Her second-floor apartment occupied a carriage house behind an old mansion, and she rushed upstairs to hug Bootsie, her adored animal companion, while Qwilleran brought up her luggage. Then she turned to him and said crisply, "Who is she?"
"It's a long story, but I'll make it brief," he said, talking fast and inventing half-truths. "After you left, the paper sent me to Breakfast Island on assignment . . . and I stayed at the Bambas" B-and-B ... and I happened to meet a wealthy family from Chicago . . . whose daughter is relocating in Pickax. She's a friend of Fran Brodie's. I think she has some interest in the new college."
"Well!" Polly seemed unconvinced.
"And may I ask the nature of the important decision mentioned on your postcard?"
"That's a long story, too. We can talk about it later."
Downstairs, Liz had moved into the front seat again and was enthusing about the neighborhood. "I'd love to live here," she said.
"All these buildings are part of the new college campus," he explained, as he turned back onto Main Street.
At Park Circle he pointed out the courthouse, the public library, and the K Theater, originally a mansion that was gutted by fire. Fire! His mind did a flashback to Breakfast Island: the fire in Five Pips, the death of June Halliburton, the revelation that she was the caretaker's daughter . . . Liz had known her . . . Liz had heard something upsetting in connection with the fire and was about to relate it when the power failed.
Qwilleran turned the wheel quickly and stopped the car in a parking lot. "Just before the lights went out, Liz, you were about to tell me something you overheard in the stable."
"Yes ... yes ..." she said moodily. "It haunts me, but I don't know whether I should talk about it or not."
"Tell it. You'll feel better."
"I'm afraid it's incriminating."
"If it's the truth, it should be told."
At that moment their conversation was interrupted by a tap on the car window, driver's side. "Hi, Mr. Q! Are you back?"
Qwilleran lowered the window but replied curtly. "Yes, I'm back."
An incredibly tall young man peered into the car, regarding the passenger with interest. "I've got my job back at the Old Stone Mill," he said.
"Good for you!"
The fellow was looking speculatively at Liz, and she leaned forward with a half-smile that gave Qwilleran a brilliant idea. He said, "Liz, this is Derek Cuttlebrink— you saw him in the Corsair Room—a prominent man-about-Pickax ... Derek, Elizabeth Cage is a newcomer from Chicago."
"Hi! I like your crazy hat!" he said with uninhibited honesty.
Qwilleran added congenially, "We'll have to get her interested in the theater club, won't we?"
"Sure will!" Derek said with enthusiasm.
A scenario of the young man's future unreeled in Qwilleran's mind . .. Exit: the ecologist with camping equipment. Enter: the amateur botanist with trust fund. Botanist and ex-pirate enroll in the new college.
Derek ambled away, and Liz repeated what she had said in the hotel lobby: "He's so tall!" Her eyes were lively with admiration.
"Nice young man," Qwilleran said. "Good personality. Lots of talent ... Now, where were we? You overheard your brother arguing with the steward in the stable."
"Yes, I was in the stall with Skip, and they were in the tack room and didn't see me. I couldn't believe my ears! The steward accused Jack of starting the fire that killed his daughter! Elijah said, "You were married to two women, and you had to get rid of one! You're a murderer! I'm going to the sheriff!" And Jack said, "You stupid peasant! No one will believe you! And don't forget, I've got the goods on you—enough to put you away for life. You say one word to anyone, and I'll tell them about the explosion . . . and the shooting .. . and the poisoning! That's enough to hang you twice!" Then Elijah screamed at him, "You're the one told me to do it! You murderer!" And in between they were shouting obscenities that I couldn't repeat ... Just then, Skip whinnied! There was sudden silence. I almost died!"
She paused to recollect the crucial moment, and Qwilleran urged her to continue.
"The arguing stopped then, and I heard Jack leave the stable, still shouting nasty names at the old man who had been like an uncle to him when we were all growing up. After that, Elijah banged things around in the tack room for a while, and then he left, too. When it was safe, I slipped out the back door and walked all around the poolhouse and croquet court before going home. That's when I discovered that Mother was giving evacuation orders. She said it was going to be the storm of the century. But I think it was Jack's idea to—"
"Leave the scene of the crime?" Qwilleran suggested.
"If it's true what Elijah said."
"Elijah Kale? Is that his name?" Mentally Qwilleran spelled it: 5-12-9-10-1-8 and then 11-1-12-5. "Were you aware that Jack had married his daughter?"
