Oceanberry Blues

"What do you mean, he's missing?" Gemini Reed glanced worriedly at her husband, Leo, and then at the woman behind the imposing admissions desk of Charming General Hospital.

"Just what I said, ma'am. Unfortunately, he's out for now, but we've been told he'll return soon." She looked down at her paperwork, refusing to meet Gemini's harsh gaze.

"Let me get this straight." Gemini pushed her silver-gray hair behind one ear, signaling to Leo that she was struggling to maintain control. "We sold our home in Fassetville—the one we built together with our own two hands—"

"Four," Leo corrected her. "Your hands and mine."

She made a shushing gesture and frowned as she reached into her oversized turquoise bag, where she kept all of their paperwork. As she slammed the impressively thick pile of papers on the desk, they made a dramatic thwacking sound. Everyone in the busy lobby stopped what they were doing for a second, startled by the noise.

"We gave up our life to come here for this study," Gemini continued, undeterred by the stares. "You owe me a better explanation."

A short, dark-haired man wearing a navy-blue jacket that barely met in the center of his body walked up to the desk. "Is there a problem here?" He scratched his chest, dragging his nails over a name tag that read, "Gary J., Maintenance."

"Yes, I'd say there is a problem," Gemini sputtered. "My husband and I are here so that he can take part in the drug trial for Atomycin. We've dropped everything to take part, and this woman tells me that Dr. Wilson thinks it’s the time for a holiday? Cheese and biscuits! I'm flabbergasted." She placed one hand at her throat, still attempting to control her anger for Leo's sake.

Gary J. rocked back and forth, wrapping his arms tightly against his chest, causing his jacket to stretch to the point of distress. "I'll grant you, it's strange he would leave abruptly, but we can't really tell you anything further. They're investigatin'." He seemed oblivious to the receptionist, who was shaking her head back and forth violently.

"Investigating? Did something happen to him? Is he dead?" Gemini leaned over the desk. "I have experience in investigation. I could offer my services."

Leo pulled himself up shakily from his wheelchair to a standing position."Gem, what you did for the law firm is hardly the same. I'm sure there is a logical reason for his absence."

"You shouldn't be standing, dear heart, "Gemini admonished. She moved quickly to assist him back to the sitting position. He was still just as handsome as the day they married—steely blue eyes and a movie star face that reminded her of 1960s actor, James Dean. Just a little thinner these past months.

When he was safely seated, she turned and glared at the receptionist. "We spoke with the man three days ago. He said this miracle drug—Atomycin—was going to cure Leo's cancer. He promised to meet us at check in; said that he was excited we were coming, Ms…." Gemini squinted to read the nametag. "Ms. B.?"

The petite brunette woman pushed her thick glasses up her nose. "It's a security thing the board president thought would be wise. None of us have our full names on our name tags." She hesitated. "But you can call me Beverly." She put one hand to the side of her mouth and whispered, "Beverly Buttons."

Gemini reached her hand across the desk. "Nice to meet you, Beverly." She grinned, her perfect white teeth gleaming. Her silver hair was still as thick as it was in her thirties and her bright blue eyes glistened. She always prided herself on being told she resembled actress, Rita Hayworth. If Rita and James Dean owned a hardware store, of course. Gemini and Leo always chuckled about that.

Gary J. cleared his throat. "Strangest thing. Yesterday, he didn't show up for work. They called all three of his phones, his golfing buddies and his next-door neighbor. Nobody'd seen him since the evening before. The police are trying to figure out exactly what happened. He never fed his dogs or opened his refrigerator. Got one of them fancy ones that's like a computer. I've been telling the wife we should invest–"

"Should we go back home and just continue as we have been?" Gemini asked Leo. "You haven't gotten worse this month." Despite his obvious decline, each day she told him how robust he appeared. She repeated it so often, she'd begun to believe it was true.

"We came this far. I don't want to turn around," Leo replied firmly. He glanced at the receptionist. "You said they are continuing the trial, even without Dr. Wilson?"

