“Sounds good. In the meantime, I am going to talk to a few people and see if I can get the skinny on Sunnydale. Sit tight until you hear back.”
“Got it. Thanks, Lizzie.”
“No problem.”
Chapter Five
Making New Friends
Frida and Henry were intrigued by Theresa’s story. For Henry, it confirmed something was amiss on the other side of the cypress hedge. During their lunch, Henry explained his unusual sightings: “It wasn’t E.T., and it wasn’t swamp gas.”
Theresa wasn’t sure if Henry’s imagination had run wild on his walks during the heated wee hours of the morning, but when he pulled out a log of dates and times, there appeared to be a pattern. Black, hearse-looking vehicles arriving at three in the morning and leaving an hour later. All were coming and going via the back service road.
“I’ll tell you what. If you’re up for it, let’s meet tonight. If this pattern holds true, we’re due for another ‘close encounter.’”
Theresa had taken Lizzie’s advice and extended her stay until further notice. What else did she have to do at three in the morning? She planned to return to the rental agency and get another car. She couldn’t depend on the shuttle bus, which had a limited schedule. And they certainly didn’t run it past ten at night. It was mostly for the residents to get into town, and for any visitors of the senior living community that might be staying at a local hotel.
“How will I get back inside?” Theresa wondered what the magic words would be to get past the security guard.
“I think you should park your car outside of the complex. They have cameras everywhere,” Henry instructed.
“Frida, I’ll come by your place, and we can walk over together. I know where all the security cameras are, so we’ll be able to duck them.”
Frida was taking in all of the intrigue. “This is surely more interesting than bingo, don’tcha know!”
“I have to figure out where I can leave my car, and then meet up with the two of you.” Theresa tried to recall the route she had taken the first day she arrived. “Isn’t there a twenty-four-hour convenience store nearby? I think I may have passed it on the way here.”
“It’s about a quarter mile north of the entrance.”
“That’s easy. Gotta get my steps in.” Theresa was in excellent physical condition. She took Pilates classes with her sister and tried to walk two miles a day, which is about four thousand steps. “A quarter mile shouldn’t be too bad, especially if it cools down at night. But truthfully, I don’t know how people walk the recommended ten thousand steps!”
“I think it’s a ruse to get people to buy those fancy watches,” Frida chimed in.
“I totally agree,” Theresa said with a big smile. “We just have to do our best. But I’m not going down without a fight.”
Frida hooted, “You betcha!”
Henry took out a pen and a small spiral notebook he kept in the pocket of his Hawaiian shirt. He sketched a very rudimentary rendering of the complex, the privacy hedge, and the side road. “Walk on the opposite side of the road. The CCTV is mounted on the inbound side of the security shed. They don’t care about people leaving so much. Keep on the other side until you are perpendicular to the hedges, then cross the street. Carefully.” He smiled. “Stay close to the hedges, and you will be able to walk past the urgent care center. There is another security gate just before the assisted living building, but it’s an un-personed gate. Did I get that right? ‘Un-personed’?”
Theresa laughed. “I guess that’s the politically correct word.”
“Is it? A word, I mean?” Frida asked innocently.
“Doubtful. Just trying not to insult anyone,” Henry claimed.
“No insult here. We’re a team now,” Theresa said, and chuckled. Then she wondered what Lizzie would think of her reconnaissance plan. Lizzie had told her to “sit tight.” But what did that mean, exactly? She couldn’t just sit around and wait to hear back. Why not take the opportunity to dig a little deeper?
Henry continued, “The gate is operated by a code. Staff can get in and out.”
“What if someone wants to visit a resident in the assisted living building?”
“They enter through the main gate, just like you did.”
“Right.” Theresa’s mind was moving at lightning speed. She was simply trying to catch up. “Of course. That’s how I got there yesterday.”
“Are you sure you don’t have a concussion?” Frida asked.
“They didn’t think so, but with the heat and all the subterfuge, my neurons are misfiring for sure!”
