Page 18 of Death on Riddle Road
“Then, we heard Dova calling his name from way down the hall.And that was loud, too.A few people were looking out doors.Not like the patients, but family, I guess, because they were wearing regular clothes.And the woman kept saying to calm down — that was the woman saying she was in charge, not the woman blocking the door.The woman blocking the door didn’t say anything, exceptNoandNo one’s going in.
“By then, Dova was there, too.She yelled for them to leave Robbie alone.They were all trying to calm her down, except the one in front of the door.And then the woman who said she was in charge said we should all go to her office and wait for law enforcement.Dova spun around on her with a face like I’ve never seen and said what right did she have to bring law enforcement in.Robbie had told me how they both felt about that — law enforcement — but I hadn’t seen it before.But I understand,” she said quickly, “because of what the deputies and judges and everybody did to them.”
She sucked in several deep breaths, seeming to calm herself while replenishing her oxygen.
I urged her on.“What happened next?”
“That woman in front of the door said something about there being no choice about involving the authorities when the death wasn’t natural.”
I jumped in.“How did everyone react to that?”
“Everybody gasped.Me, too.”
“Did anyone say anything specific?”
“Only that woman in charge, who said the one by the door should shut up.And like I said, Dova was upset at them for calling Robbie and she was telling him she’d take care of everything and he should leave.And then he was.”
After a beat of silence, Clara and I glanced at each other.She said what we were both thinking.“He was what?”
“Calm.And leaving.I had to run after him, because I didn’t realize right away that he was leaving.But I sure didn’t want to staytherewithout him.And then we were back in the car and I was crying and I didn’t know what to say to him or what to do except be with him.But he was completely calm then.Drove right back to his house and went inside.I thought...I don’t know what I thought.I waited a couple minutes, then followed him and here he was, coming out.He said I should go home, but no way was I leaving him.I had to run to get back in the car in time.He didn’t say anything and it felt like he didn’t even know I was there, so I kept quiet.”
She gave a loud sniffle.The pause that followed lengthened to the point it seemed she was done talking.
“And then?”
Clara’s question restarted her.“He drove and drove.”
“Where to?”
“It didn’t seem like he meant to go anywhere at first.And he wouldn’t talk.Eventually, he pulled into the park, the one they call the Cliffs, and he practically ran — like he was being chased—”
He might have felt that way, too.Chased by circumstances of his life completely out of his control.Poor kid.
“—and I went after him.But I couldn’t keep up.I was scared I wouldn’t find him.But finally, there he was.”Another loud sniffle, then a gulp.But what followed was prosaic.“After a while, he went back to the car and drove to his house.Dova was there by then and I was supposed to be here to help Gramps.Plus, Dova came right out and asked me to leave them alone.”She chewed on her lip between words.“It was...It was sostrange.Robbie wasn’t like himself and she wasn’t, either, and I’d never seen the two of them so...silent.”She looked away.“I guess I could have stayed.To be with Robbie.But he didn’t say anything, so I...I just left.”
“You did what Dova asked you to, Mamie,” Clara assured her.“What did you do then?”
“I went to Shep’s.To get something to eat, because I hadn’t had anything and maybe it’s wrong but I was so hungry.Plus, I needed to bring Gramps something for his lunch.And then I saw you and I remembered when that yoga teacher was killed how smart you both were.”
In a gush, her eyes filled with tears and spilled over.
“And I asked you.And then I came here.To tell Gramps and...and...”
Alan appeared as a shadow in the doorway.“I put her to work,” he said.“To keep her hands busy.”
She tried to smile without great success.
“Have you seen Robbie?”I asked, generally, so either could answer.
Alan gave no response.She shook her head.
“Talked to him?”
Headshake two.
“Message or—?”
A third headshake covered alternative means of communication, as well.
