Acceptable Risk (35 page)

Kim spent Sunday morning keeping herself busy in the castle’s attic, sorting documents. The mindless task provided a bit of solace and for a few hours took her mind away from her unfulfilling living situation. At quarter to one her stomach told her it had been a long time since her morning coffee and bowl of cold cereal.

Emerging from the musty interior of the castle, Kim paused on the faux drawbridge and let her eyes feast on the fall scene spread out around her. Some of the tree colors were beautiful, but they were hardly of the intensity they would assume in several more weeks. High above in the sky several sea gulls lazily rode the air currents.

Kim’s eyes roamed the periphery of the property and stopped at the point of entry of the road. Just within the shadow of the trees she could see the front of an automobile.

Curious as to why the car was parked there, Kim struck out across the field. As she neared, she approached the car warily from the side, trying to get a glimpse of the driver. She was surprised to see it was Kinnard Monihan.

When Kinnard caught sight of Kim, he leaped from the car and did something Kim could not remember his ever having done. He blushed.

“Sorry,” he said self-consciously. “I don’t want you to think I’m just lurking here like some Peeping Tom. The fact is I was trying to build up my courage to drive all the way in.”

“Why didn’t you?” Kim asked.

“I suppose because I was such an ass the last couple of times we saw each other,” Kinnard said.

“That seems a long time ago,” Kim said.

“I suppose in some ways,” Kinnard said. “Anyway I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“You’re not disturbing me in the slightest.”

“My rotation here at Salem Hospital is over this coming week,” Kinnard said. “These two months have flown by. I’ll be back working at MGH a week from tomorrow.”

“I’ll be doing the same,” Kim said. She explained that she’d taken the month of September off from work.

“I’ve driven out here to the compound on a few occasions,” Kinnard admitted. “I just never thought it appropriate to stop by and your phone’s unlisted.”

“I’d wondered how your rotation was going every time I drove near the hospital,” Kim said.

“How did the renovations turn out?” Kinnard asked.

“You can decide for yourself,” Kim said. “Provided you’d like to see.”

“I’d like to see very much,” Kinnard said. “Come on, get in. I’ll give you a lift.”

They drove to the cottage and parked. Kim gave Kinnard a tour. He was interested and complimentary.

“What I like is the way you’ve been able to make the house comfortable yet maintain its colonial character,” Kinnard said.

They were upstairs, where Kim was showing Kinnard how they had managed to put in a half-bath without disturbing the historical aspect of the house. Glancing out the window, Kim did a double take. Looking again, she was shocked to see Edward and Buffer walking across the field on their way to the cottage.

Kim was immediately gripped with a sense of panic. She had no idea what Edward’s reaction to Kinnard’s presence would be, especially with Edward’s cantankerous mood of late and especially since she’d not seen him since Monday night.

“I think we’d better go downstairs,” Kim said nervously.

“Is something wrong?” Kinnard asked.

Kim didn’t answer. She was too busy castigating herself for not considering the possibility of Edward’s appearing. She marveled how she managed to get herself into such situations.

“Edward is coming,” Kim finally said to Kinnard as she motioned for him to step into the parlor.

“Is that a problem?” Kinnard asked. He was confused.

Kim tried to smile. “Of course not,” she said. But her voice was not convincing and her stomach was in a knot.

The front door opened and Edward entered. Buffer headed for the kitchen to check for food that might have inadvertently been dropped on the floor.

“Ah, there you are,” Edward said to Kim when he caught sight of her.

“We have company,” Kim said. She had her hands clasped in front of her.

“Oh?” Edward questioned. He stepped into the parlor.

Kim introduced them. Kinnard moved forward and extended his hand, but Edward didn’t move. He was thinking.

“Of course,” Edward said while clicking his fingers. He then reached out and pumped Kinnard’s hand with great enthusiasm. “I remember you. You worked in my lab. You’re the fellow who went on to the MGH for a surgical residency.”

“Good memory,” Kinnard said.

“Hell, I even remember your research topic,” Edward said. He then tersely summarized Kinnard’s year-long project.

“It’s humbling to hear you remember it better than I do,” Kinnard said.

“How about a beer?” Edward asked. “We’ve got Sam Adams on ice.”

Kinnard nervously glanced between Kim and Edward. “Maybe I’d better leave,” he said.

