I watched from my bedroom window until most of the days light disappeared over the horizon. Then I walked through the clearing to the edge of the woods. I turned back and studied the house. I tried to image the fire burning out of control in that part of the house over a hundred years ago. Cora’s grandfather betrayed those people he had taken in; creating a debt to humanity that was placed squarely on the back of each subsequent generation. When would it end? How many years would it take? And more importantly, who would be next to pay down on that obligation? Not with money but with their life.
The Coopers house was waiting for me; the porch light glowed in a soft yellow. The house was completely dark. I banged on the door with my knuckles and waited, but got no answer. I knocked again. I was expecting Ella or maybe Ginny to answer. Instead, Harrison Cooper stood before me in a bathrobe. A long expensive bathrobe. His hair looked slightly damp and he had tiny glasses perched delicately on the end of his nose, as if he had been reading. He took them off and stared at me.
“Sorry to bother you, Dr. Cooper, I’m here to see Ginny.” I didn’t think I could do anything more than just go in and say hello with him there. I thought he would tell me to leave but he stepped back and let me in.
“She’s in her room. I’m here because her nurse is off for the evening and I didn’t want to leave her alone. We don’t want a repeat of that evening a few weeks ago. How’s your friend’s head?”
“He’s fine. She didn’t even break the skin.”
He put his hands in the pocket of his robe. “Good, glad to hear it. And Cora?”
“She was fine when I saw her yesterday.” He seemed to be watching me intently. He had little eyes. Little cunning eyes. I disliked him immediately but wasn’t sure why. I’d only seen him the one time before and that meeting was so brief.
“I wanted to tell you how sorry I was to hear about Nick’s accident. Cora told me about it. It’s sad when someone dies so young.” It sounded like he was reading from a script.
“Yes it is and thank you.”
“You’ve adjusted to your loss?”
This question provoked something in me. I was suddenly a bit guarded. “I’m doing the best I can, given the circumstances. I’m trying to keep myself busy.”
“It’s very nice of you to visit Virginia the way you do.”
So, he knew I’d been over before. “Yes, well. I enjoy her company too.”
“She needs visitors, but please don’t upset her. It really was Cora’s place to tell her about Nick’s death. And I think Cora was going to do it at the right time. Virginia was upset for days after you left.”
Shit. What else did he know? “I’m sorry Dr. Cooper. She asked me outright like she already knew and I didn’t feel right lying to her. She seemed to take it okay when I was here with her.”
His eyes were a steel gray color. They were so intense I took a step backwards. “Go on up and sit with her, if that’s what you came for, but please, think before you speak.”
“Thank you.” I almost ran up the stairs.
Ginny wasn’t in her room when I got there, but I could hear sounds coming from the bathroom. I glanced around the room. Her bed was neatly made. Her reading glasses and a book sat on the table near her chaise where I had a feeling she spent a good deal of her time. I walked to her dresser and scanned the top. The usual things were scattered across the surface. A silver brush and mirror set, some face powder, a bottle of perfume, an ornate jewelry box. I lifted the top and looked inside. It wasn’t my intention to steal anything from her. I just wanted to see if there was anything of interest. Pictures, letters. I glanced at the bathroom door. Sounds of water came from the other side of the door. She must be taking a shower.
The inside of the box was lined in velvet and had several layers. A tangle of jewelry filled the top compartment. Most of it looked like junk, costume jewelry and assorted odds and ends. I lifted the top shelf and looked underneath. More compartments filled with necklaces and bracelets. Underneath the shelves were little pull out drawers. Five in all. I pulled them out one by one. I pushed my fingers around in the drawers and surveyed the contents. That’s when I saw the ring of keys. It was a large ring that had at least fifteen keys attached. Each key was labeled with a piece of first aid tape. One said FD. Front door? GC? Guest cottage, maybe. These had to be duplicate keys to Cora’s house. I went through them one by one. Each was labeled with a different room. One simply said OFFICE. That’s how Ginny got in and wandered around. The water went off in the bathroom and I knew Ginny would be coming out any moment. I put the keys in my pocket and closed her jewelry box. I sat back in the chair near the window and waited for her.
Doctor Cooper wanted me to know that he had access to the information that passed between Ginny and me. That was the real purpose of his little speech down there. I doubted that Ginny was upset for days, I was only confirming information that she already knew. But it was clever of him to present it to me that way, Now I was afraid to say anything. Maybe I should’ve just skipped this step and gone right to the library instead.
“Mackenzie?” She came out of the bathroom.
“Ginny, how are you?” her hair was wet and she was dressed in her robe and slippers. Her robe wasn’t as nice or expensive as her brother’s. In fact, it looked a little ratty. At least she recognized me.
She looked at the door. “Harrison let you in?”
I nodded and it seemed to surprise her. She was less confused than she’d been since I met her. Damn. Now would be the best time to talk to her but I was afraid. Something about this whole set-up bothered me. She came over and sat down in her chaise. “What is it that you wanted?”
“To say hello and see how you’re doing.”
“Oh.”
“Ginny, did you tell your brother everything we talked about when I was here before?”
“No. Just that I knew about Nick. I was angry that they kept it from me. They had no right.”
She’d been so confused when I was here before, I couldn’t be sure of what she’d told him. The image flashed briefly before me of Ginny sitting in her chair with a bright light shining directly in her eyes, Doctor Cooper standing behind the light saying, tell me again, Virginia, what did you tell the girl?” I took a deep breath and glanced at the door. I hadn’t heard any sounds from outside. He had to still be downstairs. I’d have to take my chances; I wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass.
“Ginny, did a little boy disappear at Cora’s years ago?” I said it quickly and softly.
She sucked in her breath and looked at me. “Is that what you heard?”
“I’m asking.”
She didn’t say anything for a little bit then her eyes held mine. There was a startled and confused look in her eye. God, please not now. Stay clear and focused. “You know this already. Not a little boy. Nick did, when he was sixteen. But he didn’t come back. Why are you asking this again?”
“A woman at the historical society said a boy disappeared. A small child.”
She glanced backwards towards the door. “It was Nick. That’s all there is to it. And everyday that you’re here, I’m sure is enough reminder of that. Maybe you’ve overstayed your welcome?” She grabbed my hand and it surprised me. Those old fingers were stronger than they looked. “Maybe you need to go back to wherever you came from?” She lowered her voice to a whisper.
I twisted my arm out of her grasp. “Or maybe she wasn’t referring to Nick. Maybe that happened later. Maybe she was referring to another child? James?”
She didn’t respond; her face was turned towards the window, her expression was blank.
“Good night, Ginny. I’ll come by to see you before I leave.”
As her bedroom door clicked shut behind me I was very aware of two things. One, Ginny was lying. And two, the keys I’d stowed in my pocket were making a slight jangly sound when I walked.