out first, Esther. She’s the easiest target. I think after the meeting I’m going to tell Pearl, those two need to be joined at the hip.
	Gertrude interrupted everyone’s inner thoughts with a clearing of her throat. Her eyes turned to Dorthy, with a hint of confined disdain she asked, “What did you learn from our esteemed colleague Mr. Carson.” 
	Esther reached for a napkin causing a few to fly off the table in a gentle breeze.
	One of the white napkins flew past the corner of Maribel’s eye causing her to shriek out loud.
	In a matter of twenty seconds an attendant would be out in the garden with them asking what was wrong.
	The group glanced at Maribel and everyone, including her, erupted in a nervous laughter. 
	The attendant reached the laughing group, “What happened.” he began smiling, trying to stop from being infected by the contagious laughter.
	“I thought I saw a ghost!” Maribel explained, as she tried to calm herself down.
	“Happy Halloween!” the gentleman said admist his dying laughter.
	The attendant smiled and waved to the group as he walked back into the building.
	Once the courtyard door closed everyone stopped laughing instantaneously, and looked at Dorthy.
	She leaned in to the table, “The unofficial word, and I mean we never heard it. The breathing machine was off, but hot like it was just turned off. Jeremy was cold, rigor mortis cold. The black out blinds were activated and the clock was blinking twelve. There was a half drunk cup of coffee left sitting on the overbed. When he checked at the start of his shift, Jeremy was up reading that political rag, the clock was on time, and the overbed table had no coffee on it.”
	“Shift starts at five pm, doesn’t it?” the gentleman asked.
	“If it’s not five it’s six.” Maribel agreed.
	Dorthy looked at Gertrude, “You should talk to Odell. If she truly has sundowners, go in the morning. It’s more likely she will recognize you than any of us here.”
	Gertrude drew her face taunt, she would have to bite the bullet because everything her dear friend said was true. She then turned on the gentleman, “Gabriel, you can check on Mr. Smith next and we will meet back here tomorrow.”
	Gabriel and Maribel shifted uncomfortably in their seats, then exchanged glances with one another.
	Gertrude let out a quick breath in annoyance, “If the threat is as serious as Pearl says it is, we need you to look in on it.”
	Gabriel held his hand up to her, “I will indeed do my duty, you can rest assured.”