“Of course. Everything is lovely. But I wonder, and I realize this is last minute, but would you be available to meet me for dinner at The Grill?”
A brief silence hung before she answered. “Are you sure?”
“Now why would I ask if I were not?” Myra quipped back. “Please join me. I want to hear all about Sunnydale. Perhaps you can fill me in on some of the other residents,” she said with a devilish chuckle.
“Well, I suppose that would be nice. I shall meet you there.” Edith ended the call.
Myra checked the time. Izzie was about to get off from work. She sent her a quick text:MY PLACE. Izzie would know something urgent was bubbling.
Izzie arrived within minutes. Myra explained the plan. “I am going to swap key cards with Clayton. After dinner you, Yoko, Maggie, and I are going to find out what is going on in that building.”
“Got it!” Izzie slapped her five.
Myra freshened up and placed Izzie’s key card in her purse. She wasn’t sure how she was going to do it, but there was always the “drop and swap.” It was tricky, but Myra had choreographed it in the past. If Clayton’s purse was hooked on the back of her chair, Myra would bump into it, causing it to fall and spill its contents on the floor. She would then drop her own purse on top and scramble to return the bag’s contents.
If they were to be seated in a booth, she would offer to place Clayton’s bag next to her so it wouldn’t be on the back of her chair. Myra had it all worked out in her head. Now all she had to do was smoothly execute the ruse.
At 5:50, Myra hopped in her silver golf cart, wandered on the paths toward the palazzo area, and parked in a designated spot. She counted fourteen carts. She giggled at the thought of a race between these carts and Annie’s.
Edith was waiting outside the restaurant. “Thank you again for inviting me.” She opened the door.
“Thank you for agreeing.” Myra stepped inside. There were banquets along the side and far wall. She touched Clayton’s arm. “Do you think we can have one of those? I’ll get a better view.”
“I don’t see why not. We want to make our soon-to-be new resident happy.” Clayton gave a tight grin. It looked like it might have hurt her face. Myra wondered if this woman experienced any joy, with the exception of taking people’s money.
Myra took the inside seat. “Here, let me put that next to mine so you don’t have to hang it on your chair.” She didn’t wait for an answer and held out her hand.
“Uh, thank you,” Clayton stammered.
Myra noticed the woman wasn’t used to people being nice to her. But, then again, why should they be? She wasn’t exactly Mary Poppins, in spite of the façade she portrayed for Myra’s sake. Make that Myra’s money.
The two women made small talk. Chatted about the weather. Which residents were friendly, which were standoffish.
“I really shouldn’t be talking about the residents,” Clayton sputtered after her first glass of wine.
“It’s just between us girls.” Myra winked.
She waited for an opportune moment to make the key card switch. Edith was digging into her steak as if it were her last meal. If everything went according to plan, it might beoneof her last decent meals for a long time. Myra spread her napkin so it covered both purses. She deftly opened Clayton’s bag and groped for the lanyard. As she was searching, she looked up at Clayton. “Edith, do you think you can get our server’s attention?”
Clayton craned her neck and looked around the dining room. Myra pulled on the cord of the lanyard, and both purses fell to the ground. “How clumsy of me. I must have snagged them on my napkin. Sorry. I’ll get it.”
She bent over, swapped the key cards, and returned the contents to their purses. She took her napkin and wiped Edith’s purse. “I am so terribly sorry. I think it’s alright. Would you like to check?” She held up the bag.
“No. It’s fine. They keep the floor exceptionally clean here. We always want an A rating with the Board of Health.”
“Again, my apologies.”
The server returned with a fresh napkin. “Would you care to see a dessert menu?” she asked.
Myra gave Edith a mischievous grin. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
Edith hooted, “I do love their apple pie.”
“With a scoop of ice cream?” Myra suggested.
“Vanilla for me,” Edith said.
“Chocolate here, please,” Myra added.
