Silver Scream : A Bed-and-breakfast Mystery

I don’t like horror films, either.”

“Maybe you saw a preview,” Renie suggested, opening a can of Pepsi.

“Maybe.” Judith paced a bit. “That must be it. I certainly can’t remember anything else about The Virgin

Vessel. But the scene with Ben Carmody looked very

familiar.” She went to the sink and stared out the

kitchen window. Suddenly something clicked in her

brain. “Coz!” she cried, whirling around to face Renie.

“Do you remember that man I saw a couple of months

ago between our house and the Rankerses’ hedge?”

“What man?” Renie looked blank. “I don’t think

you mentioned it to me.”

“Maybe I didn’t,” Judith allowed. “It was after

Labor Day, when Skjoval Tolvang was working on the

house and the toolshed. Mr. Tolvang saw him first. He

thought the man was a city inspector.”

SILVER SCREAM

279

“Did you see this guy up close?” Renie asked.

“Fairly close,” Judith replied, pacing a little faster.

“He had a beard and glasses. He said he was looking

for a Mr. . . . I forget, it was an odd name. Anyway, he

hurried off after that.”

“Okay,” Renie said. “And your point is . . . ?”

“My point,” Judith said slowly, “is that the man I

saw outside the house may have been Ben Carmody.”

Renie thought Judith was imagining things, and said

so. “Why on earth would you think that?”

“Because of his height and build,” Judith said. “At

the time he reminded me of someone. I’ve seen Ben in

a couple of movies, and one of them was a costume

picture from the same era as The Virgin Vessel.”

“It’s a stretch.” Renie yawned. “Why would Ben

Carmody be hanging around outside Hillside Manor in

September?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Judith said, reverting

to her old habit of chewing on a fingernail.

“Why indeed?” Renie said as they heard the front

door open. “I doubt that Ben did any such thing.”

Judith didn’t respond, but went into the dining room

to see who had arrived. It was Vito and Winifred. He

seemed fresh and vigorous; she appeared weary and

anxious. Judith informed Vito that he’d be staying in

Room Three.

“Bruno’s room,” Vito said solemnly. “It’s an honor.”

“You may find Morris Mayne already there,” Judith

said. “Would you mind asking him to move to Room

Five with Chips?”

The attorney informed Judith that he’d gladly pass

on the request. “I appreciate getting the larger room,”