bodyguard. It’s probably not wise to go off by ourselves.”
The lights in the corridor had been dimmed. Judith and
Renie decided to use the elevator now that they assumed the
lobby was vacant. Again, it appeared that Nadia—or somebody—had tidied up. A single lamp glowed in a corner by
one of the sofas. In the grate, the fire had died down to a
few crimson embers. The wind moaned in the big chimney,
and the pennants that hung from the rafters rustled gently
above the cousins’ heads.
The dining room was dark, but Renie found the switch.
A pale, sallow patch of light followed them into the kitchen.
Judith started to feel for the on-off button by the sink, but
stopped abruptly.
Something was wrong. She could make out the marbletopped counter and the glass dessert plate. She could also
see that someone’s face was lying in what was left of the
angel food cake.
SIX
NEITHER JUDITH NOR Renie screamed. Instead, they held
onto each other so hard that their fingernails practically drew
blood. Finally, after what seemed like hours, but was probably only a minute, they stood back and stared at their discovery.
“It’s Leon Mooney,” Renie said, stunned and hoarse. “What
happened to him?”
Reluctantly, Judith went around to the other side of the
counter. Leon’s small body sagged against the counter, his
knees buckled, his arms dangling at his sides.
“He
Judith felt for a pulse in Leon’s frail wrist. “I’m afraid so.”
Her own voice was shaking. “It
But Judith knew better. As soon as Renie’s fumbling fingers
managed to turn on the lights, Judith saw the ugly bruise on
the back of Leon’s head. Then she spotted a heavy-duty
plastic freezer bag next to his feet. The bag had something
in it. Judith bent down for a closer look.
Through the transparent plastic, Judith could see the
soapstone Eskimo carving. “Good God!” she breathed,
wobbling on her heels. “It’s that same carving Max used to
conk Russell!”
“Poor little Leon!” Renie sounded genuinely moved. “I
hardly knew him, but he seemed the most harmless of the
bunch.”
Judith sat down on the floor and held her head. “This is
awful. I feel kind of sick.”
Renie, who had propped herself up against the refrigerator,
scanned the kitchen. “I hope whoever did this isn’t lurking
around here someplace. Is he still warm?”
Judith nodded, then tried to focus on the digital clock. “It’s
