Free Hideaway Hospital Murders by Robert Burton Robinson

advantage? What if Elmo were to
quickly find an effective treatment for his mother? Then he could
go ahead with the wedding. But it could take months or years to
find something that worked. Maybe he never would. In the meantime,
his relationship with Carsie could fall apart. No, she had to speed
up the process somehow.
    What he needed were a few volunteers for a
clinical trial. Some women with AD who would each be given
different treatments, to see which one worked best. And if none of
the treatments were working, Carnie could always alter the results.
Or, what if one of the volunteers didn’t actually have
Alzheimer’s? The woman could pretend to have it, and then
miraculously get better.
    Once Elmo saw that his ingenious treatment
idea was working, he would feel free to get married, knowing that
he had done his best for his mother, and that her condition would
rapidly improve.
    Carnie could set it up in the sub-basement.
Elmo could work in the lab, and she would act as nurse in their own
little hospital ward. But who would volunteer for such a thing? No
problem. She would bring them in by force, if necessary. And once
Elmo and Carsie had gone off for the honeymoon, Carnie could easily
dispose of the ‘volunteers.’
    But the whole idea was insane. Elmo would
never go along with any of it.
    Carnie hashed through plan after plan for
hours. There had to be a scheme that would work. And given enough
time, she would think of it.

    Chapter 12

    Wednesday was Greg’s assigned hospital
visitation day. The pastor took care of it on other days of the
week, as needed. Greg would spend time visiting church members who
were patients, and sit with the family of those having surgery. But
first, there was time for breakfast at Jane’s Diner.
    “ The usual?” Jane poured
him a cup of coffee.
    “ Yeah.”
    “ By the way, how’s it going
with your girlfriend?”
    It seemed like Jane asked that question
every day.
    “ Couldn’t be better. She’s
absolutely wonderful. And I’m so in love with her.”
    Jane smiled. “Have you told her?”
    “ Yes. I told her last
night.” He beamed with pride.
    “ Well, all I’ve got to say
is: what took you so long?”
    “ What do you
mean?”
    “ I’ve known you were in
love with her for months. Practically the whole town
has.”
    “ But how could everybody
else know before I knew.”
    “ You knew .”
    “ No…”
    “ Yes, you did, Greg. You
had feelings for that gorgeous redhead on the very first day you
met her.”
    “ No, that’s not true.
Besides, she was married then.”
    “ So? You can still love
somebody, even though you know you can’t act on it or tell
them.”
    Was Jane right? Had he been in love with
Cynthia all along? Before he could come back with a zinger of his
own, Jane had turned to walk away. Did Jane learn this wisdom
through personal experience? He wondered who the man could be.
    As Greg picked up his newspaper and began to
read, Jane watched him from behind the counter. He could be so
clueless sometimes, she thought. But in all fairness, why should he
suspect? After all, Jane was 59 years old. But it had been a
lonely life since her husband had died four years ago. Only her
customers kept her going. Particularly the one she was currently
admiring.
    Greg was still reading the sports section
when Jane delivered his scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, and
buttermilk pancakes. “So, you’re on your way to the hospital?”
    “ Yeah.” He lowered his
voice. “And I hate it.”
    “ Why?”
    “ I’m just no good at it. I
never know what to say. The person is lying there dying and I’m
supposed to comfort them somehow. Today one of our men is having
surgery. But at least it’s only back surgery. He’s not likely to
die on the operating table. Those aren’t too bad. It’s the heart
surgeries and the terminal patients that get to you.”
    “ But you’re so empathetic,
Greg. I’d just tell people to shut up and get a life. Or at least
make the best of whatever