Chapter Nineteen

“Come. Come and ride me.” Unbidden thoughts swirled through my mind. “We can ride across the seas. We can be free. Come.”

I ran into the library, slammed the door shut, and twisted the lock. Eyes fixed on the door—did I see the door knob move?—I backed into the room, gasping for breath, my heart racing.

What had Connor said about the veil between the worlds? That Celtic legend is the origin of Halloween. People traditionally dressed in costume on the night before All Saints Day to scare away spirits who were able to move among the living when the veil was at its thinnest.

I almost leapt out of my skin at a crash from the alcove. I whirled around. A group of skeletal sailors lay in a jumble on the floor. Charles jumped off the table and came to me. He twisted himself around my legs.

I bent down and picked him up. Something was in his mouth. “What have you got there?” He dropped the model cat into my palm.

“You eat that,” I said, “and Louise Jane is not going to be happy with you.” He didn’t appear bothered by the threat in the least. He jumped out of my arms and headed for the stairs, telling me it was bedtime. I gathered up the fallen sailors and laid them on the table, and then I tossed the throw kept behind the circulation desk, in case it gets cold, over the Rebecca MacPherson. “That,” I said to Charles, “should keep them from wandering.”

Instead of turning the lights off before going upstairs, as I usually did, I went around the main room, switching them all on. Not that I expected the sailors to get up to anything. But it was the night when the veil was thin, and the horse was out there.

*   *   *

I also kept my bedside light on, but I needn’t have bothered. I slept well, comforted knowing that Charles lay peacefully at my side. If Charles wasn’t afraid of skeletal sailors or ghostly horses in the marsh, then I had no reason to be either.

I rose early the next morning. The only daily chore I performed was to fill Charles’s bowl with fresh water and to lay out his breakfast. Then I pulled on track pants, a sweater, and sneakers and hurried downstairs. I glanced at the throw on the table as I passed, but nothing had moved in the night. I opened the front door and stepped outside. The sun was rising in a clear sky, and the breeze off the sea was soft and cool. Two cars were parked at the edge of the lot, hikers or birders getting an early start on the day. I crossed the grass to the edge of the marsh and began searching. It didn’t take long to find what I was looking for: the imprint of hooves in the wet ground. The depression was round, with a triangle in the center. I’d done a lot of horseback riding when I was a teenager, and I recognized this as an unshod hoof. Highly unlikely to be a horse that had escaped from a stable offering beach rides to tourists. I snapped a couple of quick pictures with my phone and returned to the lighthouse, full of thought. I’d seen something. And that something had been out there on Saturday during Louise Jane’s lecture, Monday morning, and again last night. But was it a ghost horse?

Did ghosts leave hoofprints?

What else could it be?

An escaped wild horse? A figment of my overactive imagination? And then there were the strange lights I’d seen in the marsh and the moving figures of the Rebecca MacPherson’s crew. I consider myself to be a practical woman. I do not have visions or hallucinations, and I am not subject (I think) to being overly impressionable. Ghosts, equine or otherwise, do not exist. Model pieces do not move on their own. And that is that! I went upstairs and called the police to let them know a horse was loose on the marsh.

The operator told me they’d had no reports of one missing, but she would pass my information on. I then set about getting ready for my day. The weather report was for temperatures in the low sixties, so I decided on a black and white striped dress worn with a thin black belt and a black shrug. I laid out the clothes and hopped into the shower. The phone rang as I was drying my hair. Wrapped in a towel, I made a dash for it.

“Lucy, its Louise Jane.”

“Good morning,” I said.

“What’s Bertie’s schedule for today?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“I’m coming in to get the Rebecca MacPherson, and I’d rather avoid her if I can. She seemed to be awful cross last night.”

“I wonder why that would be, after you expressly disobeyed her orders and told tales about the lighthouse.”

“As everyone keeps telling me, Lucy, honey, I’m not a library employee. Bertie is not my boss; therefore she cannot give me orders.”

“True,” I said.

“I’m wanting to avoid any potential … shall we say, unpleasant words.”

“Fair enough. She knows where you live if she’s in the mood to hunt you down. She has meetings all morning at the library in Manteo and isn’t due in until after lunch.”

I heard a click. Louise Jane had hung up without thanking me.

I should have lied.

