She couldn't talk to Mother so long as Rebecca was there, but she should cal to check in. Gert answered. Her mother was napping and Rebecca was sleeping, too. Earl had sent Dr. Harvey from the Medical Center over and he had given her a mild tranquilizer. The police had roped off the Bainbridges' house and the guests had moved on, leaving addresses, except for Norman, who was now staying at the Inn. Norman. It occurred to Pix that he probably would have given his eyeteeth for some of the rubbish the Bainbridges had disposed of so blithely last fal .
She wondered why Addie had gotten it into her mind to clear things out then—intimations of mortality, or simply wanting a heavier purse? And for what? She made quite a bit of money with her quilts and it wasn't as if she was a lavish spender. If she'd traveled as far as El sworth in the last ten years, Pix would be surprised, so Paris or cruises to the Caribbean were not the incentive.
The last thing Gert told her was that Addie's body had been taken away for the autopsy and the police hoped to be able to release it for a funeral by Saturday or Monday at the latest.
It was horrible to think about. Pix went into the kitchen and made herself a tuna-fish sandwich, taking the time to toast the bread. She grabbed a pad of paper, poured some milk, and went out on the deck to get to work.
Samantha came home just as she got to the fourth heading for the columns she'd neatly folded: 'Suspects.'
The others were 'Who Benefits?'; 'Causes of Death'; and
'Quilts.'
“I'm out here on the deck,' Pix cal ed. 'Come join me.
There's tuna fish if you want a sandwich.”
Samantha came directly.
“Wel , wasn't it fabulous?”
Pix was tempted to tease her daughter and ask what was fabulous, but obviously the subject was too important.
“Fabulous is exactly the right word,' she told her, 'and I was even a little jealous. The view is spectacular and the house is in exactly the right spot'
“ A little jealous,' the view! Oh, Mother, what about the fireplace, the furniture, and that rug! Valerie had it woven to order when she couldn't find one the right size with the colors she wanted.”
Pix remembered the rug. It went from dark to light blue, with every possibility in between. It looked like the sea and the sky in every conceivable light. But what she wanted to do now was talk to her daughter about what she wasn't tel ing dear old Mom, not discuss Grecian versus Roman shades or any of the other fine points of interior decorating.
She decided to be direct; besides, she couldn't think of another way.
“You started to say something about Duncan at the camp and told me you'd explain later. It's later now”
Samantha saw the look in her mother's eye and knew she meant business. Any attempt at avoidance would mean being nagged for days. It was best to get it over with. She plopped down in one of the canvas sling chairs from the fifties that her grandmother had happily donated and told her mother everything about Duncan, starting with the conversation in the woods during the clambake.
Pix was aghast. 'The boy is clearly disturbed. He needs help. We have got to tel his parents'
“Mom, Arlene says they've taken him to a mil ion shrinks. I'm sure they know he's got problems. I mean, look at the way he treats them.'
“But I doubt they're aware of his `club.' ' Pix was torn.
She real y didn't know what to do. Jim Atherton's response had been so harsh. She hated to think she might be responsible for the boy's being struck again—or sent to the military school, which appeared to be the next course of action. And she real y wasn't acquainted wel enough with Valerie to gauge her reaction. John Eggelston had come to Duncan's defense. Maybe the best thing would be to talk to him.
Samantha was speaking. 'It's like I feel sorry for him and hate him at the same time. I don't want to get him in trouble, but maybe you're right.'
“Don't say like,' Pix said automatical y. 'Why don't I tel al this to John? He knows Duncan and he also seems to know a lot about teenagers.”
Samantha brightened. 'That's a great idea. Maybe he can talk to al three of them together. He's done that for some other kids who are having problems at home here.”
Duncan Cowley disposed of, Samantha wanted an update on what was going on at the Bainbridges. Pix gave her the PG-13 version and soon Samantha headed for her room to write letters to Aleford friends. There was a lot to tel .
Pix went to the phone to cal John. She was more disturbed about Duncan's behavior than she wanted Samantha to know and the sooner someone talked to the Athertons, the better. As she dialed, she realized Duncan had to be added to the list of suspects. He was clearly drug-involved and might have graduated from mice and poultry to larger game.
John answered immediately. He sounded cheerful.
'Hel o, Pix. I just sent off a large piece to a congregation in Australia.'
“Congratulations'
“And I accept them. I've been working on this altarpiece for several months. Now, what can I do for you?'
John was not one for idle chitchat.
He was completely quiet as Pix related what Samantha had told her.
“And I don't know whether I should talk to Valerie and Jim, try to talk with the boy first, or what. You know him better than we do and I thought you'd have an idea about what would be best to do'
“Poor Duncan. He has never been al owed to grieve properly for his father. He feels responsible, you know. They were caught in a terrific storm and had al been taking turns at the helm—or rather, Bernard and Valerie were. Duncan was sitting up with his father to help him stay awake while his mother got some rest. The child became exhausted himself and agreed when his mother suggested he sleep for a while. That's when Bernard Cowley was washed overboard.'
“How horrible!'
“I knew Duncan was fascinated with certain aspects of the occult. It's a way to make himself feel powerful, but I didn't think it had gone this far.'
“The whole thing is terribly sad. I'm sure his parents wil understand.'
“Maybe and maybe not. Jim is a pretty straight arrow and I'm sure any suggestion of witchcraft wil have him on the phone to that school he's always threatening Duncan with. Not that I blame Jim. .He walked into a pretty hopeless situation. There was no way Duncan would ever have accepted him.'
“But we can't simply ignore this and hope it goes away.
Some night, one of the kids is going to get hurt or worse up in the quarry.'
“I agree. I'm not suggesting we ignore the matter. Let me handle it. I'l talk to Valerie in private without getting too specific. This worked after Duncan took her car earlier in the summer. The main thing I'l do is start seeing more of the summer. The main thing I'l do is start seeing more of Duncan. I've been so involved in this commission that I haven't had time for him these last months. He likes to come to the workshop. I'l go see if I can round him up right now. I have the feeling it won't take much to start him talking. We've talked a great deal about the supernatural before. I've lent him some books, so he won't think it odd if I bring it up.”
Pix felt relieved, although she would have thought the Hardy Boys or, since the boy was interested in other worlds, perhaps Tolkien, more appropriate for John to have suggested.
“Thank you so much, John. And let me know how things go.'
“Thank you for tel ing me.' He'd been speaking in a serious tone of voice and now it took on almost a warning note. 'You've had a pretty ful plate and I'm sure it hasn't been pleasant. And then there's this business with the Bainbridges. I hope you're not getting too involved.'
“Involved?'
“Like that friend of yours—Faith. There are things about the island better left alone. I know you summer people think it's paradise, but paradise has a dark side, too, remember.”
Pix was stung by his remark: 'summer people' She'd thought they were better friends, and even his closing
