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

by Patricia H. Rushford

  "He hit you last night. Why?"

  "I pay him in cash installments. Someone stole the $500 I had stashed in my dresser. He didn't believe me. I guess he wanted to teach me a lesson."

  "Jack needs to be stopped."

  Daniel closed his eyes. "I know this may sound absurd to you, but I don't want him stopped. Neither does Jim or anyone else who uses his services. He may be heavy handed at times, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

  Helen could hardly believe what she was hearing. "What about Ruthie? Did Jack kill her?"

  Daniel sighed and looked away. "Most likely. Told me I'd get the same treatment if I didn't cooperate. Gladys says Ruthie overheard him negotiate a deal with another resident and stood up to him. I'm not sure how much of what Gladys says is valid, but she insists he beat Ruthie up and then faked the fall down the stairs to explain the bruises."

  Helen felt sick. How could anyone, especially a doctor, know this sort of thing was going on and not put a stop to it? As much as she wanted to bombast the man for his lack of good sense, she pressed on for more answers.

  "Do you think he pushed Iris?"

  "I don't know. He wasn't on duty, but he did come in to collect his pay yesterday afternoon.

  "What about Irene and Andrew Kincaid? Does he have a deal with them?"

  Daniel shook his head. "Irene maybe, but not Andrew. Andrew was against assisted suicide."

  "Does Jack have a partner or is anyone else involved in the same kind of business?"

  "Not that I know of." Daniel winced and rubbed his back. "This is about as far as I can go."

  "You had the sense to turn around on this trail. Why not turn around on the other one you've taken?"

  "It's too late."

  "It's never too late." Helen doubted her protests would have an effect, but she had to try. "You mentioned that a person's needs don't stop with age. What about morals? You're a doctor. Surely you…

  "Spare the lecture, Helen. I've made my choice, and I'm willing to live with the consequences."

  "Ruthie made a choice too, to stand up to a criminal. How can you justify letting her killer go free?"

  Daniel didn't answer. They walked in silence until they reached the manicured lawn framing Edgewood Manor.

  "Daniel." Helen stopped him. "You may be able to turn the other way. I can't. I won't. My son is with the Portland police. I intend to tell him everything."

  "I'll deny it."

  "It won't matter. I was hoping you'd help me put an end to Jack's criminal activity, but as you say, you've made your choice. I've made mine."

  Jason was waiting for her when she arrived back in her room. "Where have you been? Thelma said you were in the garden, but I couldn't find you anywhere. Wanted to let you know about Jack Owens. He's an ex-con."

  "I'm not surprised." Helen told him about the previous night and gave him the tape she’d just made of her discussion with Daniel. After listening to it, they went to Dr. Kincaid. By midafternoon the police had issued a warrant for Jack's arrest. The tight-lipped network quickly broke down when residents learned their supplier would no longer be available.

  Paul Kincaid paid Helen a visit at four, shortly after she'd completed another physical therapy session. He caught up with her in the garden, which was fast becoming her favorite place to receive visitors.

  Paul seemed entirely different than when she'd first met him. Much of the grandeur and stuffiness had gone. His anger had dissipated as well, and he greeted her with a genuine smile. "I wanted to thank you again. It's a relief to have this mess cleared up. Edgewood has always had a fine reputation, and I'd hate to think of what might have happened if you hadn't insisted on coming."

  "I'm glad I was able to help."

  "I must assure you that we don't normally hire people like Jack Owens. If the personnel office had followed the proper screening process, Jack never would have slipped through. I'm sure by now you've heard about his record."

  "Jason told me. Do you know if they've made an arrest yet?"

  "I don't believe so. But it's imminent. We have police at the gate in case he comes here. They're watching his home as well."

  "Good." Helen watched a jet trail dissipate in the air currents high above them.

  "I suppose you'll be going home soon, now that you've brought our criminal to justice."

  "Not unless you request it. I rather like the program Dr. Lawson has set up for me. I thought I'd stay for a week or two, then come back as an outpatient."

