Grave Intentions by Sjoberg Lori

Author:Sjoberg, Lori [Sjoberg, Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781601832009
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2013-01-03T07:00:00+00:00

chapter 12

Visiting hours were almost over by the time Sarah rushed through the front entrance of the Auburn Green Retirement Community. Most residents kept an early bedtime so the main lobby was eerily quiet, the only noise coming from the television in the waiting area, tuned in to the Weather Channel. The smell of disinfectant hung heavy in the air, a lingering reminder of the janitor’s last round of cleaning.

A young woman in nursing scrubs manned the front desk, her eyes glued to the computer monitor while her fingers tapped feverishly on the keyboard. The fluorescent lighting gave her skin a harsh, jaundiced appearance, accentuating the grooves bracketing the corners of her mouth. At the sound of Sarah’s footsteps she looked up and gave a practiced smile.

“Wow, you’re quick.”

“Excuse me?” Sarah froze in her tracks. That familiar feeling of dread returned, grabbing her by the throat and giving it a good squeeze.

“I said you’re really fast,” the nurse said, her focus momentarily shifting to the notepad by the phone. “I just left you a message less than ten minutes ago and here you are.”

“Oh.” Sarah glanced down to her purse, realizing she’d left her cell phone at the apartment.

This couldn’t be good. There was no other reason they’d call so late. Preparing for the worst, she asked, “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your message. What’s going on?”

The nurse gave her a sympathetic look. “Oh. Well, there was some trouble with your grandmother about an hour ago. Dr. Patel can fill you in on the details.”

She rounded the desk and walked over to the double doors on the far side of the room. She waved a key card in front of a scanner and the lock disengaged with an audible click.

“We have a couple of late-night wanderers,” the nurse explained. “If we don’t keep the main door locked at night, Mrs. Singletary tries to make a break for it.” She pushed the door open and motioned for Sarah to go inside. “Dr. Patel is seeing to Mrs. Griffith in room 157. Down the hall and to your left.”

“Thank you.”

Sarah walked down the long empty hallway, her anxiety building with each passing step. As she neared the room, she could hear her grandmother’s fretful pleas, muffled beneath the haze of medication.

“I’m not crazy! Let me go!”

“Now, now, Mrs. Griffith, you just settle down while the doctor gives you a quick look-see. If you quit making such a ruckus, we can loosen these ties and get you some dinner.”

“I don’t give a hoot about dinner; I want to talk to my granddaughter!”

Sarah could hear Dr. Patel now, his voice smooth and soothing but too low for Sarah to pick out the words. A few moments later he emerged from the room, his head tilted down as he jotted notes onto Pearl’s chart. When he finished, he placed the pen in his shirt pocket and looked up.

“Oh, hello, Sarah.” Patel sounded tired, like he’d had a long, rough day. “I’m glad you came on such short notice.

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