A Saving Grace

Pulling into the gravel driveway I could see a grand mansion off into the distance.

“Wow” I exclaimed, it took my breath away.

Looking more like a medieval castle it casted a looming shadow over the grounds. The stone exterior complimented the vast windows that decorated the front of this gorgeous building. I parked my car behind a vintage jaguar that was also in the driveway and made my way to the front door. Trying best to hand iron out any wrinkles in my scrubs that the seatbelt may have caused.

A big brass door knocker hung in the middle of a wooden door. Taking hold of the cold metal, a feeling of uneasiness sent a chill down my spine. I shook it off, I always get nervous taking on a new case because you ever know what you may find. The door knocker landed against the wooden frame with a loud metallic thud. Alerting whoever was inside of my presence.

After a few minutes a short, gray haired woman answered the door. Dressed in a light blue blouse and navy slacks she smiled at me. The pink lipstick that was meant for her lips were smudged on her yellow teeth.

“Hello I’m Grace the new home health nurse.” I said matching her enthusiasm.

“Boy am I glad you are here because I’m tired of emptying those disgusting bedpans.” The old lady snickered. “Besides these aren’t working hands” she said while displaying her wrinkly hands with french manicured nails.

“I’m Agnes Duff, please come inside and let's get acquainted.” She moved aside, gesturing for me to come inside. As I entered I was met with a double staircase that came together at the peak. Agnes walked past me leading me into a beautiful sun that was filled with all kinds of plants and flowers. She took a seat at a white metal table and gestured to me to sit down across from her in the second white metal chair. She looked to be about late 60s early 70s and she sure did have a pep in her step.

“So is it Miss or Mrs?” Agnes asked. As she began to take a cigarette out of a gold case.

“Miss I’m not married just yet, I actually just moved to Washington. I needed a change of scenery.”

“Miss Grace” She said in a sing-song voice with the cigarette between her lips. She took a moment to light it, taking a long drag before blowing out the smoke.

“My Husband used to be a wonderful man. He had a passion for life ya’ know.” She took another drag. “He had a passion for me,” she said, turning her head to look out the glass window. A look of sadness flashed over her face.

“That was all before he got sick.” She took another drag from her cigarette.

“From what my clinical director told his illness is a mystery, correct?” I asked, pulling out my files.

“That’s right, it started a few months ago with a headache and upset stomach. Then he kept getting worse and now he is too weak to move.” She said as she Finished her cigarette.

“He is in the upstairs master bedroom, I’ll take you to him.” She said getting up. Gathering my things I followed her to the base of the stairs.

“Go up the stairs, take a right and it's the last door on the left, I have to make sure Patricia has his breakfast ready, I’ll see you in a few.” Turning on her heels she started walking towards the kitchen.

“Oh Patricia” she said in her sing-song voice.

Once alone I peered up the double stairs looming down on feeling as if it was trying to suffocate me. Dreading the physical activity, I ascended up the stairs. While walking I repeated her directions in my head. Midway to the top I felt a rush of cold air go by me so fast I tripped over my own feet causing me to grasp the mahogany rail parallel to the stairs. Feelings of dread bubbling up in my stomach.

"What the heck?" I exclaimed once I caught my balance. I frantically looked around only to realize that I'm still alone.

"Maybe it was a draft," I said to myself, giggling nervously. It is a very old house after all.

Once in front of the master bedroom I shook off any remaining feelings of dread and knocked on the door. After no reply I opened the door.

In front of me was a king sized bed with white bedsheets on it. In the bed a frail old man slightly moved his head towards me, with his eye meeting mine.

"Hello, Mr. Duff I'm Grace your new home health nurse" I said walking closer to the bed.

"Oh, hello," he said in a quiet voice.

Once at his bedside I did a quick assessment and obtained his vital signs.

"Have you always had an abnormal heart rhythm?" I asked.

"I used to be as healthy as a horse, but I guess old age catches everyone." He said quietly.

"Yeah I guess it does" I replied feeling a little sorry for him. "Well I have to take some blood, it's standard procedure so we can establish a baseline."

"Alright" he said tirelessly.

As I set up the supplies on the bedside table I knocked a little black book off the side.

"Oh sorry, I can be a little clumsy." I said as I placed back on the table.

"That book belonged to my first wife, we wrote love letters back and forth to each other. She was a great woman, I miss her." He turned his head and stretched out his arm. He let out one long sigh. I collected the samples I needed and noticed an odd discoloration of his fingernails. I made a mental note to write it down. As I reached in my bag I noticed that the black notebook was open and "hello" was written on the first line. Perplexed I said, "Mr. Duff this letter was left unfinished it just says hello."

