“Are you sure you didn’t just misplace it, Mrs Colden,” Rose said glancing up for a moment, before going back to tapping away.
Sighing to herself, Beryl donned the smile she'd been putting on for years. “Yes, Rose I’m sure. My necklace is missing, I think somebody took it from my room. Can you please help me find it, It’s very important to me,” she pleaded. All that met her request were empty, hollow eyes, with almost a hint of disdain in them.
“I’m very busy Mrs Colden. Don’t worry I’m sure you’ll find it eventually, you probably just forgot where you put it,” Rose said curtly waving her hand.
“Ok ok, sorry for bothering you Rose,” Beryl said sweetly, bouncing her head absently as she shuffled away from the desk. With her back to the rude young woman, a tinge of annoyance replaced the sweet smile. “Ugh, what a disrespectful brat,” she thought. “Misplaced it did I, think I’m going senile do ya.”
Muttering to herself, Beryl collapsed into one of the thinly padded seats that were oh-so-common at the retirement home. Her weary bones groaned in protest at the injustice, causing her wrinkled skin to contort into a frown.
“Damn cheapskates, can’t even give us some good chairs,” she thought.
The Golden Oak Retirement Home sounded lovely on paper, hell it was lovely for your first few weeks. Everyone would smile, and help you as best they could. Made you feel like you mattered in a time when everything was alien and uncertain. But after that, well, you were just another old sack of bones to milk for all they're worth. Nothing they could do anyway, families that never visited were regular. No one to complain to then, not that they’d believe them anyway.
Drumming her hand on the table, Beryl tried to think who could have had the chance to steal her necklace. A staff member was the obvious choice. One of the nurses with stick fingers maybe, Anna always had a suspicious air about her. Rose on the other hand wouldn’t have the attention span to do something like that, just seeing her without a screen in her hands was a miracle. Beryl wasn’t familiar with any of the other nurses, so she couldn’t say anything about them. The other staff were as forgettable as could be, merely shadowy figures in the hallways never meeting your eyes. A cleaner would have the chance, alone time in her room away from prying eyes.
“Ughhh, this is the worst,” she complained. Her mind was going in circles, one thought going to the next. So much so that she didn’t notice the figure approaching her table until it was bloating out the warm sunlight shining through the window.
“Ah Mrs Colden, how are you feeling today,” a warm voice said, its owner wearing a pristine white coat.
“Dr Whitmore, to what do I own the pleasure,” Beryl said freeing herself from the thoughts. A chill ran through her as her once warm seat was plunged into shadow.
“Just doing the rounds Mrs Colden, nothing to worry about,” Dr Whitmore said. “Mr Drew had an unfortunate fall last night, nearly broke his hip and had to be rushed to hospital.” Looking off into the distance, he seemed to try to recall something. “Said someone was in his room, laughing at him if you could believe it. All nonsense of course, no one was in his room, all his windows were locked and the orderly said it was all quiet when he got there.” Shaking his head, his eyes refocused.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Oh really?” Beryl said, her interest piqued. “Did Martin say anything else, perhaps anything missing from his room?”
“Hmmm, he might have mentioned something. I can’t quite remember what the incident report said, but he could have said that. Uhhhh, let me think, maybe a war medal went missing. No not a medal, a ring. His wedding ring,” Dr Whitmore said snapping his fingers. “Yes, that’s what it was. Raving on about someone stealing his wedding ring didn’t make any sense.”
“How interesting,” Beryl said smiling to herself.
“Anyway, enjoy your day Mrs Colden,” Dr Whitmore said, his long legs whisking him away in a flash. Watching him go, Beryl couldn’t help but feel a flash of disdain for the man. Of all the staff members, he was one of the worst. A cold-hearted man hiding behind a mask of kindness and sincerity. She saw him for what he truly was, but he was good at his job and he never messed around.
“Martin Drew and a ring. It seems we have a thief in our midst,” Beryl chuckled. If the staff wouldn’t listen, well then she’d just have to figure it out herself then wouldn’t she. Smiling giddily, her body felt 10 years younger at the thought of solving the crime. Oh, some excitement would do her good, shake off the boredom that was calcifying her mind from being stuck in this place.
Stretching her weary bones, a series of pops and cracks echoed out from inside her causing her to smile. “Where should I start,” she wondered before a loud smack caused her to gasp. A large book had slammed down onto the table, a large grinning face peering down at her.
“Margret you menace,” Beryl grumbled at the newcomer who had already sat down across from her. “Could have given me a heart attack.”
“Oh please Beryl, you’re so melodramatic,” Margret replied, shaking her head. “Did you hear what happened to Martin?”
Rolling her eyes, Beryl looked at her fellow inmate of Golden Oak’s. Time had been kinder to Margret than her, and even in her 80s, she had a youthful glow about her. “I did hear,” she said thinking. “Dr Whitmore was just here telling me about it, crazy right? Especially what he was saying about the thief.”
“Thief? I didn’t hear about this, do tell,” Margret said intrigued. Gossip was one of the most important currencies in the retirement home “Oh come on Beryl, don’t hold out on me now. Spill it.”
“Apparently someone was stealing something from his room when he took the tumble. No one believes him though,” Beryl said, baiting the hook with something Margret couldn’t resist.
“Stealing? Stealing what?” she asked, her eyes wide. “You make it sound like you believe him?”
“Someone was trying to grab his wedding ring,” Beryl said, before leaning forward. “And I believe him because my necklace was also stolen,” she whispered. “And I’m going to find out who did it.”
“Oooo a mystery, just like my novels,” Margret said, her eyes shining. “You simply must let me help you, it’s so boring now that my kids don’t visit anymore.”
“Hmmm, I guess you would be helpful in my quest for retribution,” Beryl said drumming her fingers on the table. “I shall name you my deputy, Margret.”
“Oh, how fun, I can’t wait. Maybe I’ll even write a mystery about this,” Margret gushed.
Beryl couldn’t help but smile, Margret’s energy too infectious. Maybe this would be fun, but honestly, she just wanted to get her necklace back. Anything aside from that would just be extras.
“Well we have to figure out where to start,” Beryl said standing. “Examine the scene of the crime, see if there are any clues.”
“Sounds good Detective Colden,” Margret said, standing as well. “Should we start with your room first?”
“Of course. Let's get this sucker.”
Just as they were about to leave, loud shouts echoed out of the hallway as people rushed into the common room. A bed holding a groaning figure was rushed along, surrounded by orderlies and nurses.
“I SAW IT I SAW IT!” a voice shouted from the bed, the figure in the bed writhing about. “YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME PLEASE!” he continued to rave, his eyes alight with a tinge of madness. "IT LAUGHED, IT LAUGHED AT ME! ITS TWISTED SMILE IS BURNT INTO MY MIND! KILL IT, YOU MUST KILL IT!."
"Give him 10 cc's of Rohypnol now, he's hurting himself!" one of the nurses yelled frantically.
Beryl and Margret shared a look as the room burst into gossip and murmurs. “Well, that certainly needs investigating."