by Bill Bernico
A few minutes later, when everyone had finished eating, drinking and talking, an uneasy silence fell over the four people. No one knew exactly what to say or do next, so Matt stood up and clapped his hands together once. “Well, should we all get going?” he said.
Matt and Conrad had walked to the coffee shop from the office and didn’t have a car to contend with. Elliott handed Matt his keys and told him he could drive. Matt opened the door and waited until Conrad slid in before he went around to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel. Elliott helped Rose into the back seat, transferred her overnight case to the trunk and then took his place beside her.
“Anything special you’d like to see first, Rose?” Elliott said.
“Could we drive by Grauman’s Chinese Theater?” she said. “If I remember correctly, it’s just up the street a few blocks.”
“Grauman’s it is,” Elliott said, tapping Matt on his shoulder.
“But Dad,” Matt started to say. “It’s not…”
“Just drive, son,” Elliott said, not wanting Matt to burst Rose’s bubble by telling her that Grauman’s was now Mann’s Theater.
It took Matt the better part of ninety minutes to cover the landmark places Rose wanted to see. After Grauman’s, she wanted to see the Brown Derby restaurant, and was disappointed to see the building that had taken the place of the derby-shaped structure from the forties. She also wanted to see MacArthur Park, Ciro’s Restaurant and a few other places that had either changed owners or names or were no longer there. As Matt drove by the intersection of Western and Melrose, Conrad sat up straight and pointed out the window. “That’s where it happened,” he said.
“That’s where what happened?” Matt said.
“The accident,” Conrad explained. “That’s where Lila lost her leg. I hope she’s all right now. Do you think she’s all right, Matt?”
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Matt said, just trying to placate Conrad.
“Can we stop here?” Conrad said. “I’d like to get out and take a look around if you wouldn’t mind.”
Matt exhaled deeply. “I guess it would be all right.”
The four of them got out of the car and walked a short way to the intersection. Conrad pointed west down Melrose. “The car came from that direction,” he said to no one in particular. “Ran the red light and hit another car coming from the north.” He pointed up Western Avenue. “It was that second car that ended up on the curb and hit Lila.”
Rose stepped up to Conrad. “I think I remember that accident,” she said. “It was a bad one, wasn’t it?”
Conrad nodded. “Poor Lila,” he said.
“I remember reading about it in the paper the next day,” Rose said. “I wonder whatever happened to that poor woman.”
“They took her to the hospital,” Conrad said. “She’s probably still there.”
Rose looked at Elliott, her face scrunched up, not sure if she had heard Conrad correctly. Elliott gently shook his head and Rose got it immediately. She suddenly realized that there was something wrong with Conrad Jenkins’ memory.
“I’m sure she’ll recover,” Matt said. “Should we go now?”
Conrad looked at the surrounding buildings and frowned. “Something looks different here,” he said, gesturing toward the bar on the corner. “That doesn’t look like the same bar, but it has to be. This is the right corner.”
Elliott jumped in, trying to change the conversation. “Rose, is there any place else you’d like to see before we call it a day?”
Rose thought for a moment and then said, “Could I see your office?”
“You want to see the office?” he said. “Why?”
“I’d just like to see if it’s changed,” she explained.
“I didn’t know you’d ever been in it before,” Elliott said.
“Twice,” Rose said. “Once about a week after I met your grandfather and again about a week after that.”
“Oh, were you a client of Grandpa’s?” Elliott said.
“Not exactly,” Rose said, sorry she’d brought it up.
“Oh,” was all Elliott said before dropping the subject. He was getting a mental picture of Grandpa Matt and a younger Rose after hours on the sofa in the office. He had to wipe his mind clear and try to think of something else. “Okay, let’s go have a look at the office. You might not recognize it. We had a fire recently and the office was completely gutted and remodeled.”
“I’d still like to see it,” she said. “That is, if you wouldn’t mind.”
“Let’s go,” Elliott said, walking her back to the car.
