Well Read, Then Dead(106)

            “How about I set these right here, hon?” And she put them on the dresser opposite my bed. “This way you can look at them while you doze off.”

            She asked if I wanted Jell-O or juice. I started to shake my head, realized that wasn’t a good idea, so I said no. She told me she’d see me in a while.

            No matter how I shifted around, I couldn’t find a position that would let me fall asleep. Besides, my mind was racing around. Who left the note? Who locked me in the shed? And why?

            I shuddered to think what would’ve happened if Tighe Kostos hadn’t come along. Or was that his plan? Lure me. Trap me. Not quite kill me. Then rescue me and be the hero, throwing off any suspicion that he killed Miss Delia.





Chapter Thirty-four ||||||||||||||||||||


            I sat up, pounded the pillow and tried to wiggle into it, looking for a cozy spot for my aching head. When the nurse came back she was surprised I was still awake. She checked my pulse and temperature, listened to my heart and lungs.

            “You’re sounding fit.” She dropped the stethoscope from my chest. “If you want to get out of here sooner rather than later, I think sleep is the best prescription. Doctor will check your chart in the morning. He’ll want to know how well you slept.”

            She made that sound like a mild threat. When she finished making notations in the same folder the doctor was reading earlier, she checked my pitcher of ice water and chastised me for “not hydrating,” which in south Florida means “are you trying to wind up in the hospital?” Of course, I’d already managed to wind up in the hospital fully hydrated; still, I obediently sipped some water from a plastic cup.

            After pouring more water in still another plastic cup, Nurse Bossy put the cup on the edge of my nightstand and turned off the ceiling light in my room, which left me only the night-light in the bathroom.

            “There you go. That should help you fall sleep. Now close your eyes.” Sounding exactly like my mother when I was five, except that she didn’t blow me a kiss, the nurse closed the door nearly shut and moved on to the next patient.

            I sat up and took slow sips of water, but each swallow was like a hammer blow to my head. I was starting to feel exceptionally sorry for myself but perked right up when I thought to call Bridgy. I slid out of bed onto the cold floor and padded to the closet. I found the note that started all this still in my pants pocket, but no cell phone. Then I remembered. It was still in my car. My car! I wondered where that was. Did Bridgy take it home? Did the sheriff tow it to a car impound lot somewhere on the mainland?

            It was an effort to climb back onto the bed, which seemed about three feet higher than it was when I slid out of it. I pulled the solidly heavy landline off the nightstand and onto my lap. A strip of adhesive with faded directions for outside calls was peeling off the base of the phone. Easy peasy. I picked up the receiver and stopped. I was so used to speed-dialing Bridgy that I couldn’t recall her number. I hung up the phone. I sat for a while, struggling to remember. The one number that did pop into my head was our home phone at the turret. Even if Bridgy and Ophie were off rescuing my car or having some other grand adventure, I could leave a message.

            I dialed and after two rings heard my own voice, “press one to leave a message for Sassy,” then Bridgy telling callers to press two to reach her, finally both of us saying, “press three for Sassy and Bridgy.” I pressed two, left a message then called back and repeated the message for “Sassy and Bridgy.” My message was simple. “I’m lonely. I’m bored. Please call me.”

            I pushed the phone off my lap but kept it on the bed so when Bridgy called back I could pick up on the first ring. Then I watched the second hand circle round and round on the face of the silver-rimmed clock hanging above the door.

            The phone didn’t ring.

            I was too hyper to sleep, so I decided to see what the nightstand held in the way of entertainment. I opened the top drawer and was pleased to find a tooth brush, tooth paste and some kidney-shaped plastic thing that I’m sure had a purpose although I had no idea what it was. I hoped a previous patient had left a book or a deck of cards, but no luck. Next I opened the cabinet door. I found a freshly sealed plastic bag containing a blue paper robe, which would add some modesty to my cotton hospital gown, and cardboard slippers. I double jabbed the air above me. Pa-pow! I could go for a walk.