*   *   *

Today was November 1st, All Saints Day, and the veil between the worlds had closed. Sunlight streamed in through the east windows, and dust mites danced in the beams. Feeling rather foolish, I switched off most of the lights before pulling the throw off the Rebecca MacPherson. In the clear light of morning, it was nothing but a model ship, albeit somewhat unusual. I placed the captain on the quarterdeck, the cat at his feet, and arranged the sailors as though they were performing their duties.

Louise Jane burst through the door the minute I opened up, a box in her arms.

“Good morning, Louise Jane,” I said. “Looks like it’s going to be another lovely day.”

“You’re sure she won’t be back until this afternoon?”

“That’s what her schedule says.” I cleared my throat. It wouldn’t kill me to be gracious. “Your presentation last night was very good. Everyone enjoyed it.”

She preened and with great effort forced the words over her lips. “Thank you, Lucy.” She began packing the Rebecca MacPherson into its box. None of the sailors or George, the ship’s cat, tried to escape.

The door opened again, and Julia and her ever-present entourage came in. “Hope I’m not too early,” she called, “but I’m so excited to talk to Charlene again, I couldn’t keep myself away any longer. Is she in?”

“She isn’t due until ten,” I said.

“No problem. I can wait. No better place to wait than a library.”

“I said that,” Theodore announced proudly. Greg grumbled. I wondered if Julia was starting to feel a mite crowded with those two always tripping over each other in an effort to help her. Perhaps she enjoyed their support while things were so difficult for her.

Today she’d added a splash of color to her usual browns and tied a blue and yellow scarf around her neck. She smiled at me, and I could see that some of the darkness had been lifted from behind her eyes. “As long as I’m here, I plan to take total advantage of this library. I got a call from Detective Watson first thing this morning.”

“Good news?” I asked.

“My grandfather’s body will be released soon, and I’ll be allowed to take him home.”

“So you’re not under suspicion any longer?” I said. “That is good news.”

“He didn’t quite say that. He did tell me that I need to keep him informed of my movements, but I think it’s a promising step, don’t you?”

“Definitely.”

“My lawyer’s already packed and heading for the airport,” she said.

Only Teddy didn’t look pleased at the news. I gave him an encouraging smile. Julia had to go home sometime. It would be up to him, and to her, if they were to keep in touch.

“I loved your lecture yesterday, Louise Jane,” Julia said. “Perhaps I can talk to you some time about legends of the Outer Banks. Charlene is going to tell me the history, and you can tell me the myths.”

“I’d be happy to,” Louise Jane said. “I’m looking forward to making plans with your mother. I sense a kindred spirit. We’ll use the music of the spheres to—”

Julia cut her off. “Please don’t get your hopes up about touring with her. Anna is somewhat … that is, she can be sporadic in her enthusiasms.”

Louise Jane tried not to look too disappointed. “I didn’t mean plans as in working with her. I prefer my lectures to be unaccompanied by cheap theatrics. Much more impressive that way, don’t you agree, Lucy?”

“Me? Oh, yeah, totally.”

“I’m not a showman, but a scholar of the supernatural world.”

“Speaking of myths,” I said, “I was talking to … uh … Mrs. Fitzgerald last night. She started to tell me something about a ghost dog that’s sometimes spotted in the area around Coquina Beach. We were interrupted before she could finish. I don’t think any of your stories feature animals, do they, Louise Jane?”

I tried to approach the topic obliquely, knowing that if I came right out and asked Louise Jane if a ghostly horse or corpse candles had been seen in the marsh, she’d say yes. She’d never admit that there might be a supernatural presence she (or her grandmother or great-grandmother) didn’t know about.

“Dog?” she said. “Oh, yes, that dog. It’s a minor story. The dog, so the story goes, came off a wrecked vessel, and some say they hear it when the wind is strong from the south, howling for its lost master.”

This morning, as the sun filled the room with light, and the scent of the coffee I’d put on to brew wafted in, Louise Jane’s ghostly tale had no impact. It was just the story of a lost dog.

“I know of a handful of stories of animal spirits like that one,” Louise Jane said with a dismissive shrug, “but my grandmother taught me that humans trapped here on earth are more deserving of my attention. And”—she turned her eyes on me—“more dangerous to the living.”

I smiled to myself. I could foresee Louise Jane scurrying off to another library branch to start a search for ghost dogs.

