Devil May Care (17 page)

"You think I'm the joker," Donald said.

"No. I don't think you're that smart."

"Thanks. I'll return the compliment. I don't think you did it either."

"Me! Why would I--"

"This is the first time you've had a witness," Donald pointed out. "A fiendishly clever, malignant villainess would make sure the plot didn't rest solely on her unsupported word. Stop making horrible faces at me, Ellie; I know you're as innocent as a babe in arms. I hate to say it, with Ted so sick and all, but till tonight he was my prime suspect. Did you see the gleam in his eye when Marge was talking about dear old granny? I was rather expecting something to happen tonight, and it wouldn't have surprised me to find granny the star act. But what did happen was not what I was expecting. A burglar! It's so crude."

"It's a mess," Ellie said despairingly. "What am I going to do?"

"Send for Kate. You have to, Ellie."

"Oh, I agree. She'll want to know about Ted anydevil-MAY-CARE 139

way. But what can she do? She can't explain this incredible business any more than we can."

"She may be able to explain more than you think," Donald said.

By noon Ellie was forced to admit that she was not going to be able to reach Kate by telephone. The number she had been given did not answer. When she suggested a telegram, Donald pointed out that this had no more chance of reaching the recipient than a phone call. Yet Ellie was reluctant to set the complex apparatus of police search in motion. A call to the hospital where Ted had been taken produced only the bland assurance that the patient was "about the same." After that Donald got on the phone, trying to reach his father. As is always the case when one is in a desperate hurry, he kept missing him by five minutes. It was midmorning before the doctor called back from his office in town. He had not heard of Ted's illness, and was horrified at the bad news Donald tossed him, but he refused to leave his patients until his morning office hours were over. He promised to visit Ted immediately thereafter, and report back. When Dr. Gold finally called, his voice had the false cheeriness that poorly conceals anxiety.

"He's in intensive care, honey; it's routine, in these cases, but I think he'll make it. Of course it's impossible to question him, or even let him talk about anything that might worry him. He's semiconscious and in no pain, I promise you. No, there is nothing you can do. Dr. Koch is the best cardiac specialist in the area, I wouldn't attempt to interfere even if I wanted to. This is turning out to be a busy day. It must be

14O Elizabeth Peters the heat; my patients seem to be dropping like flies.

So I won't be able to get to you until late this afternoon.

I'll come straight out as soon as I finish my calls, okay? You two hang on; I'll keep in touch with Dr. Koch and let you know the moment there's any change."

After that Eilie agreed to call the state police in Vermont.

That call, like all the others, took some time; explanations were tedious; but finally Ellie hung up the phone, which was hot from so much handling, and said limply, "They'll send someone to the lodge.

And let us know."

Donald, who was looking as haggard as she felt, nodded. They were sitting in Kate's workroom, which was even more cluttered than usual. Neither of them had had the heart to do any housework.

"The Beaseleys," Ellie said suddenly. "Donald, the Beaseleys haven't shown up today."

"How do you know?" "You don't often see them," Ellie admitted. "But you can usually tell they've been around."

"Let's look."

The Beaseleys had not been around. Breakfast dishes still cluttered the table, the egg-stained plates and crumb-covered mats looking as dissolute as such objects do by midday. The library had not been touched.

Automatically Ellie began tidying the room, replacing furniture, straightening the rug, collecting the objects that had stood on the desk.

"Maybe you shouldn't disturb anything," Donald said.

"The police have already seen it. I have to do something, I'm so nervous. Come on, Donald, help me. Do you suppose--" "Yes," Donald said. "I do suppose. People like the Beaseleys have a kind of sixth sense for abnormality.

I don't mean ghosts; the fact that the police had been DEVIL-MAY-CARE 141

here would be enough to send them into hiding for a while. Like all semiliterates they are extremely suspicious of authority."

"But how would they know--"

"My dear girl, the entire town probably knows by now."'

With the neat contrivance of a stage direction, the telephone chose that moment to ring. Donald looked inquiringly at Ellie, who nodded. He picked up the instrument. The expression on his face told Ellie who was calling even before he spoke.

