Mercy & Mayhem: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

him. I think he likes you too."
     
    At least someone liked me. I felt a sense of relief wash over me as I tried to hoist the dog up onto my lap. He was no help in that department, but didn't seem to mind that I disturbed him.
     
    "What's his name?" I asked.
     
    The man behind the newspaper answered, "Barney."
     
    "Well, hello, Barney." I said, before Barney proceeded to belch in my face.
     
    "He likes you, Chevrolet." Nubbin explained. “Believe me, that's a big deal because Barney only likes a few people in this world and you're looking right at them.”
     
    I was touched by Nubbin's playfulness. It just proved that even here, where there was so much loss, there still too was so much life.
     
    "You're funny." I patted Nubbin on the back.
     
    Just then, the Sheriff came out of the office and looked around the dining room.
     
    "Kathy?" He asked. "Can I have a minute, please?"
     
    Good. He's done with me , I thought.
     
    Nubbin cleared his throat and said, "What do you need her for, Wagner? You know just as well as I do that that old coot had one foot in the grave and the other one just needed Studebaker here to help him meet his maker."
     
    There was a collective gasp in the room. None as loud as my own.
     
    Did Nubbin just point the finger at me?

Chapter Three
                  After what felt like an eternity - I'm sure, I'd aged ten years, at least - someone in the room took pity on me and said something.
     
    "Now, Mr. Schmeckpepper, that's not a very nice thing to say. Are you finished with your breakfast?"
     
    I looked at the aide's name tag and added her to the very short list of people that I liked in Western Nebraska.
     
    "Thank you, Tina." I made sure to say it low, so no one would fuss about her talking to me.
     
    "No problem. You can help get the dining room straightened out, if you want? Or, help get the residents back to their rooms?" Tina was an angel. I just wanted to hug her for being so kind.
     
    "Sure. I'd love to help." I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but it didn't matter. I now had a function and the day wasn't going to be a total bust for me after all.
     
    "I'll take Mr. Schmeckpepper back to his room and be right back, okay?" Tina informed me before turning to the other aides and issuing each some duties to follow.
     
    The others didn't balk at being told what to do and readily followed her lead, even helping me by telling me which resident to help with and which residents required two staff members.
     
    Things were moving along smoothly for a bit, until the morgue finally showed up to retrieve Mr. Knott. My stomach turned as I watched them load him and lead him out through the dining room and into the hallway that led to the unit's locked entry doors.
     
    Betty's door was closed. The staff social worker had gone in to console her. I felt so sorry for her. I wanted to go in there and offer my condolences, but knew that would do no good. I'd already done enough damage for the day and if she had dementia and had forgotten, I didn't want to be the one to have to remind her, so I watched and listened and waited for the right time to ask the questions that I had. I had a feeling that what happened this morning would not soon be forgotten and I would be the one to bear the brunt of the storm that was sure to follow.
     
    Kathy emerged from the office, following the gurney and casually glanced my way as she and the Sheriff walked off the unit together. I'd swear she was gloating as she looked at me, but I talked myself out of it because I didn't want to make assumptions.
     
    As soon as the unit doors closed, I made eye contact with Tina and she answered the question before I could bring myself to ask."We never had a visitor die here before. I've been here almost five years and I've never seen or heard about that happening here, so I guess, they'll have to figure out some kind of plan or procedure just in case this ever happens again. I sure do feel sorry for you, though. It