Secrets of Hallstead House (16 page)

“Still,” she said to me, smiling, “I did a good job on those stairs, didn’t I?”

“Yes.” I laughed. “But please don’t do it again without warning me first!”

Alex had asked me to stay in her bedroom until she fell asleep. I wasn’t in there long, because she fell asleep so quickly. I wish I could say the same for myself.

I lay down on the sofa in her sitting room and tossed and turned for what seemed like hours. I tried going into the library to find something to read, but for once I wasn’t even interested in books. I lay down again and eventually drifted off to sleep, only to find myself swirling in an eddy of roiling water underneath the branches of the leaning tree. The river current was strong and swift. I was drowning. Though I was gasping for air and flailing my arms wildly in an attempt to claw my way onto the shore, I knew my efforts would be in vain. In a twisted reversal of roles, my parents watched me from the shore. They wanted to help but couldn’t move. Alex was there too, trying to save me. I swallowed a mouthful of the water, its iciness burning my lungs. As the water closed over my head again and again, my eyes focused with shock and horror on a sight far below me. Diana’s grotesque, lifeless body hung suspended in the river, her limp hands reaching toward me.

I think it was the sight of Diana that finally woke me up. I was sweating, panting, and utterly terrified. My blanket was wrapped around my legs and I couldn’t remember where I was. I sat up straight and looked around in the darkness, but it was several seconds before I realized that I was in the sitting room. I didn’t know if my thrashing had made much noise, so I got up and tiptoed to Alex’s bedroom door. No sound. I peeked inside and saw that she was still sleeping soundly. Breathing a sigh of relief, I went back over to the sofa and sat down. My heart was beating too fast and my hands shook a little. I was still scared. The depth and immensity of the water had seemed so real. And I would never forget the terror of seeing my biological mother floating in the water, reaching for me.

Gradually my heart rate slowed and I was able to calm down. I nestled into my blanket once again and tried to go back to sleep. It took quite a while but, surprisingly, I was able to sleep again that night, albeit fitfully.

The next morning I woke up a little late. I could hear Alex dressing in her bedroom, so I knocked on the door to let her know that I would be back after a shower and breakfast.

I ate breakfast with Stephan and Will in the dining room. They were engrossed in a conversation about a transaction that would be closing in the next several days, so they didn’t pay much attention to me. I ate in silence, wondering how I would go about helping Alex find out who killed Diana and Forrest. I didn’t even know what questions to ask, or to whom I should speak. I needed to talk to Pete, whose levelheadedness I could use right now. He deserved to be warned about the note Alex had received.

When I returned to Alex’s rooms, she was working at her desk. She, too, was involved in the transaction that Stephan and Will had been discussing at breakfast, and I was glad to see that she had work to do that would keep her mind busy.

Not that she had forgotten the events of the previous day. I noticed that the door to her private porch entrance remained locked and chained this morning, something that was unusual for her. She generally left that door unlocked to allow Stephan, Will, and any other visitor easy access to her. The intruder who had gotten into her office yesterday with the note must have known that Alex’s private entrance was usually left unlocked.

But that didn’t help me much. Probably everyone on Hallstead Island and even the people on the neighboring islands knew that her door remained unlocked.

I told Alex I would need to talk to her later, then went into the library to continue packing up some of her books while she met with Stephan and Will in her office.

A couple of hours and two large boxes of books later, I went in to help her with her exercises. I proposed that we take a short walk, in part because it was a beautiful day and in part so that we could speak together alone and away from Summerplace.

I talked to Alex about my concerns once we were outdoors. I hated to dredge up memories that would undoubtedly be painful for her, but these issues had to be addressed if I was going to make any headway. Strangely, I never worried about danger to myself at the time. I was focused on helping Alex, and my concern was for her.

“What else do you remember about the day Forrest died?”

She was quiet for a long time. I was beginning to think she wasn’t going to answer my question when she spoke.