“Nonsense,” Edward said. “Stay if you can. I’m sure Kim could use some company. I have to get back to work. I’ve only come over here to ask her a question.”

Kim was as bewildered as Kinnard. Edward was not behaving as she’d feared. Instead of being irritable and possibly throwing a temper tantrum, he was in a delightful mood.

“I don’t know how best to word this,” Edward said to Kim, “but I want the researchers to bunk in the castle. It will be infinitely more convenient for them to sleep on the property since many of their experiments require round-the-clock data collection. Besides, the castle is empty and has so many furnished rooms that it’s ridiculous for them to stay in their respective bed-and-breakfasts. And Omni will pay.”

“Well, I don’t know...” Kim stammered.

“Come on, Kim,” Edward said. “It will only be temporary. In no time their families will be coming and they’ll be buying homes.”

“But there are so many family heirlooms in the building,” Kim said.

“That’s not a problem,” Edward said. “You’ve met these people. They are not going to touch anything. Listen, I’ll personally guarantee that there won’t be any difficulties whatsoever. If there are, out they go.”

“Let me think about it,” Kim said.

“What is there to think about?” Edward persisted. “These people are like family to me. Besides, they only sleep from about one to five, just like me. You won’t even know they are there. You won’t hear them and you won’t see them. They can stay in the guest wing and the servants’ wing.”

Edward winked at Kinnard and added: “It’s best to keep the women and the men apart because I don’t want to be responsible for any domestic strife.”

“Would they be content to use the servants’ and the guest wing?” Kim asked. She was finding it hard to resist Edward’s outgoing, friendly assertiveness.

“They will be thrilled,” Edward said. “I can’t tell you how much they will appreciate this. Thank you, my sweet! You are an angel.” Edward gave Kim a kiss on the middle of her forehead and a hug.

“Kinnard!” Edward said, breaking away from Kim. “Don’t be a stranger now that you know where we are. Kim needs some company. Unfortunately I’m a bit preoccupied for the immediate future.”

Edward gave a high-pitched whistle which made Kim cringe. Buffer trotted out from the kitchen.

“See you guys later,” Edward said with a wave. A second later the front door banged shut.

For a moment Kim and Kinnard merely looked at each other.

“Did I agree or what?” Kim questioned.

“It happened kind of fast,” Kinnard admitted.

Kim stepped to the window and watched Edward and Buffer crossing the field. Edward threw a stick for the dog.

“He’s a lot more friendly than when I worked in his lab,” Kinnard said. “You’ve had a big effect on him. He was always so stiff and serious. In fact he was downright nerdy.”

“He’s been under a lot of pressure,” Kim said. She was still watching from the window. Edward and Buffer seemed to be having a marvelous time with the fetching game.

“You’d never guess, the way he’s acting,” Kinnard said.

Kim turned to Kinnard. She shook her head and rubbed her forehead nervously. “Now what have I gotten myself into?” she asked. “I’m not completely comfortable with Edward’s people staying in the castle.”

“How many are there?” Kinnard questioned.

“Five,” Kim said.

“Is the castle empty?” Kinnard asked.

“No one is living there if that’s what you mean,” Kim said. “But it surely isn’t empty. You want to see?”

“Sure,” Kinnard said.

Five minutes later Kinnard was standing in the center of the two-storied great room. A look of disbelief dominated his face.

“I understand your concern,” he said. “This place is like a museum. The furniture is incredible, and I’ve never seen so much fabric for drapes.”

“They were made in the twenties,” Kim said. “I was told it took a thousand yards.”

“Jeez, that’s over a half mile,” Kinnard said with awe.

“My brother and I inherited this from our grandfather,” Kim explained. “We haven’t the slightest idea what to do with it all. Still, I don’t know what my father or brother will say about five strangers living in here.”

“Let’s look at where they would stay,” Kinnard said.

They inspected the wings. There were four bedrooms in each, and each had its own stairway and door to the exterior.

“With separate entrances and stairs they won’t have to traverse the main part of the house,” Kinnard pointed out.

“Good point,” Kim said. They were standing in one of the servants’ bedrooms. “Maybe it won’t be so bad. The three men can stay in this wing and the two women over in the guest wing.”

Kinnard poked his head into the connecting bath. “Uh oh,” he said. “Kim, come in here!”

Kim joined him. “What’s the problem?”

