Devil's Plaything - Matt Richtel [45]
“Vince is an officious a-hole,” Betty Lou says. “But he really cares about the residents, and he’s right that she needs to be in a comfortable setting.”
She looks tenderly at Lane. “It came on fast,” she says.
Our mood feels heavy and quiet, darkening.
“Betty Lou, has Lane said anything unusual to you lately?”
“Like what?”
“Has she mentioned a man in blue, or someone named Adrianna?”
“Not to me. But you should ask Harry.”
“Why’s that?”
“I thought journalists were supposed to be observant. Can’t you see they’re good friends?”
I think about this in silence for a moment.
“Older people say strange things when they get forgetful,” she says, gently. “Like ice cream man or blueberry man, or whatever.”
“She said ‘man in blue’ to me. Does Grandma go to the dentist a lot?”
“The dentist? I don’t think so.”
I gamble.
“Do you think you could find out for me?”
She crinkles her brow, uncertain what I mean.
I explain that Grandma’s neurologist said her condition might be exaggerated because she experienced some trauma.
“Separately, Grandma has expressed some fear about going to the dentist.”
“So you think the dentist made her act strange?” she asks, incredulous.
“I’m always a little crazy after I go to the dentist.”
She laughs. “How can I help?”
“I’m wondering if you could ask one of the nurses to give you Grandma’s care file.”
“You know they’d never do that.”
“I know.”
“Nathaniel, you’re scaring me a little.”
“Sorry, Betty Lou, I don’t mean to.”
To break the mild tension, I look in the shopping bag that she’s brought. Inside it are two meticulously folded blouses, two pairs of pants, a skirt and some undergarments. There is also a toothbrush and sundry bathroom supplies.
“I brought your Grandmother’s favorite brush. She loves to brush her hair, and to have it brushed.”
“I’m on it,” I say. I feel a wave of emotion, and I choke it back.
“Nathaniel, I think you should bring Grandma back where she belongs. And, if I may say so, I think you should get some rest. You’re behaving strangely.”
“I’ll have her home soon,” I respond. “Can you look into the care file?”
She drops her gaze from mine.
“I’ll ask about it.”
“Thanks.”
“Might be easy to get today,” she says. “The place is so chaotic with the flood.”
“Flood?”
“The sprinklers went off in the recreation room. Everything got soaked. But they got most of the people out before we all got wet. Still, everyone is in a dither because all the computers are down.”
“Sprinklers? Was there a fire?”
“I don’t think so. But when Vince came back, he was royally pissed. He hates any inconvenience he doesn’t cause himself.”
“Got back? Where was he?”
She shrugs.
Wasn’t Vince also missing from Magnolia Manor the night we were nearly shot?
“I can’t figure out what that all adds up to,” I say, thinking aloud.
“You’re mumbling,” says Betty Lou.
“I should take you home.”
I drive two blocks to the corner of Magnolia Manor. I give her my card with my cell phone number on it and ask her to call if she sees anything odd, or gets Grandma’s care file. She gives slumbering Lane a gentle pat on the shoulder, looks at me and shakes her head, worried, and gets out of the car.
With Grandma still sleeping, I drive to my house. Like her, I’m overcome with exhaustion, and need a break before I can plot my next move.
But as I arrive at my block, my adrenaline starts to pump. In front of my building, fire.
Chapter 25
It takes a second to realize the flames are shooting up from a Porta Potti.
The street is empty. But it won’t be for long. People will come to gather and talk. The fire department will be called, and the cops.
“We can’t afford to get embroiled in this, Lane.”
No response.
What to make of this attack? It seems obvious the cops want to punish me for my story. But this also seems risky for them.
Regardless, I can’t afford to pick a fight. Doing so might come at a serious cost. Adrianna admonished me not to go to the police; so did Chuck. He said that it was someone in the force who had called me anonymously.
“May I make a pun, Grandma?”
“I hate puns.”
“It