At Witt's End

7

Nan watched Mr. Bakke spray disinfectant over the embalming table and rub it vigorously with a white cloth.

A smile graced her lips as Paul Brink's words tiptoed into her mind. When Paul had generously offered to foot the bill for purchasing the mortuary and the five acres it sat on, Nan had refused. She wanted to do it on her own. Accepting his offer meant making a commitment. Her marriage to Clay had been a disaster and she wasn't ready to commit to someone else. Now she wished she hadn't refused. It was beginning to look like the dream of perpetuating her father's funeral enterprise would never be realized.

"I forgot to tell you Lon called,” Mr. Bakke said.

"Did he say what he wanted?"

"Not really, but he asked if you'd finished with the Fossums yet."

"I had the strangest conversation with Lon yesterday,” Nan said. “After he helped me load a body into the hearse, he told me he asked Carl Swanson to investigate the Fossums’ deaths. Carl refused. He said Carl got really nervous when he brought it up."

"What did he tell you? Does he think foul play was involved?"

"I'm not sure. But I know he's investigating on the sly. He said if Carl finds out, he'll push to get him transferred. Or fired."

"I can't believe anyone would hurt the Fossums. Richard Fossum didn't have an enemy in the world,” Mr. Bakke said. “He's the kindest person I know."

"Lon said the same thing. That's one of the reasons he's puzzled. He asked if Paul ever discussed any problems he had with Richard."

"Did he?"

"None that he ever talked about. Paul's pretty quiet about his business. There's a lot of confidentiality issues in the insurance business, you know."

"I suppose that's true.” Mr. Bakke tossed the cloth into a hamper.

"Lon said he wished he could get into Richard's office to look at his papers. He wants to see if he can figure out why Richard was depressed."

Sadie and Jane accompanied Nan, Mr. Bakke, and six men to the cemetery following the funeral of a woman who had passed and left no immediate family. She had been institutionalized and outlived the majority of her kin. Those relatives still living had long since forgotten her. Nan insisted that each client be treated with respect and dignity. This woman was no exception. Sadie, Jane, and Mr. Bakke willingly accompanied the woman on her final journey.

The tiny procession fell into place behind a patrol car with its flashers blinking rhythmically against the afternoon sky. Two cars followed the hearse.

After Nan parked the hearse at the cemetery, Mr. Bakke, still spry at seventy, walked toward the gravesite grasping Jane's arm with his right hand and clutching a psalm book in the other. Nan and Sadie followed close behind.

When Nan had offered Mr. Bakke a part-time job to assist with funerals and body preparations, the elderly man jumped at the opportunity. He preferred productivity rather than wasting his time in a vacuum. He had proved to be a valuable assistant. Many times Nan had to insist he pace his workload.

Work wasn't the only thing occupying Mr. Bakke's time. Jane was his other project. The romance had brewed over two decades and turned into a satisfying convenience for them both.

Mr. Bakke lived in Cabin 12. Cabin 12 had been reserved for the resort's caretaker, but when Mr. Bakke could no longer keep up with the duties of the expanding resort, the Witt sisters let him live there permanently. The resort now had three younger men handling the caretaking responsibilities.

Two gravediggers stood off to one side at a respectable distance as the attendees gathered around the burial hole. Four gentlemen from an area church and two local businessmen who had offered to serve as pallbearers lifted the casket from the hearse and placed it on the supports straddling the hole.

Mr. Bakke recited a psalm as they lowered the woman into the ground. He leaned in and placed a rose on the casket. The group then recited the Lord's Prayer. A gravedigger winced and looked out of the corner of his eye at his fellow digger as Mr. Bakke solemnly offered an off-key rendition of Amazing Grace.

Heavy silence surrounded the site. Nan nodded to the gravediggers. The pallbearers quietly returned to their vehicle.

As Jane walked back to the car, she poked her sister with her elbow. “Did you notice that car we met on the way to the cemetery?"

"What car?"

"That car with Carl Swanson and Judge Kimmer. Judge Kimmer was in the front seat with Carl. And Paul Brinks was in the back."

Sadie pressed closer to her sister. “Are you sure?"

"Positive. I know Paul and Carl are friends, but since when does Paul associate with Judge Kimmer?"

Sadie put her finger to her lips as Nan caught up with them.

"Thanks, Mr. Bakke. You did a wonderful job,” Nan said. “I couldn't have done it without you.” She nodded her appreciation to the sisters as she clasped their hands.

"Are you going to be home this evening?” Sadie asked.

"I have no choice. I've got a full slate with the Fossum family. In fact, Mr. Bakke, I'd like to take you up on your offer to help."

"I'll do it,” he replied. “And I refuse to accept that raise you gave me. Just pay me what you paid me before. I do it because I enjoy it.” He quickly added, “Not in a morbid sense, mind you. I enjoy it because I like being useful again."

Nan 's eyes filled with gratitude.

"If you have a few minutes to spare,” Sadie said, “we'll stop by after you finish with the Fossums. Jane and I have something to tell you."

"Great. I'll see you then.” Nan slammed the hearse door and turned the key in the ignition.

Jane waved at Mr. Bakke as they drove off in the hearse.