Ada's Death (Cara Daniels Cozy Mystery Book 5) (4 page)

Chapter
7

Cara
pushed her self-pity aside and reached for her handbag. She left the house
through the kitchen door. She crouched next to the fence as she heard voices
coming from Ada’s side.

Maria
was saying, “I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. It was Ben’s idea really. He’s going to
phone us later to see what we think.”

Ada
added, “It’s very kind of you to take me out. I feel such a ninny for
forgetting.”

Cara
heard the sound of car doors opening and then an engine starting up. If she was
going to follow them she needed to get to her car quickly. She straightened up
and walked normally to her car. Maria reversed past her and Cara gave her and
Ada a wave as she unlocked the car.

She
gave them thirty seconds before setting off after them. She cursed herself for
not putting a tracking device on Maria’s car, Gran had plenty of them in her
office. Cara shook her head, she had no morals left. Mind you, morals didn’t
matter when you were trying to save someone’s life.

Cara
kept her distance as she followed Maria through town. It became more difficult
as Maria turned on to a quieter country road. Cara had to keep three cars back
so that she wouldn’t be spotted.

Where
were they going? Maria had said it was Ben’s idea to take Ada to this mystery
place. Cara pressed her lips together. She had her suspicions about where they
could be heading. As soon as Maria turned into the grounds of a residential
home for the elderly, Cara’s suspicions were confirmed.

“I
knew Ben was up to something,” Cara muttered to herself.

Maria
parked at the front of the car park. Cara parked at the back, under the shade
of a tree. She hoped that Maria and Ada wouldn’t look her way, she had no
excuse as to why she was here.

Cara
took out the listening device and binoculars that Gran kept under the driver’s
seat. She placed the listening device on the dashboard and switched it on.

Ada’s
voice was picked up immediately, “Maria? Is this it? I don’t understand, what
are we doing here? Are you visiting someone?”

Cara
looked through the binoculars. Maria had a tight smile on her face as she
helped Ada out of the car. Maria explained, “It’s Ben’s idea. He wanted you to
have a look around. It’s got an excellent reputation and the facilities are
amazing.”

Ada
got out of the car and clutched her handbag tighter. Cara could see her brow
wrinkling. “Why do you want me to have a look inside?”

Maria’s
forced smile looked as if it was hanging on by a thread, any moment now it
would drop. “Ben thinks you should consider something like this, for the future
of course. He’s concerned for your health, we both are. We’ve been worried
about you. You don’t sleep well and you’re becoming more and more forgetful.”

Ada
pulled her bag closer. In a quiet voice she said, “I know that, it’s a sign of getting
old, that’s all.” She looked at the building in front of her. “Maria, I don’t
want to live here, I don’t want to leave my home!”

“Oh!
I know you don’t. No one is going to force you to move. Why don’t we have a
look around seeing as we’re here. Then, when Ben phones later you can tell him
that we had a good look.”

“I’ve
a few things I’m going to say to Ben! Do we really have to go in? Will you stay
with me? Don’t leave me here on my own!”

Cara’s
heart ached at the desperation in Ada’s voice. If Maria left her in that home
Cara would break in and rescue her!

Maria
put her hand under Ada’s elbow and guided her towards the entrance. “We don’t
have to stay long. There’s free tea and biscuits.”

Ada
sniffed. “I suppose a quick look around won’t hurt. But I can tell you now that
I won’t like it! It looks more like a prison than a home.”

Maria
and Ada walked into the building. Cara didn’t hear any more from them. She was
tempted to go inside and follow them around. She had found some disguises in
Gran’s office, she should have brought some with her.

While
she was waiting Cara did an online check of the residential home. She found
many positive reviews. She whistled when she saw how much they were charging.
Ben must have a good income if he could afford that. Perhaps he was planning on
selling Ada’s house once he’d put her in the home. Cara knew from discussions
with a local estate agent how much the houses on Gran’s street were worth. The
estate agent had told her that it was a highly desirable area. And Ada did seem
to be frugal with her money, perhaps she had thousands in a savings account
somewhere.

Cara
looked towards the house. Maria and Ada were still inside. She decided to catch
up on her emails. She jumped as Robin appeared in the passenger seat.

He
shook his head and muttered darkly, “It’s a good job I have the patience of an
angel. That Nigel! Don’t get me started!”

“I
won’t,” Cara said. She put her phone down and pointed towards the residential
home. “Maria is inside with Ada. It was Ben’s idea for them to pay a visit
today.”

