Reality Check 10

"Yvette is terrified," said the young, female, security guard trainee who was standing in the doorway to the dining room with the security guard, watching the police officer questioning Yvette. "Interrogating her about Amos, does not seem fair."

"She may be the only one who knows anything about where he went. The police have spoken to almost everyone in this place and nobody seems to know his whereabouts," he replied quietly.

He realized that the security guards should have immediately picked up on him leaving. If his family were to become involved, their recent security lapse could cost the retirement home thousands of dollars in a lawsuit.

"Residents cannot simply disappear!"

"We will know where he went shortly, as the Spanish interpreter has just arrived." 

The police had alerted the security guard and she was coming and was told to allow her into the dining room, as soon as she arrived. All other visitors were prohibited for the time being.

Yvette saw her walk into the dining room and started to sob uncontrollably.

The interpreter quietly asked the police officer to leave them alone for awhile and assured them that she would have some answers for them, as soon as possible.

"You had better get concrete answers immediately, or we are taking her down to headquarters!"

"That police officer is so intimidating!" said the trainee. "There is no need for that kind of bullying."

"Just doing my job," explained the officer, as he walked past them. "Don't let her out of your sight, as she may run too."

"Run?" asked the security guard. "That woman has difficulty walking because of her arthritis. I doubt that she would run anywhere."

"Something is fishy around here," suggested the police officer, under his breath. "She might just try to disappear."

"Relax," replied the security guard. "Let's get a cup of coffee."

They headed for the coffee room, while the young trainee stayed at the dining room door.

"All Yvette wants to do is go to her room and lie down," the interpreter suggested to her, moments later. "May I take her there?"

"Yes, of course," replied the young trainee. "I can stay there with you, just as easily as here."

"She does not need a security guard," suggested the interpreter.

"I know," replied the trainee. "I am just doing my job. Be gentle with her."

The police officer was furious, when he returned with the security guard and found that they had all left the dining room. He started to swear.

"Keep your head on straight," suggested the security guard. "They cannot have gone very far. I can pick them up on the monitor."

Moments later, they spotted Yvette and the interpreter in the hallway, heading into her room. The young trainee stood guard outside the door.

"If Yvette bolts, we will have to take her in," said the police officer.

"Let's give them some time together. These folks are all seniors, remember? It is not Yvette who is the problem, and I do know that you need answers. We do too, but getting them here is like slow motion in reverse and slow, slow and slower."

"Yvette and Amos may be in a conspiracy together."

"I doubt it."

A while later, the interpreter came out of the room, and suggested to the security guard trainee that Yvette should see the doctor as soon as possible.

"I can arrange that. May I ask why?"

"It appears Yvette and Amos have been on the same heart medication and that he had coerced her into giving him her medication for the past week or so."

"That may be a good thing for Amos," commented the doctor, when he arrived. "If Yvette is alright, that is."

The security guard checked the videos again and sure enough, Yvette was handing Amos something in the dining room, every day for a week.

The doctor insisted that Yvette was probably going to be fine, although the stress she was under was not good for her heart. The interpreter could stay with her, but she was not allowed to any further questions, at least for the time being. The nurse agreed to check in on her regularly.

"That is one problem solved," suggested the police officer. "I guess if Amos is absent for longer than a week, he will need to find some heart medication somewhere."

The police officer decided to allow normal resumption of the retirement home activity, with the security guards placed on alert.

"Thank God," said the nurse to the matron.

"Our residents and especially night owls need their freedom, as well as their visitors. Lock down of the retirement home could have had serious implications for our reputation," responded the matron.

Before she left, the nurse checked on Yvette again and she seemed to be fine.

The interpreter who was still sitting with her, confided to her that Yvette had been afraid of Amos, and had told her that he needed to take care of some urgent family matters, but did not say where he was going.

"She may still know, but if she does, she is protecting him."

"Probably," replied the nurse.

As she was preparing to leave, the nurse thought to herself, "Maybe I should become an interpreter. She has a much easier job and gets paid double what I do. The residents treat her like a Greek goddess, while I am nothing more than a Cinderella to many of them...but of course, not to Ralph."

Ralph smiled at her, wondering what she was thinking, as he walked her to the front door.

"You are my princess," he thought to himself.