'You cared. You have no idea how important that was to me. They finished everything and cleared away the empty containers. Then Sylvia asked about Estrella's wife, and he told her the doctors didn't hold out much hope, but Meg was in good spirits and spoke optimistically of coming home soon.
'I think she knows she's not going to do that,' the detective said in a low voice, 'but she tries to keep cheerful so I don't get depressed.'
'She sounds like a wonderful woman, Brian.'
'Yes. She is.'
Then, before he knew it, he was telling Sylvia all about Meg, their life together, the child they had lost (leukemia), and how sometimes Estrella wondered how he was going to get through the rest of his life without his wife.
He poured it all out, realizing now how lonely he had been and how he had been hoping to tell someone how he felt. It was a kind of tribute to Meg: public acknowledgment of the happiness she had given him.
Sylvia listened intently, only asking sympathetic questions, until Estrella was done, They were sitting close together on the couch and, halfway through his recital, she took his hand and held it tightly, She wasn't coming on to him; he knew that. Just offering the comfort of her physical presence, and he was grateful.
When he had finished, he raised her hand and lightly kissed her fingertips.
'Well…' he said, 'that's the sad story of my life. Forgive me for making you listen to all this. I know you have your own problems,'
'I only wish I could help you,' she said sorrowfully.
'You've helped me so much. Now let's have an after-dinner drink.' She rose to bring the decanter from an omate Korean cupboard.
'Oh,' she said, 'pardon me a moment; I have to make a short phone call.'
The reproduction of a fin de siicle French phone was on a small, marble-topped Victorian stand. She dialed a three-digit number.
'Charles?' she said.
'This is Sylvia Mae -Otherton. How are you tonight?… Good… Fine, thank you… Anything for me today?… Thank you, Charles. Good night.'
She came back to Estrella with the sherry.
'No mail today,' she said lightly.
'Not even a bill.'
He stared at her. Then he glanced at his wristwatch. Fourteen minutes after nine. He put his pipe aside.
'Sylvia,' he said in a strained voice, 'was that the guy at the lobby desk you were talking to?'
'Yes, that was Charles. He works nights. I called to ask if there's any mail in my box. It saves me a trip downstairs. My agoraphobia again!'
'You call him every night to check on your mail?'
'Yes. Why do you ask?'
'You always call about this time?'
'Usually. But why-' She stopped, her eyes widened, her mouth fell open.
One hand flew to cover it.
'Oh, God!' she gasped'you told us you hadn't made any phone calls that night.'
'I forgot!' she wailed.
'It's a regular habit, a routine, and I forgot. Oh, Brian, I'm so sorry.
But I'm sure I called Charles that night.'
'I'll be right back,' Estrella said.
'Keep your fingers crossed.
He went down to the lobby, identified himself, and talked to Charles for almost five minutes. The clerk swore that Sylvia Otherton called about her mail between 9:00 and 9:30 every weekday evening.
'A lot of the tenants do that,' he said.
'Especially the older ones. Saves them a trip downstairs. And I don't mind. Things are slow around here at night, and it gives me someone to talk to, something to do.'
'Does Otherton ever miss calling you?'
'Not that I remember. Every night during the week, like clockwork.'
'Between, say, nine and nine-thirty?'
'That's right.'
'Do you remember her calling on a Friday night four weeks ago-the night of that terrific rainstorm?'
'I can't remember that particular night. All I know is that she hasn't missed a night since I been working here, and that's almost three years now.' … Thank you, Charles.' Upstairs again, Estrella said, 'Sylvia, as far as I'm concerned, you're cleared-and that's what I'm going to put in my report.'
He thought that would please her, but instead she looked like she was about to cry.
'Does that mean I won't be seeing you anymore?' He touched her shoulder.
'No,' he said gently, 'it doesn't mean that.:: 'Good, she said happily.
'Brian, would you like to try the Ouija board again? Maybe it will help you find out who did it.' Sure,' he said, 'let's try.'
They sat as they had before, the board between them on the cocktail table. Sylvia put her fingers lightly on the planchette and closed her eyes.
'Doctor Ellerbee,' Detective Brian Estrella said in a hollow voice, 'was the person who killed you a stranger?'
The planchette did not move.
Estrella repeated his question.
The planchette jerked wildly. It spelled out KGXFRD, then stopped.
'Doctor Ellerbee,' the detective tried once more, 'was the person who killed you a stranger?'
The planchette moved slowly. It pointed to N and then to 1.
NI. Then it stopped.
'Sylvia,' Brian said softly, 'I don't think we're getting anywhere. It spelled out NI. That doesn't mean anything.'
She opened her eyes.
'Maybe he's just not getting through to me tonight. His spirit may be busy with another medium.'
'That could be it,' Estrella acknowledged.
'But we'll try again, won't we, Brian?' she asked anxiously.
'Absolutely,' he said.
On Saturday afternoon, Delaney, Boone, and Jason held a council of war.
They shuffled through all the reports that had come in during the week and discussed reassignments.
'Estrella says Otherton is clean,' Delaney said.
'You willing to accept that?'
'I am, sir, ' Jason said promptly.
'He did a thorough job on her-checked all her friends and neighborhood stores. It was just by luck that he got onto the phone call to the lobby clerk.
I think she's clean.'
'Boone?'
'I'll go along with Jose, sir.'
'What's this Ouija board nonsense in his report? It's the second time he's mentioned that. Is the man a flake?'
'No, sir,' Jason Two said.
'He's a steady, serious kind of guy. But his wife is very sick, and maybe he's got that on his mind.'
'Oh,' Delaney said.
'I didn't know that and I'm sorry to hear it. Does he want a leave of absence?'
'No, he says he wants to keep on working.'
'Probably the best thing,' Delaney said.
'All. right, let's clear Otherton. She may be a nut case, but I can't see her as a killer. Now about this report