“I find the idea of spirit animals terrifying,” Julia said. “In a story, I mean. Look at the ghostly horse in Bracebridge Hall. That’s the part that chilled me to the bone. Even more than the Flying Dutchman or the tale of the Wild Huntsman.”

“All this nonsense about ghosts makes for a fun way of scaring children, but I don’t have any time for it.” Theodore tried to sound firm, but his voice shook slightly.

Greg threw him a glance, and the edges of his mouth turned up in a grin. “I’m not so sure, buddy.” He quoted Hamlet: “‘There are stranger things in heaven and earth.’”

Charlene arrived, takeout cup from Josie’s in her hand, and earbuds in her ears. “Is this a private party, or is anyone welcome?”

“Good morning,” Julia said. “I’m so excited about getting into your books and papers, I came in early. I hope you don’t mind.”

Charlene pulled the buds out of her ears. “Don’t mind a bit. Believe me, after all the work I do with bored high school students and college kids taking compulsory courses and hating every minute of it, I’m delighted to have someone who’s actually interested. Would you like a coffee or something first?”

“No thanks—I had an early breakfast.”

“I’m heading back to the hotel,” Greg said. “I’ve some business calls to make. Phone me when you’re ready to be picked up, Julia. Coming, buddy?”

“I need to talk to Lucy,” Theodore said. “Library business.”

The curator gave the book collector a long, dark look, but he could hardly say he’d changed his mind and decided to stay.

Everyone headed off in their own direction, and soon Teddy and I were the only people in the main room. “What sort of library business?” I asked.

He put his fingers to his lips and tiptoed somewhat theatrically to the door. He threw it open and peered out. No one was standing there, ear to the door or otherwise. Julia and Charlene’s faint voices drifted down from the upper level. We had no children’s programs scheduled until after school. The library would be quiet this morning, and I’d been looking forward to it, thinking it would give me the chance to get caught up on paperwork and do some research into next year’s book purchases.

“I found something important,” Theodore said.

“What’s that?”

“You notice how interested Julia is in talking to Charlene about North Carolina history?”

“What of it? It’s fascinating stuff.”

“Greg doesn’t seem to share her enthusiasm, but he’s supposed to be some sort of hotshot historian. Julia’s considering taking over management of the collection herself. It’s possible she told him he was going to be surplus to requirements once they left the Outer Banks.”

“That’s nothing but speculation.”

“An educated guess. I’ve been … ahem … spending a lot of time in his company of late. He’s shifty. He doesn’t seem to have much money. He takes all his meals at the hotel and charges them to his room.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?”

“The hotel bill is being covered by Jay’s accounts. Probably through Julia. He didn’t even pay for a round of coffee at Josie’s.”

“I wouldn’t read much into that. Maybe he likes having his expenses paid. I know I would.”

“As a gentleman and a scholar, I would never stoop so low. The facts will eventually speak for themselves, but in the meantime, I’m concerned for Julia’s safety.”

“You mean from Greg? Surely you’re joking.” Judging by the intense look on his face, Theodore was deadly serious.

“If someone killed Jay to get the Ruddle collection,” he said, “Julia might be next.”

“Your logic isn’t working, Teddy. Greg isn’t going to get the Ruddle collection in any event.”

“We don’t know the contents of Julia’s will.”

“No, we don’t. Nor are we ever going to. Drop that line of thought before it gets you into trouble.”

In asking Theodore to help me with the investigating, I’d made a serious mistake. Watson had accused me of having a predetermined conclusion—that Julia was innocent. But Theodore was far worse. He’d decided, for his own reasons, not only was Julia innocent, but Greg was guilty. And nothing would dissuade him from that fact.

“Why don’t you have a word with Detective Watson about Greg, Lucy?”

“Sure. I’ll call him right away. Soon as you’ve left.” I had no intention of doing any such thing. Watson would take Teddy’s fingering of the culprit as seriously as he’d take Charles’s.

“Good. I’ll pop upstairs to see how Julia and Charlene are getting along. Unfortunately, Outer Banks history isn’t one of my areas of study, so I am unable to offer much help. Perhaps it is time I learned.”

While we were talking, Charles had taken his place on a nearby shelf to best follow the conversation.

“Leave Julia alone,” I said. “You weren’t invited to join her and Charlene, so don’t.”

He let out a long sigh. “If you say so, Lucy.”

“I do. How did you get here anyway? Did you drive yourself?”

“I did. Greg asked me to check with reception as to checkout time, and when I got outside, they’d driven off. I told you he was underhanded.”

