Page 76 of Lost Hours
“So when I heard that the mayor had been murdered,” Cadence said.
“Exactly how did you hear when it’s not common knowledge at this point?” Nolan hooked his thumbs in his pants pockets.
Cadence narrowed her big brown eyes and faced him. “I have my sources all across the state that I’m not at liberty to reveal.”
“And you shouldn’t have to.” Hayden gave Mina a pointed look.
She wanted to argue with him, but this was the least of her worries right now. “So you heard about the murder. Then what?”
“Since I knew about Dad’s friendship with Ernie, I knew he’d be distraught. So I got here as quick as I could to support him and ask if he knew anyone who might want to kill the mayor.”
“For a story, you mean?” Nolan asked.
“I would—will—do a story, but not until I’m sure my dad’s okay.”
“He isn’t now?” Mina asked.
Cadence shook her head, those curls shifting like a vortex of redness. “He’s in the beginning stages of dementia, and he’s often unclear as to what’s actually happened. But when I questioned him about Ernie, he told me that the mayor asked him to keep a big secret.”
Interest perked, Mina leaned closer. “And did he tell you what that secret was?”
“That’s when things got vague. He said it has something to do with lots of cash Ernie was spending on something illegal.” She splayed her hands over her legs. “No matter how many times I questioned him about the illegal thing, he couldn’t remember what it was. Or he never knew. I thought maybe if he came here, and an authority figure gently questioned him, it might jog his memory.”
“What if he implicates himself in something criminal?” Hayden asked, sounding genuinely concerned for her father.
She gave him a quick smile of thanks. “If he does, then I hope you’ll take into account that he’s a man with dementia and may not have known what he was doing.”
Tears glistened in her eyes, and Hayden grabbed a tissue box, then circled around the desk. He sat in the chair next to her and offered a tissue. “We’ll make sure he’s okay.”
What in the world was going on with Hayden? This was so out of character for him. Mina was surprised he didn’t actually reach up and dry her tears.
Mina got up. “Then let’s go get him and let him tell his story.”
Cadence joined her at the door, and together they went down the hall to the lobby. Percy wobbled to his feet and stared at Mina.
“I’m surprised I haven’t met you before,” Mina said to try to break the ice and comfort the older gentleman.
“Why would you?” His tone was sharp. “I’m not a lawbreaker. You don’t need to arrest me. I want to go home.”
“Now, Dad.” Cadence twined her arm in his. “We’re here to tell the sheriff about Ernie, remember?”
“Ernie?”
“You remember. He was murdered.”
“Murdered?” Percy sagged as if he might collapse on the floor.
Cadence glanced at Mina. “Let’s get him back to the office and maybe things will become clearer for him.”
Mina unlocked the door again and held it open for Percy to go through first, then she held Cadence back a few steps. “Does he have someone to care for him?”
“He has a housekeeper who takes care of the basics, like cleaning and food. He’s been lucid most of the time until recently, but we’re getting to the point where he needs more than a housekeeper. I can’t see putting him into a facility until absolutely necessary, so I’ll likely be moving in with him for now or taking him home with me.”
While she hurried to catch up with him, Mina offered a prayer for them. She couldn’t imagine seeing her father lose his faculties this way. It had to be very difficult for Cadence.
Nolan remained leaning against the wall, and Hayden had taken a seat behind the desk. Cadence helped her father into a chair and sat next to him.
Mina resumed her spot on the corner of her desk and smiled at Percy. “Thank you for coming to see me, Percy. What can you tell me about Ernie’s sudden death?”
