I didn’t sleep, but I talked to God. I asked why several times in between getting caught up in my own tears. By the time I awakened, I was determined to get my answers. It occurred to me I was more distraught over Pat’s death than William’s death. Both deaths were sudden and tragic. There were too many questions left hanging. I wasn’t sure if one was connected to the other, but I couldn’t get bogged down in details. The goal was to see how Louise was doing.
After I parked in the Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home parking lot, I marched inside and to my surprise no one was at the desk. I just knew Lexi would be there with her condescending little face telling me I was not allowed to visit Louise.
I thought why not just sneak down the hallway. A big and hulky male was pushing a man in a wheelchair past me. Maybe I will just go back to my original plan, which was to confront the director. She was the one making the rules and she argued with Pat about something last week that upset Pat. So I switched direction down another hallway towards the administration offices.
I moved through a sitting area that I hadn’t been in before towards a few doors. All the doors were closed, but the lights were on from what I could tell from the window panes next to the doors. As I approached the door in the far corner of the administration area, I read the gold nameplate. Jacqueline Saunders, Director. That’s who I needed to see first.
I started to knock on the door, but I could hear voices. It sounded like a man and a woman were arguing. I looked at the table in the middle of the sitting area; I went over and grabbed a brochure off of the table. I scoped the nearby doors to see if there was anyone who could see me and eased as close as I could to Ms. Saunders’s door. If the door opened, I could always say I was waiting to see her.
I leaned towards the door close enough hoping that I didn’t look like I was eavesdropping. It was so hard to hear.
I heard the man’s voice yell, “What were you doing with my car?”
Ms. Saunders raised her voice, “I told you I just needed to borrow your car because mine was in the shop.”
“So you just came in my house and took the keys. That’s technically stealing. I don’t care if you are family, especially with some detective showing up asking me questions. Do you know how embarrassing that is to have customers see policemen walking through the showroom?”
Showroom? Like a car showroom. Wait a minute, I know that voice.
That was James Nelson. Amos said the nursing home was owned by the Nelsons. It made sense for James to come visit his father, Chuck Nelson. How would Jacqueline Saunders be able to borrow his car? What kind of car was it?
Jacqueline asked, “What were they asking you?”
I strained to hear.
“The detective was asking me about William. Seems like my car could have been at his house the night he was shot.”
Jaqueline responded matter-of-factly. “I’m sure there are a lot of other cars like your Mustang here in Charleston. Now what did you tell them about the car?”
“Can I help you?”
I shrank back and noticed a red-haired woman was looking at me strangely. I smiled and held out the brochure. “I was waiting to talk to Ms. Saunders.”
The woman pointed to the sitting area. “Looks like she is with someone now, why don’t you have a seat?”
After what I just heard, I had a change of plan. “You know what? I will be back.”
I hurried out of the area and fast as I could. I looked over at the front desk again. Lexi was still not there. I stopped and pulled out my phone. I told Amos I was coming to the nursing home and would call him if I found anything strange.
Amos answered on the first ring. “Everything okay, Eugeena? Have you seen Louise yet?”
I looked around to make sure no one was listening to my conversation. “That’s next, but I need you to know that I overheard a conversation. You know that car that was at the house the night William was killed?”
“Yes.”
“It could belong to James Nelson. But get this; Jacqueline Saunders could have been driving it. How?”
Amos was quiet for a moment like he was thinking. “According to the information I found, the former director was Jacqueline’s mother. She retired and passed the nursing home to her daughter. It’s possible James Nelson and Jacqueline Saunders are related, maybe even siblings.”
That’s the connection! I turned and saw someone coming down the hallway. I walked over to the other side of the hallway and held my head down. It appeared to be James Nelson. I recognized the salesman’s determined strides as he pushed open the door. “Amos, I’m going to see if I can get down the hallway to Louise while I still have a chance. I made need a little backup.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“Let’s just say I’d like to get a conversation going with Ms. Saunders, but I know I need some help.”
“Eugeena?”
“You told me to call you when I’m about to get into something? I’m letting you know now.” I clicked off the conversation before Amos tried to talk me out of whatever sketchy plan I had in my head.
Then I scooted down the hallway. I had visions of me being dressed as a nurse, but that was taking it a bit too far. No need for a disguise. I passed the sitting area for residents and noticed some of the same people sitting around watching the television. No one seemed to notice me walking past. The closer I got to Louise’s room I was feeling hopeful that this would all work out fine.
Right outside Louise’s room, I heard someone talking to Louise in a harsh voice. “Pat is off today. Now you need to take your medicine.”
Louise whined. “Where’s Pat? I want Pat. She knows I don’t need to take this stuff. I don’t want it. It doesn’t make me feel good.”
I hoped Amos was coming with the cavalry because I was putting a stop to this foolishness, right then.