Free Hideaway Hospital Murders by Robert Burton Robinson Page A

time they’ve got left.”
    **********
    “ Hello?”
    “ Carsie, how are you
holding up?”
    “ Hi, Grandma. I’m
fine.”
    “ No, you’re not. How could you be? Your
wedding got called off. I’m sorry, Honey.”
    “ But I’m okay. Elmo just
needs some time to find the best kind of medicine for his mother.
Then we’ll reschedule the wedding. It’ll all work out
soon.”
    “ Well, I hope so. But in
the meantime, I want you to come stay with me for a few
days.”
    “ Thanks, Grandma, but I
need to stay here and support Elmo.”
    “ But Carnie tells me he’s
spending every waking hour in his study. And that he’s totally
ignoring you.”
    “ No, he’s not ignoring
me—he’s just busy doing research. And that’s good. Because the
sooner he decides how to treat Mallie Mae’s condition, the sooner
we can get married.”
    “ I understand. But I really
miss you, Sweetie. And since your sister moved out, I get so
lonely.”
    “ I’m sorry, Grandma, but
you know you’re gonna have to get used to that.”
    “ But just think, Dear—being
here with me would make the time go by faster for you.”
    “ I guess so.”
    “ You know it would. And I’ll even
make a batch of my cherry divinity.”
    “ Now you’re bribing
me.”
    “ Well, is it
working?”
    “ I’ll talk to
Elmo.”
    “ Great. I’ll make meatloaf
and yams for dinner.”
    Her grandmother could be so pushy. And she
nearly always got her way. But maybe she was right. A few days with
Grandma Sylvia might do her good.
    She found Elmo in his study, glued to his
computer.
    “ Honey?”
    Elmo didn’t even look up at her. “Yes?”
    “ Grandma wants me to drive
up to Jefferson and spend a few days with her.”
    “ That’s good.”
    “ So, you don’t mind if I
go?”
    “ Sure.”
    “ Elmo! Are you even
listening to me?”
    He stopped reading and looked up at her.
    “ I’m sorry, Baby. What were
you saying?”
    “ Grandma wants me to go
stay with her for a few days.”
    “ Well, that’s fine. You
should go. At least I wouldn’t feel so guilty about ignoring
you.”
    “ Yeah. You’ve dealing with
enough guilt already. I don’t want to add to it.”
    “ Then go to your
grandmother’s house. Stay a few days. Maybe it’ll make us both feel
better.”
    “ Okay.”
    Elmo stood and took Carsie in his arms. “I
love you, Baby. You know that.”
    “ I love you
too.”
    After a quick kiss, Carsie went to her
bedroom to back a bag.
    **********
    On his way to the hospital, Greg called
Cynthia’s cell phone.
    “ Hello?”
    “ Who do you love, Baby?
said Greg.
    There was a slight pause before Cynthia
responded.
    Had it all been dream? Had she changed her
mind? Was she wishing she had not told him she loved him? How many
doubts can the human mind conjure in a mere second?
    “ I’ll give you a call about
it a little later.”
    Why was she being so cold to him? Then it
hit him. “Are you in a meeting?”
    “ That’s
correct.”
    “ Oh, I’m sorry. Yeah, call
me later.”
    Greg parked his car and walked into the
hospital, to the surgery waiting room. He recognized the wife,
sitting with another woman and a young boy.
    “ How long has he been in
surgery?” said Greg.
    “ Just a few minutes,” said
the wife.
    She introduced Greg to her sister and
nephew.
    “ How did Jeff hurt his
back?” said Greg.
    “ He was carrying a big bag
of cement. I told him he needed help, but he just wouldn’t
listen.”
    “ They never do,” said the
sister.
    Greg had already run out of things to say.
So, he picked up a magazine and began to read as the two women
chatted.
    “ Jacob’s nose is running,”
said the wife.
    “ Jacob, come here, Honey,”
said the sister to her son.
    She pulled a tissue out of her purse and
wiped his nose.
    “ You think he’s getting a
cold?” said the wife.
    “ Could be. He’s got a
doctor’s appointment this afternoon.”
    “ That’s good.”
    “ But when I called they
said Dr. Elmo has taken a leave of