Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep: A Helen Bradley Mystery (Helen Bradley Mysteries Book 2)

by Patricia H. Rushford

  Sammi grinned. "Probably because I'm convinced. This has got to be the biggest advancement ever in women's cosmetics. I'm actually thinking of volunteering to test it."

  "It sounds too good to be true. Still, if it made that much difference in Irene, I'm sure it will be a best seller.

  "Did you find anything else?" Helen asked, wanting to get back to the autopsy.

  "As far as I'm concerned the case is closed. There's no way to determine who or what caused the infection, but there wouldn't have been an infected wound had it not been for the shooting. Paul could file a complaint against the hospital for malpractice, but he's already told me he won't pursue it. The gunman bears the primary responsibility, and he's dead."

  "And you're certain he's the one."

  "Absolutely. He had a scrape on his arm where he brushed against the concrete wall after he shot at you and Irene. The bloodstains are a match. I can definitely put him at the crime scene. In fact, I had a long talk with Jason, and he agrees with my findings."

  Helen remained silent, and Sammi frowned. "I know you think someone at Edgewood may have helped Irene's death along, but the theory doesn't hold up."

  "Hmm."

  "I know that look. You're still not satisfied."

  "No, I'm not." Helen told her about the discussion she'd had with Chris. "There may be nothing going on, but I'd like to make certain. The precipitating events seem too well orchestrated."

  "What are you going to do?"

  "Check myself in as a patient. From what I understand, Edgewood Manor is one of the best rehab centers around."

  "You're not serious." Sammi tossed Helen an incredulous look.

  "Oh, but I am. I know you did your best to find out what happened to Irene, but you and I both know there are ways to kill people that can't always be detected in an autopsy. Aside from that, it's entirely possible Irene was targeted because she knew too much. She was about to hand me what she considered proof of her husband's murder, which leads me right back to Edgewood. I won't rest until I've proven to myself that nothing sinister is going on out there."

  Sammi sighed and shook her head. "All right, I won't try to talk you out of it. As I recall, you always were the stubborn one. But keep me posted, okay? I mean, if you do find something, you're going to need backup." She made a left through the gates of Edgewood Estates, pausing at the guardhouse. "And just for the record, I think you're chasing the wind."

  Helen noted that she hadn't seen the guard who checked their credentials before. They meandered along the winding road to a large angular building with a bright blue-green tiled roof. The sign in front introduced it as Edgewood Estates Community Center. When they pulled into the circular drive, one of three young men in black-and-white chauffeur uniforms welcomed them and helped the two women out of the car.

  Sammi reluctantly handed over the keys and watched until the rear bumper disappeared around the corner. She smiled when she caught Helen's gaze. "New car jitters. You know how it is, the first ding is always the most traumatic."

  "I know exactly what you mean. I recently got a new paint job on my '55 Thunderbird, and I almost hate taking it out of the garage."

  Chris and Jennie, who'd driven in just ahead of them, were waiting at the door. Even though she'd noticed the large expanse of windows from the outside, she was unprepared for the open garden feel of the interior.

  "Chris, this is breathtaking." It looked like the lobby of an opulent hotel, filled with lush tropical plants. To her right a waterfall cascaded into one end of an Olympic-sized pool, surrounded by at least a dozen therapy pools. The bottom of each pool was a work of art in floral mosaics. To the left, a vast stone fireplace covered one wall in front of a large conversation pit carpeted in a creamy beige. Several guests were seated on the forest green leather chairs and sofas.

  "I knew you'd like it." Jennie hung an arm around Helen's neck. "Maybe you and JB could buy a condo out here, Gram. Then I could invite my friends."

  Helen chuckled. "It's tempting, but I've got a perfectly nice home at the beach, and I intend to stay there." She turned to Chris. "This is magnificent. Has it been here long?"

  "Grandfather had it built three years ago when they decided to expand Edgewood to include the condominiums. He believed the last years of a person's life should be the best."

  "It's a nice theory." Sammi pursed her lips in a cynical smile. "But most older people don't have the money to live like this."