“Go home. I’ll tell Julia to call you or Greg when she’s ready to leave.”

“Don’t offer Greg. I’ll come.”

“Goodbye, Teddy.”

As Theodore headed out the door, Charles raised one eyebrow at me and wiggled his whiskers.

“When a woman first begins to love, life is all romance to her.” I quoted Washington Irving. “We can change woman to man in this case.”

Charles meowed his agreement.

Two women came in with armloads of books. I exchanged greetings with them and went to work.

*   *   *

I spent the rest of the morning engrossed in publishers’ catalogues. What a fantastic bunch of mysteries were due to be released in the spring. Our budget didn’t stretch to buying everything we might want (nor did space on our shelves), and it would be difficult to choose.

Several of our regulars were perusing the stacks, when Julia clattered down the stairs, her face glowing. “My, but that was interesting. Charlene’s a font of knowledge. I’m thinking of buying a vacation home in Nags Head so I can come in every day. Maybe I inherited some of that Outer Banks blood after all.”

“That would be great,” I said.

The smile faded, and a cloud settled over Julia’s face. “For a moment there, I was about to call Grandfather and ask him to recommend a realtor for me. I’m going to miss him so very much. For my whole life it’s been me and Grandfather. Us against the world, he used to say.” Julia stared into the space above my head. “What am I going to do without him?”

Charles leapt onto the returns shelf, and Julia gathered him into her arms.

“I get the feeling your mother would like to have a relationship with you.” I said.

“Anna? We’ve been apart for so long. We’re so different.”

“Give it time,” I said. “Give her time.” I slid a box of tissues toward her and then lowered my head and busied myself on the computer, giving Julia what bit of privacy I could.

Eventually, she put Charles on the desk and wiped her eyes. “Perhaps I should get a cat.”

Charles meowed his agreement, and Julia smiled. Trust Charles to know exactly how to lighten the mood.

“I’m sorry, Lucy. You don’t need to hear my life story.”

“I did ask,” I reminded her. “Don’t be sorry. I’m happy to do what little I can to help.”

She smiled at me. “Everyone here’s been so nice to me. I called Greg to come and get me. I’ll walk up to the road to meet him.”

*   *   *

By seven o’clock, Bertie, Ronald, and Charlene had left for the day, and only one patron remained in the library. As soon as she was finished, I could lock up.

She dropped a stack of books onto the desk. “This is all proving to be far harder than we were expecting.”

I read the spines of the volumes she’d chosen. All were variations of legal titles For Dummies.

“The house is far too big for us now the children have moved away,” she said. “We want to sell it and get something smaller. My husband insists we can do everything ourselves without a realtor. I’m not so sure.”

“You’ve got a lot of reading here,” I said.

She grimaced. “More than I can get through. Too many now that I see them all in a pile like that. I’ll only take this one, thanks.” She pointed to Home Buying for Dummies.

I checked the book out, handed it to her, and said good night. I followed her to the door and was about to lock it, when I saw Theodore hurrying up the path.

“I’ve come to collect Julia,” he said to me.

“Oh, Teddy. You should have called. She left hours ago.”

Hangdog was the expression. “I suppose that Greg collected her.”

“She didn’t want to bother you.” I gave him what I hoped was an encouraging smile. “Greg is her employee, remember. He worked for her grandfather, so I assume she inherited him. Natural enough she’d call him to run errands for her.”

Theodore looked dubious. Charles wound himself around the man’s legs. “It’s just … you see, Lucy … I … I don’t have a great deal of experience with women. I like Julia. I like her very much. I was hoping we could be friends … more than friends, I mean.”

I tried to look surprised at that news. “Give her time, Theodore. Don’t rush her.”

He threw up his hands. “I don’t have time, Lucy. That so-called curator is constantly lurking about. He’ll be taking her back to New York now that Watson says they can leave.”

“New York’s not on the far side of the moon. Naturally, she’ll want to go home as soon as she can. If nothing else, she has arrangements to make for her grandfather. Let her know you’ll call her in a few days, perhaps come up for a visit to see how she’s doing.”

His big smile showed his browning teeth to full effect. “You’re so wise, Lucy.”

I was saved from having to reply when the door opened, and Julia came in.

