just inside the room with my back to the door, so anyone could have crept up behind me and done it.”

“Was there anyone else in the room who might have seen what happened?” asked Penny.

“No chance. Everybody else was in the dining room having their dinner. I’d gone back to the lounge on my own to get my glasses. I’d left them on the table, and I paused for a moment to catch my breath just inside the room when it happened. One minute I’d just wheeled myself into the lounge, and the next, I was on the floor. I couldn’t get up, and of course, the staff thought all the inmates were at dinner, so it wasn’t until someone noticed I wasn’t in my usual place that they came looking for me. So they got me back in the chair and then brought me here to my room and gave me my dinner on a tray in bed.”

“Did you hear anything unusual just before this happened?” Bethan asked.

“No, I didn’t,” said Jimmy, “but then my hearing’s not the best.”

“And you’re sure you have no idea who might have done this?”

“Well, to be honest, I hated to think this, because it’s such a stupid thing to do, but I wondered if one of my mates might have done it as a bit of a prank.”

“Oh, Jimmy,” said Penny reaching for his hand. “I’m so sorry this happened. She leaned closer and examined his face. “I think you might have some bruising there, under your right eye. Are you sure you’re all right? One of the carers told us you didn’t want them to send for the doctor.”

“No, no. I’m all right. Just a little shaken up, that’s all.”

Bethan looked at the wheelchair, and then Penny. “Would you mind sitting in the chair for a moment?” she asked.

“No. But why?”

Bethan pulled the chair out from the wall, positioned it in the centre of the room, and then inclined her head at it. Penny sat.

“Okay,” said Bethan, grasping the handgrips. “Here we go.” She tipped up the chair, quickly, and Penny started to slide forward. Bethan lowered the chair before Penny reached the point where she would have fallen out. “That took a fair bit of effort on my part.” She spoke directly to Jimmy. “I doubt whoever did this was one of your mates.”

“Someone younger and stronger?”

“That would be my guess.” Bethan repositioned the wheelchair against the wall. “I don’t think whoever did this meant for you to be harmed, but intended it as a warning. Have you done or said anything recently that could have rubbed someone up the wrong way or upset anyone?”

Jimmy shook his head. “I don’t think so. I pretty much just mind my own business.”

“Now, that’s not quite true, Jimmy,” said Penny. “Or at least not the way I see it. You’re very social. Always talking to your fellow residents about one thing or another.” She frowned. “Did you happen to mention that conversation we had about the stolen Black Chair to anyone?”

“I can’t remember, but even if I did, it’s not exactly a secret. For a couple of days, that’s all anybody talked about. Everybody’s worried about it and wants it found.”

“Well, look, Jimmy,” said Bethan. “My advice is that you take this incident as a warning, and it might be best if you steer clear of any conversation that could be considered controversial. It looks like someone has it in for you, so be careful. I hope you’ll feel okay tomorrow.” She gave Jimmy a reassuring pat on the shoulder and then turned to Penny. “I’m just going to check the visitor sign-in book to see who’s been in and out today. When you’re ready, why don’t you meet me in the reception area and I’ll give you a lift home.”

Remembering the times she’d forgotten to sign in and the receptionist had been preoccupied and failed to remind her, Penny wasn’t confident Bethan would find anything useful in the visitor log.

When Bethan had left, Penny turned her attention back to Jimmy. He looked frailer than the last time she’d seen him. Paler and thinner. She took his hand and they sat together without speaking. The bedside lamp cast a soft glow over him, and she found it strangely moving, just sitting there quietly with him. He closed his eyes, and his gentle breathing led her to believe he was asleep. She released his hand and got to her feet. As she stood, ready to tiptoe out of the room, he said in a low voice, “The police lady asked me if I heard anything unusual just before I got tipped out of my chair. I didn’t. But now that I think of it, I did smell something unusual. It was the strong smell of tobacco. You know that stale smell of smoke you get off a heavy smoker? It was like that.”

“Okay,” said Penny. “I’ll tell Bethan.”

“So now I don’t think it was someone who lives here,” said Jimmy. “Nobody here smokes, because you have to go outside and most of us can’t do that without assistance. And besides, most smokers don’t live long enough to make it into a place like this.”

“That’s a good thought,” said Penny. “Well, be sure to ring me if anything else occurs to you. I’ll pop in and see how you’re doing tomorrow. Try to get some sleep now.”

She leaned over, lightly kissed his cheek as she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, and then slipped out of the room.