  "Some do." Chris shrugged and placed a hand on Helen's back, steering her toward the far end. "Come on, the reception's outside."

  A series of four wide sliding glass doors opened onto an expansive patio and garden area. Two tables stood end to end, covered in white tablecloths and laden with an assortment of food. The catered affair looked more like a wedding feast than a funeral. Some of the guests had already lined up at the buffet.

  "My parents are over there." Chris nodded toward a couple standing off to one side, then began walking toward them. David Chang had the look of a middle-aged executive, shorter than Chris, though just as lean. His gaze scanned the crowd and lingered a moment on Helen. He nodded in acknowledgment, then bent his head and said something to his wife. If she looked, Helen couldn't tell. A black veil covered Mai Lin Chang's face.

  "You go ahead and meet them, Helen," Sammi said. "I'll catch up with you later." Sammi wandered over to a couple standing at the buffet table. The blond man bore a striking resemblance to Paul Newman. She hadn't seen him before but recognized the woman with him. Stephanie Curtis, the head nurse at Edgewood Manor, looked as though she could have used Mai's veil to cover her blotchy face and puffy eyes.

  "Chris, who's the man with Stephanie?"

  "Oh, that's Jack Owens. He's on staff at Edgewood Manor."

  As if sensing she was being watched, Stephanie looked up and caught Helen's curious gaze. She held eye contact for a moment, giving Helen an almost hostile look, then turned back to Jack and Sammi.

  "I wonder what that was about," Helen murmured.

  "Did you say something?" Jennie asked.

  "Nothing important." Helen turned her attention back to Jennie and Chris and allowed him to escort her across the lawn to where his parents stood.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Mom, Dad, this is Grandma's friend, Helen Bradley," Chris said, making the appropriate introductions, then added, "She's also Jennie's grandmother."

  Helen reached forward to grasp David Chang's extended hand, then Mai's. "Thank you for allowing me to come."

  "I'm glad you did." David glanced at Helen's arm. "I feel badly that you were injured as a result of my mother-in-law's confused state. How are you feeling?"

  "Not bad. I'll need several weeks of rehabilitation. An injury like this takes time. In fact, I've been considering Edgewood Manor's rehab program."

  "That would be a good choice, Mrs. Bradley," Mai said. "I think you should come as our guest."

  David seemed a bit surprised by his wife's offer but quickly recovered. "I agree."

  "That's very kind. I hadn't even considered holding you responsible." Helen hadn't expected to get into the facility so easily, and certainly not with an invitation.

  "Please, it is the least we can do after what you've been through. As I said, we feel somewhat responsible for your misfortune. If we had been more diligent in watching Mother, this wouldn't have happened. You see, she'd been doing so well…" Mai paused to reach under her veil and wipe away her tears, giving way to anguished sobs.

  "Darling, you mustn't blame yourself." David grasped his wife's shoulders and guided her to a nearby chair.

  After a few moments, Mai recovered enough to speak again. "Forgive me." She looked up at her husband. "I think I'd like to lie down for a while."

  "I'll have Chris run you up to the house." He turned to his son and spoke in hushed tones. All Helen could make out were the words "bed" and "sedative."

  "Sure." Chris glanced at Jennie. "I'll be back in about fifteen minutes."

  "No prob
lem."

  Chris escorted his mother down the concrete path that led along the back of the building to the parking lot.

  David watched until they turned the corner, then looked back at Helen. "My wife is taking her mother's death very hard."

  "I shouldn't wonder what with losing both parents within such a short period of time."

  "Yes.” He shifted his gaze back to Helen. “About your therapy. Why don't you come around ten tomorrow? We have a room available, so we can check you in then."

  "That would be fine as long as I can get a ride out."

  "I can bring you, Gram," Jennie offered.

  "It's all set then." David Chang bowed slightly. "I hope you will excuse me, Mrs. Bradley, but I must see to our other guests."

  “Of course.” Helen nodded and turned to Jennie. "You've been awfully quiet since we arrived. Are you feeling okay?"

  "Just watching. You know how you've always taught me to observe people's actions."

  Helen smiled. "And have you discovered anything?"

