Chapter 38

 

RENEE SIGHED AS she eyed the cameras and all the other security around the pharmacy counter. Thanks to Frei, she could get in anywhere but that was without a senior in tow.

Renee browsed the shelves while the device on her phone found the signal for the cameras. When it buzzed in her pocket, they would be scrambled and she could stray into the line of sight. She’d avoided being spotted coming in by covering her face with a magazine from a stand outside the shop. The town was small. The car was parked a fair distance so not to be on any nearby camera.

She sighed.

Now, it just depended on Aunt Bess, a civilian with no training, doing her part. 

Aunt Bess headed in through the door as she thought it and Renee shook her head. Coincidence, that was all.

“Can I help you?” The woman at the counter flicked through her magazine. Renee wiggled her toes. The woman’s feet were aching. Her hair was bunched up in an exaggerated bun, making her look like she had a mushroom on her head and Renee’s head itch.  

“Er . . . sure . . . You see, I live with some good folks in a big ol’ house.” Aunt Bess started in an accent a lot further south than Missouri. “I forget things, you see. They take care o’ me.”

The woman’s focus sharpened, her energy pulsing with curiosity. “A house?”

The woman put down her magazine and strode over. She barely reached Aunt Bess’s chest. Her eyes were wide, intense. Renee somehow knew that she was a mom of three.

Freaky. Weird and freaky.

“Institution.” Aunt Bess shoved her hands in her pockets like she was ashamed about it. She looked so much like Aeron at times. Even in those long pants that were fashionable in the thirties, a blouse that looked like it came from the same era and a cardigan on top. “I don’t get people real well.”

“My mother lived in one.” The woman’s eyes opened and concern filled her aura. She smiled a big warm smile. “So, how can I help you?”

“I need stuff . . . to . . . er . . . wash . . . I think?” Aunt Bess pulled out a sweet from her pocket and popped it in her mouth. She looked vacant. If anything, she would make a great actress.

The woman clasped her hands together. She looked at Aunt Bess like a bird that had fallen out of a nest. “You don’t have anything?”

Aunt Bess pulled out a wad of bills from her pocket, drawing the woman’s eyes to her. “They just said to buy stuff. The man at the hardware store said I couldn’t clean my teeth with none of his.”

Renee felt her phone buzz. She snuck through the gap in the counter, ducked down, pulled out her phone, and placed it to the secure gate which sealed off where the drugs were made up. She could see Aunt Bess through a small gap in the counter and shook her head.

Aunt Bess picked up some gel, shaking it about. “Can I use this?” She opened it and dipped her fingers in.

The woman took it off her. “That’s for your hair.”

“I gotta clean my hair too?” Aunt Bess looked down at the goop.

The woman took Aunt Bess’s hand. Renee got hit with a rolling screen of information: The woman was taking classes in night school to be a lawyer . . . The guy she was with worked hard in the local garage . . . Her kids all came home to food on the table and a smile on her face.

“You have to clean both with different things.” The woman took Aunt Bess along the aisle and picked up a basket. “You put soap on your face and hands, toothpaste in your mouth, and shampoo in your hair.”

Renee’s phone buzzed, signaling that the backroom was unlocked. 

Aunt Bess sighed, her face contorted like she was confused. “That’s a lot to remember.”

Renee crept into the back and pulled out her list.

“Can you read okay?” The woman’s voice carried as she started to decipher the storage system and make up what they’d need.

“Not without my glasses.”

Renee stifled a chuckle as the woman blew out a breath as if to say, “How did they let you out?”

Renee moved through the drawers, pulling out the required meds. She stocked up on a few of Jessie’s inhalers. Even with them, the poor kid suffered. She peeked around the door.

Aunt Bess had picked up toothpaste. “Why is this one so small?” She squeezed it until the cap popped off and squirted all over the woman’s top.

The woman took it off Aunt Bess. “Your teeth are smaller than your head.”

Renee smiled and went back to scouring for her list. She had half of the things. 

“Why’s it smell funny?”

Aunt Bess was making the woman nervous, Renee could feel it somehow. “It’s mint.”

Renee hurried, completing her list, and snuck back out with the bag shoved under her top. Aunt Bess sighed enough to keep the woman’s attention on her as Renee went back to browsing.

“I don’t get it,” she muttered.

“Is there someone . . . who can help you?” The woman was more concerned about Aunt Bess than anything else.

Renee was starting to agree with her.

“They yell at me when I wander off.”

“And have you wandered off?” The woman led Aunt Bess over to the counter.

“Maybe.” Aunt Bess giggled as if she’d done just that.

Renee stuffed her sweater in her waistband to keep the medicine bag inside; shoved the buds connected to her phone into her ears, and cleared her throat. “Nancy?” She shook her head and walked over, pulling the buds out. “What you doin’ leavin’ the bus?”

The woman’s shoulders sunk in relief. “She was learning about washing.” She held up the basket full of products.

“Now, you know you ain’t allowed to use those without supervision.” Renee wagged a finger, hoping her accent was placed correctly. She met the woman’s eyes. “Sorry, head injury as a child. Nancy doesn’t understand and her memory is worse than her eyesight.”

“The hair stuff tastes minty.”

Renee touched Aunt Bess’s cheek with her hand. “It does, does it, sweetheart?” She turned back to the counter and placed a pack of mints on it. “How much do we owe you?”

The woman shook her head. “Oh no, I’m just glad she’s okay.”

A breeze tickled Renee’s neck and she shivered.

“Give her the money,” Nan whispered.

Renee met Aunt Bess’s eyes and flicked her gaze to the bills. Aunt Bess turned, knocked over a display of products, and stooped to pick them up. The woman hurried around to help her and Renee ducked behind the counter and shoved the wad of cash in the handbag tucked underneath.

How would she explain this one to Doctor Montgomery, the CIG shrink?

“Maybe it’s better we leave before we cause any more trouble?” Renee ducked back to the right side of the counter. Aunt Bess was kicking the products about as she tried to pick them up. Renee placed a handful of products on the counter. It seemed as though the town was fighting a head lice outbreak. The wonders of school. Renee placed a twenty dollar bill on the counter. “For the damage.”

The woman smiled, looking up. Exasperation filled her eyes. “I’m just glad she’s got somewhere safe.”

Aunt Bess shot her a big beaming smile back. “Thank you.”

Renee took her hand, the bag, and dragged Aunt Bess out of the door. They hurried across town, ducked around a corner, and to her car. “I’m not sure if I should be impressed or have you checked out?”

“You pretty much covered any losses and then some.” Aunt Bess shook her head as she got in. “I ain’t gonna ask why you got so much loose change hanging around the car.”

Renee handed Aunt Bess the wipes they’d just bought. Aunt Bess studied her the whole time she wiped the gel and paste off her hands. She was expecting an answer.

“You just gave the woman enough money not to work for a few years,” Aunt Bess said, eyeing her.

Renee shrugged. “She works hard.”

“So why’d you look like you seen a spook?” Aunt Bess said with a confused smile on her face. She was so much like Aeron.

Renee pulled out the medication and stowed it in the trunk. She took out iron tablets for Aeron.

“Nan,” she mumbled. “I’m experiencing some odd side effects.”

Aunt Bess wasn’t surprised by the smile on her face. “In that case, I’m glad we just robbed her.”

“Not robbed . . . I paid for them.” Renee took a long shuddering breath as she noticed Aeron passed out. “Let’s get to the airport before we make any other unsuspecting people rich.”