* * *
“Well,” May-Jewel asked as Katherine entered the room, “where’s Garth going?”
“To fetch the constable.”
“The constable? Didn’t Brice go for him? And I thought you said David had sent for him as well.”
Katherine, her heart heavy, sank on the bed. Her mind was in turmoil. “I don’t know what happened to the constable. David said he sent for him, and I have no reason to doubt him.”
“And yet it’s obvious you do. Why?”
Sighing, Katherine answered, “It was what Garth had implied.”
“If you ask me, Katherine, I’d say that Garth is jealous of David. I saw the look on his face last night when David approached you. We both saw the light in your eyes as David took your hand.”
Pushing such a thought from her, Katherine rose. “No, that can’t be it.”
Shaking her head, May-Jewel stated, “You know so little about men. But concerning the constable, perhaps he’s out of the area and can’t be easily reached. You have no reason to doubt that David had sent for him.”
Katherine stopped before the window, her eyes smarting with tears. No, she thought, I have no reason to doubt David. And I can also trust Garth. Neither would mislead me. “Oh, I’m so confused,” she lamented out loud. “Wistmere has bought me nothing but pain and fear. I wish I could undo the decision that brought me here. If only I could slip back in time to when I sat in Mr. Jameson’s office and accepted this inheritance.”
“You wouldn’t do anything different. Now you have two options,” May-Jewel said turning her sister to face her. “You can either pack your trunk and leave, or you can stay and together we can find Charles’ killer and root out Selina.”
Katherine sighed deeply. No, she knew she couldn’t leave Wistmere… nor David. For a few minutes she remained silent. Pushing aside her thoughts of the vicar and Garth, she directed her attentions to the problems before her.
“How are we going to find Selina when Garth didn’t succeed in finding her? He just told me that this whole thing was about the emeralds. Do you recall how Alex acted when it was brought out that he was a contender for the estate? Why do you think he wanted that kept a secret?”
“Because his interest isn’t really in the estate or even the shipping line? It’s in those jewels?”
“Yes! They must be of greater value than this whole estate and the business put together. That’s why Alex is trying so hard to stay in control. Only now, he has to deal with us and Garth, as well as finding the emeralds.”
May-Jewel sank onto the bed. “He must have been the one in the wine cellar making all those holes! He was digging for the jewels. And Charles? Oh, Katherine, are they worth murdering him for? Or murdering anyone?”
“What a terrible situation. I’m sorry I talked you into sending for Jeremy. This is an awful predicament for him to come in on.”
“Oh, don’t worry about Jeremy. He can take care of himself… and me.” For a moment Alex entered her mind, Alex and the letter. “Too bad we didn’t see that letter, the one Charles delivered to Alex.”
“Are you prepared for what it might say? What if it’s from Mr. Jameson stating, for one reason or another, that Alex was to relinquish control of the shipping line and Wistmere to Garth? And have you forgotten that the only one who saw that letter besides Alex was-”
“Charles!” May-Jewel gasped. “Would Alex have killed him for that? Oh, Katherine, I’ve been such a fool.” She rose and began pacing the room. “He must be in alliance with Selina. That would explain why you were the only target. That would explain why…” she paused, her face flushed with embarrassment.
“Why what?” Katherine urged.
“Why he tried to have his way with me in the dining room that first night that Garth was here. He assumed I would join him in his scheme to secure Wistmere. And when I told him I wouldn’t, he tried to force himself upon me. I think he might even try to kill us both!”
“No, he won’t,” Katherine assured her, taking her hands into hers. “I’ve locked the door and Garth has gone for help. He’ll be returning any time now.”
“But in the meantime, we’re left here with Alex. And there’s only Molly and the vicar to help us! I refuse to leave this room or let anyone in until Garth returns with the sheriff. And what about Brice?”
“Brice has passed out from drink. So we can’t count on him.”
Pacing again nervously, May-Jewel admitted, “I’ll go insane sitting here waiting to be murdered. Besides, I’m hungry. The kitchen should be safe enough, don’t you think? Let’s go get something to eat.”
“David said he’d bring us some tea. We really shouldn’t leave this room.”
“Well, I just can’t sit here any longer. Let’s head to the kitchen.” When she saw Katherine silently debating the issue, she boldly unbolted the door and looked questioning at her sister.
“Oh, all right. We probably will meet David on his way up anyhow.”
But they didn’t pass the vicar on the stairs nor did they find him in the cold, quiet kitchen.
A note, however, was propped in the center of the table. It simply read “Went home.”
The women looked at each other in confusion. “Is this from Molly or David?” May-Jewel asked.
“I don’t know. Go see if she’s in her room.”
Katherine’s insides churned. Was the note from David? There wasn’t any sign of him nor any sign that he had even been there. The stove was stone cold and the kettle was empty.
“Molly isn’t there,” her sister informed her when she returned.
Nausea hit the pit of Katherine’s stomach again for
