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Michaela glanced at her watch and checked the time as she watched Dottie devour one and a half sandwiches. She knew better than to hurry her, because if she did Dottie, either from stubbornness, or perhaps belligerence, would take her time telling Michaela the events of the day. It wasn't an artifact of Dottie's age, it was an artifact of Dottie's stubborn personality.
"Wow, you ate a lot. Must’ve been pretty good stuff," Mic observed as Dottie placed her tray back on the table. Michaela reached for a piece of roast beef and offered it to Angel who was lying at her side.
Dottie nodded. "Yeah, Cookie makes the best food in the world. Even though she totally gets on my nerves. I do have to admit I don't think I could do without Henry and Cookie."
Mic jumped on that observation. "You’re darned right, you need them more than you’ll ever know," Michaela assured her. “And you need to tell them that. Cut the royal crap and tell them how much you appreciate them.”
Dottie contemplated this as Mic continued. “Now, can we talk about the rest of your afternoon with Dr. Dude?"
Dottie leaned back against the cushions in her recliner, picked up a glass of water “Yes. Let's do that before I forget. Where was I?" she asked as she reached for her sherry and put the mineral water down.
Michaela shook her head. She was glad she wasn’t taking care of Dottie that night. “You’d just told me about Dr. Dude and the Russian. You told me the Russian had threatened Dude’s wife and children."
Dottie nodded as she chewed. "Right. He only threatened Dr. Dude's new wife though. Not the mother of his children. The man seemed to like the first wife." Dottie paused for a moment to swallow. “I think he said ‘they’ picked Smirkowitz’s first wife.”
“Interesting, I wonder what that means?" Michaela asked.
Dottie shrugged her shoulders. "I've no idea. Maybe they picked her as his Russian bride,” she suggested and gave a short laugh. “Just like in the movies.”
Mic thought for a moment, before responding. “Who knows, she could’ve been. For all we know, they’re both Russian spies although that’s a huge stretch.”
Dorothy was quiet and covered her mouth with her hand to hide a yawn. “I did hear the words ‘family business’ mentioned today, but I can’t remember whether Dude said it or the Russian.”
Mic’s eyes bored into her. “Well, try. Think back over things,” she encouraged.
Dottie yawned. “Can’t, too tired. You just check it out. I’ve got confidence in you, Michaela.”
"So what else do you remember from today?" Mic prodded. "Was there anything else you need to tell me about?"
"Oh yes." Dottie suddenly sat up straighter. "The Russian said that Dr. Dude must make Allison ready for tonight. Tonight is...” Dottie paused for a moment. “Well, I think he said that tonight was the bidding? Does that make sense to you?"
Mic was quiet, hoping Dottie would remember more.
Dottie hesitated for a moment and gave Mic a frustrated look, "I don't really know for sure. I couldn’t hear that well, and half of the time he spoke in Russian."
Michaela nodded, her mind racing a mile a minute. What in the world was going on? Of course, Dottie could be a little confused. It was getting late, and she’d had a very stressful day plus a couple glasses of sherry.
"Don't you have to be going soon? You said you had to get downtown to Biddy's?" Dottie stifled another yawn.
Mic stood to leave, and Angel stood with her. "Yeah, I do need to leave, Dottie. Will you promise to write down anything else you remember on a pad of paper, no matter how important or unimportant you think it is?”
Dottie nodded, gray with fatigue. Mic was concerned about her. “Are you okay, Dottie? Do we need to call the doctor?”
Dottie yawned, “No, I am fine. Just tired and the sherry makes me sleepy.”
“I’ll have Cookie bring you a pad of paper and perhaps you can sit here and rethink the conversation."
Dottie nodded. Her silver head bobbed up and down. "Yes, I'll be glad to do that, Michaela. I must say I'm tired right now, and I think I'm going to go take a nap. Or maybe just go to bed for the night."
Mic nodded her approval. “I think that's a great idea! You've had a big day." Mic glanced at her watch. "I really must go. I'm already late." She leaned over and gave Dottie a hug. "Don't you ever do anything again like you did today. That was dangerous and very foolish." Angel yipped in agreement and licked Dorothy’s hand.
In her usual stubborn manner, Dottie refused to agree. Instead, she sat defiantly, stiff as a board and didn’t hug her back but managed to scratch the magic spot behind Angel’s ears. Michaela saw anger flicker over Dorothy's face, but her voice was contrite when she finally spoke. "Okay, Michaela. I won't. It was a bit upsetting."
Mic hugged her again, gave her a peck on the cheek and said a final good night. She loved the way Dottie always smelled of Chanel No. 5.
Dottie sniffed as she watched Mic and Angel leave the library and then smiled to herself. No one would ever control her, no one. She’d see to that.