Free A Quilt in Time (A Harriet Turman/Loose Threads Mystery) by Arlene Sachitano Page B

rooms, with the reception area, offices and dining rooms located in the center square. The leg to the right and rear of the reception area was the one that had been remodeled to create the memory care unit.
    When all but the two front rows were filled, a single file of people came from the direction of the new wing and were guided by the usher to the two empty rows.
    “That group is definitely overdressed for Foggy Point,” Lauren whispered to Harriet, covering her mouth with her hand.
    A blond man stood and went to the podium, introducing himself as Howard Pratt. He proceeded to introduce the luminaries who were financial contributors to the new wing. The reality TV star had a mother who would be moving into the facility, but the presence of the aged leading man was never explained.
    Lauren leaned across Harriet to talk to Connie.
    “Are all these people going to speak?”
    “I don’t know,” Connie answered. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
    The speeches began, and after the mayor and the Foggy Point PUD rep had spoken, Harriet turned to Lauren.
    “I’m going to go to the restroom in the left-hand hallway. Give me a five-minute lead and then follow.”
    “Okay,” Lauren agreed without looking at her.
    Six minutes later, Harriet and Lauren had escaped and were on their way to Sarah’s room.
    Interior halls connected the outer ends of the legs of the X-shaped building, and Harriet led Lauren from the independent living hall restroom where they’d met to the skilled nursing area at the end of the adjoining corridor.
    “Wow, I didn’t know this hallway existed,” Lauren said. “I’ve always come in through the reception area.”
    “I think they keep the doors closed most of the time, but I saw a nurse go this way when I was leaving Sarah’s room one time, so I followed her.”
    “Did she say anything?”
    “No, I acted like I belonged, and she didn’t challenge it.” Harriet crossed the larger hallway to Sarah’s room and stopped so abruptly Lauren bumped into her back.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “She’s not here.” Harriet stepped into what had been Sarah’s room. “Looks like she’s moved out.”
    She opened the closet; it was empty. The bed had been made with fresh sheets and looked ready for a new patient.
    Lauren went into the bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet.
    “No toiletries or anything in here.”
    “Maybe she moved to the independent living area.”
    Lauren came back.
    “Wouldn’t we have walked past her room? That was the hall we started in.”
    “Let’s check the rest of the rooms in this section to make sure they didn’t just move her.”
    “I didn’t think she was ready to be on her own. Her arm is still a mess with that contraption sticking out of it. That can’t possibly feel good.”
    Harriet led the way back into the hall and began peering into rooms.
    “I thought Sarah might tell one of us if she was going into the shelter.”
    “Really? This is Sarah we’re talking about.”
    “You’re right. I hope she’s at the shelter. They aren’t going to tell us if that’s the case. If she doesn’t call, we aren’t going to know, unless we can come up with an excuse to visit.”
    The two women reached the end of the hallway with no sign of Sarah. Harriet opened the door to the connecting hall.
    “Shall we go see if the speeches are done? I still want to talk to the rest of her family.”
    “Which one of them do you think is most likely to tell us where she went?” Lauren asked.
    “Let’s start with the boyfriend and go from there.”
    Harriet turned and headed down the hallway back to the reception area.
    “How’s Sarah?” Aunt Beth asked when they’d rejoined their group. “I assume that’s where you two sneaked off to.”
    “She’s checked out,” Harriet replied. “Or at least, she’s vacated the room she’s been in.”
    “Did any of the caregivers know anything?” Robin asked.
    “Everyone must be working on this shindig,” Lauren said and