Read Online Patricia Rockwell - Essie Cobb 03 - Valentined by Patricia Rockwell - Free Book Online Page B

puzzling mystery.
    “Butter on your cinnamon roll,” observed Opal.  “Essie,
isn’t that overkill?  I mean there must be a pound of butter in these rolls to
begin with.”  Opal was nibbling her roll delicately, patting her lips every so
often with her napkin.  Essie felt a drool of butter run down the side of her
chin.
    “It’s a special treat,” replied Essie, slurping up the
dribble of butter.  “I’ve been working hard trying to figure out this valentine
thing.”
    “Oh!” cried Marjorie, “did you find out who he is, Essie?”  
Her romantic friend was now thoroughly engaged in the conversation.  Anything
that involved men, romance, or gossip would always get Marjorie’s juices
flowing.  “What about Betsy?  Did you ever find her?”
    “I did,” replied Essie, setting down her roll and wiping her
fingers with her napkin.  “She got a valentine last year, much like mine, she
says.”
    “You showed her yours?” asked Opal with similar curiosity.
    “Yes, Opal,” replied Essie, still slightly annoyed with what
she considered Opal’s bossiness.  “I show you mine, you show me yours.”
    “Did you see hers?” asked Marjorie with enthusiasm.
    “No,” said Essie.  “She didn’t have it.”
    “You mean she didn’t have it with her?” asked Opal.
    “No,” said Essie.  “I mean she didn’t have it anymore. “
    “She didn’t throw it away, did she?” cried Marjorie.  “I
would never get rid of such a beautiful expression of love, especially from an
unknown admirer.”
    “No, Marjorie,” continued Essie, “she didn’t throw it away. 
It was stolen.  She put it on her television set shortly after she received it
and not long after that it went missing.”
    “Oh, she probably just misplaced it,” suggested Opal.  “I
can’t imagine anyone wanting to steal some greeting card from a resident.”
    “Maybe a resident took it!” exclaimed Marjorie.  “Maybe one
of her friends who was jealous!”
    “Marjorie,” said Essie, “it was displayed in her room. 
You’re suggesting another resident went into her apartment and took this card
from the top of her television set?”
    “It’s possible,” replied Marjorie sheepishly.
    “It’s more likely that a staff member took it,” suggested
Opal.
    “That’s what I’m thinking,” agreed Essie.  “We all keep our
rooms unlocked.  Aides and cleaning people come and go into our rooms,
sometimes when we’re there and sometimes when we’re not.  I’m sure it would be
easy for a staff member to just slip into Betsy’s room and grab that card
without anyone noticing it at all.”
    “But why, Essie?” asked Marjorie.  “Why would a staff member
do that?”
    “That’s what I can’t figure out,” replied Essie.  “Betsy
said she had some valuable items in her room.”  Essie didn’t mention exactly
what Betsy had mentioned or where it was located.  She figured she owed the
woman this much discretion.  “She couldn’t understand why someone would take a
paper greeting card but not anything valuable.”
    “You’d better keep an eye on your card, Essie,” admonished
Opal, glancing over at Essie’s walker.
    “Don’t worry,” said Essie.  “It will never leave my side. 
If anyone tries to take it, they’ll have to come through me first.”
    “Oh, Essie!” cried Marjorie.  “That sounds dangerous!  I
hope you don’t do anything foolish just to protect a valentine!”
    “Are you even sure that there’s a connection between your
card and Betsy’s?  They could be from different people,” said Opal.
    “No,” said Essie.  “I showed my card to Betsy and she
remembered her card very well.  She said they were practically the same.  Maybe
different colors, but she remembered the same doily, ribbons, and little heart
in the center.  I really think she received a card just like mine.”
    “That means that the same person sent it,” said Marjorie,
her eyes wide with realization.
    “Yes,”