Back to Astaroth’s Wager, Part XIV.
“Astaroth, tomorrow’s the first. You have five days to wrap this up,” Svipul cautioned. “What do you have planned?”
“Oh, I guess it’s time. I can’t wait to be myself in public again, I tell you.” Astaroth called to her favorite Neku, “Caius! Florence is waiting for you to finish her off!”
“Am I to possess her as planned, madam?” Caius asked.
“Possess her and then go through with the elimination as discussed. I won’t begrudge you if the damage extends to the rest of the neighborhood. Use your imagination,” Astaroth said.
* * *
Adelaide Carver awoke on the morning of the first of June to the sound of activity in the kitchen, and she hoped that the disturbances wouldn’t wake up the baby. She fell compelled to sink back into bed, for the only one who could be responsible for noises was Florence, and she knew that Florence’s presence in the kitchen was, in all probability, a bad thing.
“Good morning, Addie. I was just about to make myself some eggs and coffee. Would you like some?” Florence asked.
Adelaide stared at Florence without issuing any assent, dissent or comment.
“What about some oats then? I thought I saw some in the cupboard,” Florence asked.
Adelaide still couldn’t find any words in her extreme fatigue to express her confusion and surprise.
“Well. I’ll just make you some eggs then. Hope you like them scrambled, because that’s how I like mine. I’ll get you some toast, too,” Florence said.
Adelaide discovered a few words in her haze. “How are you feeling?”
“I think I just needed some sleep. That kind doctor came by yesterday, and I had the best sleep I think I’ve had in at least a year. Maybe even two. I don’t know what kind of miracle drug it was he gave me, but you should see asking the doctor for a prescription if you think you need a rest, too,” Florence said.
“Good. I might have to ask him later on today,” Adelaide said.
Florence served Adelaide a cup of coffee with lots of cream and sugar. “Here you go, sweetheart. It’s about time I served you, after all you’ve done for me these last six months.”
Adelaide recovered her silence and awe at Florence’s complete shift in behavior.
“I can’t imagine what you must think of me. I’m embarrassed about everything that’s happened lately. I’ve been a nightmare. I hope you never know what it’s like to lose your entire family, because it really is one’s worst nightmare come true. Now that you’re a mother, I think you can relate even more. I did go insane, but I couldn’t help but act out some of the horror I’d come to know. But I got up about an hour ago from that sleep, and I realized something,” Florence said.
“What was that?”
“I realized that I still have you and Tom and Hank. And you’ve been far kinder to me that I deserve. I’m sure I would’ve put me into a hospital by this point. I’m lucky that my little brother never gave up on me. And I’m lucky that you put up with him putting up with me,” Florence said.
Thomas wandered sleepily into the kitchen. “I heard voices. What’s wrong with her today, Addie?”
“Mornin’, Tom. Do you want some eggs?” Florence asked.
* * *
Thomas took the opportunity to take a brief inventory of his office supplies for his stationery order while he was on the phone with Adelaide. His desk clock displayed 1:47, and he was due in Mr. Meese’s office at 2 on the dot to accompany him on a tour of the set for the newest musical. He figured he had just enough time to deliver the order to Bernadette, his secretary, before he had to be in Mr. Meese’s office. “So the doctor said she’s recovered?”
Adelaide said, “He checked her over completely and said that she’s perfectly normal. Whatever it was that was making her sick seems to be over. He gave her some more of those pills to help her sleep, though, just in case she gets worse again.”
He sat back in his chair. “That’s incredible. I’ll have to find out more when I get home tonight. Pick up some steaks at the butcher, will you? It’d be nice to have a proper dinner with you and my sister later.”
“That sounds like a great idea. I’ll cook ‘em up the way you like ‘em,” Adelaide answered.
“Ok, dear. I’ll be home no later than six. Love you!”
Thomas put his coat back on, delivered his order to Bernadette and had a chat with her about everything on his schedule for the rest of the week, and made his way over to Mr. Meese’s office.
Mr. Meese was on the phone when Thomas appeared in his doorway, and Mr. Meese beckoned for him to come in and take a seat.
Mr. Meese said, “We’ll get to the bottom of this before the end of the day tomorrow. I don’t want to make this a police matter until we know who’s responsible….Yes….Of course….Thank you.” He looked up at Thomas and said, “Change of plans, Tom. We’ve got a crisis on our hands.”
“What’s the problem?” Thomas asked.
“It’s an accounting mix-up, but since it’s related to this latest picture, they’ve put me on it, which means I’m putting you on it. Someone walked off with a check for $1,000. Needless to say, the studio doesn’t want the police involved unless it’s absolutely necessary. Find out where it went, Tom. I’ll make the tour of the set with McAlpin. That’ll be all,” Mr. Meese said, and he got back on his phone.
Thomas walked past his office on his way to the accounting office, and he said to Bernadette, “Call my wife and tell her that something’s come up and that I probably won’t be home as early as I’d hoped.”
* * *
Thomas replayed his investigative conclusions during his drive home. The clerk entered in the wrong amounts to the wrong payees and tripled the error when he recorded it incorrectly in the ledger. The mystery was solved.
He was exhausted when he got home at ten that night. There was a note on the kitchen table.
Your steak’s in the refrigerator. Sorry I couldn’t stay up to greet you when you got home. You can wake me up and tell me about your day when you get home. We still need to talk about our anniversary next week. Love, A.
He couldn’t bear to wake her. He knew how little sleep she’d had lately. He curled up next to Adelaide and held her, falling asleep next to her for the very last time.
Dominus tecum.