Robin
folded his arms. “You were right about him. Do you think he’s sneaking into
Ada’s house and moving things? He could have even employed that nurse to give
Ada some sort of hallucinatory tablet as well.”

“I’ve
known Suzanne since school, I can’t imagine her doing that. I do think that Ben
could be at Ada’s house now, moving things around. I’ll check on my
surveillance cameras later. Oh, they’re coming back out.”

Robin
laughed. “Look at Ada move! I didn’t know she could walk that fast!”

Maria
called out after Ada, “Wait for me!”

Ada
stopped at the car and pointed back towards the building. “Get me away from
this place as fast as possible! It’s like death’s waiting room in there!”

Maria
opened the car door for Ada. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know it would upset you so
much.”

Cara
felt her heart speed up. “There’s no way I’m letting Ben put Ada in that home!
How dare he? And now he’s got Maria involved in his nasty plan!”

They
heard Ada declare as the door closed, “I’d rather die than go in a place like
that.”

Maria
walked round to the driver’s side. Cara’s blood ran cold as she heard Maria
mutter under her breath, “That can be arranged, old woman.”

Chapter
8

Cara
and Robin looked at each other in stunned silence. Cara broke it by saying,
“They’re in it together!”

“Or
is it just Maria?” Robin asked.

Cara’s
hands shook as she started the engine. “I can’t believe it. Maria seems so
nice. She’s always helping Ada … oh! Last night, the soup! Maria was alone with
the soup in the kitchen, she could have added lots of salt to it.”

Robin
added, “And she could have picked up that cow-shaped gravy jug too. It was
definitely there when Ada was cooking earlier that day. She patted it and told it
she’d be using it later. Maria could have gone up to the bathroom and put it
there. Or, she could have passed a secret message to Ben to let him know she’d
planted it.”

Cara
ducked her head as Maria drove past. As she straightened up she said, “It’s all
making sense now. Maria and Ben are trying to convince Ada that she’s losing
her mind. That’s probably why Ada can’t sleep at night, despite drinking decaf
tea and coffee. Oh! Maria brought some tea and coffee for Ada today.” Cara
wagged a finger at Robin. “I bet they’re not even decaffeinated, I bet they’re
full of caffeine. No wonder Ada can’t sleep.”

Robin
pushed Cara’s wagging finger to one side. “Aren’t we going to follow them?
Maria could be taking Ada to another residential home.”

“Oh
heck, of course. Which way did they go?”

Robin
floated out of the car and into the air. Cara watched through the windscreen as
he looked left and right. He nodded and then floated back to the passenger
seat. He told Cara which road Maria was driving on. Cara smiled and said,
“You’re better than a GPS.”

“It’s
nice to be appreciated. That Nigel,” he tutted, “you probably don’t want to
know!”

Cara
pulled out of the car park. “I do want to know. It’s better to get your
complaints out in the open. Tell me everything, it’ll take my mind off the evil
Maria and Ben.”

Robin
told Cara about his dealings with Nigel. Cara listened as she drove along. At
one point she said, “He does sound a bit of an idiot.”

“A
bit!” Robin shrieked. “He treats me like some sort of angel machine. Telling me
to do this, that and the other. He never says please or thank you.”

Cara
turned right into Gran’s street. “I think I should have a word with this Nigel,
remind him how wonderful you are.”

Robin
tutted again. “You’d be better talking to a brick wall.” He looked towards
Ada’s house. “I see Maria is still here. Are you going to call on Ada?”

Cara
pulled into Gran’s drive and switched the engine off. “Not yet, I want to watch
the surveillance cameras, see what Maria does when she’s on her own with Ada.
Do you want to come with me or do you have to go back to Nigel?”

Robin
checked his watch. “I’ve got about ten minutes. I want to see what Maria is up
to as well.”

Cara
and Robin sat in front of a CCTV monitor in Gran’s office. Robin’s mood
brightened as he looked around. “I can’t believe I’m in Abigail’s office! This
is beyond awesome.”

Cara
pointed towards the monitor. “Ada’s left the room. She just said she’s going to
change out of her seaside dress. Maria’s moving to the kitchen, she’s making a
cup of tea. Look at her face! What a sneaky look.”

Robin
shivered. “That’s the face of evil. I don’t like this, Cara. Go in and stop
her.”