"I'm not surprised, My wife was taking away from me too early." "Maybe I will join her soon." He said in one quiet breath.

"Mr. Duff, I think it's too soon to talk like that.

Look back at the notebook in addition to Hello it also read Be careful. Then she murdered me suddenly appeared.

"Oh darling breakfast is here!" Chimed Agnes as she walked through the door. I looked up at her in shock.

"Honey you okay? It looks like you saw a ghost." She asked me, laughing. She positioned herself next to Mr. Duff in a small chair.

"How bout something to eat darling?"

With another sigh he rolled away from her, “I can’t keep anything down. What is the purpose?”

“Well I better get going, these blood samples only last for a few hours.” I said, interrupting Agnes. I gathered my supplies.

“I will see you guys tomorrow, we should have the results by the afternoon time.” Still shook up I tried to keep my cool as I sped walked out the room. At the top of the stairs I caught my breath.

While driving to the lab I tried to dismiss the notebook but that last line shook me to the core. Then a lightbulb went off in my head; the heart rhythm, nail discoloration, and the “illness” He was being poisoned. I sped to the lab and made it in record time.

Once inside I greeted Tom, who is the usual lab technician.

“Hey Grace, what do you have for me today?” He said cheerfully.

“It’s just a routine one but do you think it can also be tested for arsenic?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Um Grace, if you suspect someone has been poisoned you should call the cops.” He said with a concerned look on his face.

To lessen the tension I laughed.

“Well I just wanted to rule out all the possibilities, ya’ know?” I said hoping it was working.

“Well I guess sure but I am going to need a medical reason for it.” He said looking at the paperwork.

“Put weakness, Thank you so much Tom. I hope it comes back negative.” I said, touching his arm reassuringly.

“No problem, I will get back to you with the results tomorrow.” Tom said.

Once back at my apartment, I threw my stuff down and ran into the shower. It felt like the hot water cleansed my body. Mentally exhausted I crawled into bed and in no time I was asleep.

I was back in the Mansion but something was different; it felt fresh and vibrant.

“Mrs. Duff all the silver has been polished and the table is set for the dinner party all you have to do is get ready.”

I looked to the left and saw a younger Agnes looking at the top of the stairs. Following her gaze I saw a beautiful woman in a navy evening gown.

“Get ready? She is beautiful the way she is. No need for any further preparations.” A male voice said from the right of me.

At first I did not recognize him but, it was Mr. Duff. He looked so handsome in a black suit.

Looking back at Agnes who had an annoyed look on her face and walked away. Mr. Duff swiftly made up the stairs and embraced his wife.

Then the grandfather clock chimed at the hour, I noticed Mr. Duff and his wife were gone and it was significantly darker.

“Agnes?” Mrs. Duff called as she rounded the corner and headed towards the stairs.

“I can never find her.”

“Mrs. Duff? You called me?” Agnes asked at the top of the stairs. Agnes began walking down the stairs towards Mrs.Duff.

“What are you doing on the second floor? The dining room needs to get cleaned up, your mom has started already.”

“Has she?” Agnes said meeting Mrs. Duff in the middle of the stairs.

“Yes, she was asking for you.”

In a quick motion Agnes pushed Mrs. Duff down the vast staircase and she met the bottom with a hard thud. Mrs.Duff blank eyes met mine and I suddenly felt nausea remembering my own experience on the stairs.

I woke up in a hot sweat still feeling nausea. I knew I had to tell the police but, tell them what? I thought to myself. Then I remembered the possibility of Mr. Duff being poisoned by arsenic.

Once in the police station I made my report and insinuated that Mrs. Duff's death was not an accident. I never went back to the mansion after that.

A month later I visited Mr. Duff in the hospital.

“Grace!” He exclaimed when he saw me. Once again I barely recognized the man before me, he looked stronger and more bright eyed. I placed the flowers on his bedside table.

“Mr. Duff you look great!”

“Well now that gold digger isn’t poisoning me anymore I feel more like myself.” He said beaming.

“Grace I just want to thank you, You saved my life. I knew Elizabeth would never trip down the stairs, the only person who saw it was Agnes. After Elizabeth’s death she was there for me but, I think my grief clouded my judgment and I could not see her true character.” Mr. Duff said looking at the ground.

Taking his hand In mine I said “It’s okay, all that matters now is she can’t hurt you anymore.”

“Well I wanted to thank you for saving my life.” Mr. Duff reached into his wallet and pulled out a check for $500,000.

I was in shock and could not move. He placed the check in my pocket.

“Before I forget Elizabeth wants to thank you too.”

He handed me the little black notebook and wrote on a blank page “Thank you.”