by mistake, that would have caused respiratory depression. The elderly are especially vulnerable to changes in dosage.”
Marla bit her lower lip. “You could ask the nurse’s aide who was here last night. She was a gift from someone in the family and came to help Aunt Polly get ready for bed. I’d like to know what time the woman left, and what state Polly was in.”
It occurred to her that the aide might have been the one who tossed through the drawer contents, looking for money. Or could someone else have been here, searching for clues to Andrew’s supposed treasure? What about those letters Polly had exhorted her to find?
“Will the police dust for fingerprints?” she asked Vail in a low tone. “When I first came in here, I thought I saw someone. It might have been my imagination. You know, like a moving shadow from the corner of my eye. Or else I’m just spooked by all these ghost stories.”
Grasping her elbow, he steered her from the room. “I’ll speak to the officers. You should join your family. I can stay to make sure things get done properly.”
She warmed to the concern in his eyes. “I’m not hungry, and I don’t want to ruin the dinner for everyone else. Not yet.” Hugging a hand to her stomach, she blinked moisture from her eyes. “Poor Polly. She has no children. I suppose my mother will want to make arrangements.”
“She’ll have to wait until the coroner releases the body. There isn’t much else anyone can do right now. You’ll have time enough after we get home.”
Marla drew in a tremulous breath. “I need a drink. This is too weird. That psychic’s prediction came true.”
Vail gave her a brief hug and released her. ‘Just think: now Andrew’s ghost has company.”
“Gee, thanks, that makes me feel a lot better.”
“Go downstairs. Find out which one of your relatives ordered the nurse’s aide. And have something to eat before you keel over. I asked the server to keep your plate warm.”
“What would I do without you?” She stroked his cheek, already bristly after his recent shave.
His eyes glinted like polished metal. “I need you more,” he whispered, his lips brushing her forehead.
Marla turned away, wanting only to escape with her lover and forget what had happened. Unfortunately, duty propelled her to the ballroom, where her family was enjoying coffee and pumpkin pie.
Anita jumped from her seat upon spotting Marla. “Where is Polly? Why isn’t Dalton here with you?”
Marla halted, shifting her feet while she mustered her courage. She studied a spot on the wall when she spoke. “I have some bad news. Aunt Polly…She passed away in her sleep.”
Anita clutched a hand to her heart. “What?”
Moishe and William rose in unison. “You’re saying our sister is gone?” Uncle William said, his voice hoarse.
Marla nodded, swallowing a lump in her throat.
“I don’t believe it,” Anita cried. “We just spoke to her. She might have had memory lapses, but Polly didn’t say anything about ill health other than normal complaints.”
“Maybe she felt this coming on, and that’s why she planned the reunion.”
“You could be right,” Cynthia inserted. “She seemed adamant about coming to Sugar Crest.”
“She wanted to die here,” Marla suggested, “to guard the family treasure with the other spirits. Which one of you hired the nurse’s aide to tend her last night?”
Polly’s siblings exchanged puzzled glances. “Be clear, bubula ,” Anita said. “What are you talking about?”
“I was with Polly last night when a health care worker arrived. She said someone had sent her as a gift for the evening.” When no one admitted their generosity, Marla gave them all a scrutinizing glare. “If none of you paid for this woman, who did?”
“Call the service that sent her, and they’ll tell you,” offered Rochelle in a small voice. She sat at the far end flanked by her young cousins.
“Do you suspect this aide had something to do with
Marla bit her lower lip. “You could ask the nurse’s aide who was here last night. She was a gift from someone in the family and came to help Aunt Polly get ready for bed. I’d like to know what time the woman left, and what state Polly was in.”
It occurred to her that the aide might have been the one who tossed through the drawer contents, looking for money. Or could someone else have been here, searching for clues to Andrew’s supposed treasure? What about those letters Polly had exhorted her to find?
“Will the police dust for fingerprints?” she asked Vail in a low tone. “When I first came in here, I thought I saw someone. It might have been my imagination. You know, like a moving shadow from the corner of my eye. Or else I’m just spooked by all these ghost stories.”
Grasping her elbow, he steered her from the room. “I’ll speak to the officers. You should join your family. I can stay to make sure things get done properly.”
She warmed to the concern in his eyes. “I’m not hungry, and I don’t want to ruin the dinner for everyone else. Not yet.” Hugging a hand to her stomach, she blinked moisture from her eyes. “Poor Polly. She has no children. I suppose my mother will want to make arrangements.”
“She’ll have to wait until the coroner releases the body. There isn’t much else anyone can do right now. You’ll have time enough after we get home.”
Marla drew in a tremulous breath. “I need a drink. This is too weird. That psychic’s prediction came true.”
Vail gave her a brief hug and released her. ‘Just think: now Andrew’s ghost has company.”
“Gee, thanks, that makes me feel a lot better.”
“Go downstairs. Find out which one of your relatives ordered the nurse’s aide. And have something to eat before you keel over. I asked the server to keep your plate warm.”
“What would I do without you?” She stroked his cheek, already bristly after his recent shave.
His eyes glinted like polished metal. “I need you more,” he whispered, his lips brushing her forehead.
Marla turned away, wanting only to escape with her lover and forget what had happened. Unfortunately, duty propelled her to the ballroom, where her family was enjoying coffee and pumpkin pie.
Anita jumped from her seat upon spotting Marla. “Where is Polly? Why isn’t Dalton here with you?”
Marla halted, shifting her feet while she mustered her courage. She studied a spot on the wall when she spoke. “I have some bad news. Aunt Polly…She passed away in her sleep.”
Anita clutched a hand to her heart. “What?”
Moishe and William rose in unison. “You’re saying our sister is gone?” Uncle William said, his voice hoarse.
Marla nodded, swallowing a lump in her throat.
“I don’t believe it,” Anita cried. “We just spoke to her. She might have had memory lapses, but Polly didn’t say anything about ill health other than normal complaints.”
“Maybe she felt this coming on, and that’s why she planned the reunion.”
“You could be right,” Cynthia inserted. “She seemed adamant about coming to Sugar Crest.”
“She wanted to die here,” Marla suggested, “to guard the family treasure with the other spirits. Which one of you hired the nurse’s aide to tend her last night?”
Polly’s siblings exchanged puzzled glances. “Be clear, bubula ,” Anita said. “What are you talking about?”
“I was with Polly last night when a health care worker arrived. She said someone had sent her as a gift for the evening.” When no one admitted their generosity, Marla gave them all a scrutinizing glare. “If none of you paid for this woman, who did?”
“Call the service that sent her, and they’ll tell you,” offered Rochelle in a small voice. She sat at the far end flanked by her young cousins.
“Do you suspect this aide had something to do with
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