Abandoned in Death (In Death, #54)(55)

Took the team out to celebrate, she thought. Like family. Not a one-off with that. As head of the department, he took out his team regularly, she’d bet on it.

Maybe most often in the area around the firm, but wouldn’t he branch out? His own neighborhood—which included Arnold’s and Mike’s Place, Stoner’s.

She hadn’t asked about a man of his age coming in with a group rather than solo. She’d rectify that.

He could have seen Hobe that way, noticed her, fixed on her. The same with Elder.

Took care of his mother, she thought as she got up to pace. Brought her to New York to live with him after she was widowed. Set her up in a facility for elder care …

She sat again, searched for data on the facility.

Expensive. She could see that just from the photos. Round-the-clock professional care—body, mind, spirit, they claimed. Gardens, recreation area, therapists, nutritionist.

She scanned the options for apartments.

Okay, he hadn’t cheaped out on taking care of Mommy—and for a dozen years.

She considered the drive time to Long Island, and decided to take a chance over the ’link first.

She got the initial and expected runaround, but eventually pushed her way to the director.

“Elise Grommet. How may I assist you, Lieutenant Dallas?”

“I’m investigating a homicide and the abductions of two women. I’d like to have some basic information on a former resident-patient.”

“Former?”

“She died last February. Adalaide Mosebly.”

“I see. You realize privacy laws—”

“She’s dead, and I’m not going to ask, at this time, about treatments. It would be helpful to my investigation to know her basic condition upon admission, her cause of death.”

“I can tell you Mrs. Mosebly died of heart failure.”

“She had a heart condition?”

“No, Lieutenant, her heart simply stopped beating. She was a hundred and six. She hadn’t left the grounds for more than ten years, and, given this, I can’t see how she could have anything to do with your investigation.”

“Was she healthy otherwise? It seems like she was in your facility for a lot of years.”

“We have many residents who remain at Suskind Home for that long, and longer.”

“Why? That’s not a privacy violation, it’s a basic question. Why would someone remain in your facility for a decade or more?”

Grommet had what Eve thought of as a prim sort of mouth. Small, habitually pressed so it poked out a little.

It poked out now.

“There are many reasons. The individual may no longer wish to or be capable of living alone.”

“What if they weren’t living alone? If they lived with a family member before coming to you?”

“It may be the family member no longer felt able to provide the necessary care and attention required. We provide both.”

“At a price—that’s not a dig. I’ve got your website up, and you have what looks like an expansive, well-run facility. But it has to be less costly to, say, hire a health aide or companion. Did Mrs. Mosebly require more than that?”

“Lieutenant—”

“Two women are being held against their will. He’s killed once, and will again. I need to pursue every angle available to me to save them. What you tell me may help me do that.”

After a long pause, Grommet cleared her throat. “I’m speaking in generalities, you understand? Explaining as I might to anyone inquiring about trusting us with a loved one. We are fully staffed with skilled and caring professionals. When you can no longer care for a loved one, and home help is no longer an option, we offer a safe place, a loving place, a professional place to treat cruel conditions such as advanced dementia, which often includes paranoia and violent outbursts. A loved one may no longer recognize you and become agitated and distressed. We treat both the condition and the individual, and are dedicated to helping them feel safe.”

“Okay. Under those general conditions, would a loved one be allowed or advised to visit?”

“Of course. We also offer individual therapy and can recommend groups for those family members who are dealing with the pain and frustration of having a loved one who no longer recognizes them, who can’t remember, or only sporadically remembers the life they had together.

“I’ll add, as I can’t see it infringes, that Mrs. Mosebly was very fortunate to have a loving, devoted son. She was well loved by him, and by our caregivers here.”

“Thanks.”

“If you want more it will require a warrant, and our legal team will vet same.”

“Understood. Thank you.”

“I hope you find the women you’re looking for.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

Eve clicked off, then sat back to study her board.

A devoted son. A mother who no longer knew him, so no longer loved him. That could mess you up, couldn’t it? Then she dies on you.

Maybe you want to bring her back, and bring her back when she’s young and vital—as you see it.

It could play.





12





She pulled up a map, began to highlight the buildings on Roarke’s list. Mosebly’s residence—a semidetached townhome, two-story with full basement—fit right in. She might have wished for fully detached, and/or a garage, but it still worked.