Clenching her teeth, Ariel reached for her phone.whatshe texted.
She sensed immediate relief. Having someone understand her terse messages was good, so she tried to relax a little.
motherPris texted back. Then she sent a series of images.
Ariel puzzled over the pictures of an array of junk mail like the stuff she routinely flung in the recycle. Hers was usually addressed to the previous tenant of the cottage, followed by “or current occupant.”
This junk was specifically addressed to Ellen Broadhurst about prizes won. Priscilla’s agitation increased.
scam?Ariel typed.
yes, helpPris replied.don’t tellshe added.
Eleven
Riding up on the Harley,Jax spotted the innocuous utility van in the retirement home’s parking lot and pulled in next to it. Within minutes, he and Roark had the lowdown on the computer theft from Reuben, who was cursing himself and apparently half the planet. Reuben scrolled through the limited footage he’d just copied from the client’s security cameras.
“How did theputainsget through the halls lookin’ like dat?” Roark demanded, studying the brief, murky image of two men in black balaclavas—in August—entering the apartment.
“English,” Jax said, repeating Ariel’s demand with amusement.
Roark ignored him.
“Insiders,” Reuben concluded. “The home’s security cameras were turned off outside that door.”
That set off Jax’s alarms. “I’m going in. You shouldn’t have left them in there alone!”
“They’re surrounded by senior citizens and a policeman eating cookies. Knock yourself out.” Reuben went back to his studies, pointing out places where he wanted to install bugs, while Roark loaded up his tool bag of spy goodies.
Jax left them to it. He pulled out the lawyer card to get past the guardian in the lobby and swore at the slow elevator as it chugged to the fourth floor.
Loretta pounced on him the instant he entered the apartment. “I might be able to see ghosts!” she whispered. “But Evie istalkingto one!”
Jax squeezed her shoulder and looked for Evie, finding her surrounded by old ladies all nattering at once. He shuddered and checked out the cop and security guard. “Fill me in later,” he told the kid. “Go keep Evie out of trouble.”
“Oh, she’s the reason everyone is in here now, and why all their bubbles are shrinking. They’re afraid!” She skipped off on that ominous note.
How did one raise a kid who can tell adults are afraid and wasn’t worried about it? Mentally shaking his head, he joined the officials, introducing himself. Looking shaken, a young woman with vaguely Asian features was asking how long it took for a police report so she could claim the insurance. No one was giving her straight answers.
Jax figured it didn’t hurt to drum up business, such as it was. “I’m Miss Carstairs’ lawyer. If part of her job is to help you learn about your grandmother, I can help you with the insurance claim. Did your grandmother have rental insurance? Have you asked the home if they have liability insurance? It sounds as if you were treated pretty roughly. Has anyone called a medic to see if you’re okay?”
The men growled in annoyance. The females grew wide-eyed in appreciation.
Evie instantly arrived. Expecting that, Jax refrained from hugging her while on a business assignment but shot her a grin of triumph. She wrinkled her nose and didn’t interfere as the young woman—Stacey Gump, apparently—decided she was distressed and now worried about her grandmother’s treatment and if the home shouldn’t be investigated for negligence.
A woman introduced as Lucy Murkowski, the administrator, joined them, in accompaniment with a Mrs. Ursula Stanislaus, apparently from the company’s Human Resources Department. Tall, fading blond, and strident, Mrs. Stanislaus caused hurricane winds all her own as she assured everyone the problem had been Marlene, not the home’s employees.
The rest of the crowd followed, making private discussion impossible. Voices raised. Evie tugged at Jax’s sleeve and nodded toward a tall gentleman hovering in the back. Without explanation, she slipped from the mob Jax had caused.
He did his best to keep everyone focused on the home’s liability issues while Evie and the older gentleman slipped out the door. Jax wondered how long he should give her before he went looking.
Stacey crowded close enough to whisper, “That was grandmother’s boyfriend. He said he had something he wanted to give me, but he didn’t want to do it in front of the others. I think Evie has gone to fetch it. Should I join her?”
“She’ll let us know if she needs us,” Jax said with more assurance than he felt. Instinct roared for him to protect his own, but Evie wasn’t really his. Evie was a free spirit who could never belong to anyone. He could only stay close and hope he was there when needed.
Evie returned without the old gent. She pulled Stacey aside, presumably for a report on anything she’d been given. Jax gave Stacey his business card in case she had any difficulty with the insurance claims. He’d learned the names of all the little old ladies so he could look them up later, if needed. The argument over the home’s useless security footage wasn’t going anywhere. Ursula was insisting that none of her staff would have turned off the camera. The equipment had to be faulty.
Figuring they couldn’t learn anything more, Jax claimed Evie’s arm and gestured to Loretta. Looking bored, the kid snatched the last cookie and fell in step.