We grabbed the bag of jerky, approached the front doors of the nursing home, and I asked Addison for a mirror.
“What makes you think I have one?” she asked.
I looked pointedly at the gigantic Kate Spade purse slung over her shoulder.
“Fine,” she said, riffling through it until she produced a hand-held mirror.
“Tell me if you see someone coming, and hold this, please.” I handed her the jerky bag.
Ducking, I crept up to the door, angling the mirror to see in. There were two nurses behind the counter,but thankfully neither was Brandy. One appeared to be playing solitaire on the computer, while the other alternated between staring longingly at the clock and fiddling with her cell phone. The door across from the nurse’s station led to the security room, which was our goal. I slunk back, detailed the plan to Addison, called the nursing home’s main line, and asked for my grandmother’s room. It tookme about five minutes to convince Grandma to call in a nurse and keep her busy for a while. Then I crept forward again, using the mirror to watch.
The nurse playing with her phone said something and then headed down the hall. I gestured for Addison to stay low and follow me and we crept in, using the mirror to keep an eye on the other nurse. As we slunk around the counter, the theme song for“The Pink Panther” started playing. Heart racing, I shifted feet and looked to Addison. She pointed at the piano in the common area. A man who had to be pushing a hundred sat on the bench, plunking keys. He winked at us and kept playing.
I took a deep breath and continued. We made it through the door leading to the security area without further incident, and stood, giggling neurotically.
“I can’t believe it’s unlocked,” Addison said.
“It’s Lakeview. We don’t lock doors here.” I pointed to the room at the end of the hallway. “Let’s go.”
Sergio was maybe five-foot-five with short dark hair and a bit of a spare tire. He jumped out of his chair, surprised to see us, but grinned when he recognized me. “What are you doing here? And in here?” he asked after we hugged and I introducedhim to Addison.
I filled him in on our job and asked for copies of the video surveillance.
“I’d need to clear it with the boss first,” Sergio replied. “It’ll probably take a few days.”
I ran a hand down my face. “Okay, here’s the deal. We’re only going to be in town until Labor Day.”
“And we really want to help those ladies and get them back their jewelry,” Addison added. “Dylan told me allabout you and you seem like a great guy who wants to do the same thing.”
He glanced from us to the screens in front of him. “I do, but I could lose my job for this.”
“Remember that time I caught you stealing penny candy from Welches Convenience Store? Did I ever rat you out for that?” I asked.
“No, but you did make me put it back.”
I smiled. “Yep. I single-handedly discouraged your life ofcrime. You owe me.” I put my hand out to Addison and asked her for the bag. “Besides, I brought something to sweeten the deal.”
Now I had his attention. His eyes were wide as he watched the bag change hands. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Yep. Just stopped by Dad’s and got it special for you, but if you don’t want it...”
“No, no, I want it.” He was practically slobbering. “I just...I supposeif I burned copies of the dates the jewelry was stolen and someone snuck in here and took them...I couldn’t be held responsible for that.”
“I promise I won’t sell you out, Sergio.”
He nodded and gestured to the sofa. “Have a seat. This will take a minute.”
After Sergio made us the tapes, we slipped out the back door.
“Why didn’t we come in this way?” Addison asked.
“What fun would that havebeen? Besides, it’s a security door and locks automatically. Let’s go back in the front and visit Ms. Long.”
My dad had been good friends with Jeff Long once upon a time, but time and circumstances (okay, really, Dad’s drinking problem) had driven a wedge between them. I remembered Jeff’s aunt from long ago barbecues and church potlucks, though. She’d been a sweet lady with short grey curls andbig round glasses who always had a pocketful of hard candy for us kids. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw when I walked into her room.
Ms. Long was in bed with a blanket tucked around her. Her skin was pale and her eyes were glazed over. I almost thought she was dead for a moment, but her lips moved, mumbling something.
“Hello, Ms. Long,” I said, forcing cheerfulness I didn’t feel into my voice.