  "Nothing specific. Just a feeling. This place is so unreal, sometimes it seems I'm watching a movie."

  "In what way?" Helen looked behind her and sat down on the chair Mai had just vacated.

  Jennie shrugged. "I don't know…. It all seems so staged, even the people. Take the Changs, for example. They seem really nice and everything, but I think they're having some problems. The family isn't as together as they want people to believe."

  "Life hasn't been exactly normal for the Changs lately. I'm sure they're all under a great deal of stress. Death is not an easy thing to endure."

  "Yeah, but we've been through a lot too, with Dad being missing for so long and Nick's kidnapping. I don't know, something isn't right. When Chris talks about his parents, there's this sarcastic tone in his voice."

  "I noticed that when he was talking to Sammi."

  "Oh, her." Jennie glanced toward the woman in question. "He has good reason not to like your friend, Gram. According to Chris, Dr. Fergeson was trying to break up his grandparents' marriage. Now that his grandfather is dead, she's working on the uncle."

  "Paul? Are you certain?" Though Helen had lost contact with her friend, she had a difficult time seeing Sammi as a husband snatcher, particularly when Andrew Kincaid must have been twenty years her senior.

  "That's what Chris said. See, Paul is supposed to be engaged to one of the scientists who works here. Adriane Donahue. She's really nice, Gram, and smart. I met her the first day I came out here." Jennie scanned the crowd. "She's over there, near the far end of the pool. She’s the lady sitting by herself. Want to meet her?"

  "Absolutely."

  They wove their way around the milling guests, across the lawn, the patio, and the tiled pool area. While they walked, Jennie shared the information she'd gleaned from Adriane during her tour. "The work she's doing is super complicated. Adriane has developed this computer chip that can stimulate the brain to make new brain cells. She's been experimenting with animals and says it should be ready to use on humans soon."

  "Did she say how it would be used?"

  "I probably should let her tell you, but she says it can be programed to identify defective brain cells, destroy them, and create new ones."

  "You're right. It does sound complicated and a bit beyond the bounds of reality."

  They stopped talking as they neared the table. Adriane Donahue seemed engrossed in whatever she was reading. The shoulder pads on her beige pinstriped business suit and cream silk blouse made her head seem a couple sizes too small for her body. With her long dark hair slicked back and gathered at the back in a pearl barrette, she looked like an executive who'd paused for a brief lunch.

  Adriane glanced up and smiled as they approached. "Jennie, how nice to see you again." She wasn't a classic beauty, Helen noted, not like Sammi.

  "Hi." Jennie glanced at the papers on the table. "I hope we're not disturbing you, but I wanted you to meet my grandmother, Helen Bradley."

  "I was just reviewing my notes on the project I told you about the other day." Adriane's striking blue gaze studied Helen through glasses that overwhelmed her small nose and heart- shaped face. She stretched out a hand. "Mrs. Bradley, I've heard so much about you."

  "I'm afraid I know very little about you, although I did meet Paul the other day. I understand you two are engaged."

  Adriane opened her mouth, then closed it as if censoring an unkind remark. "At the moment, yes." She straightened and cleared her throat. "We'd planned to be married next week and had even put a down payment on a house, but with both Paul's parents dying, we've had to postpone our plans indefinitely." She glanced down at her clenched hands. "Paul needs time to work things out in his personal life as well as with Edgewood Estates."

  Helen let her gaze drift to Sammi, who now seemed to be deep in conversation with Paul Kincaid. Maybe there was some truth in the rumor after all. Helen thought about asking Adriane, then decided against it. She'd check it out with Sammi first.

  Adriane looked from Helen to Jennie. "So Jennie is your granddaughter. Such a small world."

  "Yes, it is." Helen eyed one of three chairs. "Do you mind if we sit down?"

  "Oh, please." She gave Helen an empathetic look. "Are you in pain? Can I get you anything?"

  "Actually, I was about to ask Jennie to bring me some water or punch so I can take some medication." She glanced up, shielding her eyes against the bright noon sun. "Would you mind, dear?"

  "I'm on it. Would you like anything, Adriane?"