Teddy’s face filled with joy. Poor Theodore. Julia would go back to New York, and her life would change now that she was in control not only of the Ruddle money but the historical collection. She’d be busy settling her grandfather’s estate. She’d probably forget all about the Lighthouse Library and our research room and her plans to buy a vacation home here. Charlene kept piles of original material, but they did have libraries in New York City. Once away from Theodore, Greg would make sure Julia would only remember what an unattractive, uncomfortable man the book collector was.

Then again, maybe I wasn’t giving Julia enough credit. Maybe she did like Theodore exactly the way he was.

“Julia!” he said. “What brings you out this evening?”

“I’m glad to find you still here. Both of you. I’m going home tomorrow morning, and I wanted to say goodbye.”

The joy died, and Theodore’s face became a study in disappointment. He truly was as readable as a book. “So soon?”

“Watson called to tell me he’s finished the paperwork to release the … my grandfather, and I’m free to leave. I have to take Grandfather home and make the funeral arrangements. We’ll be on our way first thing tomorrow.”

“Do you need a ride to New York?” Teddy said with as much eagerness as a puppy begging her to throw the ball one last time.

“That’s so sweet of you, but Greg’s arranged a plane for us.”

Charles leapt onto the nearest shelf and rubbed himself against Julia’s arm.

Julia laughed and gave him a pat. “Hello, you. I’m glad to see you too. I’ve made up my mind, and the first thing I’m going to do when I get home is get a cat. I’ve never had pets, because Grandfather said they were nothing but a nuisance, but I’d like to get myself a cat just like this one.”

“Excellent idea,” Theodore said. Julia smiled at him.

The smile she gave the man was the exact same as the one she’d given the cat. Julia liked Teddy, I realized, but in the same way that I like him. I’d happily accept a lift into town, but I wouldn’t want to date him.

Poor Teddy. Shy, awkward, sometimes foolish, but good-hearted Theodore was going to have his heart broken.

“I’ll be back,” Julia said. “I’m determined to spend a lot more time here.”

“Excellent. I’ll be waiting.” Theodore cleared his throat and shifted his feet. “Before you go, how about a walk on the boardwalk? It’s a beautiful evening.”

“I’d enjoy that,” she said. “It’s been a long, emotional day.”

I waved them out the door. Expecting them to pop back in to wish me a good night, I didn’t lock the door behind them.

Charles went off in search of sustenance, and instead of going upstairs while waiting for Julia and Theodore to return, I sat at the desk and logged onto Facebook to check up on news from friends back in Boston.

The door opened as I was wondering if my sister-in-law was aware that Facebook is a public forum. My eldest brother had apparently been so drunk last night, he’d fallen asleep in the car and couldn’t be woken when they got home. She’d left him there to sleep it off.

Instead of Theodore and the fair Julia returning from their walk, the new arrival was Dave. He wasn’t accompanied by Anna. Charles leapt onto the desk, and the fur along his back rose.

“Hi,” Dave said. “Sorry to bother you. I see the ‘Closed’ sign on the door, but I’m looking for Julia. I ran into Greg back at the hotel, and he told me she’d come here to say goodbye and to thank you for your help.”

“She went for a walk.”

“I suppose that annoying man is with her.”

“Theodore? Yes, but he’s not annoying. He’s fond of Julia. Nothing wrong with that, is there?”

Dave sighed. “I don’t know, Lucy. I’ve seen guys like that before. I can tell them a mile away. He’s trouble, pure and simple. I told Anna to keep an eye on him, but Anna’s not exactly levelheaded when it comes to men.” He laughed awkwardly. “She’s married to me, isn’t she?”

“I’d hardly call Theodore trouble. He means well.”

“They always mean well. Until they don’t. Julia told Anna she’s going back to New York tomorrow. I’m worried that guy’ll do something he might regret when she tells him she’s leaving.”

Charles hissed.

I shook my head. “Theodore’s not like that.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Perhaps I’m worried about nothing. Comes with living with Anna, I bet. Always on the lookout for high drama.” He ran his hands through his hair and gave me a tight smile.

“Sure,” I said.

“I’ll leave you to it then. We’ll be leaving tomorrow with Julia and Greg. In a private plane no less. How the other half lives, eh?”

“Have a safe trip,” I said.