“I don’t remember anything other than what I’ve already told you,” she answered, shaking her head. “I’m trying, but I just can’t think.”

“Do you remember who else was on Hallstead Island that day?”

She thought again. “Well, besides Forrest and me, Pete was here. He’s the one who called the doctor. And Will was here. And Vali and Leland. I remember seeing all their faces staring at me.”

“Where was Stephan?”

“Stephan? Oh, I suppose he was in New York working. I called him that evening after the police had left and he told me he would be here the next day. I remember that he got here in the morning.”

“Anyone else?”

“Not that I can remember.”

I was exasperated.

“Alex, can you think of any reason anyone would have had to be angry with Forrest?”

She put her hand on her forehead in a fluttering motion.

“No. No. I just can’t remember anything like that.” She turned to me and I could see tears glistening in her eyes. “Everyone loved Forrest. He was kind and generous and good. He didn’t deserve to die that way.” Her voice caught on her last words. I put my hand gently on her arm.

“I should have been with him,” she added softly.

“You couldn’t have prevented what happened. If you had been there, whoever pushed him would simply have waited for another opportunity. You couldn’t protect him all the time.”

“I know.” She sighed. “I just can’t help thinking that he died that day because of me.”

“Well, that’s not the case,” I assured her again. I hesitated a moment before broaching the next subject.

“I know you don’t want to drag Pete into this, but it’s time he found out about that note. It’s only fair that he knows. Plus, he might be able to give us some insight or might remember something from that period that you may have forgotten.”

“Poor Pete. The last thing he needs is to have to worry about me.”

“I’m afraid you’re not giving him his due. He has a genuine and deep respect and admiration for you, and I know he feels very protective of you. I think he would appreciate the chance to be able to help.”

Alex continued walking and was silent for several minutes.

“Maybe you’re right. I love Pete like a member of my own family, but in my zeal to protect his privacy, perhaps I’ve overlooked his feelings.”

I grinned at her. “I’ll go talk to him right after we finish our walk.”

“I suspect he won’t be sorry to see you,” she said with a wink. I blushed.

We finished our walk and Alex asked me to stay with her for lunch. The outer door to her office remained locked, and we spent lunch discussing different tasks that had to be completed before the move to Pine Island. Our conversation enabled Alex to keep her mind off her troubles for a brief time. Stephan joined Alex in her office after lunch and I went in search of Pete. I didn’t have far to look. I found him on his knees examining one of the large picture windows along the side of Summerplace. He looked up as I approached and smiled broadly.

“Looking for me?”

“Yes, in fact, I was.”

“Then it’s my lucky day.”

I blushed again, to my great embarrassment, and rolled my eyes.

“Pete, I need to talk to you about something. Could we go for a walk away from the house for a little while?”

He stood up, wiping his hands on his jeans. “This sounds serious.”

“I’m afraid it is.”

“Then let’s go down to the boathouse. I need some caulk and a couple of small tools to repair this window, so I have to head that way.”

He led the way around the porch to the front of Summerplace, where Brandt and Giselle were coming up the stone steps. They were holding hands and, as usual, Giselle looked well put together in dress pants and a tight silk top.

They stopped and exchanged small talk with us. They were popping in to see Alex, they said; then they would check in on Vali and Leland.

When we had left them, we walked slowly through the trees down to the boathouse while I related the events that had transpired since I had seen Pete last. He was shocked.

“We could really use your insight,” I concluded.

“I’ll do anything I can,” he replied emphatically.

“I knew you would.”

“Where do you think we should start?”

“First I’d like you to take me over to the police station in Cape Cartier. They have to be told about the note. Then we need to figure out exactly what happened on the day Forrest died. Alex doesn’t seem to remember anything about that day other than what she has already told me. And she can’t recall any reason that anyone would have had to be angry with Forrest.”

“Run up to the house and get a warmer coat on, then I’ll take you over to the police station. The picture window can wait until later. I’ll just leave these tools on the porch.”