“Not
yet, I need more evidence. What’s Maria doing now? She’s near the noticeboard.
She’s taking down some of the notices. No wonder Ada keeps forgetting that
people are coming round.” Cara shook her head. “Now look at her, putting knives
and forks in her bag. She’s even putting a pint of milk in there!”

Robin
covered his eyes. “Make her stop! Poor Ada, I can just imagine her sweet face
crumpling up later when she’s looking for those items.”

Cara
touched Robin on the arm. “Keep looking with me, I don’t want to think I’m
imagining this. Look, Ada’s returned to the kitchen. Maria’s passing her that
cup of tea.”

“Don’t
drink it!” Robin shouted.

Cara’s
eyes narrowed. “Where’s Maria going now? To the bathroom. Why does she need to
take her bag? Oh, of course. To plant the items she’s taken from the kitchen.”
Cara looked at Robin. “Imagine if that was you or me. You would think you were
going mad if that started happening. It wouldn’t take long before you’d think
you were a danger to yourself.”

Maria
returned to the kitchen. Cara turned up the speakers so they could hear better.
Maria sat opposite Ada and said, “I’ve just spoken to Ben.”

“Liar,”
Robin said.

Maria
went on, “He understands that you don’t want to move away from this lovely
house.” Maria gave Ada a loving look. Cara’s stomach heaved. “Ben wants you to
reconsider moving. He’s worried that you might hurt yourself soon. He mentioned
the soup last night. If you were on your own you could end up poisoning
yourself.”

Ada
put her cup down. Even though she was a small image on the screen, Cara could
see how her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Ada said, “Perhaps you’re right.
I’ve been kidding myself that I’m okay. No one wants to admit that they’re
losing their mind.”

Maria
pointed to Ada’s cup. “Oh, I haven’t put any milk in.” She stood up.

Ada
said, “There’s a new carton in the fridge. I got it yesterday.”

Maria
pulled the fridge door open wide, her eyebrows rose in mock surprise. “Ada,
there isn’t any milk here. Are you sure you bought some?”

Ada
looked at the fridge and burst into tears.

Maria
rushed to her side and put her arm around Ada’s shaking shoulders. “It’s okay.
You’re going to be okay. Leave everything to me.”

Cara
slammed her fist on the table. “Enough! Look at what she’s doing to Ada! I’m
going round there. Robin, are you coming with me?”

He
gave her a panic-filled look. “I can’t! Nigel needs me urgently. I have to go.
Cara, stop Ada from getting hurt!”

“I
intend to.” Cara stood up and marched out of the house. She flung open the
fence gate and rapped on Ada’s door.

Maria
answered it. She gave Cara a cool look. “Yes?”

“I
want to see Ada,” Cara declared, forcing a smile on to her face.

Maria
closed the door slightly. “You can’t. We’re in the middle of a family
discussion.” She looked Cara up and down. “And you’re not family.”

“I’m
better than family, I’m a friend!” Cara was unable to keep the anger out of her
voice.

Ada
called out, “Is that Cara? Let her in, I want to see her.”

Maria
opened the door and hissed at Cara, “Don’t you be upsetting her.”

Cara
pressed her lips together to stop the rant of abuse that she was ready to fling
at Maria. She walked into the kitchen and over to Ada. “Ada, are you okay? Have
you been crying?”

Ada
sniffed and tried to smile. “I’m just being silly. Maria took me to a lovely
residential home today. Do you want to hear all about it?”

“I’d
love to,” Cara replied. She could feel the daggers of hate coming from Maria
who was standing next to the kitchen door. “But first, I’d love a cup of tea.
I’ll make it myself. You don’t mind if I have a decaf one, do you Ada?”

“Not
at all. I wasn’t sure I’d take to them at first, they taste just like normal tea
bags.”

Maria
moved towards the tea bag container at the same time as Cara. Cara was prepared
and she got there first. She whipped the container off the counter and held it
close to her chest. Maria threw her a dirty look and moved away.

Cara
soon had a cup of tea ready. She had drunk more than enough decaf tea to know
that these weren’t the decaffeinated variety. The tea actually tasted too
strong. Cara said to Ada, “I don’t think these are decaf. Where did you get
them from? Have you still got the box?”

Maria
said, “I have to phone Ben. Excuse me.” She walked into the living room.

Ada
said, “Maria buys the tea and coffee for me. She’s so good to me, I don’t know
what I do without her.”

Cara
wasn’t able to swallow the tea that was in her throat as a big lump of fear had
lodged itself there. How was she going to tell Ada what Maria and Ben were up
to?