"Oh, yes. No, no, nothing like that; you know how these stories get exaggerated ... Well, he's in intensive care, but they seem to think he'll recover ... A burglar, we suppose. There was a struggle, and the door to the library was forced ... " A long pause followed; Elite could hear the voice at the other end of the wire as a tiny, wordless noise that went on and on and on. Donald glanced at her; he was chewing his lower lip in a fashion that indicated indecision.

Then, abruptly, he seemed to make up his mind.

"Well," he said finally, "I don't know how you found out, but something did happen. Yes, something like that. Look, I don't want to discuss it over the phone.

Why don't you come out here this evening? Maybe a conference is in order. About eight?" He cocked an eyebrow at Ellie, who shook her head vigorously; with a grin, Donald went on, "Ellie says that would be fine. See you then, Marge."

"Donald--" Ellie began.

Donald hung up the phone.

"She'll come, invited or uninvited, if I know Marge.

Better to have it on our terms. Besides, I think some straight speaking is in order. I can support your story now. You have proof that an outside influence is at work. Maybe we can learn something by getting all these people together and letting them talk.

Somebody might get careless and make a slip."

"You mean--invite the whole crowd?"

142 Elizabeth Peters

"The old families," Donald said, with a wry twist of his lips. "They are all involved in this somehow.

Maybe we can find out how."

"You mean--call them up and invite them--"

"Quit saying, ' mean,' " Donald said irritably.

"I'll bet you a moderate surn of money we won't have to cal them. If the word hasn't already spread, Marge will spread it."

He was right. They were eating a makeshift lunch of sandwiches and beer when the second phone call came, from Roger Mcgrath.

Donald had taken over the telephone duties, with Ellie's tacit consent; she was glad of it when she heard the high-pitched shriek from the telephone and saw Donald's face harden. Donald dealt with Mcgrath effectively, and hung up.

"Number two," he said. His voice was calm, but there were spots of color on his cheekbones, evidence of controlled anger. "What a mean little creep that guy is ... I know how you feel, Ellie, but it's better to have him under our eye than squirming around the outskirts telling lies. He's going to call the others."

"Eight o'clock?"

"Yes, I think it's the best way, Ellie."

"I suppose you're right. Where the hell do you suppose Kate is?"

They found out, not long afterward, where Kate wasn't. The Vermont police reported that the lodge where Kate had been staying was closed and deserted.

A. sign on the front door read simply, "Gone.

Back eventually." Kate's friends shared some of her habits. The police were broadcasting an appeal for Kate to get in touch with them, or with her home.

More than that they could not do.

This news came close to breaking Ellie down.

"Something has happened to her," she mumbled, hanging up the phone. "It's the last straw, Donald; if Kate is hurt, or--or--"

DEVIL-MAY-CARE 143

"Don't be silly," Donald interrupted, in his nastiest voice. "This is perfectly normal behavior for Kate. If we had been able to locate her right away, you'd have had cause to worry about her. She'll turn up in her own sweet time. Look, Ellie, you're exhausted, that's part of the trouble. Let's get some sleep. I could do with a few hours myself."

Ellie raised her face from her hands and looked at him; something in her expression made a faint color come into Donald's cheeks. He went on, quickly, before she could speak.

"After we've had a nap, I suggest we sit down and write out a coherent account of what has happened.

Who knows, we might see some pattern that has eluded us so far. Dad will be along later; we'll have time to talk it over with him before the crowd arrives.

How does that strike you?" "Fine," Ellie said meekly.

A few hours' rest made her feel a little better, but not much. As she said to Donald, the situation hadn't changed. There was no word from Kate, no sign of the mysterious Beaseleys, no information about Ted's condition, and no explanation for what had been going on.

"Ah," said Donald--who appeared to be one of those irritating people who are fully restored by two hours of sleep--"that last is what we are about to tackle. Sit down, take pen in hand, and prepare to write."

They were in the kitchen. Although neither would admit it, the picture-book modernity of that room was more spiritually comfortable than the period atmosphere of the remainder of the house. An eighteenthor nineteenth-century apparition would have been quite at home in the library or parlor, but Ellie felt, illogically, that they wouldn't have the nerve to materialize among blenders and microwave ovens.