Once they were back in the office, Rose paused just inside the door and took in the walls, ceiling, windows and furniture. Her eyes rested on the leather sofa against the south wall. She smiled briefly and cleared her throat before walking to the window and looking down onto Hollywood Boulevard. “It still looks like I remember it,” she said. “A little newer, but it’s still the same office. Thank you for showing it to me, Elliott.”
Elliott and Matt exchanged a brief glance and then looked away, as if they were embarrassed for Elliott’s grandfather and Rose.
Conrad Jenkins glanced up at the wall clock and promptly announced, “I better get home. Trish is making homemade soup tonight.”
“But you just…” Matt started to say and caught himself. “You’re right. We’d better get you home.” He turned to Rose. “Would you excuse me, Rose, while I take Mr. Jenkins home again?”
“It was nice to meet you Conrad,” Rose said before Conrad promptly left the office and shuffled back toward the elevator with Matt close behind him. Rose turned back to Elliott and said, “He’s a little…” and paused, not sure how to finish that sentence.
“Yes, he is,” Elliott agreed. He explained Conrad’s situation, telling Rose that Conrad had anywhere between two weeks and two months left to live and that Matt was just playing along with Conrad’s delusions about Lila and the accident. “His granddaughter asked Matt to go along with Conrad’s story and humor him so he could at least die thinking that someone was looking into the case that apparently has been bothering him since it happened all those years ago.”
“But you’re really not doing anything, are you?” Rose asked.
“There’s nothing we can do,” Elliott explained. “This Lila woman has probably been dead for some time now and that accident happened in 1949. What can we do but play along with him?”
“You’re probably right,” Rose said. “Have you checked to see whatever became of this Lila person?”
Elliott shook his head. “No, we haven’t. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to dig a little in the library’s newspaper micro phish room. Who knows? Maybe she’s still around somewhere.” Elliott glanced at his wristwatch and turned to Rose. “Eric should be finishing up his shift right about now. I think I’ll give him a call and see if he can meet us. I’m sure he’ll want to spend some time with you before you have to go home again.”
Elliott dialed Eric’s cell phone and waited. Eric picked up on the fifth ring. Elliott told him that he and Rose were in his office and should he bring her to him or did he want to pick her up here. Eric told Elliott that he’d come there and thanked him again before hanging up.
Eric got to Elliott’s office a little after five-thirty. His eyes lit up when he saw his grandmother standing there waiting for him. “Grandma,” Eric said. “How good to see you again.” He held his arms out in a big semi-circle and pulled her close. He kissed her cheek and then stepped back, still holding both her hands. “You look great. I think that warm climate agrees with you.”
Rose pulled away from Eric’s grasp and dropped her arms at her side. “Poppycock,” she said. “I’m tired of living like a baked potato. I think I’d like to move back home to Los Angeles and finish my time here.”
Eric shot me a quick glance and then looked back at Rose. “Really?” he said. “What brought this on?”
“Elliott here was kind enough to show me the town again,” Rose exp
lained. “And I suddenly got homesick for my town.” She paused for effect.
“That’s great, Grandma,” Eric said, his voice wavering. “When were you planning to make the move?”
“I’m already here,” she said. “All I have to do now is find a place to live and arrange for my things to be shipped here. None of that furniture in Phoenix is mine so I could just find a furnished apartment.”
“Are you sure you want to do that, Grandma?” Eric said. “Wouldn’t you be better off in…?”
“A nursing home?” Rose said. “Is that what you were going to say, Eric?”
“I was going to say assisted living, Grandma,” Eric explained. “It’s like having your own apartment but you’d have nurses and other people close by to help you if you need it.”
“I don’t know,” Rose said. “I did all right by myself in Phoenix and you know what a private person I am. I’d have to really think about it.”
“You’d still have your privacy, Grandma,” Eric said. “But you’d also have the security of knowing help is just a minute away in the event of an emergency. Just think about it, will you?”