“Thanks.” I smiled. We walked close to each other in silence through the trees. We could see Summerplace through the trees when Pete took my hand in his and turned to me.

“It sounds like you’ve decided to stay.”

“I have, at least until Alex gets everything straightened out.”

“I’m glad,” he replied, and bent to kiss my lips lightly. I felt that same quivery feeling in my stomach and squeezed his hand gently.

“Me too. I’ll be right back.”

I met Brandt and Giselle leaving Summerplace as I walked in the front door.

“Leaving so soon?” I asked them.

Giselle let her breath out loudly. “I just got a call. I have to go into work to cover a story in Cape Cartier. Aunt Vali could use my help, but it will have to wait.” She looked up at Brandt. “Honey, why don’t you come with me?” she suggested.

“I told Alex I’d stay here to help Pete. He’s got a lot to do and Leland isn’t here to help because he took a load of stuff over to Pine Island.”

“Please?” she asked plaintively.

“I can’t, Giselle. I’ll be back soon. I promise.”

“Well, okay.” She gave him a dark look, clearly not happy with his answer.

“Pete’ll give me a ride back to Cape Cartier. I won’t be too long.”

“Make sure you’re not, sweetheart,” Giselle answered, her dark look disappearing. She glanced my way and then stood on her tiptoes to give Brandt a long, lingering kiss before turning and running lightly in the direction of the dock.

He seemed embarrassed. “Bye,” he said quickly.

“Love you!” she called over her shoulder.

“Sorry about that,” he murmured in my direction.

“No, I’m sorry. I should have left you alone,” I apologized.

“I’ll go find Pete,” he said, then walked around the corner of the porch.

I went upstairs and put on a warm coat, then went to join Pete on the porch. He had given Brandt instructions for fixing the window, so the repairs were in capable hands.

A few minutes later Pete and I were in the boat heading for Cape Cartier. When we docked, he accompanied me to the police station, where he let me do the talking. I spoke to a young policeman who had heard of Alex Hallstead but had not been present at the time of Forrest’s death. My conversation with the police officer was thoroughly frustrating. He assured me that he would have a look at the file, but he doubted that the accidental death rulings by the police and coroner would change.

In his opinion, the note was a joke. If Forrest’s death had come close on the heels of Diana’s drowning there might be cause for concern, he informed us; but as his death had been seven years after hers, it was highly unlikely that the two were related.

I left the police station in a foul mood. I was sure the note was real, and I was angry that the police officer had shrugged it off. Pete and I talked about it all the way back to the island.

“It looks like we’re not going to get much help from the police,” Pete concluded. I nodded grimly. “We’ll just have to figure it out ourselves.”

Back on the island, Pete accompanied me back to the house. I went to see if Alex was ready to work on some of her exercises. She was, and we talked as we worked. I recounted my conversation with the officer and Alex was understandably disappointed in his reaction to the note.

“What are we supposed to do if the police won’t help?” she asked.

“We’ll get through it ourselves,” I told her simply.

We had to cut her session short because she had a great deal of work to do. Before she went back into her office, she remarked, “Macy, I’ve been thinking about starting to paint again. I need something to keep my mind and my hands busy when I’m not working, or I’ll go crazy with worry. Would you mind going up to the turret and starting to pack my painting supplies? Don’t pack any of the supplies you might use; we can pack those later.”

“Of course!” I beamed, delighted that Alex was again showing some interest in her art. “I’ll get started right away!”

While Vali kept Alex company, I went up to the turret and spent the next two hours sorting through books, canvases, paints, chemicals, drawing supplies, and countless other implements Alex had up there. Since I didn’t have any boxes handy, I grouped media supplies together in piles around the turret.

I wanted to go out for a walk before it started getting dark outside, so I hurried down to my room, threw a coat over my shoulders, and a couple of minutes later was treading along the path to the leaning tree.