The Other Lady Vanishes (Burning Cove #2)(83)

“Looks like a movie set for a horror film,” he said.

“According to the Duchess, the house has a very odd history,” Adelaide said, trying to distract herself with facts. “It was built by a man who made a fortune in oil. He set out to construct a Gothic castle that he thought would please his East Coast bride. The story is that when she saw it for the first time on her honeymoon, she was horrified. She announced that she would never live in such an ugly place. There was a quarrel. The husband went mad and pushed his bride out one of the tower room windows. She was killed, of course.”

“Just like Ormsby,” Jake said.

Adelaide looked at him. “Yes, just like Ormsby.”

“I can see someone inside the guardhouse at the front gate.”

“That will be Oscar,” Adelaide said. “He works the night shift. The day man, Pete, won’t arrive until seven.”

“Not a lot of security for a secret drug manufacturing facility.”

“I don’t think there was much need for security, at least not until recently. Most people aren’t even aware that Rushbrook exists. There are two orderlies on every floor and they are all hired for their muscle. But I’m quite sure they aren’t involved in the drug ring.”

“What makes you so certain?”

“For the simple reason that none of them is getting rich,” Adelaide said. “They grumble constantly about the low pay. The only real security is on ward five, where the most insane patients are housed. That ward is locked twenty-four hours a day. The entrance to the tower room lab is on that floor.”

“You said you know where the keys are kept.”

“Yes. They are in Gill’s office on the second floor.”

“But you think the files we want are kept upstairs in the lab.”

“That’s where they were when I was—” She broke off because she refused to label herself a patient. “When I was here.”

“You mean when you were involuntarily in residence?” Jake asked with a wry smile.

For some reason the grim attempt at humor buoyed her spirits.

“Yes,” she said.

“But you escaped,” he said. “Don’t ever forget that. You saved yourself.”

She took a breath. “Right. I escaped. So, how do we do this?”

“The easy way. We walk through the front door.”

They got out of the car. Jake paused to put on his coat and collect an official-looking briefcase from the trunk of the car.

They went toward the guardhouse. A stocky man with thinning red hair peered out at them. He glanced briefly at Adelaide, started to switch his attention to Jake, hesitated, and then looked back at Adelaide. His eyes widened in astonishment.

“Adelaide? Mrs. Massey? Is that you?”

“Hello, Oscar.”

“I was afraid Dr. Gill would find you,” Oscar said. He glared at Jake. “Are you the hired gun Gill sent to track down Mrs. Massey? You ought to be ashamed of yourself. She doesn’t belong in this place.”

“I agree. I’m Jake Truett. You could call me a hired gun but I’m working for Adelaide, not Gill. And by the way, she isn’t Mrs. Massey. Her last name is Blake.”

Oscar looked skeptical. He turned to Adelaide. “That true?”

“Yes, it is,” Adelaide said. “I was never married.”

“Dr. Gill said—”

“Dr. Gill lied,” Adelaide said. “The only reason I’m here now is because I left something behind. I came back to get it. Mr. Truett accompanied me to make sure I don’t have any problems with Gill.”

Oscar grunted. “No need to worry about running into Gill. He’s off on a fishing trip. He’s not due back until the end of the week.”

“So you haven’t seen Gill recently?” Jake asked.

“Not since he took off in his old Ford. Heard he left his sharp new Lincoln behind. It’s in the garage at his house. He told someone he didn’t want to get it muddy on the back roads in the mountains.”

“Who did Gill put in charge of the sanitarium while he’s out of town?” Adelaide asked.

“That’s the weird thing—he didn’t leave anyone in charge. He just took off real sudden like. Nurse Conner is looking after things.” Oscar glanced at his watch. “But it’s just going on five thirty. She won’t arrive until eight o’clock.”

“That means we’ll be dealing with the orderlies,” Adelaide said. She gave Oscar a bright smile. “I don’t think Mr. Truett will have any problem handling them.”

Oscar eyed Jake with a considering look. “Not sure what’s going on here, but if you’re a friend of Adelaide’s, I can give you some advice that might save you a whole lot of trouble.”

“I’m always open to good advice,” Jake said.

“If any of the orderlies tries to make trouble for you, just slip him ten or twenty bucks. That will make him look the other way.”

“Thanks for the tip,” Jake said. He took out his wallet and removed some bills. “Sound advice is worth a lot to me.”

Oscar raised his bushy brows and palmed the money. “Not necessary. Happy to help out Mrs. Massey—I mean, Adelaide. But thanks. I can buy that new radio Nancy’s been wanting. We get a real chuckle out of that Fibber McGee and Molly show and we never miss The Shadow.”