Grace Sees Red Read Online Free PDF

the windows. While Bennett and I dragged wooden chairs from the room’s perimeter to join him, Kyle zoomed over to settle across the checkerboard from Percy. Parked sideways, Kyle beamed like a kid who’d just graduated to the adults’ table and couldn’t wait to make a mess.
    Thunder continued to crash outside as we settled ourselves. Flashing twigs of light skittered across the murky sky.
    Nearly out of patience, Bennett leaned forward, keeping his voice low, his attention lasered on Percy. “Right now I don’t require an explanation as to who you are or why Frances comes to visit you here. All I care to know is where she is and what’s going on.”
    â€œIt’s going to be fine. I’m sure it is,” Percy said. “That is, if she can keep her wisecracking to a minimum.”
    â€œI don’t want empty assurances. I want facts.”
    â€œI can tell you,” Kyle said.
    â€œOne step at a time, kid.” Percy gave a very Gene Hackman–like wink. To Bennett, he said, “It would help if you didn’t interrupt.”
    Bennett’s eyes blazed, but he sat back and drew in a deep breath. “Very well.” He splayed his hands atop the checkerboard tabletop. “You have the floor.”
    I guessed Percy to be about ten years younger than my uncle, but whatever health issues he faced aged him. I foundhim attractive in an older-man sort of way—but then again, I’d always harbored a secret crush on Gene Hackman.
    â€œFirst of all, although I am able to use my hands and fingers, doing so requires considerable effort. I tend to use my elbows to gesture when I talk.”
    Bennett said nothing but his expression spoke volumes.
    â€œI tell you this so you don’t get worried that I’m having a seizure or something.” He shot me a crooked grin. “People do.”
    It took all my restraint to calmly urge, “Go on.”
    Percy pointed with his chin. “Kyle over there and I live in the East Wing. As does—well, er, did—a guy named Gustave Westburg. We call him Gus. He was old, crabby, and a real pain to have around, wasn’t he, Kyle?”
    â€œI liked him.” The younger man cackled. “Never had a nice thing to say about anybody else, though.”
    â€œHe didn’t belong here,” Percy said.
    â€œWho didn’t belong here?” I asked. “Gus?”
    â€œRight. He shouldn’t have been allowed to live with us. He had serious health issues.”
    â€œHe probably shouldn’t have been allowed in our wing at all,” Kyle added.
    Perhaps reading the confusion on my face, Percy explained, “This isn’t a nursing home. Not in the typical sense.” He rolled his gaze up and around the room. “Each building tends to specialize in some affliction. Except ours. We’re the mishmash, aren’t we, Kyle?”
    He grinned. “A real melting pot.”
    â€œIndwell maintains state-of-the-art facilities for all its patients,” Percy said. “One of the buildings you passed on the way is a mental health facility. Another one is for little kids, and another is a rehab center for amputees. People go in and out of that place all the time. No long-term patients there. Not like here.”
    â€œMishmash,” Kyle repeated. “This wing is for non-ambulatory patients, but our wing is for people like us who can do most things themselves and who don’t needround-the-clock medical attention. I guess it kind of averages out that way.”
    â€œOur wing is designed for people like me and Kyle here,” Percy said. “Our rooms are different from the ones at this end. More like small apartments. Our mobility issues are severe enough that we can’t live on our own but we’re both basically healthy. Gus wasn’t. He shouldn’t have been with us, but when money talks, people listen. It’s different in the East Wing.”
    â€œMore