Grace Sees Red by Julie Hyzy Read Free Book Online Page B

all three doors, one at a time, satisfied when each of them swung wide open before banging shut once again. “No one here.”
    â€œYou do it your way, and I’ll do it mine.” Frances’s face was red when she righted herself. “Can’t be too careful.”
    â€œWhat’s going on, Frances?” I asked.
    She scanned the tops of the walls as though looking for security cameras.
    â€œWe’re in a washroom,” I reminded her. “Nobody’s going to spy on us in here.”
    â€œYou’re so naïve.” Satisfied with her scrutiny, she folded her thick arms across her chest and positioned herself in the middle of the room. “First things first: Out with it. What did Percy tell you about me?”
    â€œNothing at all. It’s all been about Gustave,” I said. “Talk to me, Frances. Bennett and I are completely in the dark here. What couldn’t you tell me at the table?”
    She chewed on her lower lip for a moment before answering. “They’re being careful not to tell me much, but you and I know how these things work.” She dug one hand out from its perch inside her elbow to wag a finger between us. “We’ve been through this before. Police making foolish mistakes. Bad information.
Pheh
. That busybody nurse is the one I’m mad at. When he found Gus dead, he should have called the morgue attendants, not the police.”
    â€œYou don’t believe Gus was murdered?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter what I think. But now, because that nosy Santiago found a cap in Gus’s room, everybody’s all hysterical, thinking that I dosed Gus with Percy’s medication.”
    â€œWait. What are you talking about? You said that the police didn’t tell you anything.”
    Frances’s brows jumped so far up her face I thought they might spring off the top of her head. “You think I’m going to spill everything I know the first time somebody asks?” She harrumphed. “Give me a little more credit than that. I lied when we were at the table.”
    I brought my hands to my head. “Frances, we aren’t playing a game here. If the police suspect you, we have to take this seriously.”
    â€œIt’s pretty clear to me that I’m taking this far moreseriously than you are.” She lifted her chin. “Why do you think I pulled you in here? Why do you think I’m telling you about the insulin syringe cap? It’s purple, by the way.” She raised her hands in the air. “It’s purple. Of course it is.”
    â€œWhat in the world are you talking about?”
    Frances’s voice had begun to rise as she spoke and she gave a self-conscious glance around the room before continuing in a quieter tone. “On top of all his other health issues, Percy’s a diabetic. We keep insulin in his room for when he needs it.”
    â€œWait,” I said. “Stop right there. Why is Percy allowed to keep medication in the apartment? He clearly can’t self-administer.”
    â€œDon’t let him fool you; he’s fully capable,” Frances said. “He can’t manipulate his hands as well as you and I do, but he’s not as weak as he tries to pretend.” She muttered something about Percy’s predilection for enlisting help from attractive young women before adding, “You probably didn’t notice that he keeps an injector in the chair next to his leg. We tuck one in there for emergencies. The rest are in his room.”
    â€œThat doesn’t explain why the facility allows patients to keep their own medication. Isn’t it their job to deliver dosages?”
    â€œJust because he’s disabled doesn’t mean he’s helpless.” Frances ran her fingers up both sides of her head, clearly losing patience. “Percy’s here for assisted living, not critical care. There’s a difference. He needs help getting in and out of bed