He smiled at me, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s been nice meeting you, Lucy, and getting a look at your lighthouse. I popped in to have a last look at it. It’s pretty impressive.” He shifted from one foot to another. His eyes darted around the room, but he avoided looking directly at me. “Maybe if Julia buys that vacation home she’s talking about, I’ll see you again sometime.” He fiddled with something in his pants pocket, and I got a glimpse of a black leather glove. “’Course if she’s anything like her mother, any plans she makes will be forgotten the next morning. Bye.”

“Goodbye,” I said. He left and I went back to Facebook.

Charles swatted my hand.

“Hold your horses,” I said. “We’ll go up after Julia leaves. She might want to say goodbye again. Wow! Look at this. She really has no sense of privacy.” My sister-in-law was telling the world that if my brother didn’t sober up, she’d leave him. One of her friends replied that she knew the top divorce lawyer in Boston.

My mother kept a keen eye on family goings-on via Facebook. She’d be having a fit right about now. More about the airing of laundry in public than a potential divorce from a daughter-in-law she never liked. She’d also be on the phone to her lawyers, determined to keep every cent of Richardson money out of any looming legal battles. These things could get mighty expensive.

My attention was torn away from the computer when Charles dropped his entire body on top of Estate and Trust Administration for Dummies. He swatted at my hand again, this time with claws outstretched.

It hurt. “Hey! Don’t do that. What’s gotten into you? Don’t sit on that book.” I started to pick him up.

Inheritance. Wills.

Jay Ruddle had been a wealthy man. Julia was his only living descendent. I knew nothing about the rest of Julia’s life, but I thought it significant that no one had come to the Outer Banks to be with her after her grandfather’s death. What had she told me Jay always said to her? Us against the world. If she had no close friends or extended family, then who was most likely to be Julia’s heir? Anna. No matter the distance of their relationship. Anna was still Julia’s mother.

Julia wasn’t going to be convicted of killing her grandfather and go to prison. Watson had pretty much dropped that line of inquiry.

Because she hadn’t done it.

If Julia had gone to prison, that would have meant someone else would either inherit the money or manage it in Julia’s absence.

I looked at Charles. He’d moved off the book and was now sitting beside it. His intense blue eyes studied my face as if saying, “Finally, she gets it.”

I’d considered the idea that Anna, instead of being in Europe playing the violin, had been in North Carolina and had sneaked into the library during Louise Jane’s lecture to murder her father-in-law. I’d dismissed that argument because I couldn’t see Anna melting into a crowd. Nor could I see her calmly reappearing to comfort her daughter. Anna was the sort who wouldn’t be able to resist comments like “He deserved it, moya dorogaya,” or “You’re better off without him. Now that he’s gone, we can be together.”

Watson told me Anna had been in Europe when Jay died. I had to believe the police knew what they were talking about.

Therefore Anna Makarova had not killed Jay Ruddle.

Anna had said Dave was with her on her violin tour. But that didn’t mean it was true. Had he told her it was easier to say he was and avoid difficult questions? I could see Anna waving her hand and saying, “Of course, darling.” Watson hadn’t said anything about Dave’s whereabouts, and I hadn’t thought to ask him to check.

Dave, unlike Anna, could easily blend into an Outer Banks crowd. No one knew him. No one had any reason to remember seeing him. If he wore a ball cap, like so many men his age, and pulled it low over his forehead, even if I’d seen him, I would be unlikely to recognize him later. Nothing about Dave’s clothes would make him stand out in a crowd.

His clothes.

It wasn’t summer any more, but the weather was pleasant tonight. Dave had been wearing baggy jeans with a shirt and a denim jacket, normal clothes for such an evening. Normal, except for the leather gloves stuffed in the pockets of his jeans. Why would a man go to the trouble of bringing gloves he wouldn’t need?

To keep his fingerprints off the murder weapon.

Charles leapt off the desk and headed for the door.

I jumped to my feet. Knowing Theodore as I did, I’d dismissed everything Dave had implied a few minutes ago about my book collector friend and his feelings for Julia. Dave had said the other man couldn’t be trusted, not only to me, but to Anna. Could that have been an attempt to put the idea into our heads that awkward, eccentric Theodore would lash out if Julia told him she didn’t want to see him again?

Dave couldn’t just kill Julia. Her death, following so closely on that of her grandfather, would focus police attention on potential heirs. But what if the guilty party was found at the scene? Perhaps with a smoking gun clutched in his hand and a dead woman at his feet?

I ran.

“Call 911,” I shouted to Charles, before remembering that he couldn’t do that.