Too Sweet to Die by T. Doyle (the false prince .TXT) 📗

Ray stroked his beard, fixing all the stray hairs. “What if Oscar learned something while working for Tyler that could make him a lot of money?”

“What are you talking about?” I threw the ads and junk mail into Jenny’s garbage.

“Blackmail.” Jenny’s voice chirped. She slid her glasses on top of her head. “Funny, I thought you were smart.”

“Ma.” Ray breathed her name out and sounded exactly like I did talking to the kids when they were driving me nuts.

“Oscar wouldn’t blackmail anyone.” My tone sounded indignant. And I didn’t like the way my heart kept tripping.

Ray’s eyebrows were somewhere in the stratosphere. He put up his hands. “Okay, momma bear.”

“Just because he was a gay doesn’t mean he wouldn’t blackmail someone.” That piece of sage wisdom came from Jenny.

Ignoring Jenny, I faced Ray. “He needed money for his school loans and money for the buy-in for the professional poker games.” I stood, picked up my lunch bag and faced both of them. “And maybe Oscar discovered Tyler was blackmailing someone and Tyler killed him.”

“Sure. Let’s go with that for now.” Ray’s skeptical scowl made me angry. “And do you have any idea who Tyler would blackmail? And do you still think Hilda’s death is involved?”

More questions with no answers. “Nope. Let’s get a list of Tyler’s clients and start there.”

“Sure.” His shoulders rolled back and he stood with a pirate-like swagger. “You think if I ask nicely he’ll give it to me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll have to use your policey skills.”

“Policey isn’t a word.” Ray dipped his chin. “How do you feel about a little breaking and entering.”

“Not good.”

His lips flattened. “I suppose you can wait in the car.”

“I’ll go with you,” Jenny said.

“Ma, thanks, but no.” He pointed at her. “And I mean it.”

Jenny turned back to the television. “You’re stifling me.”

Ray stepped back, his mouth drawn open in surprise and then he barked a laugh. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I love you, Ma.”

She smiled, her eyes bright and vibrant. “I love you, too. And you still look like a Yeti.”

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning, I parked in Sunnyview’s employee lot. Today’s sign proclaimed, “leaVing wily venus’S”. I had to give the anagram anarchist points for all letters used, but today’s message made no sense.

Nora stood by the nurses’ station and waved me over. “Did you hear? They found drugs in Evie Feeney’s room. It could be the marijuana.” She pronounced marijuana like marry-hu-wanna. “She’s being investigated by the police. Right. Now.” She glanced down the hall with as much nonchalance as paparazzi following a Kardashian.

“No, I didn’t hear. I just got in.” I worried a jealous Jenny was involved, but at least she didn’t strangle Evie. “Is Marabel with Evie?”

Nora smacked her lips together. “Maybe you should join them.” She waggled her eyebrows, which she’d penciled in with red today. Red eyebrows and brown hair gave her a very fall-festival look.

“I’m sure Marabel has everything handled.” Although my curiosity clawed and I wanted to saunter by the room.

“You and Violet just don’t understand fun.” Nora turned her walker toward Evie Feeney’s and thump-slid in that direction.

A few doors down the hall, Violet came out of Mrs. Almond’s room. She stuffed her pen into the pocket of her scrub top. “It’s been crazy today,” she whispered.

“Is Evie okay?” I asked.

Violet’s lips flattened. “She won’t stop crying. Mr. Cheatham sent Mr. Nelson to Sam’s Club to buy a wireless camera system for the hallways.”

Mr. Cheatham was the director of Sunnyview, and most people pronounced his name as Cheat’em, except for Violet.

“Who will be watching these cameras?” I asked.

“I guess they’ll keep the video and check only if something goes missing.” Violet pulled her lunch bag from the desk. “I’m glad you’re here because I’m ready to go home.” Violet went through the change of shift report with crazy efficiency. She paused, and dipped her head low, near my ear. “You might want to call Ray. Marabel thinks Jenny planted the drugs in Evie’s room. If the police prove his mom is involved, Jenny will be kicked out. I hate the idea of her going to Mayhem Manor.” Her eyes were sympathetic and sincere. She really was one of the nicest people I knew, considering how much she hated Ray for “dating” her niece.

“Me, too.” Mayhem Manor was actually Forest Forks Manor. The facility specialized in long-term care for neurologically-impaired patients. Some of their patients made Jenny look like an angel. She’d developed a routine at Sunnyview and moving to a new place would be very stressful.

I’d text Ray later. It was only six in the morning and I didn’t want to wake any houseguest he may have. What he really needed was a woman like Kristi, but Kristi needed a man–not someone prone to adolescent behavior.

I checked on my patients and returned to the nurses’ station.

Marabel’s weary sigh and I-should’ve-stayed-in-bed expression greeted me. “I need a favor.” She rubbed her temples to soothe what appeared to be an epic headache.

“Were you on duty last night?”

“No, I got here a few minutes early and Mavis left faster than Mrs. Eddleston heads to Dairy Queen on double coupon day.” She stood and stretched. “It feels like I’ve been here all night.”

“Well, how can I help you?” I asked.

“Carl McGuffin, Jenny’s ex-husband, gave permission to the police to search Jenny’s room. He took her for coffee to distract her. Which made Evie cry harder.” Marabel’s eyes nearly rolled to the back of her head. “Could you call Ray and ask him to come in? He needs to think about getting his mom to sign a power of attorney for him before she gets any worse.” Marabel looked down the hallway and then glanced back at me. “It needs to be soon. Carl told me he’s going to ask Evie to marry him. Jenny will flip out.”

“No.” I breathed out the word. “He better not be telling that to Jenny right now.”

Marabel shook