It took less than fifteen minutes to drive to the convenience store. She parked on the side of the building, checking for security cameras. She knew what she was about to do was illegal. Just how illegal would be determined if she got arrested. She could always use her head injury as an excuse.She didn’t know where she was. She got confused. Turned around. She didn’t remember driving here. Theresa was satisfied with her excuses, should she need one.
She exited the car, stayed in the shadows of the parking lot, and walked along the road until she was past the main entrance to Sunnydale and perpendicular to the cypress. She checked both directions before she crossed the road and then stayed close to the vegetation. There were a few cars and people going in and out of the mini-clinic, so her presence wasn’t unusual. No one noticed the woman inching her way down the narrow road. When she arrived at the unattended security gate, she stepped off the street and into the bushes. She could hear whispering and leaves rustling. She recognized Henry’s voice and let out a “Psst. Over here.” There was more rustling and the sound of soft footsteps moving in her direction. She could hear Frida stifling a giggle.
“Hello, midnight marauder.” Henry placed his hand on Theresa’s shoulder. “Glad you could make it.”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss this.” Theresa felt compelled to hug both of them. It seemed like a natural thing to do.
Henry placed his finger on his lips and nodded. “Follow me.” They crossed the road and entered a deep patch of trees and overgrowth that separated the long-term care building from the rest of the complex. It was close to pitch dark. They didn’t dare use a flashlight for fear of being seen, but Henry said he was once an Eagle Scout and moved easily through the brush, guiding his fellow skulkers.
They made their way to the farthest side of the building, where there were more woods, and a narrow service road that ended, or began, at the rear. Where it led was still in question, because it did not come around to the front and was not connected to the main driveway. A secret access to the facility? But why?
In the distance were lights from a dark vehicle as it made its way down the mysterious access. Henry nudged both women. “There. See?”
They watched as the black, oversized station wagon backed up to one of the doors of the building. They crouched down and craned their necks to get a better look as a man exited the vehicle. Someone came outside to meet him. It was a woman. A very brawny woman. Someone who Theresa immediately recognized.
The trio was too far away to hear what was being said; then the woman went back inside. A few minutes later, a gurney emerged from the building carrying a long black bag the size of a human.
Frida tapped Henry on the shoulder. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Depends. If you think it’s a body bag, you are correct.”
Frida’s hand flew to her mouth. “Uff da!” she let out in a loud whisper.
The driver and the woman stopped abruptly and turned in their direction, and the three renegades stepped back farther into the brush. Obviously convinced the noise was just a nocturnal animal, the woman and driver finished the task at hand. Once they hoisted the package into the vehicle, the man got back into the driver’s seat, and the woman disappeared into the building.
Henry, Frida, and Theresa remained motionless until they could no longer see the taillights of the vehicle and were convinced the coast was clear. They quietly but hastily made their way back to the road and crossed over to the cypress hedges. None of them said a word until they were sure they could go unnoticed.
Theresa finally let out the air that she could swear she had been holding for the past fifteen minutes. “That was Nurse Ratched. I mean Janet Turner. The head whatever. Warden?”
“Are you sure?” Frida asked nervously. She was a little rattled by the experience. She had no idea what she was getting herself into. Now she knew, and no longer doubted Henry’s accounting of lights. She was certain it was not swamp gas.
“Oh, yeah, I’m sure. Unless there are two women who look and move like that, I am certain.”
Henry checked his watch. It was getting close to four. “Shall we have a nightcap at my place?”
“Sounds like an excellent idea,” Frida said. “You do have some sherry, I hope.”
“You’re going to have to settle for brandy,” Henry informed her.
“That’s fine.” Frida was also breathing heavily. “That was something.”
“Yes. But what kind of something?” Theresa asked.
“Come on. Let’s get ourselves inside.” Henry led the way to his duplex.
It was a very neat one bedroom with a small den, and a kitchen that opened to the dining and living area. “Welcome. Please make yourselves comfortable.” Henry poured each of them two fingers’ worth of brandy.
“I feel like I’m in a movie,” Frida exclaimed. Her hands were shaking as she took the snifter from Henry.
“Yeah. A horror movie.” Theresa crinkled her face. “Thanks,” she said as Henry handed her a glass. “What do you suppose they’re up to?” she mused.
“Do you think they transfer the dearly departed only at night?” Frida asked innocently.
“They have a service road in the back. If their objective is to do it privately, it doesn’t matter what time of day it is, since that road isn’t accessible from the rest of the complex,” Theresa postulated. Then, turning to Henry, she said, “How did you come to see the lights?”
“I was at the far end of the property, walking the perimeter, and saw the lights of an oncoming vehicle through the trees, but then the lights vanished.”
Theresa was wrapping her head around the layout. She snapped her fingers. “The vehicle turns to the opposite side of the building. It makes sense why the lights disappear.”
