“Thank you, Raymond. I’m not staying. Mrs. Clayton said she was going to recommend some activities for me for the weekend. Do you suppose you could ring her?” Myra was buying time for Izzie to surreptitiously snoop on her way to the ladies’ room while Clayton was busy accommodating her new client.
When Clayton bounded in Myra’s direction, Myra sent another text:Now.
“Myra! That didn’t take long at all!” Clayton handed a flyer to Myra. “I know a lot of people like to use their phones to look things up, but I also know people like to look at a handy sheet of paper.” That was probably the only thing Myra and Edith had in common.
“Thank you, Edith.” Myra slowed down her words. “Is there anything in particular you would recommend? I’m accustomed to a very active social life, when I’m not cuddling with my poochie, Nelson,” she said with a gentle laugh. “Nothing too raucous, mind you.”
Clayton chortled. “We don’t do raucous here.” She pointed to the line that readRoyal Casino Night. “That’s a lot of fun. Real roulette tables, blackjack, craps. Unfortunately, no slots. We are able to do this because we donate money to a local children’s center.”
“Sounds like a good cause.” Myra smiled casually.I wonder where the money really goes, she thought to herself. “And what about dinner? Where do you recommend I go?”
“You must go to Dominique’s. Fabulous French food. It’s off-campus, but worth it. We do have a shuttle that could drive you. We know some of our residents enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, and we want to provide safe transportation.”
“That is most accommodating.” Myra took a long inhale. “And what about somethingoncampus? Something casual. I want to get a feel for the place.”
“You are quite right. Then I would suggest The Grill. It’s casual, but has a very fine selection of beef, pork, chicken, and seafood. I’ll make a reservation for you. What time would you like to go?”
“Six?” Myra asked. “I almost forgot. A golf cart? Can someone fetch one for me?”
“Absolutely.” Crabby was bending over backwards to impress the woman.
“Splendid. Shall I meet them at my villa?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Thank you, Edith. You have been most helpful. And kind.” She almost choked on the words.
“My pleasure. And remember, if you need anything, please let me know. By the way, I just wanted to confirm that you will be staying longer than the two complimentary days?”
“Perhaps a week. I don’t want to rush into anything.”
“That’s wonderful,” Clayton gushed. A few extra bucks in her pocket. On the one hand, she was grateful for her job. On the other hand, her nephew was a cheapskate when it came to rewarding her. Sure, she made a good salary, but she was doing double time as office manager and sales representative. The pressure had been on, and she was looking for more ways to keep up the profit margins. The pharmacy thing could have easily blown up in her face.
Myra shook Edith’s hand. “Thank you again, Edith. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.” Then she slipped her hand in her pocket and hit the send button for the text she typed into her phone earlier:Done.
“Or any time.” Edith waved.
While the two had been chatting outside, Izzie walked to the printer in the open area of the offices. Clayton’s was on the opposite end of the hall, away from Izzie’s and Regina’s, and the ladies’ room. She had to think of a reason why she would be on the other side of the office space, should anyone ask. “Sorry, I got turned around. Second day here,” was going to be her answer. Thankfully, it hadn’t come to that. The only thing she could glean from her trip around the cubicles was a photo on a shelf on the far wall of Clayton’s office. It was in a gold frame. There were three smiling faces: a man with a woman on each side of him. Izzie recognized two of them. One was Edith Clayton, and the other, Senator Spencer Gerber. She imagined the other woman might be Janet Turner. She was too old to be Gerber’s wife. She didn’t dare take a photo of the photo for fear Big Brother was watching. But now there was surefire evidence of a connection. Izzie slipped back into her office just as Clayton returned through the security door. Izzie still wasn’t sure why there was so much surveillance and security for an administrative office.
Arizona
Kathryn was ready for her second first day of work. She arrived before seven. When she got to the gate, the security guard phoned the long-term care unit. “Kathryn Lucas reporting for work.” He nodded, then pushed the button that lifted the gate. “Take your first right. When you get to a T-intersection, make a left. It’s the last building on the right.”
“Thanks.” Kathryn gave him a salute and drove away. When she made the left turn, she noticed a large grove of trees on the right, just before the building.That’s where the trio must have crawled. Can’t wait to meet them. She chuckled to herself. It was a gutsy move, no doubt.
She pressed the buzzer. A few seconds passed before a voice responded. “Yes?”
“Kathryn Lucas reporting for work,” she said, then muttered under her breath, “again.”
The buzzer sounded, and she pulled the frosted glass door open. She stepped into the small vestibule with the Cheshire Cat waiting behind a plexiglass window. “Hello. You must be Kathryn.”
“Hello. Yes.”Who else would I be? I just told you twenty seconds ago. Kathryn had already formed an opinion. She. Did. Not. Like. This. Place.
Smiley slid a clipboard through the small slot at the bottom. “Please fill this out.”
Kathryn looked around. No chairs. Swell. She leaned her back against the wall and began the paperwork. When she finished, she slid it back to the Cheshire Cat. “Someone will be with you shortly.”
Kathryn noticed how eerily quiet the place was. No visitors? She suspected the rest of the staff was behind the large steel door with the security lock. She heard a buzz, and the door opened. She tried not to laugh. Images of Louise Fletcher, who played the character in the movie, ran through her mind until the brusque, burly, brute-faced woman appeared.At least she was attractive in the movie!