Kate's workroom was getting too messy. The accu-

144 Elizabeth Peters rnulation of cat hairs had reached monstrous proportions.

Donald had placed two pads of legal-sized paper and several pens on the table. He now presented Ellie with a mug of black coffee and poured one for himself.

"I'd rather have beer," Ellie said.

"You have to keep a clear head."

"It will take more than coffee to clear my head," Ellie said darkly.

"Stop griping and get to work."

Amid considerable debate--the least acrimonious sections of which are reproduced here--they produced the following document.

summary of events I. The apparition in the hall.

When: the first night; approx. 11 p.m. Appearance: young male, middle- or late-18thcentury costume, bearing striking physical resemblance to Donald P. Gold.

(Eliie: "What does the P. stand for?"

Donald: "None of your business.")

Where seen: upper hall, slightly to left of stairs, General comments: Transparent. Search (next day) revealed no sign of wires, switches, etc.

Note: animals displayed no reaction.

Tentative identification: Francis Morrison, died, 1777.

II. The apparitions on the lawn.

When: the second night; approx. 3 a.m. Appearance: Apparition A. Female, young(?)--

(Ellie: "Why the question mark?"

Donald: "You didn't see her face, did you?"

ESlie: "No, but she moved like--"

Donald: "I cannot admit conjecture.")--late DEVIL-MAY-CARE 145

19th-century costume (long, full skirts) and hair style. Hair color blond or white

Apparition B: presumably young male; except for long dark hair, costume and other details hidden by woman's body and wide skirts.

Apparition C: male, middle-aged, late 19thcentury costume (dark suit, vest, white shirt with stiff collar); bearded; expression of extreme malevolence.

(Donald: "That last is conjecture too."

Ellie: "What do you mean, conjecture? I saw it. It was malevolent."

Donald made a rude comment.)

Apparition C followed A and B after approx.

5-minute interval.

Where seen: lawn, near old footpath through woods, northeast of house.

General comments: Apparitions A and B moving swiftly as if running. Apparition C stopped long enough to make gesture toward house.

(Donald: "I know, I know, it was a malevolent gesture."

Ellie: "Menacing.")

Tentative identification: Frederick Fraser, Anne Mcgrath, died 1875; Jeremiah Mcgrath, died 1902.)

III. The apparition in Elite's room.

When: the fourth night, approx. 3 a.m. Appearance: elderly man, white hair and beard, late-19th-century costume (dark suit and vest, white shirt with high collar).

Where seen: doorway of Ellie's room.

General comments: lights out, switches inoperative (later found in normal working order by Donald P. Gold).

(Ellie: "You do love the sound of your own name, don't you?")

Apparition wore expression of leering lust.

146 Elizabeth Peters

(Donald: "That's extremely subjective, but 1 suppose you'll complain if I leave it out."

Ellie: "Correct.") Apparition displayed agitation, recoiled, vanished when subject moved. (Crucifix?

Very doubtful.) Later search revealed clumps of damp soil, resembling--

(Donald: "Damn it, I refuse to put that in."

Ellie: "Sure, just leave out everything you don't like to face."

Donald snarled.)--resembling graveyard dirt, along upper hall. Another item, a small bone (probably rodent) found in mouth of dog, may have come from hall also.

Tentative identification: Albert J. Lockwood IV, died 1912.

IV. The apparition on the stairs.

When: the fifth night, approx. 2:30 a.m. Appearance: feniaie, long white robe or formal dress, red hair, features blurred.

Where seen: landing of front stairs.

General comments: first visible as white shape, gradually becoming more distinct. Accompanied by sensation of extreme cold. Began to descend stairs, faded at sound of siren of ambulance. Apparition followed fight in library between Ted and unknown intruder who entered by breaking glass in French doors. Note: When investigated by Donald P. Gold, fuses governing lights on second floor of west wing were found to be switched off. Query: is this the explanation of the darkness accompanying Apparition III? On that occasion intruder had time to restore switches to "on" position before leaving.