"Yes, sir. We're continuing everything with Dr. Natchez at the helm. He's well-regarded here at Charming General. This is Doctor Wilson's second drug trial, and he has everything set up to go smoothly. Doctor Natchez has been a part of every detail."

"Doctor Wilson likes his vacation time," Gary J.continued. "Always heading somewhere interesting. Wish I had that kind of money. You know the type—they don't have a clue how the rest of the world lives."

Gemini Reed put her hand on her forehead and looked around the spacious lobby of Charming General Hospital, where large plants filled every corner, complimenting the multi-colored floral-print carpet. Everyone was going about their business as if something terrible hadn't just happened in their midst.

"I'm ready to do this, Gem," Leo reiterated, smiling.

Gemini glanced at her husband and bit her lip. Their daughter had been resistant to the idea of her father leaving town to seek treatment. She could almost hear Sophia's all-too-familiar words. "I told you so, Mother." Seven long months he'd been fighting. When their doctor in Fassetville discovered this study, it felt like a sign.

"I'd feel much better if we could speak to this Dr. Natchez."

Beverly nodded. "I have sympathy for you. It's hard to try something untested. But I can assure you we've done drug trials before and everything has gone smoothly. Don't worry, your husband is in expert hands. Can I call an orderly and get him taken upstairs? So that he can be ready for his first treatment tomorrow?"

"I can take them up," Gary J. offered.

"We agreed to this adventure and the Reeds always follow through, Gem. I want to do this," Leo repeated as loud as he could muster.

"You're right, dear; this isn't about me or my concerns. I said I would support your decisions and I have your back, no matter what, my astrological mate." Gemini bent down and kissed the top of Leo's head.

He reached up with a thin hand and patted her arm. "We're always up for an adventure, aren't we?"

Gary J. pushed Leo's wheelchair while Gemini carried his bag to the elevator. The doors opened and Gary pushed the number four.

"You folks ever visited Charming before? We're mostly a medical community, but we get our fair share of tourists too, being five minutes from the Pacific Ocean and all. We're–"

"Why do you think Doctor Wilson would leave so abruptly?" Gemini interrupted, still irritated by this unexpected turn of events.

Gary J. shrugged. "I was about to say we're a friendly community. Doctor Wilson loves the water. That's why he moved here from Missouri. He's always snorkeling somewhere. He showed me pictures of where he's right next to a shark. Can you imagine?"

"In the middle of an important drug trial?"

The elevator doors opened, revealing a woman wearing bright pink scrubs. Shoulder-length brown hair framed her friendly face, and she smiled at the couple as though they were old friends.

"Welcome, Leo and Gemini! Beverly B. called ahead to let me know to expect you! I'm Denise and I'll be your nurse." She lowered herself so that she was at Leo's level. "Leo, shall we get you settled?"

Leo turned his head away and nodded. He was still shy around women, even at sixty-five. If she was being honest, Gemini always admired that about him.

Gary J. pushed Leo away from the elevator doors. "Looks like you're in expert hands. I'll be seein' you then!" He pivoted abruptly and re-entered the elevator before there was any opportunity for more questions.

Denise wheeled Leo into room 412 and set the brakes on his chair. "There's some of our attractive green wear for you on the bed. No fashion show tonight, unfortunately," she joked. "I'll let you change and then I'll come back to go over some paperwork."

When she'd gone, Gemini reached into Leo's bag and pulled out his fuzzy brown slippers, the ones Sophia had given him last Christmas. "Don't go getting funny ideas, Leo Reed," she chided him gently as she put them on his feet. "Nurse Denise's no match for my zodiac super powers." Gemini forced a smile as she helped him unbutton his shirt.

"No dating; got it," Leo replied. He used to be the first one to tell a joke. Now she wasn't sure when they even made sense to him. His brain was always fuzzy.

A sharp rap on the door startled them both.

"You're Mr. Reed? We've been expecting you." A tall man in an expensive, silvery-green suit moved to the end of Leo's bed.

