Ashdown Estate Cozy Mystery Box Set : Books 1 - 5 by Lori Woods

Author:Lori Woods [Woods , Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Moonstone Press
Published: 2020-09-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Cecily had become so deeply lost in thought, her brow darkened by a frown and her gray eyes distant, that she had allowed her feet to carry her without restraint or control. She suddenly looked up, aware that she’d reached the bottom of a staircase, and noticed the Pleasant Valley Home for the Elderly, sign hanging above her.

Her grandmother was a genius, Cecily suddenly realized. Cecily knew that if Adam were to try and get a warrant to access Lydia’s patient files, it would take forever. She also realized with annoyance, that there was zero chance the hospital would allow her in to see the files, so she needed a new plan.

Cecily picked up her shoulders, threw back her head and summoned up an air of confidence that she didn’t have.

“Hi, Hilly,” Cecily directed warmly at the secretary behind the reception counter, “I’m here to see Sarah Cullen. She is a very close friend of my grandmother who has sent me on her behalf.” Cecily added, seeing Hilly’s eyebrows furrow in suspicion.

“As long as you don’t have any more cakes to hurl at our guests,” Hilly commented, raising one eyebrow and fighting to keep her thin lips from curling up into a smile.

“A waste of a cake, if you ask me,” Cecily winked at Hilly.

Hilly instantly cracked up laughing. She leant closer to Cecily, her eyes darting to the sides to check if anyone was watching. “If you ask me,” Hilly continued in a hushed whisper, “that Elle woman deserved every ounce of ganache she was slammed with!”

Cecily stifled a giggle, “Thank you Hilly, though it is not a moment I am very proud of.”

“Well,” Hilly continued, “I thought it was nice to see someone finally stand up to her.” Hilly punched Cecily gently on the shoulder.

Cecily smiled grateful for the compliment. “I’ll be sure to keep your secret, Hilly. Can I go through and see Sarah now?” Cecily gestured towards the corridor.

“Sure. It’s the passage on your third left and then the second room on your right,” Hilly directed professionally.

“Thank you,” Cecily said. “Next time, I will be sure to leave the cake with you!”

“Please do!”

Once Cecily was out of sight, she knew she had to move quickly. She walked through the hospital corridors confidently, pretending she had every right to be there and was simply in search of a patient she wanted to visit.

She saw a door labeled ‘Office’ and knocked gently. There was no response, so she took her chance and pulled down carefully on the door handle. The door slowly opened and Cecily stuck her head inside nervously, to scout for life, but it was empty.

Cecily assumed the usual occupant was on a tea break somewhere, and so she knew she possibly only had seconds to find what she needed. She raced into action, fighting against the rising panic that threatened to stop her fingers from working properly, as they searched frantically through the thousands of files that lived snugly inside the filing cabinets.

Slowly she

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