  "I'm delighted. I don't think you'll be disappointed." Paul stood, offering her another smile. "I do have to be going, though. I have some business to take care of before dinner."

  Helen watched him until he disappeared inside the manor. A sense of uneasiness stirred within her. Jack would soon be arrested. She'd found the source of the abuse and at least one murder. But all was not well at Edgewood. There were still a lot of unanswered questions and loose ends.

  She wondered for a moment if the business with Jack had been a distraction, something to keep her occupied.

  She closed her eyes and let the sun warm her face. A cool breeze ruffled her hair.

  "I hope you're using sunscreen."

  "Adriane. How nice to see you." Helen ran a hand through her hair. "I've only been out here for a few minutes."

  "Ah, but the sun, even in small doses, can cause age spots and skin cancer."

  "So I hear," Helen acquiesced and moved into the shade.

  "I understand you are responsible for ridding our fine facility of a criminal."

  "One down. Who knows how many more to go."

  Adriane raised her eyebrows. "You don't think there are more like Mr. Owens?"

  Helen shrugged her shoulders. "I hope not." She couldn't help wondering whether she'd only skimmed the slime off the surface of a contaminated pond. Helen leaned forward. "Adriane, the day of the funeral, you offered to show me around Kincaid Laboratories. I would love to see some of the products you and the other doctors have been developing."

  Adriane tucked an errant strand of dark hair behind her ear. The wind whipped it back into her face. "I'd love to do that. How about tomorrow, say around ten."

  "Perfect."

  The rest of the day and evening disappeared in a rush of visitors. Doctors David and Mai Lin Chang dropped by shortly after dinner to offer their thanks and to give her the results of her blood tests. "You are a wonder," David said. "We found nothing wrong."

  Mai chuckled. "Which is a rarity for most of our residents. You are not overweight, and you don't have high cholesterol or high blood pressure. All you need to do is continue the therapy for your arm. And perhaps the anti-oxidant packet we've put together. We can tell you more about that when you come to the lab tomorrow."

  They'd only been gone a few minutes when her family showed up. "Guess what, Gram?" Nick's eyes held the gleam only having a father could give them. "Dad gets to move back home pretty soon. Mommy said."

  "That's wonderful." Helen reeled him in for a hug, then looked up at his beaming parents. "Have you two set a date for the wedding?"

  "Not yet," Susan said. "We're trying to work it into everyone's schedules."

  Jason held his ex-wife and future bride close to his side. "It'll be soon, maybe in a couple of weeks, that is if I don't haul her off to Vegas tonight."

  Susan's cheeks turned nearly as red as her hair. "Jason, behave yourself."

  Jennie managed a short break and sat with them for a few minutes. The hour passed quickly, and by nine everyone had gone and the residents were beginning to settle in for the night. Though Helen would have preferred crawling into bed, Lucy insisted she do her exercises and stretches, promising to meet her in the physical therapy department in five minutes.

  Helen obediently slipped into her sweats, tucked her swimsuit into a towel, and made her way to the exercise room. She paused at Daniel's room, thinking she should see how he was doing, but he wasn't there. Initially he'd been angry with her, but at dinner she did her best t
o soothe him. According to Jason, he'd been cooperative with the police in supplying information. That was something, especially since he didn't know she'd gotten their conversation on tape. Jason had given her some bad news as well. Jack still hadn't been caught.

  Helen hurried into the room, did some stretches, walked for twenty minutes, then began working with the weights. Lucy still hadn't come in, and with her shift nearly over, Helen didn't expect she'd show up at all.

  Facing the mirrored wall, Helen watched herself do a series of arm curls, pleased at the degree of strength she'd already regained. Halfway through the second set, Helen stopped. A flash of something had appeared in the mirror. "Jennie?" She turned and smiled, expecting to say good-night to her granddaughter before she headed home.

