“No!” Vi told Patty. “She can’t know we talked about this. She’d kill me and probably fire you. But there’s stuff I need to know. And it sounds like you want to know it too. I think we can help each other.”
Patty crossed her arms, took a step back. “What is it you want to know?”
“About Iris.”
“Who’s Iris?”
“A girl. Gran brought her over from the Inn. She’s staying with us. She’s one of Gran’s patients, but she’s young. Like my age.”
Patty shook her head, her feathered bangs moving over her forehead like wings. “The Inn doesn’t treat anyone under eighteen.”
“I know. And that’s not the only weird part.” Vi had her now. She could tell from the way Patty moved closer, eyes wide, mouth a little bit open. The new nurse was hooked into the mystery. “See, Iris doesn’t remember anything about who she is or where she came from.”
“Are you messing with me? Because if you are—”
“No, I swear. She doesn’t even know her name. She just remembers being here, at the Inn with Gran in a green room with no windows.”
“A room with no windows?” Patty said.
Behind them, Miss Ev opened her window, looked out at them.
“And I was thinking,” Vi said in an extra-loud voice, “that a fountain in the center would be perfect. I bet we can ask Mr. MacDermot to help run water and electricity out to it.”
Patty nodded, playing along. “I think a fountain would be lovely. Maybe we can find one that’s got a bird design!”
Miss Ev moved back away from the open window.
“I think maybe Iris was in B West,” Vi whispered.
Patty lowered her voice too. “The basement is for storage.”
“I want to get down there,” Vi said.
“No way! Dr. Hildreth and my uncle are the only ones with keys. I don’t know what’s down there, but I do know it’s locked up tight.”
Vi nodded. She knew Gran carried a big metal ring of keys in her purse. Maybe the basement key was on it. But getting the keys out of Gran’s purse—that seemed impossible.
“Will you help me?” Vi asked.
“Absolutely not. I could lose my job. And for what? Some kid’s crazy story? Sorry, no offense, but imagine you were in my shoes. Wouldn’t you do the same?”
Vi pressed her point. “I know you’re curious about the basement. I know you were asking my grandmother about it. That you’ve heard stories.”
Patty said nothing.
“So maybe there’s not a way into the basement right now, but how about Gran’s office?” Vi asked. “Do you think you could get me in there?”
Maybe there’d be a clue. Or—did she dare hope?—a key to the basement stashed away in a desk drawer.
“I don’t know. I—”
“I may be a kid, but my grandmother listens to me. She tells me all the time how much she values my opinion. If I go home and tell her how great you are, how helpful you’re being with the bird garden project—she’ll listen. It’ll make a difference. Of course, I could also tell her you treated me like a little kid and didn’t seem very enthusiastic about helping with the garden.”
Patty frowned.
“Please. I’m not asking you for much. Just let me into the building and get me the key to Gran’s office. There’s one hanging in the main office. Do you ever work nights?”