Read Online P is for Peril by Sue Grafton - Free Book Online Page B

not always easy. When your specialty’s geriatrics, you’re going to lose the very people you’ve grown most attached to.”
    â€œAnyone in particular?”
    â€œWell, no. I wasn’t speaking of anyone specific,” she said, “and I’m not saying he couldn’t cope. Of course he could. He’s been working with the elderly for many years. I’m just saying it took a toll on him emotionally.”
    â€œIs it possible he walked off?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou’re sure of that?”
    â€œAbsolutely. And you want to know why? Because of Griff. That boy is the light of Dowan’s eyes. If Dow got home late, he went to Griff’s room first. He’d lie down on the bed with him and just watch him breathe. Sometimes I’d find him fast asleep in there. He’d never leave Griffith voluntarily.”
    â€œI understand,” I said.
    â€œThere’s something else as well. Dow’s writing a book. This is a project he’s been wanting to do for years. He’s seen so many changes in medicine. He really has wonderful stories to tell. He wouldn’t abandon that.”
    â€œWhat about the two of you? Are you doing okay?”
    â€œWe’re very close. In fact, we’ve been talking about another baby now that Griffith is two.”
    â€œSo you’re convinced something’s wrong.”
    â€œVery wrong. I just can’t think what. If he’d been injured or abducted, surely we’d have heard by now.”
    â€œWhat about his employers? What can you tell me about them?”
    â€œI really don’t know much. I’ve only met Joel Glazer twice and one of those occasions was the groundbreaking for the new Pacific Meadows annex, and we didn’t have time to chat. As I understand it, Joel and Harvey Broadus made a fortune in construction, developing retirement communities in the Southwest. They also own a chain of board-and-care homes, plus a number of nursing facilities across the state. We used to see Harvey occasionally at social events, but he’s apparently in the middle of a nasty divorce so he’s keeping a low profile. He’s a bit phony for my taste, but maybe that’s just me. Anyway, after Dow retired in 1981, he found himself at loose ends. Everyone knows how highly regarded he is in the medical community. They approached him with regard to Pacific Meadows and asked him to take over the administrative work.”
    â€œAnd they all get along?”
    â€œAs far as I know. I mean, they hardly ever see each other. Joel and Harvey seem to be happy with Dow, so they tend to go their way and let him go his. An operating company does the billing. I know at first he was worried they’d interfere with the running of the place, but it hasn’t turned out that way.”
    â€œHow long have they owned the place?”
    â€œI believe they bought it in 1980. It’s over on Dave Levine Street right there at the corner of Nedra Lane. You’ve probably passed it a hundred times. Looks like Tara without the acreage—big white columns across the front.”
    â€œOh, that. I see it on the right side any time I drive in from that end of town. There must be five or six nursing homes along that stretch.”
    â€œThe staff people all refer to it as ‘Formaldehyde Alley,’ no disrespect intended. Dow hates when I repeat that.”
    â€œHow did you two meet?”
    â€œMom . . .”
    Crystal glanced into the great room through the open door. “We’re out here.” She must have caught sight of Leila because she turned back with an expression of annoyance and disbelief. “Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
    I followed her gaze.
    Leila was clumping down the stairs in a pair of black satin pumps with heels so high she could hardly stand erect. Now and then her ankles wobbled as though she were setting off across the ice for the first time on skates. Under her black leather