Caretakers: Part 1

-------- Author's Note -------

Before going any further, I would like to give a quick heads up. I'm trying something a little different with this story. In the past I've lost momentum writing longer pieces. But, this is a story I've had brewing since 2018 and I think in order to get it out there, I'm going to release it in chunks. I'm not sure how many we'll end up with but what you're about to read is a mystery/thriller set in the same town as a previous story I wrote, "Blue Heron Creek". Thank you for giving this a read and... be careful when you check into Mercy Regional Hospital... The morgue doesn't have the only thing rotten...

4:48pm

The first fat snowflakes had just begun to fall as Annie muscled her aging sedan through a series of winding turns leading her deeper into the Appalachian mountains. The serpentine two lane road carried on for another 16 miles— at least that’s what her GPS said. On the radio, the DJ carried on with his evening weather report in his exaggerated southern drawl.

“It’s gonna be another doozy, folks. Forecast is calling for snow the likes y’all ain’t seen since the blizzard of ‘05 so stock up on your toilet paper, milk, and bread for all your milk sandwiches,” he laughed at his own joke— Annie turned the volume down, choosing to concentrate on the already slippery roads.

“Tell me again why I took this job?” She asked the thinning mountain air as she thought back to the email advertisement she’d answered. “Looking for a change of career, Annie?”

She hadn’t remembered signing up for a travel company mailing list but, she had been looking for a change of pace. 10 years on the same floor at the same hospital had left her… disillusioned with the nursing profession. Anywhere had to be better than here. So, she made the leap and landed at Mercy Regional, in Blue Heron Creek.

By the looks on the internet it was going to be a painfully banal 12 weeks at a rural critical access hospital built right on top of a mountain, overlooking a sleepy— read here as destitute— mining community. But, at this point, boring was far and away better than the rough inner-city hospital she was coming from.

The front tires of her little beater sedan sputtered and slipped before catching again.

“Almost there baby” she said patting the dash.

And just like that, she rounded a corner and was staring up at the final stretch of road leading directly up the mountain to the hospital perched atop the summit like a crown.

Even from this distance she could tell that whatever photographer they’d hired needed a raise.

“Way to work the angles,” she muttered as she scanned the towering structure and its cracked, fading facade. I need to remember to make sure my tetanus is up to date. She thought as she pulled into a spot and grabbed her work bag. She still had hours before her nightshift was scheduled to start but the Director of Nursing suggested coming in early to get in a short tour and finish up last minute paperwork.

“To new beginnings…” she said pulling her jacket against the thickening flurries.

5:12pm

Annie smoothed her scrubs and adjusted her backpack as it slipped off her shoulder. Approaching the main entrance, she was struck by the enormous brass tree worked into the double doors. She reached out and grasped one of the branches, surprised by how well maintained this single detail was compared to the rest of the building’s dilapidated exterior.

Taking one final deep pull of fresh air, she stepped into Mercy Regional.

Footsteps echoed down linoleum floors that surely hadn’t received an update since the late 60s. Pastel floral wallpaper accented chipped plastic salmon-colored handrails along every corridor. She looked around for an information desk or registrar that could point her toward the DON’s office.

“Now there you are! You must be Annie!” A tall, lean woman in a khaki blazer and pencil skirt strode briskly toward her, beside her, walked a man in a brown sheriff’s uniform. “Aren’t you just the picture of punctuality. I knew I made the right decision hiring this one,” she said winking at the sheriff beside her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Annie said, extending her hand and steadying her backpack.

“The pleasure is ours, dear. We certainly need you. I’m Serena, director of nursing for Mercy. And this is my husband, Tanner.” She patted the sheriff’s arm “We were just finalizing some last minute details for our inclement weather plan. Tanner’s been watching the forecasts from the city.”

“It’s gonna be a doozy.” He said giving Annie’s hand a brisk but firm shake.

“If you haven’t yet, I’d tell ya to grab some food before this snow comes. Whole town shuts down at eight regardless. We prob'ly move a little slower than you’re used to.” He grinned and leaned around Annie to look at the accumulating snow. “Right on time.”

"Where are your bags, dear?" Serena asked. "There's no way you'll survive 12 weeks here with just that backpack."

"Oh! No ma'am! I left them in my car, I booked a hotel room in the next town over. I actually couldn't find many options for lodging when I looked."

"Oh, that simply will not do! Tanner, what did you call the weather alert? A 'something something flag?'"

"Its a Red Flag Warning, love. Travel'll be restricted soon."

"Right, right! Red Flag, these men and their flags!" She gave Annie a conspiratorial wink. "We'll get you set up with a room here! We've had such low census as of late the whole third floor is yours!"

Annie looked at the linoleum, "I appreciate that offer but—"

"Dear, I insist, and won't have it any other way. Here, give your keys to Tanner, he'll get your bags set up in... 306! That room should be west facing so you can have a dark room during the day while you nap!"

"No, truly, that's not necessary at—"

"Sweetie, Tanner is going to get your bags and that's final! Don't you worry." She looked to her husband, "Tanner, Honey, grab this young lady's keys and get her bags to 306."

Tanner held his hand out, "Better just give me the keys, miss. Once Serena has her mind set, she's a dog with a bone."

Annie reached slowly into her scrub pocket and pulled out her car keys. "Thank you, sir. Just the bags in the backseat, please. Don't mind the mess." She forced a humorless laugh. "It was... a long drive from Florida."

"No problem at all!" Tanner replied as he grabbed Serena’s elbow and kissed her cheek.

“Don’t forget to check on the Greer’s on your way home.”

“I ain’t headed home, we got a lot to prepare for, love. Well I better be off," He nodded to Annie, "I’ll be seein’ you miss. Enjoy the town. Lots of history here. And I was serious about that food— Johnnie and Reb’s cafe, bottom of the hill.” He pointed toward the main road that led down the mountain and into Blue Heron Creek. “Best cheese curds in town.”

“— they’re the only curds in town.” Serena smiled, laying a hand on Tanner’s arm.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll give them a look.”

“Don’t you run her off…” Tanner said pointing a finger at Serena.

“And don’t you have some policin’ to do?” She said shooing her husband who feigned a wounded look while backing into the heavy door, Annie's keys dangling from a finger.

Annie shivered as a cold wind rushed into the hospital and wrapped itself around her.

“Now sweetheart, let’s get you set up with a tour. But first,” she reached into her blazer pocket and produced a small plastic cup. “a urine sample.”

“Oh,” Annie reached to take her backpack off, “I took one for my agency. They sent me with results and paperwork for you all.”

Serena bit her lip and gave a polite but terse frown. “Well, now honey… this is a little awkward indeed. We do our own. In-house. You’re in rural Appalachia, sweetie. We’ve had more than our fair share of travelers comin’ that aren’t as… dry… as they claim.” She held out the cup and stared Annie down. Her tone shifting slightly from the saccharin sweet she was moments ago. “This is our community, dear. What would we be if we trusted just anyone to take care of our neighbors… I’m sure you understand.”

Annie looked from the offered cup to Serena’s eyes, and reached for it. Serena’s voice raised an octave, back to her chipper self. “Now there’s a good girl! We’re here for the patients after all. Restroom’s right over there. Bring it back and we’ll start our tour with the lab!”

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