Read Sleuthing at Sweet Springs (The Sleuth Sisters Mysteries Book 4) for Free Online Page B

more able to resist persuasion, being pretty much set in her ways.
    Clara was waiting politely, so I said, “Your case?”
    Her sigh said she wasn’t happy about having one. “I don’t belong in this place.”
    Here we go. I opened my mouth to say I had errands to run, but she put up a hand. “Please hear me out. I was living at home, minding my own business. I was—I am—completely capable of taking care of myself. One day in August, my niece Gail stopped by, which she hadn’t done for years, and asked if I’d be willing to sell my land and move into town.” Clara’s lips tightened at the memory. “She had all these arguments about how I’d be safer and have friends to play cards with. Her main push was how much money she could get for it. As if that would make me want to trade away everything my husband and I worked for.”
    Interested despite myself I asked, “This property’s been yours for a long time?”
    “My father left it to me, and George and I retired there when we turned sixty. We spent twenty years out there together. The last three years, I’ve been by myself.” Her expression revealed the pain that statement caused, but she didn’t dwell on it. “My garden is smaller since George died, but I still have one. I make dill pickles. I keep chickens. I fish a little, though I’m not the fisherman my husband was.” See here?” She showed me a scar on her thumb. “Fishhook. I had to drive myself all the way into Allport last summer to get it removed.”
    “That must have hurt.”
    “It’s worth it if you catch something nice for supper.” Leaning over, she touched my arm gently. “I love my home, Mrs. Burner, and I never want to live anywhere else.”
    “Call me Faye. The woman I think of as Mrs. Burner is in the room down the hall.”
    That reminded me of my mother-in-law’s insistence she too could live on her own if we’d let her. No one wants to admit she’s no longer capable of maintaining a home. The niece must have noticed a change, or she wouldn’t have suggested moving her aunt and selling the property.
    Clara thought otherwise, and she came to the point of our conversation. “Gail manipulated me into this place. I didn’t see it coming, and now I have no recourse unless you help.”
    “Are you telling me your niece—” I hesitated to use the dreaded phrase put you in a home “—brought you here because she wants your property?”
    “I think she wants the commission.” Clara bit her lip before going on. “Every time I try to tell a staff member I shouldn’t be here, they pat me on the arm and change the subject.”
    Having just come from yet another incident where Harriet claimed theft when we all knew she’d eaten her peanut butter cups in the night and forgotten it, arguments flooded my mind. People aren’t just assigned to nursing homes. There has to be cause. Elderly people sometimes become paranoid. If the niece wanted Clara to sell her property and move into Allport, it was likely she was concerned for the old lady’s safety. Even if she saw a fat commission for herself in the property deal, that didn’t mean Clara had been placed at the Meadows without cause.
    Clara was watching me closely, as if trying to read my thoughts. “Can you look into it for me?”
    “Mrs. Knight, I’m not sure what we’d be able to do.”
    She leaned forward, and I caught a whiff of talcum powder. “Find out what’s happening. Has Gail applied for guardianship? Is my home up for sale? Has anyone been looking into the title? Has it already been sold? It’s only been a week or so, and I have no idea how quickly these things can go. Everyone does a ‘There, there, Clara’ when I try to tell them what’s happening.” She swallowed. “If I’m declared incompetent—”
    Fearing she might be working up to hysterics I said, “You shouldn’t worry like this.”
    Her face took on a hopeless expression, but she tried again. “I have some emergency cash in my purse. I can