Murder Deja Vu

you.”
    Reece lifted Frank from his bed into his chair. The old man seemed weaker, probably due to the combination of drugs and wine. It didn’t matter.
    Lana made a big breakfast, blini and soft scrambled eggs for Frank, sausage and toast for the others. She fed Frank, but after a few bites he shook his head. “No more.” A pall settled over the kitchen, conversation almost non-existent, unlike the enthusiasm of the night before.
    “I want to go over to the ocean,” Frank said. Everyone exchanged glances. “Don’t look at each other like I’m crazy. I want to see the water. I love the water. I want us all to go to the ocean.” Lana ran from the room. “All of us,” he called after her, his voice barely a whisper.
    Reece could feel the heat of Dana’s stare, but he didn’t look at her. She started to say something, decided against it.
    “Go to her, will you, Dana?” Frank said, his gravelly voice at half strength. “Get her ready to go.” He looked at Reece. “Get me ready. I’ll need a jacket.”
    Reece marshaled all his forces to hold his emotions in check and wheeled Frank into the bedroom. Taking a throw off the bed, he covered Frank’s scrawny legs. Then he put his arms through the sleeves of the jacket. “Are you sure?”
    “I’m sure, son. While I can still function. Bad enough I’m pissing in a fucking diaper, I don’t want to be gaga too. Know what I mean?”
    Reece nodded.
    Lana’s eyes were red and swollen, but she seemed resigned. The two women alternated with opening the doors that led outside, while Reece lifted the wheelchair with Frank in it and carried him down the stairs. When Reece set him down, Lana pushed him across the street.
    “Don’t look at me,” Reece said, holding Dana’s arm. “And don’t say anything.”
    “Could I talk you out of it?”
    “No.”
    “Then I won’t say anything.”
    When they got to the bench, the three of them sat. The sun shone bright, with enough crispness in the air to justify a jacket.
    “This is beautiful, isn’t it?” Frank said. “No smell today, notice? Clear and bright and the ocean is blue and clean. What more could I ask?”
    “It is beautiful,” Dana said. “A perfect day.”
    They watched the ocean for an hour. Lana held Frank’s bony hand and the two exchanged quiet words no one could hear. Then Frank said to Lana, “Now, I want you and Dana to take a long walk. There’s a restaurant at the end of the promenade, right over the Swampscott line. Go have coffee. They have good pecan pie. And don’t come back for a while.”
    Frank looked straight ahead. Lana moved to him and kissed him on the lips. She whispered something in his ear. He whispered in hers. Then she turned and started walking. Dana hugged him and caught up with Lana, taking her arm. Reece watched them walk away.
    “I closed my business,” Frank said. “Lana didn’t want to take it over. She could have. It’s a good income, but she didn’t want to stay here with the memories. She has a daughter in Brooklyn. She’s going there. The daughter’s a good girl. Lana will be fine. I’ve left her enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life. She’ll probably give it all to her grandchild, which is okay if that’s what she wants.”
    Reece didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say. Frank had put his house in order, and he needed to tell Reece.
    “I’d appreciate it if you’d check on her once in a while,” Frank said.
    “I will. I’ll see to it she has everything she needs.”
    “Thank you.”
    Reece felt the tears fill his eyes and brushed them away.
    Frank looked at him and shook his head. “Jesus, you’re a wuss.”
    Reece couldn’t get out the words, so he nodded. He remembered standing over his father, feeling forgiveness for the wasted years, if nothing more. This man next to him had taken his father’s place when he needed a father. And now he would do what his father asked of him and what a good son agreed to.
    “Ready?”
    “Ready.” Reece wheeled Frank across the street. Cars stopped to let them pass. Reece waved his thanks. He lifted the chair up the stairs and through the first door, then used a key for the second. Inside the apartment, Reece asked, “How about one more glass of good Cabernet?”
    “No,” Frank said. “It’s time. Put me to bed.”
    Reece wheeled him into the bedroom, lifted him out of the chair, and laid him down.
    “The dose is on the dresser, full. I waited too long. Now I’m