Kinnard pointed to the toilet. “No water in the bowl,” he said. He leaned over the sink and turned on the faucet. Nothing came out. “Some kind of plumbing problem.”

They checked the other bathrooms in the servants’ wing. None of them had water. Crossing to the guest wing, they found that the problem, whatever it was, was confined to the servants’ wing.

“I’ll have to call the plumber,” Kim said.

“It could be something simple like the water has just been turned off,” Kinnard said.

Leaving the guest wing, they walked through the main part of the house again.

“The Peabody-Essex Institute would love this place,” Kinnard said.

“They’d love to get their hands on the contents of the attic and the wine cellar,” Kim said. “Both are filled with old papers, letters, and documents that go back three hundred years.”

“This I gotta see,” Kinnard said. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all,” Kim said. They reversed directions and climbed the stairs to the attic.

Kim opened the door and gestured for Kinnard to enter. “Welcome to the Stewart archives,” she said.

Kinnard walked down the central aisle looking at all the files. He shook his head. He was floored. “I used to collect stamps when I was a boy,” he said. “Many a day I dreamed of finding a place like this. Who knows what you could find?”

“There’s an equal amount in the basement,” Kim said. Kinnard’s delight gave her pleasure.

“I could spend a month in here,” Kinnard said.

“I practically have,” Kim said. “I’ve been searching for references to one of my ancestors named Elizabeth Stewart who’d been caught up in the witchcraft frenzy in 1692.”

“No kidding,” Kinnard said. “I find all that stuff fascinating. Remember, my undergraduate major was American History.”

“I’d forgotten,” Kim said.

“I visited most of the Salem witchcraft sites while I’ve been out here on rotation,” Kinnard said. “My mom came for a visit and we went together.”

“Why didn’t you take the blonde from the ER?” Kim asked before she had a chance to think about what she was saying.

“I couldn’t,” Kinnard said. “She got homesick and went back to Columbus, Ohio. How are things going for you? It looks like your relationship with Dr. Armstrong is alive and well.”

“It’s had its ups and downs,” Kim said vaguely.

“How was your ancestor involved in the witchcraft episode?” Kinnard asked.

“She was accused as a witch,” Kim said. “And she was executed.”

“How come you never told me that before?” Kinnard said.

“I was involved in a cover-up,” Kim said with a laugh. “Seriously, I had been conditioned by my mother not to talk about it. But that’s changed. Now getting to the bottom of her case has become a mini-crusade with me.”

“Have you had any luck?” Kinnard said.

“Some,” Kim said. “But there is a lot of material here and it has been taking me longer than I’d anticipated.”

Kinnard put his hand on the handle of a file drawer and glanced at Kim. “May I?” he asked.

“Be my guest,” Kim said.

Like most of the drawers in the attic it was filled with an assortment of papers, envelopes, and notebooks. Kinnard rummaged through but didn’t find any stamps. Finally he picked up one of the envelopes and slipped out the letter. “No wonder there’s no stamps in here,” he said. “Stamps weren’t invented until the end of the nineteenth century. This letter is from 1698!”

Kim took the envelope. It was addressed to Ronald.

“You lucky son of a gun,” Kim said. “This is the kind of letter I’ve been breaking my back to find, and you just walk in here and pluck it out like there was nothing to it.”

“Glad to be of assistance,” Kinnard said. He handed the letter to Kim.

Kim read the letter aloud:

12th October 1698Cambridge

Dearest Father,

I am deeply grateful for the ten shillings as I have been in dire need during these troublesome days of acclimation to colledge life. Ever so humbly I should like to relate that I have had complete success in the endeavor about which we had much discours prior to my matriculation. After lengthy and arduous inquiry I located the evidence used against my Dearly Departed Mother in the chambers of one of our esteemed tutors who had taken a fancy to its gruesome nature. Its prominent display caused me some disquietude but Tuesday last during the afternoon bever when all were retired to the buttery I chanced a visit to the aforesaid chambers and changed the name as you instructed to the fictitious Rachel Bing-ham. To a like purpose I entered the same in the catalogue in the library of Harvard Hall. I hope Dear Father that now you find solace that the surname Stewart has been freed from its most grievous molestation. In consideration of my studies I can with some felicity relate that my recitations have been well received. My chamber-mates are hale and of a most agreeable nature. Apart from the fagging about which you aptly forewarned me, I am well and content and