Chapter Thirty-Six
THE RIDE TO LONGVIEW WAS insufferably long. With the lack of knowledge about Nora’s location or Mrs. Reed’s scheme, all they could do was toss around ideas as likely to succeed as a fish climbing a tree. Ezekiel’s teeth were near cracking from the tension in his jaw.
“I still say our best bet is to break her out.” Miss Plane cradled a suspiciously large reticule on her lap. When questioned about its contents, she’d claimed it contained necessities.
“We must stay within the confines of the law.” Detective Hall scowled at her from around Miss Pelton’s place on his lap. He’d begrudgingly allowed the breach in propriety, given the cramped space and urgency of their departure. “Turning Nora into a fugitive isn’t the answer.”
“It is if it will save her life.”
“We don’t know if Mrs. Reed’s plan is to kill her.”
“Kill, maim, or torture, it doesn’t matter. She needs out,” Miss Pelton argued.
By the time they arrived at Longview, the only plan they agreed on was convincing Nurse Abbott to allow them to visit Nora. From there, it would depend on what they discovered.
Nurse Abbott rose from her desk at their entrance. “Mr. Beaumont, you’re early . . . and you brought friends.”
Miss Plane jutted out a hand. “Hi, I’m Theresa Plane. We’re here to visit Nora.”
Sympathy softened the aging lines of Nurse Abbott’s face.
“I’m sorry, dears, but she’s not allowed visitors, and even if she were, there are too many of you.
It would not do to cause her cerebral excitement.
She hasn’t experienced any paroxysms since her arrival, but she still could.
” Her gaze shifted to Ezekiel. “I was sorry to see her admitted. It can’t be easy to have your mother and your fiancée here. ”
The looks Nora’s friends sent him danced between surprise, pleasure, and one he was quite sure meant a maelstrom of questions and censure. Even Detective Hall arched a brow.
Nurse Abbott continued, oblivious to the disconcertion she’d stirred. “I thought you’d like to know how Miss Davis fared, so I checked on her this morning.”
He’d always liked Nurse Abbott. Maybe he could lean into her sympathies to find a way to help Nora. “Thank you. I haven’t stopped worrying about her since I heard the news. Is she still in isolation?”
“She’s been transferred to a regular room. She and your mother were sitting together in the dayroom when I last saw them.”
His next breath came easier. Ma may not be much help if Mrs. Reed intended danger, but at least Nora wasn’t alone.
Nurse Abbott glanced at the others, then pulled him aside. “I shouldn’t be doing this, but Miss Davis wanted me to pass a message to you. I’m afraid she believes the man her mother attacked last week is the same man Miss Davis attacked Friday.”
Ezekiel stiffened. Adler had been here? “Were there any witnesses to this attack?”
“Several nurses, orderlies, and patients. They all confirmed it was unprovoked.”
“Detective Hall, come here.” Maybe this would be the proof they needed to get Nora released. “Detective Hall is here on police business. He’s investigating the incident that brought Nora here. Can you share with him what you told me?”
As Nurse Abbott finished, Detective Hall turned to a new page of his notebook. “Can you provide me a list of the witnesses?”
Nurse Abbott frowned. “What has Mrs. Davis’s attack to do with Miss Davis?”
“I’m afraid Miss Davis’s case is more complex than a bout of hysteria. A witness can confirm whether the attacked man is the same one lying in the hospital. I also need to question Mrs. and Miss Davis about the details surrounding their attacks. Today. It cannot wait.”
Miss Pelton, flanked by Miss Plane and Miss Gibson and their suspiciously eager grins, interrupted the conversation. “Would it be possible for us to have a tour? It would help us feel better about Nora’s comfort and care.”
Poor Nurse Abbott. Her confliction about who and what to answer showed in her wringing hands. “I suppose a short tour can be arranged, but any interviews must be approved by Dr. Chalfant first. His secretary can make you an appointment.”
“Thank you. We’ll visit his office after the tour.”
Her resigned sigh accompanied her waving over a second nurse to manage the desk.
She skipped most of the normal tour and took them directly to the fourth floor.
She showed them the dining room, staff and patient bedrooms, a sitting room, and the library.
While she’d shown them each of the other rooms, she merely gestured toward the dayroom before moving on.
Miss Plane stopped and rested a hand on the doorknob. “So Nora’s in here?”
Nurse Abbott rushed back and shooed Miss Plane away. “Yes, but seeing you might excite her too much, so we’ll have to leave it unvisited.”
Miss Gibson was quick to slide in from the other side and twist the knob. “What if you crack the door and we peek through?”
Nurse Abbott yanked Miss Gibson’s hand free and scowled. “No. It isn’t wise.”
If they didn’t stop this game, Nurse Abbott would kick them out.
“Please.” Miss Pelton clasped her hands beneath her chin.
“You don’t understand our anguish in knowing she’s suffering.
She’s like a sister to us. Until I see her with my own eyes, the image in my head of her broken, lonely, and crying will haunt me.
” She covered her mouth to muffle her shuddering breath.
By Detective Hall’s annoyed look, Miss Pelton must be performing. If her career as a novelist ever failed, she could take up acting on a stage.
“We promise to be quiet. She won’t even know we’ve peeked.” Miss Plane added her own pleas.
Nurse Abbott looked at Ezekiel like she expected him to speak sense into these women, but if they were breaking down her defenses, he was happy to assist. “It would do my heart good to see her and Ma together. Maybe we can ascertain if her presence makes Ma happy.”
Her shoulders sagged and chin dipped as the rest of her defenses fell away. “One peek.” She turned the knob, then frowned. She tried again to no avail.
“Is something the matter?” Ezekiel asked.
“We don’t lock the doors unless absolutely necessary. It’s a fire precaution.” She knocked on the door. “It’s Nurse Abbott. Is everything all right?”
Someone screamed for help.
Ezekiel’s stomach dropped to the floor. Was that Nora?
Nurse Abbott fumbled with her keys, but the key wouldn’t fit into the slot. “Something is jammed into the hole. I can’t get the door unlocked.”
A jumble of sounds and more screams indicated a struggle was occurring.
“Move aside.” Ezekiel rammed the door.
“Don’t waste your energy. Look. The door opens outward.” Miss Plane dropped to her knees and dumped her oversize reticule. “We’ll have more luck taking the door off the hinges.”
“Those were your necessities?” Ezekiel stared at the odd assortment of tools on the floor.
“You might not have planned to break Nora out, but I certainly did.” She pried the chisel between the hinge’s pin and the barrel, then struck it with a small hammer.
Poor Nurse Abbott looked torn between relief and horror.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” Detective Hall plucked a screwdriver from the random assortment. “I’ll get the top loose. You get the middle.”
Ezekiel gripped the pin with pliers and wiggled it free.
A blood-curdling scream erupted from inside.