Murder in Death's Waiting Room by Janis Patterson

Author:Janis Patterson [Patterson, Janis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction
Publisher: Janis Susan May Patterson
Published: 2016-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Dinner had been as unappetizing as Flora had expected, but she ate all of hers without hesitation, even going so far as to comment on how good the rice pudding was. Even if the glutinous mass hadn’t been. Flora knew that her stunt on the telephone would be remarked upon among the nurses and it did not fit her plans to be carefully watched. Instead she made herself into the model resident, not realizing that such behavior would draw their attention more.

Tonight she was unlucky enough to be seated at one of the large tables, but fortunately her dining companions were fairly congenial. Ora Carroll was on one side, Hortensia Bernal on the other. She recognized Sophia O’Connor, Agnes Rausch, Fred Moretti and Mr. Granowski, but the others were strangers, seen but never spoken to.

When she wished Flora could be both charming and urbane; it was a talent that had propelled her to the heights of Dallas society. When Morris had been alive and they had entertained invitations to any of their parties had been highly prized. During his lingering illness, of course, they had not thrown any parties and after Morris had died Flora found she didn’t have the heart for it. She still did her duty with volunteer work and went to other people’s parties, of course, but deciding that being a guest was so much easier than being a hostess she had no desire to entertain at home. That didn’t mean she had lost her skill.

Before long she knew that Mr. Carrington had been an accountant and Mrs. Hoffmann (“Just call me Honey.”) had been a store clerk before marrying the late Mr. Hoffmann, who had managed a flying school. Flora thought it amusing when the woman admitted she was afraid of flying, but didn’t say a word.

Flora had been hoping that Eula Badham or Dewayne might be at her table, but she was seated in a far corner of the room and neither were anywhere close. Well, Flora thought somewhat huffily, she would just have to work with what she had.

Fred Moretti, thankfully seated across the table from Flora, gave her a practiced charming smile, marred only a little by the fact that his large white teeth were most definitely false. “I’ve seen precious little of you, Flora babe. When are we going to get together and get really acquainted?”

“As we are seated at the same table it is obvious we are already acquainted, and I do so dislike duplicating effort,” Flora said in only slightly barbed tones. Honestly, did the man truly think he was a Lothario? Turning to Hortensia Bernal, she smiled. “What new plot has Mrs. Badham discovered?”

So short and round that she resembled a gingerbread cookie, Mrs. Bernal shook her head. “Pobrecita! She is still quite sure that drug smugglers are using the home as a headquarters.”

“Drug smugglers?” Honey Hoffmann looked up in alarm. “Here?”

“It’s so tragic how drugs are ruining our country,” Ora Carroll said moistly. Tears were already gathering in the corners of her eyes.

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