We were in Odelia’s office dozing and catching up on some much-needed rest when a knock sounded at the door and a woman strode in. She was older than Odelia but not old enough to be eligible for room and board at a retirement home. She also looked a little nervous, but then most people who visit Odelia in her office are a little trepidatious at first. Mostly these people are struggling with some personal issue and unless you are used to enlisting the assistance of a reporter of Odelia’s repute, it’s only natural to feel ill at ease at the prospect of revealing your secret to a complete stranger.
But Odelia has this way about her that puts people at ease straight away, and I could tell that she was having this effect on this person right now.
The woman introduced herself as Annette Williams, and she wasn’t actually there because she was faced with a baffling problem herself, but because her daughter was.
“You see, Kirsten has only been working there for six months,” Annette said once the introductions were out of the way and she was comfortably seated in front of our human. “And she likes the job, she really does. And most of the residents are perfectly nice. It’s this one man, see, Mrs. Kingsley. He’s the one who’s keeping me up at night.”
“Sorry, but where did you say your daughter works, Mrs. Williams?” asked Odelia.
“She works as a CNA, a certified nursing assistant, at Happy Home for the Elderly,” said Annette.
Dooley and I shared a look of intense surprise.
“Of all the retirement homes in all the towns in all the world,” Dooley murmured, and I nodded emphatically. What were the odds?
“Go on,” said Odelia kindly. “This man has been keeping you up at night?”
“Well, his name is Henry Kaur,” said Annette. “And at first I thought nothing of it, but he’s been giving her gifts, you see. Expensive ones. He gave her a watch that must have cost a small fortune, and a pair of earrings, and he’s been making her promises.”
“What kind of promises?”
“He seems to suggest that when he dies, he’s going to leave her something in his will.”
“I see,” said Odelia, a worried frown on her face.
“Now Kirsten isn’t worried. She says he’s a very kind man, and so if he wants to give her a token of his appreciation from time to time, that’s fine with her. But then she’s young, of course, and inexperienced when it comes to men. She’s never even had a boyfriend.”
“How old is your daughter?”
“Nineteen. She took her CNA training right after she graduated from high school. And I told her that it’s not normal for a man to give her all these expensive gifts, you know. He’s going to expect something in return, and once he does, it’s going to put her in an awfully difficult position.Because she loves her job, she really does, and so I’m afraid that one day soon he’s going to try something with her, and she won’t be able to say no, because if she does, and complains to the manager, it’s going to be her word against his, and it’s going to create this whole impossible situation.”
“Has he tried something with her, you think?”
“I’m not sure, but I don’t think so. Kirsten and I have a great relationship, and I raised her not to keep any secrets from me. So if he did try something, I’d like to think she would have told me.” She gave a helpless shrug. “I really don’t know what to do.”
“Has Kirsten talked about this with her manager?”
“No, because as far as she’s concerned, there is no problem. I’ve told her over and over again it’s not okay for this man to shower her with gifts. But she simply doesn’t see it.”
“Or maybe she doesn’t want to see it,” said Odelia. “Because if she did, it might jeopardize this job that she loves so much.”
Annette nodded helplessly.“It’s hard for me to have to sit back and wait for this man to make his move, which I’m absolutely convinced he will.”
“Okay, so have you talked to Kirsten’s manager?”
“I want to, but Kirsten told me not to. And let’s face it, she’s not a child anymore, and this is not school, where a parent can go in and talk to a teacher. This is a professional setting, and frankly I have no business there. Which is what makes it all the more galling.” She balled her fists. “I want to do something, but I feel so totally helpless, you know.”
“No, of course,” said Odelia. “I understand completely. If I were in your shoes I’d feel the same way. So what do you suggest? That I have a discreet word with these people?”
“I want you to find out what’s going on with this guy,” said Annette. “I want you to go there and take a look around, and check this person out.”
“I don’t think they allow reporters to snoop around,” said Odelia with a smile.
“No, but surely you have someone who can do that kind of job for you? I’ve heard such great things about you, and about the people you work with. There was this one case you worked on, where some of your operatives went undercover at Glimmer Magazine and even solved the murder of the CEO of Advantage Publishing.”
Odelia laughed.“I think you’re confusing me with a private detective, Mrs. Williams.”