Theresa, aka Terry, arrived at the security checkpoint at Sunnydale wearing her wig, hat, and tinted glasses. As per the usual, the guard phoned ahead, notified Henry, and let “Terry” pass through.
When Henry opened the door, she almost doubled over laughing. He stood in the doorway wearing a pair of lime-green knickers, a green and white argyle sweater with matching knee socks. On the top of his head sat a green tam-o’-shanter. A golf club was in his left hand. “You look like you just arrived from Scotland!” She tried to contain herself. “Don’t tell me you had this in your wardrobe?”
“Well, yes, to be perfectly honest. Once a year, me and a few fellas get together and play a few rounds in these getups. It’s for charity.”
“You look dashing.” Theresa gave him a big hug. “Where’s Frida?”
Frida did a little shuffle into the living room wearing a traditional red and black Norwegian folk dress. At this point, Theresa was in stitches. “This isn’t a costume party, but I appreciate the effort.”
“We’re undercover, don’tcha know?” Frida grinned.
“You two are hilarious.” Theresa’s face hurt from smiling.
“So, give us the skinny,” Henry said in a hushed voice.
“First, I have to put my suitcase in the trunk of your car,” Theresa said. “Everything is going to happen very quickly, so I need you to be on your toes.”
“How’s this?” Frida did a spin.
“I appreciate the good humor and assistance, but this is really serious. I mean,reallyserious.”
Frida and Henry’s faces went blank. “Henry, you asked what were we going to do about Aunt Dottie? Well, this is where the rubber meets the road.”
The three of them walked to the parking lot, and Theresa fetched her suitcase. Henry proceeded to roll down the car windows. Once everyone was settled, Henry asked, “Where to?”
“The side of the care center,” Theresa replied calmly.
“Well, alrighty, then!” Henry backed out of the parking space and drove to their destination. “Now what?” he asked.
“We wait,” Theresa said, as she looked out the side window.
When Kathryn arrived, she used the stolen key card to gain access to the elevator. She pressed the button to keep the door open in order to save time, then prepared Aunt Dottie for her journey. Kathryn gently slid her out of her bed, put her in a wheelchair, and strapped her in. Then she removed the syringe she had prepared from a padded envelope and went to her desk.
Several minutes later, Turner came stomping in. She was surprised to see Kathryn at her desk so late in the evening. “What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“I wanted to check the stockroom report. Something didn’t seem right, and now I am having trouble with my computer. Can you take a look?”
Turner grumbled and pounded toward Kathryn’s desk. “What’s the problem?” she huffed.
Kathryn gestured toward her chair. Once Turner sat down, Kathryn grabbed her into a chokehold and stabbed her in the neck with the needle. “You, lady, are the problem.”
Turner’s eyes rolled back into her head. The last words she heard were, “Strike that. Youwerethe problem.” Kathryn wrapped duct tape around Turner’s chest and secured her to the rolling office chair. Kathryn quickly shoved the chair down the hall. Again, she used the stolen key card, gained access to the elevator, and hit the down button. Kathryn checked Turner’s pulse. It was hard to believe such a nasty thing could have a heart. Kathryn swiftly moved across the concrete floor toward the rear ambulance-size door. She sent a text to Annie and Pearl:
Turner has been neutralized.
That was Annie’s cue to text Theresa:NOW
Theresa swung the car door open and shouted to Henry as she slammed it shut behind her. “Go!”
Henry took off like the wheelman of a high-stakes action film, as stones and sticks were kicked up behind the big Caddie.
Theresa bolted toward the main entrance and was buzzed into the building by Annie, who was waiting at the second inside door. She waved Theresa on. Aunt Dottie was dozing in her wheelchair. “Get the elevator,” Annie instructed Theresa, then took hold of Dottie’s chair. They moved as quickly as they could without dumping the moving chair over. When they got to the lower level, Annie said, “Keep looking straight ahead.” Annie didn’t know how Theresa would react to slipping past a morgue. Some people can be squeamish.
Theresa had her eyes on the open door that led to the lot, where Henry’s car was waiting. The taillights of Pearl’s vehicle faded in the distance as it carried the wicked witch of Sunnydale to her final destination. It wasn’t death. It was worse. Janet Turner would open her eyes to the inside of a tent in the hottest, wettest part of a jungle. She would be able to hear and see everything around her, but she would not be able to swat the mosquitos from her face. She would be paralyzed from the neck down for a very long time. Even longer.
Meanwhile
Florida
