Chapter 13
“The knife was from his kitchen.” Roxie pressed her fingers against her temples. “I can hardly bear to think of it.”
“That’s horrible.”
Roxie shuddered. “Thank heaven you were there to interrupt or Dad would be dead. The doctor said he’s very lucky to be alive.”
Chills ran through me. It was horrifying to imagine what he went through. No wonder he was concerned about Roxie’s safety. “Have they said whether he will make a full recovery?”
She nodded. “The doctor says the prognosis is good, so I’m very hopeful.”
We reached the kitchen, which appeared to be in an addition. A charming round table by a giant Palladian window looked out on the fenced backyard. I set the lattes down on the table and found small dishes in the kitchen.
When we were seated, I asked, “Is Finley around?”
“Mmm. These are still warm! Thanks, Florrie.” Roxie drank some of her latte. “Finley isn’t home at the moment.”
I frowned. Hadn’t he promised Cyril that he would walk Roxie to work? Or maybe, like me, he had only said that to calm Cyril.
“Have the doctors indicated when Cyril can go home?” I asked.
Roxie set her doughnut on the table. “Apparently, he has an irregular heart rhythm, and they want to put him on Coumadin, but it’s too soon, given the nature of his injury. So they’re going to watch him for a couple of days before they release him. Frankly, I hope they keep Dad as long as possible. I don’t want him to go home. I’ve called a couple of security companies to give us estimates on beefing up the alarm system.”
“The intruder managed to get in despite an alarm?” I asked.
“Dad and I have never used it. We didn’t think we had to. The alarm system is ancient. I don’t know if it works anymore. We need to be sure the house will be safe for him. It breaks my heart. That house has been in my family for over a century. And now all the wonderful memories and happy events have been tainted by the actions of one sick creep.”
“I’m so sorry.” What else could I say?
She sighed. “I’m grateful that Dad is alive. It could have been so much worse!” She forced a smile. “Thank you for bringing the doughnuts and lattes. Everyone has been so kind. Jacquie said to take all the time I needed. I think it would do me good to work, though. You know, take my mind off things for a while. If you wait while I dress, I’ll walk over there with you.”
When she disappeared upstairs, I walked to the front door and opened it as quietly as I could. The street was amazingly still. Not a single person, dog, or squirrel was to be seen. I heard Roxie upstairs and closed the door quickly. There was no point in agitating her further.
Roxie looked better when she reappeared, but she still wasn’t quite her usual self. She seemed worried. I gave her a hug. “Your dad will be okay and home before you know it.”
“I hope you’re right.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Now, if I can get that woman to leave Finley alone, maybe life will get back to normal.”
While we were walking back to the Maxwell mansion, I said, “Finley has that charming British accent we Americans love. Maybe she’s smitten with his accent. Did he grow up in England?”
“His background is so sad that just thinking about it makes me want to embrace him and hold him tight. He lived in London with his parents, a brother, and a sister. But his parents and siblings were killed in an airplane crash when he was five. He was the only member of the family not on the plane. They had left Finley at home with the nanny because he had chicken pox. I lost my mom when I was young, but I can’t fathom what it must be like to lose your whole family. How can anyone learn to cope with that?”
“I can’t imagine. Who raised him?”
“An uncle took him in—well, technically. He had nannies until he was seven, at which point he was shipped off to boarding school. Just between the two of us, I think his loneliness and lack of family are the reasons he came to the United States. Even though he doesn’t really have much family in England, he doesn’t feel it as keenly here because that life is an ocean away.”
“Does he go back to visit?” I asked.
“He never mentions it. I don’t think he wants to go back. Maybe it’s too painful for him.”
“And he has a new family here now,” I said.
We had reached the paved area between the mansion and the carriage house. Roxie shot me a dazzling smile. “I think he’s very grateful for that.”
She entered the mansion through the back door. I was greeted by Frodo and Peaches at my place. Mr. DuBois was nowhere to be seen but my kitchen sink sparkled. I took Frodo out for a quick walk. On our return, Peaches crunched on salmon cat food, Frodo chewed a tooth-cleaning faux bone, and I munched on crackers and hummus.
That afternoon I baked pumpkin cupcakes and had fun decorating them with cream cheese frosting that stood up to look like ghosts. I added chocolate-chip eyes and was very pleased with the results. When I was finished, I retreated to the sofa with a mug of tea and pulled out my sketchbook.
I doodled Roxie’s beautiful, round face first. I drew her baby blond hair and kind eyes of better days. She’d been completely traumatized by the attack on Cyril and certainly wasn’t herself at the moment.
Cyril’s face was easier to draw than his daughter’s. The rectangular wire-rimmed glasses that largely hid his honest eyes were a snap, as were his mustache and chin patch. I hoped he was doing better and could go home soon. He was so worried about Roxie, but when I thought about it, he hadn’t actually said why he thought someone might harm her. To hurt him, perhaps?
I hadn’t known that Finley had lost his parents. He was so young. He never really had a family. I couldn’t imagine growing up that way.
I drifted off on the sofa. At six o’clock, Frodo and Peaches joined forces to wake me. They pawed me gently. Peaches sat on my chest and Frodo finally let out a soft woof. I laughed at their efforts and took their hint. After a walk with Frodo, I fed them dinner. I spent the rest of the evening curled up with a good mystery.
But just after two in the morning, my telephone rang, awakening me from deep sleep. A man on the other end informed me that the police needed access to Color Me Read.