Rose held out one hand toward Eric. “We can finish this discussion at home,” she said. “I’m sure Elliott would like to get home to his own family.”
She read my mind, Elliott thought. “Well, Gloria is waiting for me,” he said. Without letting Rose see, Elliott gestured to Eric to follow him to the door.
Eric turned to his grandmother. “We’d better get going, Grandma,” he said and led her out of the office. He quickly turned back to Elliott and said in a low tone, “I’ll call you tomorrow,” and followed Rose down the hall toward the elevator.
Elliott wasted no time in closing and locking the office before hurrying to his van. When he got home, Gloria was waiting for him with a drink in her hand. She smiled when she saw Elliott. “Would you like a drink, Elliott?”
“The usual,” he said, loosening his tie and slipping out of his jacket. He had just settled into the folds of the overstuffed leather sofa when Gloria came in and handed his a glass. Elliott sipped a little and set the glass on the end table. “Ah,” he said, sighing with satisfaction. “There’s nothing like chocolate milk after a long day.”
“Tell me all about it,” Gloria said and settled down next to him on the sofa.
Elliott described his day with Rose and the places she insisted on seeing.
Gloria leaned in and kissed Elliott’s cheek. “You’re a good man, Elliott Cooper.”
Eric called the next morning even before Elliott had had a chance to leave the house. “Elliott,” he said. “I’m glad I caught you before you drove over here.”
“Am I driving Rose to the airport today?” Elliott said.
“Actually,” Eric started to say.
“Oh oh,” Elliott answered.
“Grandma had decided to stay for a few more days and at least take a look at some of the assisted living centers,” Eric said. “But I still need you on the clock to watch after her while I’m at work. Same rate as before, unless you have business of your own.”
Elliott glanced at Gloria and rolled his eyes before answering Eric. “No, I’m still free. When would you like me to pick Rose up?”
“She’s still sleeping,” Eric explained. “How about you stop by my house around nine-thirty? I’ll let her know you’re coming by. She might like to see some of the old movie studios.”
“As long as she doesn’t want to see the old RKO back lot,” Elliott said. “It’s nothing more than an industrial complex now.”
“Why don’t you take her on one of those Universal Studio tours?” Eric suggested. “Just put it on your expense account and I’ll pay for it.”
“All right,” Elliott said. “Tell her I’ll pick her up at nine-thirty.” He hung up, gave Gloria the condensed version and headed off to the office to tell Matt of his plans.
“So, it looks like I’m in charge here again today,” Matt said after Elliott told him what he had planned for Rose today.
“Oh yeah,” Elliott said. “And you make sure all those other employees you’re in charge of all do their jobs, will you?” He scanned the office to drive his joke home, and then smiled. “And don’t give any of them raises, either.”
“Very funny, Dad,” Matt said.
“What do you have planned for today?” Elliott asked. “And whatever it is, can you do it in the van? I’m going to need your car again.” He exchanged keys with his son, pocketing Matt’s keys.
“Well, whatever it is,” Matt said, “It has to be more exciting than taking Grandma on that Universal Studio tour. Unless, of course, King Kong grabs her and climbs to the top of the Empire State Building.” Matt laughed but Elliott failed to see the humor in his predicament.
Matt was still laughing when the office door opened and he found himself looking at Conrad Jenkins’ sorrowful face. The smile fell off Matt’s face and he leaned back in his chair. “Good morning, Mr. Jenkins.”
Elliott nodded politely at the old man before burying his face in his computer screen. He was in no mood to hear any more about that 1949 accident or about the ever-elusive Lila.
“Well, what brings you here this early, Conrad?” Matt said.
“I thought we could get an early start on the accident investigation, Matt,” he said. “You know, while the accident is still fresh in everybody’s mind.” Even with the dire circumstances surrounding the reason for Conrad’s visit, Matt could swear he detected the slightest hint of a smile on his face and an eager need to solve the case once and for all.