  Instead she caught sight of a gloved hand protruding from the doorway. Unfortunately, the hand was holding a gun.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Helen dropped to the floor. A section of mirror behind her pinged, splintered. Rolling to the side, she ducked behind the encased wheel on a stationary bicycle. Another bullet rammed the machine beside her.

  Helen lay as flat as she could and waited, wishing her arm would stop screaming so she could focus.

  Moments later she heard footsteps in the hall. Jennie paused in the doorway, her dark blue gaze darting from the shattered mirror to Helen.

  "Gram." Jennie hurried toward her. "Are you all right? I was coming to find you when I heard the noise. It sounded like gunshots. What happened?"

  Helen staggered to her feet and rushed into the hall. "Did you see anyone?"

  "No."

  To have disappeared that quickly, the assailant must have either ducked into one of the rest rooms or the basement. Since the rest rooms had no outside access, she suspected the latter. "Jennie, call the police and warn the others. Someone just shot at me and may still be in the building."

  "I saw a couple of officers out front a while ago. They're still waiting for Jack to show up."

  Helen glanced at the shards of glass littering the taupe carpet. "He may already be here." Helen sent Jennie to find the officers with instructions to block all exits. Using her good arm, Helen reached for a five-pound weight to use as a weapon. She quickly checked both bathrooms, then using the key Jennie had given her the night before, she slipped into the enclosed stairwell leading to the basement. She probably should have waited and let the police handle it, but every moment was precious and she didn't want to risk him getting away.

  The stairwell lights had been turned off. Helen groped along the wall to find the switch. And did. She sucked in a wild breath and headed down the stairs, through another door, and into a darkened hallway. Grasping the weight in her left hand, she raised her arm in readiness, then moved forward. Filtered light drifted in through the window of a door at the end of the empty hall. The black letters etched into the frosted glass read Medical Records. Helen made her way toward the light. Without warning a double door opened a few feet in front of her. She leaned against the wall, blending into the shadows.

  "Here's the death certificate and instructions from the family," a woman said. "Guess she's ready to go."

  "You guys have sure had a lot of 'em lately." This came from a man pushing a gurney out of the morgue and into the hall. "Hey. Who turned out the lights?"

  Lucy Walker followed him out. "Darned if I know. They were on when I came down. I'd better call maintenance."

  "You might want to try the light switch first." Helen stepped out of the shadows toward them, lowering the weight. After giving a brief explanation, she asked, "Did you see anyone?"

  "No. This is Bob," Lucy said. "He's from the funeral home. He came by to pick up Mrs. Ness."

  "Another death?"

  "I'm afraid so."

  "What did she die from?"

  "Old age, I suspect. Poor thing was a hundred and one."

  Helen glanced at the black body bag. "I think you'd probably better put her back for the time being."

  The hall lights came on. "Hold it right there!" a police officer shouted. "Hands over your heads."

  Helen set the weight on the floor and complied.

  Another officer joined the first. The door to the medical records room opened. Dr. David Chang stepped out, then Adriane. A flurry of questions and explanations ensued. Satisfied they hadn't cornered the gunman, the officers began to usher the group upstairs.

  Lucy had given a report to the night shift, then came down to sign the body over to Bob. The doctors had been reviewing patient files for research purposes and had been working for the past couple of hours. They hadn't seen or heard anyone. Had it not been for the lateness of the hour and the flush of pink on Adriane's cheeks, Helen might have bought their story. She did believe they hadn't heard anything, she just didn't believe they had been working.

  Maybe later she'd question Adriane about her indiscretions, but in the meantime Helen needed to concentrate on tracking down the person, or persons, who wanted her dead.

  By midnight at least a dozen police officers and sheriff deputies had combed the manor and grounds and turned up nothing. The residents who were awake had been questioned and then banished to their rooms for safekeeping, Helen included. Dr. Kincaid, who'd arrived shortly after being notified by his staff, had called in extra security officers to ensure everyone's safety.

