Read Online Engaged to Die by Carolyn Hart - Free Book Online

glinted—“a general is used to being in charge. I told his daughter that the general was reliving those war years, shouting in the night. But she wasn’t at all reasonable and she moved him out.” Stephanie snapped her fingers. “She talked to me that morning, and that afternoon he was gone.”
    Annie smoothed a wrinkle from her cream wool slacks. She said pleasantly, “Didn’t that make you wonder a little?”
    â€œWonder?” The director sounded puzzled.
    â€œAbout the validity of the general’s complaint.” Into the sudden, resistant silence, Annie demanded, “What was his complaint?”
    The manager fingered a candy cane earring. “Oh, it was just crazy. He didn’t like J. J., that’s what it came down to. He told his daughter—and I swear, she should have been a general—”
    Annie kept her expression pleasant and welcoming and mentally applauded the combative general’s daughter.
    â€œâ€”that he—the general—had accidentally bumped J. J. from behind with his wheelchair, and then, according to the general, J. J. took his wheelchair and swung him around and rolled him to his room and—” She broke off, shook her head impatiently, her tawny hair rippling. “It’s too absurd.” Her eyes flashed. “I need to know why you are asking these questions.”
    â€œBecause another resident has been abused by Mr. Brown. That resident”—Annie spoke carefully—
    â€œlives in terror of him. And I’m here to see about it.”
    The manager clamped her hands on the chair arms. There was no smile now. “That is a very serious accusation, Mrs. Darling. Who is making this claim?”
    â€œAn old woman.” Annie remembered the shuddering voice: he makes you listen. “A helpless old woman who is terrified for darkness to come. He has a key that opens every door. Once he came to her room in the middle of the night and was standing at the foot of her bed when she awakened. She screamed. The next day everyone told her she’d had a nightmare.”
    The manager was indignant. “Old people often have nightmares!”
    Annie folded her arms. “Miss Hammond”—no,they weren’t buddies, not now—“you don’t stay here at night, do you?”
    Her silence answered.
    â€œThen please listen to me. The man you’ve hired is cruel. He delights in frightening old people. I don’t doubt there are many who’ve had no problem with him. He would seek out those who are vulnerable.”
    Stephanie Hammond surged to her feet, her face ridged. “You must give me the name of the person involved. And the circumstances.”
    Annie remembered Twila Foster’s soft uncertain eyes and thin face and the clawlike fingers plucking at her lace collar and the fear, the demeaning, dreadful, terrible fear. Annie rose and the two women faced each other, wary antagonists. “What will you do?”
    The manager gestured toward the door. “Why, I’ll talk to J. J. and see—”
    â€œWhat he has to say? What do you think he will say?” Annie spread out her hands. “Of course he’ll deny everything. A nightmare.” She was sardonic. “Or she’s imagining persecution. Or confused. It’s easy to say an old person is imagining things. If you tell him her name, he’ll whisper to her late at night in that soft high voice. He’ll tell her she will have to pay. He told her once that she’d been nothing but trouble ever since she came.”
    â€œThis is all unsubstantiated. You can’t expect me to take action against an employee without some kind of proof.” A flush stained her smooth cheeks.
    Annie remembered the wrinkled parchment face of Twila Foster and the tremor in her old voice. “There is one way to get proof.” Annie’s throat ached. Please, God, help us now. She spoke fast.
    When she was