“We could do that if you like, Conrad,” Matt said.
“Well, I’m gonna leave you two to your case,” Elliott said. “I have a few things to take care of before I have to pick up Rose.”
Conrad’s ears perked up at the mention of Rose’s name and he turned to Elliott. “Are you going to see Rose today, Mr. Cooper?”
“That I am,” Elliott said, shutting off his computer and heading for the door. He’d almost made it out of the office when Conrad’s voice stopped him.
“You make sure and tell her hello from me, will you?” Conrad said.
Elliott sighed with relief. “I sure will,” he said, happy that Conrad had not suggested tagging along. That’s all he’d need to make this a perfect day. He hurried out of the office and down the hall before Conrad could speak again. Elliott drove west on Hollywood Boulevard and then south on Highland until he came to Lexington Avenue. Half a block from the corner he pulled to the curb and killed his engine. When he got out of the car he glanced at his watch and found that he was still ten minutes early for picking up Rose Anderson, but there she was, sitting on the front porch, wearing a button-up sweater and watching the world go by her front door. She smiled and waved when she saw Elliott walking toward her.
“Good morning, Elliott,” Rose said, rising from her chair.
“Good morning to you, too, Rose,” Elliott said. “Looks like you’re ready to get out there and see some more of Los Angeles today.” He took her by the hand, helped her out of the chair and walked her back to the car. Once she was buckled into the passenger seat, Elliott slid behind the wheel and turned toward her. “Eric mentioned that you might like to tour a movie studio today?”
“Goodness, no,” Rose said. “I’ve seen enough of movie studios to last me a lifetime. My good memories of those early years didn’t start until I left the movie business and found a real job.”
“Okay,” Elliott said. “What would you like to do or see today instead? I’m all yours.”
She patted the top of Elliott’s hand and smiled. “It’s been a while since any man’s said that to me.”
Elliott blushed and pulled his hand out from under hers. He started the car and sat there, waiting for an answer. “Well, what’ll it be?”
“You said something yesterday that intrigued me,” Rose began. “I asked if maybe this Lila person might still be alive and you said something about checking the library newspaper vault
. Were you serious?”
“If I was really working the case and wanted to know more about somebody named Lila, yes, that’s where I might start my search. Why?”
“Because that’s what I’d like to do today,” Rose said. “Let’s you and me go to the library and see what we can find out about Lila.”
“That might get a little boring and it could take quite a while,” Elliott reminded her.
Rose smiled. “Time is something I have plenty of,” she told Elliott. “Besides, it could be fun to actually work on a case, even if you don’t that it’s a case. I’m a natural-born snoop and I would love to be able to help bring closure to Mr. Jenkins’ loose end.” She laid her hand on Elliott’s again. “Please?”
Elliott nodded. “All right, Rose. Tell you what, I’ll be Phillip Marlowe and you can be…let’s see, who can you be?”
“Jessica Fletcher,” Rose said.
“Jessica Fletcher?” Elliott said. “I don’t…”
“Murder, She Wrote,” Rose said. “You must have seen it.”
“Oh, I’ve seen it,” Elliott admitted. “I just don’t think of that character when I think of a woman sleuth. I had more like Pepper Anderson from Police Woman in mind. Hey, even the last name fits.”
“I can work with that,” Rose said. “Come on, let’s burn a little rubber and get to the library.”
Elliott laughed right out loud and pulled away from the curb. A few minutes later Elliott turned off Sunset onto Detroit Street and parked. He walked Rose into the library and asked for the newspaper micro phish room. After a brief explanation of how the machine worked, the librarian showed Elliott where he could find the spools of archived newspapers. He pulled the June, 1949 spool from a drawer and brought it back to his machine. He pulled up a second chair for Rose and she sat next to him so she could see the screen as well.
Elliott ran the machine at a faster speed until he got close to June eighth and then slowed the motor down. He and Rose scanned every page for that date and came up empty.