  All was quiet now. After much resistance, Jennie had gone home. Helen paced the floor, wondering if she'd ever be able to sleep again. Adrenalin still gnawed at her stomach and defied any effort she made to rest.

  The bullets recovered in the physical therapy room had come from a .25 caliber. At the moment Jack was the primary suspect. Helen wondered again if the explosion in the deli had been meant for her as well as for Sammi. The only connection between the two of them was Edgewood. But to her knowledge Jack hadn't known of her then, so that left a big hole in the puzzle.

  So far there'd been three attempts on her life. "Which means," she murmured, "I'd better figure out what's going on before whoever it is succeeds." She just wished she could remember more about the person she'd glimpsed in the mirror.

  Easing into the recliner, Helen closed her eyes and tried to recapture the moment. She'd been facing the mirror when she saw something move. The hand. Her mind had been so focused on it and the gun that she'd blocked out everything else. Not that she'd had time to see much. But the gunman had to have taken aim. Why hadn't she seen a face? Somewhere in her gray matter there must be more information. She'd been trained to notice details, even under pressure. So why hadn't she?

  Helen leaned back in the chair and willed her mind and body to relax. Concentrating on bringing back the lost images, she took several deep cleansing breaths. Over and over she let the scene replay itself as though it were a video clip. She imagined herself an observer rather than a participant and concentrated.

  When she awakened hours later, Helen still had no idea who had fired the shots. She was certain, however, that the shooter had been wearing surgical gloves and that it had not been Jack Owens. As she'd done the previous morning, Helen walked to the pay phone and called her son.

  Jason agreed with her findings. "Our crime scene analyst says the gun was probably fired by someone shorter, maybe five-five to five-ten."

  "A lot of people fit into that category." Helen turned away from the phone and leaned against the glass partition to watch a pair of joggers make their way up the winding hill, then disappear into a grove of trees. "I didn't realize it at first because Jack seemed the logical suspect. Now that I've had a chance to distance myself from it, I've been able to remember some things. The gun was a small semiautomatic and had a short barrel, maybe a Raven. And the shooter was wearing surgical gloves."

  "You're sure?"

  "Yes, though it may mean nothing. On the other hand, it gives us something to look for. Jack may have had an accomplice working here at the hospital. Or not. I still think the gunman escaped through the basement, ditched the gloves, and came back upstairs via anot
her route."

  "I'll get someone out there to look around again. Maybe we'll get lucky."

  Jason sounded skeptical and she told him so. "I don't suppose you turned up any leads questioning the staff?"

  "Unfortunately, no. Most of them were in the nurses' station for the daily patient report. As you already know, Lucy and the guy from the funeral home were down in the basement when it happened. Jennie was the first to leave the report room."

  "So everyone who was in the hospital had an alibi."

  "Looks that way." Jason cleared his throat. "I'm thinking if Jack did have an accomplice it was the patient who's a doctor… let's see..."

  "You mean Daniel?"

  "Yeah. You'd mentioned that he wasn't in his room when you went past it last night. He's about the right height, and he knew a lot about Jack's activities. I'm heading out there this morning to have another talk with him."

  "I suppose that is a possibility." Helen doubted it. "I spoke to Daniel at dinner, and if anything, he seemed relieved the ordeal was over."

  "Could be, but I can't think of anyone in a better position to let Jack know we were on to him."

  After speaking with Jason a few more minutes about family matters, Helen hung up and headed back for the manor. The two joggers she'd seen earlier emerged from a side trail just ahead of her. Adriane Donahue and David Chang, together again.

  Adriane slowed and waited for Helen to catch up.

  "You're out early this morning," Helen said.

  "Best time to run. Clears the head." David sprinted ahead. "You two take your time. I need to get in. Early appointment."

  Helen studied Adriane, noting the admiration glinting in her eyes as she watched the doctor take off down the trail. "Do you two run together often?"

  "Nearly every day. We're old friends. Went to medical school together. David got me a position here shortly after he married Mai. He introduced me to Paul, and you know the rest."