What Stella Wants. Nancy Bartholomew

nothing but darkness. The sun had slipped below the horizon, and night had fallen in the short time I’d been inside Brookhaven Manor.

      “Nice get-up,” Jake murmured. “I was looking forward to Nurse Barbie but now this is something…”

      “Jake!” I warned. “This really isn’t the time for games. Can you call Nina and see if she can come relieve me later? That should free us up to pursue the Bitsy angle.”

      Jake chuckled softly before switching gears and returning to the business at hand. “I’ll call her. You want her to come as an aide?”

      Before I could answer, the door began to open behind me. I slipped the tiny cell phone back into my pocket and turned just as the two alleged state “investigators” entered the room, accompanied by Marygrace and her boss.

      “I’m sorry, Sister,” Marygrace said, not looking the least bit sorry. “These gentlemen are with the state adult services division and need to talk with Mrs. Blankenship about an episode that occurred earlier today. Would it be too much trouble…”

      I interrupted her before she could finish. “Gentlemen, this lady is exhausted, not to mention, heavily sedated. I doubt you’ll be able to rouse her before tomorrow. I was here when the ambulance attendants gave their report. Her doctor gave her the medication right before she left the hospital.” I looked at Baby and smiled. “The poor dear fought the sedative as long as she could and only agreed to close her eyes if I stayed with her.” I looked back up at the two men, letting the smile fade as I gave them my best-remembered impression of the meanest nun in my parochial school. “I’ll be sitting right here by her side when she awakens in the morning. I suggest you come back in the afternoon if you want to talk to her. It would be cruel to awaken the dear.”