Blood Stain by Ashley Fontainne & Lillian Hansen

Author:Ashley Fontainne & Lillian Hansen [Fontainne, Ashley & Hansen, Lillian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RMSW Press
Published: 2024-06-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Nighttime Revelations ~ Hot Springs, Arkansas ~ Saturday, August 25, 2018 ~ 1:30 a.m. CST

THE TEAK FLOORS squeak as one of the residents or a staff member walks down the hallway. Removing her glasses, LiAnn rubs her tired eyes, stands, stretches, and decides another cup of coffee is in order before tackling yet another pile of paper on the desk. She must stave off sleeping for as long as possible, fearful of experiencing more nightmares about Andrew’s final moments alive.

Six more residents moved out, three because their family insisted on maintaining their safety after all the media coverage, three because they couldn’t handle the stress, reducing the total of paying clients to eleven since her parents reside for free. Cheryl left a note on the desk saying she overheard Seth and Betty discussing moving to Fayetteville to be closer to Seth’s grandchildren, and that if Seth leaves, his best friend, Wiley, will follow, leaving paying residents down to eight. If that happens, there will not be enough income to pay the monthly expenses.

The business is hemorrhaging cash by the minute, yet bills are still rolling in. She paid the insurance online and a few other invoices, but some will need to wait until after the first of the month.

Out in the hallway, she notices Nathanial exit the French doors leading out to the expansive back yard.

For a split second, she considers letting him have some quiet time, but then she remembers it is late and he takes Ambien to help him sleep and is fond of bourbon, and judging by his gait, he’s been drinking, which could spell trouble considering the only lights are from the small landscaping solar ones along the path. Plus, it is still a possibility that a nosy reporter lurks outside, waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting senior and pepper them with questions, so she decides to follow and insist he return inside.

To her surprise, he wobbles down the long, winding rock path toward the old stables, finally stopping at a large bench made from Arkansas native stone and sits. The sweet aromas of night jasmine and gardenia fill the hot, humid air; an owl hoots from one of the dilapidated stalls.

When she’s within ten feet, he turns his head while holding up a pack of Marlboros. “Come and join me, Ms. LiAnn.”

His southern accent is thicker and speech pattern slower, courtesy of alcohol. “I would love the company, but I think we should go back inside, perhaps to the kitchen? I’ll make us some hot tea.”

“Drinking at this late hour is not a good idea for a man of my age, unless its bourbon, which I brought with me. It’s the magic elixir that keeps me from going insane.”

“Neither is smoking, and I doubt your doctor would agree with your opinion about alcohol.” She teases, looking around for any signs they aren’t alone yet sees nothing but plants and trees.

“He isn’t living my wretched life, which means he has no say regarding my choices.”

Despite his age and inebriation, the man’s deep voice still commands authority.

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