"Brad Ferguson - The Forever Con" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ferguson Brad)

The Forever Con

Brad Ferguson
THE OLD LADY sat quietly in one of the two comfortable chairs in front
of the desk of Howard Poffenberger, M.D., Ph.D. Her son sat in the other.
Dr. PoffenbergerтАЩs office was well appointed. The furniture was oak where
it wasnтАЩt covered with leather, and the mahogany-paneled walls were
thickly covered with framed academic degrees and carefully unposed
photographs of celebrities and other important people.
тАЬAs I stated in my initial letter to you, Dr. Poffenberger,тАЭ Kevin
Biederbecke said, тАЬmy mother is no longer happy at the leisure facility
where she now resides. To put it as plainly as I can, the place simply hasnтАЩt
lived up to her expectations. Promises have been broken and guarantees
violated тАФ тАЭ
тАЬTo say the least,тАЭ the old woman muttered.
тАЬ тАФ and she would like to leave there as soon as possible. WeтАЩre
investigating a number of facilities in this area.тАЭ
тАЬWell,тАЭ Dr. Poffenberger smiled. тАЬWe would certainly be most glad to
have Mrs. Biederbecke тАФ тАЭ
тАЬMs. Biederbecke,тАЭ the old lady correctly him.
тАЬOf course, Ms. Biederbecke,тАЭ the doctor said, тАЬand, as I was saying, we
at Glory Road Estates would love to have you living with us. I certainly feel
that your mother would be most happy here at Glory Road, Mr.
Biederbecke.тАЭ
тАЬYou can talk to me directly, Doc,тАЭ Ms. Biederbecke said. тАЬIтАЩm not
senile.тАЭ
тАЬOf course you arenтАЩt,тАЭ the doctor said quickly. тАЬDo you have any
questions, maтАЩam?тАЭ
тАЬLetтАЩs just see the joint,тАЭ Ms. Biederbecke said briskly. тАЬI havenтАЩt got all
day.тАЭ She put out her arm. тАЬKevin, help me up, please, thatтАЩs a dear.тАЭ
After inspecting several of the dormitory rooms, the three walked down
a series of brightly lighted hallways to the public area. The old ladyтАЩs
bright eyes took in everything they passed on the way, especially the many
colorful posters and leaflets taped to the light blue walls of the corridor.
Once in a while, she frowned as she saw something she didnтАЩt care for, and
she frowned more and more often as they approached the common room.
тАЬI donтАЩt see any organization here at all,тАЭ she muttered. тАЬChaotic, just
chaotic.тАЭ
тАЬMr. Biederbecke,тАЭ Dr. Poffenberger said in low tones, тАЬyour letter
didnтАЩt make clear exactly why your mother wishes to leave Mount
Willow.тАЭ
Kevin shrugged. тАЬSheтАЩs bored up there, pure and simple,тАЭ he replied.
тАЬShe might have put up with the numerous contract violations on the
homeтАЩs part if she felt more involved, but most days she just sits around
without a chance to do anything. SheтАЩs always been a very active person,
Doctor. She doesnтАЩt want to lose her edge. I donтАЩt want her to, either.тАЭ
Dr. Poffenberger nodded. тАЬWell, your mother wouldnтАЩt be bored around
here, let me tell you тАФ тАЭ
тАЬWhat are you two mumbling about?тАЭ Ms. Biederbecke called crossly.
тАЬCтАЩmon, already. Get a move on. I want to see the common room.тАЭ