Mal Provent was the administrator, and once he heard why we were there, he was eager to see us out. “What happened with Mrs. Goode was a tragedy, but we’re not liable in any way. If Jerry Goode hired you to investigate us, then you can just get out now.”
Tinkie shook her head. Irate bureaucrats were her specialty. “We’re here to help you, Mr. Provent.” She could lie with the best of them when necessary.
“Help me? How?”
“A lot of strange and … untoward things have been happening in Columbus. It’s possible Mrs. Goode’s death is somehow linked.”
“Things outside the home here? Is there a connection to Mrs. Goode?” He was definitely interested. If he was a rat, he was sniffing the cheese.
“That’s right, things outside the home. And there could be a link. We’re examining it. Look on us as your advocates.” She smiled and held him firmly in her blue gaze.
That was stretching a point. I saved him from her mesmerizing stare. “We’re more interested in the sitter who was supposed to be attending Mrs. Goode. I understand that her grandson had contracted with an outside nursing service to provide daily visits and professional care. Does the care center have an arrangement with Bricey Presley for additional care, such as when a patient needs a private sitter?”
“Not an arrangement so much as an accommodation. As you’re undoubtedly aware, no care facility can provide full-time nursing to seriously ill patients, and Mrs. Goode was a very sick woman. We have a ratio of four patients per nurse, but if a patient is critically sick, it’s incumbent on the patient’s family to make arrangements for private nursing. To that end, we allow Ms. Presley to send nurses into Supporting Arms to supplement the care we normally give. Ms. Presley was responsible for hiring, vetting, and managing the nurses she sent in here.” He wanted to go on, but he stopped himself.
“What happened with Mrs. Goode?” I knew he wouldn’t answer, but it was worth a try.
“She was old and sick. That’s what happens to people in their eighties. Death is a natural result of old age.”
“I’m afraid we need more specifics.” I pressed for details.
“She was prone to throw blood clots. One hit her lungs and killed her.”
“She was supposed to have a private nurse with her.” Tinkie said.
“Her grandson had made arrangements with Ms. Presley’s care service. Yes, Mr. Goode had hired someone to be at his grandmother’s bedside.”
“But no one was there,” Tinkie said gently.
“That’s accurate. Since the arrangement for private nursing is between the patient, the patient’s family, and Ms. Presley’s service, Supporting Arms was not involved in any way.”
Easy to say, but perhaps not so supportable in court. “Mr. Goode is upset.” I put that out there. “Is Jerry Goode suing the care center?”
Provent’s cheeks had reddened. “No, the last I heard, he’s thinking about suing Ms. Presley.” He was clearly uncomfortable. “Now I have work to do.”
“Do all of the old and sick patients hire special sitters?” Tinkie asked. “I would think that folks here pay, what? Maybe three grand a month for care?”
“Please leave.” He was done even pretending to be helpful.
“We’ll be in touch,” I said as we left. When we were outside, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed a drink. A stiff one. Death waited for all of us, that was a fact. But it was hard to look it in the face.
“Places like that upset me,” Tinkie said.
“Me, too. Nothing looked wrong. Everything looked very clean and all. It’s just that we have a society where folks don’t have time to stay home to care for the elderly. Old people end up in a facility being cared for by strangers. It’s the best solution sometimes, I know that.” I had not been home to tend to Aunt Loulane when she fell ill. She hadn’t told me she was sick, and I was trying for a stage career in New York. She was dying before I even knew something was wrong. It still bothered me that I hadn’t been there for her until the very last. “Everyone works all the time to make ends meet.”
Tinkie sighed. “You know my mother and I aren’t close.”
That was an understatement. Tinkie’s parents traveled all the time. It was my understanding they were in Rome at the moment. Or maybe it was Paris, for the Christmas holidays. They were never in Mississippi, and that suited Tinkie and Oscar just fine.
“Your mother has a very active life. She’s lucky to be able to travel so much,” I said, struggling to find something to say that didn’t sound mean. I didn’t really know Tinkie’s mother. I didn’t know the dynamics of that relationship. I knew Tink was much closer to her father, but that was about the sum of my knowledge. And I didn’t want to step on anyone’s feelings.
“I’ve thought about this.” Tinkie wasn’t going to let it go. “I have the luxury of the option of in-home care for my folks, when that time comes.” Her forehead was drawn in thought. “But I know I should care for them myself.”
“You have a big home and money for private nurses. They will not be neglected.” I agreed with her. “But that decision is a long time off, Tinkie. Let’s not borrow trouble.”
“I guess with the baby coming and all, I just want to cocoon myself in with Oscar and my friends. I know that sounds selfish.”
“Not in the least.” Whatever Tinkie decided when the time came, I had no doubt that Mr. and Mrs. Bellcase would have the best of care, with Tinkie at their side as much as possible.
“Where to next?” she asked.
I had my phone out and was getting ready to call for another Uber. “Jerry Goode. We need to talk to him.”
It took only five minutes to