Leo nodded. "You must be Doctor Natchez."

His dark brown hair was slicked back, and he had the scent of a lawyer trying to impress a new client. As a legal secretary, Gemini had learned all of their tricks. Not a single one had impressed her.

"Carson M.," he extended his hand to Leo. "I'm the president of the hospital board. We're delighted to have you in our study."

"Why do you hide your last names? It makes me feel like grade school, to be honest." She didn't dare look at her husband, who would say she was being too nosy.

"Purely for security reasons. We don't want an angry patient harassing a staff member at home." He smiled, displaying large, perfect teeth. "I can tell you're a man of honor, though, Mr. Reed. My last name is Moore. It's Carson Moore."

Gemini touched Leo's back and put her own hand forward. "I'm Gemini, the spouse. In all of our extended hospital visits, the board president has not greeted us once."

Carson took her hand, rubbing his thumb back and forth on her knuckles until she snatched it away. "Mrs. Reed, I take a personal interest in everyone involved in the drug trial. We're going to save lives." His eyes darted away from Gemini. "I'm assuming we arranged your housing? If not, I know of some spouses of patients in the program who found a housing together."

"My husband and I rented a place that's only a couple of blocks away. The management company says the owner plans on selling soon, but it should be fine for the six months that we're here. I suppose I'll adjust to the ugly shade of blue." Gemini winked at Leo and squeezed his shoulder. Leo winked back.

"Oceanberry," the spouses said in unison.

"My wife and I love to paint. A change in color is a change in attitude," Leo explained.

"Leo and I own a hardware store in Fassetville. Reed's Paint to Power Drills."

"Owned," Leo corrected her.

"We sold it last year. We were planning to travel around the world." Gemini sighed before realizing she'd done the very thing she promised herself she wouldn't do in front of Leo–complain. "Everything is an adventure, isn't it?"

"If this trial goes as I expect it will, the two of you will be eating pasta in Italy by this time next year." Carson rubbed his hands up and down the front of his silk shirt. "Last time I went, I think I put on twenty pounds."

Finding herself with waning energy and a bad feeling about Mr. Moore, Gemini pretended to yawn, putting her hand to her mouth. "I'm sorry. It's been a long day."

"I'll leave you two to get settled. If you need me, my office is on the second floor, right past the nurses' station."

As they listened to his expensive shoes clacking on down the hallway, Gemini remembered their most recent concern and scurried to the doorway.

"Wait!" she called after him. "Mr. Moore, what can you tell me about Dr. Wilson?" If he heard her, he made no attempt to answer.

"People make quick exits in this place," Gemini remarked, returning to the bed. "He was odd. I'll even go as far as to say, a bit creepy."

"You're always looking for trouble, my dear. It's not there."

She helped Leo change into his green hospital gown and sat beside him on the bed. "You know I'll be here so often you'll be begging me to leave. We've never had time to tire of each other's company. I should have quit working so much sooner. I wasn't appreciated anyway."

"The past is the past, Gem. We're not there anymore." Leo leaned back on his pillow. "Can you get me some water, please?"

Gemini turned to walk out the door and bumped into the pretty brunette nurse. "Oh, excuse me! I was just fetching my husband some water."

"I can do that for you, Mrs. Reed!" Denise offered cheerfully.

"Denise is such a lovely name. I knew someone back in Fassetville named Denise. She was a client at the law firm where I used to work." Gemini put her hand beside her mouth. "I can't tell you much, but let's just say she had a thing for slipping and falling at the most opportune moments."

"Gem!" Leo admonished, coughing as he grabbed his side.

"I'll run get your water and be right back, Mr. Reed." Denise disappeared, returning momentarily with a full pitcher and two yellow plastic cups. "Only the finest in dishware at Charming General," she quipped.

"Denise, how long have you worked here?"

Gemini had developed a curiosity of others during her years as a legal secretary for the Floris, Fealgood and Flem Law Firm that served her well. At least in her mind. Leo wasn't always so sure.

