Read Online Elizabeth C. Main - Jane Serrano 02 - No Rest for the Wicked by Elizabeth C. Main - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth C. Main
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before losing much money. Outraged at being defrauded, she’d alerted the authorities immediately. Unfortunately, in the two years since, her health had deteriorated, making it impossible for her to leave her home . N ow Velda worked through the SOS group on her aunt’s behalf to educate seniors about such predators. Other SOS members had either experienced something similar in their own lives, or feared that they might. I felt a twinge of pity for Dr. McCutcheon, who had come hoping only to impress a lovely young woman.
As Bianca flung open the door, scattering apologies and sunshine , I sighed in relief. She not only let in the warmth of the June day, but she bore a large tray of scones. Minnie pattered along in her wake, hoisting what looked like the highly anticipated pound cake. The mood of the room immediately brightened, as I had expected. Now, if only Bianca had prepared appropriate remarks to introduce our speaker.
After s etting down the tray, Bianca turned to Dr. McCutcheon and, with her first words, made his day. “ Dr. McCutcheon, we’re thrilled and honored that you’re here today. Everyone already knows you’re an expert on the subject of elder abuse, but even you don’t know how e special ly appropriate it is that you ’re here this morning. We just found out something really, really important. That m an who was murdered was a criminal, a con man. ”
She turned to face the audience before finishing with a flourish. “ He was actually one of those people like the ones Dr. McCutcheon will tell us about today . S omeone here could even have been one of his targets. J us t think what could have happened — to any of us — if he was still out running around. Dr. McCutcheon, y ou can help us understand just how close we all came to such a dangerous man. ”
Bianca impulsively grasped both of Dr. McCutcheon’s hands. “ Thank you for being here . ”
If I’d had any doubts that Bianca’s introduction would lack punch, she’d just laid them to rest. I only hoped that she hadn’t breached Alix’s privacy by sharing more information with us than Alix had given the sheriff. Short of stripping to her underwear, she could hardly have focused the attention of the audience with more skill. Dr. McCutcheon’s entire demeanor had changed to that of a man who had just won the lottery, though he did his best to appear suitably grave.
I took care of intermittent store business while he outlined scams ranging from home improvement rip-offs to telephone fraud, touching on problems often arising from an obsession with sweepstakes entries. His audience listened, spellbound. He might be a pompous windbag, but he was a knowledgeable one. Old Mr. Jorgenson valiantly took notes with his arthritic hands, while Serena Wannick had he r pocket tape recorder running.
By prior arrangement, Velda was asked to repeat her aunt’s history as an object lesson in the problems that could occur when a swindler came to town. She bravely spoke up, in spite of her chronic shy ness about addressing a group.
It was only when Mr. Jorgenson offered Velda sympathy that she became reluctant to continue . “ Young thing like you ought to be jetting off to Tahiti, not stuck at home with your aunt all the time. ”
“ I’m fine, really, ” she murmured. “ And Aunt Eleanor needs me. ”
“ When was your last day off? ” he pressed. When she didn’t answer, he said, “ Thought so. ”
At this, Dr. McCutcheon urged Velda to obtain some respite care for her aunt, citing statistics that showed the toll taken on caretakers’ health when they didn’t get regular relief from their duties.
Alice snorted at the very notion. “ Sure, if you have money to throw around. ”
From Velda’s downcast eyes, I surmised that was not the case in her situation. Minnie had said recently that Velda had hired someone to do occasional housekeeping now that Velda’s back problems were getting worse. With that added expense, and Eleanor’s
As Bianca flung open the door, scattering apologies and sunshine , I sighed in relief. She not only let in the warmth of the June day, but she bore a large tray of scones. Minnie pattered along in her wake, hoisting what looked like the highly anticipated pound cake. The mood of the room immediately brightened, as I had expected. Now, if only Bianca had prepared appropriate remarks to introduce our speaker.
After s etting down the tray, Bianca turned to Dr. McCutcheon and, with her first words, made his day. “ Dr. McCutcheon, we’re thrilled and honored that you’re here today. Everyone already knows you’re an expert on the subject of elder abuse, but even you don’t know how e special ly appropriate it is that you ’re here this morning. We just found out something really, really important. That m an who was murdered was a criminal, a con man. ”
She turned to face the audience before finishing with a flourish. “ He was actually one of those people like the ones Dr. McCutcheon will tell us about today . S omeone here could even have been one of his targets. J us t think what could have happened — to any of us — if he was still out running around. Dr. McCutcheon, y ou can help us understand just how close we all came to such a dangerous man. ”
Bianca impulsively grasped both of Dr. McCutcheon’s hands. “ Thank you for being here . ”
If I’d had any doubts that Bianca’s introduction would lack punch, she’d just laid them to rest. I only hoped that she hadn’t breached Alix’s privacy by sharing more information with us than Alix had given the sheriff. Short of stripping to her underwear, she could hardly have focused the attention of the audience with more skill. Dr. McCutcheon’s entire demeanor had changed to that of a man who had just won the lottery, though he did his best to appear suitably grave.
I took care of intermittent store business while he outlined scams ranging from home improvement rip-offs to telephone fraud, touching on problems often arising from an obsession with sweepstakes entries. His audience listened, spellbound. He might be a pompous windbag, but he was a knowledgeable one. Old Mr. Jorgenson valiantly took notes with his arthritic hands, while Serena Wannick had he r pocket tape recorder running.
By prior arrangement, Velda was asked to repeat her aunt’s history as an object lesson in the problems that could occur when a swindler came to town. She bravely spoke up, in spite of her chronic shy ness about addressing a group.
It was only when Mr. Jorgenson offered Velda sympathy that she became reluctant to continue . “ Young thing like you ought to be jetting off to Tahiti, not stuck at home with your aunt all the time. ”
“ I’m fine, really, ” she murmured. “ And Aunt Eleanor needs me. ”
“ When was your last day off? ” he pressed. When she didn’t answer, he said, “ Thought so. ”
At this, Dr. McCutcheon urged Velda to obtain some respite care for her aunt, citing statistics that showed the toll taken on caretakers’ health when they didn’t get regular relief from their duties.
Alice snorted at the very notion. “ Sure, if you have money to throw around. ”
From Velda’s downcast eyes, I surmised that was not the case in her situation. Minnie had said recently that Velda had hired someone to do occasional housekeeping now that Velda’s back problems were getting worse. With that added expense, and Eleanor’s
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