  She handed Jennie her cup. "Thanks. Just dump this and get me some fresh coffee."

  Adriane's gaze followed Jennie to the buffet tables. "She's a sweet girl. You must be proud."

  "Oh, I am." Helen glanced at the papers on the table. "Jennie told me you've developed a computer chip that can destroy dead brain cells and create new ones. It sounds fascinating."

  "And a little like science fiction?"

  "Well, I have to admit, I am skeptical."

  Adriane adjusted her glasses. "Much of what scientists do can sound frightening at first, Mrs. Bradley. Eventually new advances become routine. We're experimenting with several animals right now, but soon we hope to implant the chip in humans." Adriane's tone softened as she warmed to her subject. "If preliminary tests are any indication, we'll soon be able to heal the brain. By destroying damaged cells and creating new ones to take their place, we could conceivably eliminate senile dementia and brain damage caused by strokes. The possibilities are phenomenal, not only for the older population, but for people of all ages who have suffered brain damage of any kind." Adriane's smile doubled in volume.

  "I can see why you're excited."

  "Sometime, perhaps when your arm is better, you can come out to the lab. I'll give you a tour of the facility and show you the procedures we go through to develop new products."

  "I'd like that. As a matter of fact, I'll be coming out tomorrow." Helen told Adriane about Mai and David's offer.

  "I hope you will seriously consider staying. You will receive better care here at Edgewood than anywhere else in the country."

  "So I've been told." Helen glanced over at Jennie, who was making her way back to the table. "This project of yours,” Helen said, “have you haven't tested it on humans at all?"

  "Not yet. We have a long detailed process to go through first.

  It can be extremely tedious, but we follow the rules to the letter. If we don't, we could lose our funding from the state and federal government, as well as our reputation."

  "Sounds complicated."

  "It is, and the paper work is outrageous. But we've made great strides and may get clearance to use the chips in humans as early as next year."

  "Are you working with someone else on the project?"

  A look of pain crossed her face. "I was. Dr. Kincaid… Andrew. He'd been my mentor since I started working here. I... I couldn't have done it without him."

  "Wasn't he working on a cure for Alzheimer's as well?"
<
br />   "Yes, a medication. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to locate the later stages of his work." Adriane shook her head. "He was a wonderful man, Mrs. Bradley."

  "Here you go." Jennie set the drinks down. "The food looks great and I'm starved. Want me to get you a plate too, Gram?"

  "Sure." When Jennie left, Helen lifted her handbag to her lap and dug around for her pain pills. After taking one and drinking half the fruit flavored punch, she steered their conversation back to Andrew Kincaid.

  "Andrew's death must have been difficult for you."

  "Yes. He was like the father I never had." Adriane paused to sip on her fresh coffee. "We were all pretty devastated by his death, maybe because it was so unexpected."

  Helen chewed on her lower lip, wondering how far to take the conversation. "Adriane, would you mind if I asked you some questions about Andrew's and Irene's deaths?"

  "Of course, although I'm not certain I can answer them."

  "As you probably know, Irene called me prior to her death and arranged a meeting. She insisted that Andrew had been murdered. I realize now she had Alzheimer's, but even so, there are a number of things that don't add up."

  "Such as?"

  "Her death. The gunshot wound isn't what killed her. Infection did. I can't help but wonder why. The break-in at her apartment, the timing of the supposed thief who shot us. The only way I can make sense of it is to assume that Irene was lucid and that she really did have some condemning evidence on the disk she'd planned to give me."

  "I can certainly understand why you might be suspicious, Mrs. Bradley, but the one thing you can be sure of is that no one at Edgewood would have killed Andrew. To my knowledge he had no enemies. Dr. Kincaid was a great man. I can also assure you that he died as a result of a heart attack. That was established by our staff as well as by the medical examiner. As for Irene, I have no explanations for what happened to her. I only know that we worked very hard to save her. Unfortunately, we're not miracle workers."

  "You're probably right, but humor me for just a moment. Suppose Irene had found some condemning evidence. Can you think of anyone who might have gained from Andrew's death?"