"I've been here ten years. I really love it. You meet so many interesting people. After I pay off my student loans, I'm going to find a nursing job in the tropics. I'm thinking of Jamaica. As long as my boyfriend can get his expensive suit addiction under control." Denise giggled. "It's terrible. We had to convert the pantry into another closet."

Gemini nodded. "And what about Doctor Wilson? Does he love his job too?"

The smile on Denise's face disappeared. "We're not supposed to talk about it. Hospital policy, I'm afraid. You're in excellent hands and I have confidence the rest of our team will take good care of your husband. I have some paperwork to go over with both of you, and then we'll get Leo all settled in. Does that sound okay?"

Another nurse knocked on the door, motioning for Denise.

When she returned, she explained, "just in case there is confusion with meals or mail, your room number changed at the last minute. Mrs. Ryan was in this room and is now in 419. I'll make sure I check on that every day, so there's no confusion."

Gemini crossed her arms. "I'm still uncomfortable with the state of affairs. Can you walk me through what happened with the doctor? We haven't really been told much of anything."

Denise's phone buzzed in her pocket and as she looked at the screen, she bit her lip. "I'm afraid your paperwork will have to wait. There is an emergency down the hall and I need to go check on the patient. I'll be back here soon and we'll go over everything, I promise."

Gemini watched her rush out of the room, all too familiar with hosptial emergencies after Leo's many stays."Leo, I'm getting a strange vibe from this place. Everybody acts like they're hiding something."

Leo laid back on the pillow, placing one hand under his head. "Gem, I know how your mind works. This is not one of your mysteries at the law firm. Hospitals are notoriously tight-lipped. Everything will be fine, I promise you." He reached over to the nightstand and picked up the television remote. "Why don't you find something good for us to watch on TV?"

"Mm hmm," she responded absently, as she took the remote and pointed it toward the television. A mystery series from the 1970s blared and Leo settled in to watch it.

Gemini fidgeted for a few minutes before standing. "I'm going to take a stroll and see what's down the hall."

"Gem! No!" Leo protested weakly.

She waved at him as she exited the room.

The floor was strangely silent. In Fassetville Regional Hospital, when there was an emergency on the floor, the place was abuzz for a good hour afterward. The nurses were always eager to share with Gemini afterward, even though it was a privacy violation. "You won't tell on us, right, Mrs. Reed?"

She was good at keeping secrets.

There was one nurse sitting at the main desk as she walked by, displaying the name tag, Esther C. "Excuse me?" She leaned on the desk. "I have questions about Doctor Wilson. We're supposed to have a meeting with him tonight, but no one has said where he is."

"Didn't they tell you?" she asked with surprise. "He's no longer in charge of the study."

"Oh?" Gemini asked innocently. "Did something happen?"

"You... who told you?"

"I'm not sure what you mean. We had a meeting scheduled with him this evening. He called us yesterday to make sure we'd be here in time." Gemini tapped her finger on the desk, glancing at two hospital employees who giggled about something as they walked by.

"He's not coming back," Esther C. replied solemnly.

"What would cause Doctor Wilson to leave with no word to his patients? It's terribly unprofessional."

Esther C. cocked her head to the side, appearing to size up Gemini's secret-keeping abilities.

"He was always secretive. But I never expected him to disappear like this."

She stood up and put her arms next to Gemini's on the desk. "You didn't hear this from me, but his maid showed up to clean and there was no sign of him. Hadn't slept there all night. His car was in the garage and none of his clothes were missing. Someone found his phone in a ditch outside of town. We're all very worried."

Gemini shook her head and clucked her tongue. "Such a shame. There's no reason he would leave abruptly?"

"I don't gossip, but between you and me, I think there's something funny going on. Someone knows more than they're saying."

Gemini leaned in even closer. "What exactly do you think happened to Doctor Wilson, Esther?"

Esther took a deep breath and looked around before whispering, "he was murdered."