Booktree.ng_Forgotten-Witness

were disappeared on purpose. He didn’t say these people were
killed. He didn’t say they died. He said they were
disappeared.”
“But couldn’t that sort of behavior be part of his illness?”
Stephen asked.
“That’s what I thought, but then I realized that in all the
time I worked there I never saw a visitor. I never took a phone
call for a resident. There were no letters. We never got new
residents. Half the time Mr. Reynolds was at his house because
there wasn’t much to do in the main house.
“One day I was in the office when everyone was sleeping
and I was bored out of my skull. I know I shouldn’t have, but I
went into the files. I figured if I knew something about the
residents I could talk to them, maybe jog their memories.
Those forms were all I found.”
Suddenly, there was a bang from inside the restaurant. Three
heads turned. Stephen stood up, straddling his little bench.
Amelia put her hands on the arms of the chair as if she was
ready to launch. Josie collected the papers and put them under
the table just as the screen door flew open and the burly cook
threw a skinny kid down the stairs. The kid yelled something
then scrambled up only to fall again. They all held their
breaths, anticipating that he would come their way. When he
disappeared round the corner of the building, when the screen
door slammed shut again, they relaxed. Josie brought out the
papers and spread them in front of her.
“These aren’t even proper admission forms.” She pushed
one back at Stephen. “There is no contact information, no
social security numbers, no next of kin, no personal
information of any kind, even about their medical history.
There’s just a name and date, time of admission, and a phone
number.”
“Did you ever call the number?” Stephen asked.
“No,” Amelia admitted. “I didn’t know who I would be
talking to. It might be someone who would report me to Mr.