disease grew within her.'
'Why come back here, Ines?'
'To live in this house as my home! Andrus destroyed my family, took my father from my mother and me. We left in shame for what she did. Now the great professor repays her debt.'
The pupils danced in Roja's head. 'The irony, John, do you see the… exquisite irony? Andrus could not live here, not even for a day, because she killed her husband. I will live here, for the rest of my life, because I have killed her.'
'Ines, the Spanish authorities aren't going to allow that.'
'You know them so well?'
'I know the police in Boston. And the prosecutors. They'll pursue you through the government here.'
'Extradition?' She slurred the word.
I said, 'Yes.'
'Do you really believe I will let that happen, John?'
'You confessed to me. No compulsion, no threats. The scientific evidence from the autopsy will establish Andrus was killed by rabies.'
'Only three persons ever lived once the rabies fit comes. I know, I did my research well.' Roja blinked, shifting clumsily in her chair.
'Andrus always… spouted her message, John, that it is right to die. Now she has become her message. It was right for her to die.'
'Ines, I'm going to the police here. They'll hold you for the authorities in the States. The law will catch up to you.'
'The law?' Roja laughed, that merry sound from the St. Patrick's Day party. 'John, John. The great professor had such faith in the law. So much faith. Well, I do not. When my father was disgraced and Andrus went unpunished, I lost my… taste for the law.'
Melodramatically, Roja swung her gaze around us. I looked quickly, but saw only a gull, landing at the edge of the cliff.
'This is where I should have spent my life, John. I may have lost my taste for the law, but I have found revenge to be quite sweet.'
She lifted the tumbler, a little unsteadily. 'Like new sidra on the tongue.'
I was about to tell her she'd had enough when the glass slipped from her hand and thumped onto the grass. Roja's eyes rolled up into her head as she slid down and out of her chair, hitting the ground before I could catch her. The impact knocked loose one of her silver combs.
On my knees, I cradled Roja's head in my right palm. 'What did you take?'
Her lips barely moved. 'It is too late.'
'Ines, what did you put in the cider?'
The eyes came back, but unfocused. 'I did all my research well. See, I even cheat the hangman.'
'Ines – '
'Tell me, John. Do you really believe in the law?'
The wind whipped a hank of hair across her face. I brushed it away from her mouth. 'Like you once said, Ines, I'd rather put my faith in people.'
The merry laugh spooked the gull. Its shadow passed over us as Ines Loredo Roja went slack against my hand
Jeremiah Healy
