Izzy looked around the room and spotted another identical sack, exactly like the one Natalie held. She pulled it open and saw several skeins of yarn. Here it is.
Natalie looked relieved. I couldnt finish my hat without it.
How are you doing, Natalie? Birdie asked. She set the beginnings of the hoodie on her lap and pushed her glasses into her hair.
Im better, thank you. The police are finally finished messing up my gallery. Now I can get in and sort through things. Make sense out of it all. Brendan, bless him, is helping me. And Billys cousin Jackie will come tomorrow, too, though Ill have to keep an eye on him.
Nell frowned. Why is that?
Im afraid hell sneak off and find someplace to gamble. They seem to smell ithim and Billy both. Its in their blood. Natalie sat herself down on an empty chair, her sack of yarn and purse on the floor beside her.
I know you have a lot on your mind, Natalie, but Ive a favor to ask.
Of course. If I can do something for you, I will certainly do it. Youve been kind to me. All of you have.
Do you think I could come by the gallery to see the James paintings before you crate them up? This may be my only chance to see them unless they show up in a museum somewhereand Im intrigued.
Of course you can. Others have asked to see them as well. The Brewsters. My neighbor. Such a good idea, Nell. Does tomorrow sound good? Maybe noon? She looked at the others. Youre all welcome. Billy would surely like you to see them. Theyre beautiful. Such amazing scenery. He was a true artist.
Natalie spoke proudly, as if she were personally responsible for the dead painters talent. Then she spotted the half-empty wineglasses on the table and looked suggestively at Izzy.
Izzy got up, poured her a glass, and set it on the coffee table in front of her.
Why, Izzy, dear. Thank you. Natalie picked up the glass and winked at her hostess. This is a lovely idea, Nell. A viewing. A cocktail party.
A party?
Nell thought. And wondered briefly if Billy Sobel was turning over in his grave. She suspected he just might be. I think there might be others, too. Ellen mentioned wanting to see the paintings.
Of course. The Marks girls. They appreciate fine art. And speaking of Rebecca . . . Natalie shifted in her chair and looked over at Nell. Billys cousin arrived today. He says that Rebeccas Uncle August has rallied. Hes not on deaths door anymore, though probably not too far away. Now isnt that one for the books?
Rebecca and Ellens uncle in New Jersey, Nell explained to the others. The one who had been ill.
No, Natalie corrected. Hes Rebeccas uncle, not Ellens. The old man just isnt very nice, Billy said. He would cut Rebecca out of the will in a split second if he knew about her and Ellen.
Cass looked up. Back up, Natalie. If hes Rebeccas uncle, then hes Ellens uncle. Im confused.
Natalie looked puzzled for a minute. And then the confused look disappeared and a look of amusement filled her face.
You think Ellen and Rebecca Marks are sisters? No, no. Rebecca was Rebecca Early before she was Marks. Ellen and Rebecca went off to Connecticut two years ago and got married.
Chapter 30
B
en was still up when Nell got home. Somehow I figured you might need to talk, my love, he said, and Nell followed him out to the deck.
At first they sat in silence, Nell collecting her thoughts, sorting through the maze of stray facts, some that fit together, many that didnt.
We were determined to straighten things out, she began, welcoming the cup of tea that Ben handed her. To sort through the past two weeks and see whats missing. Among the five of us, we thought wed see holes and irregularitiesthings that didnt line up quite right. Inconsistencies. And now theres this development, this gambling debt.
Ben sat with his feet up, drinking a brandy and taking in Nells news of the night about Rebecca and Ellen. I suppose when Billy told Natalie all this, he expected she would keep his confidence, he mused. Not to mention Ellens confidence.
But shes no longer bound by that, Nell said. Or at least in her mind, she isnt. And I suppose now that the uncle isnt dead, it doesnt matter anywayall their secrets were aimed at making sure they got the inheritance.
But its still an issue of privacy, Ben said. If Ellen and Rebecca moved here for privacy for whatever reason, thats what they should get. We all want that, and Natalie shouldnt be disturbing that.
Nell agreed. The inheritance is sizable, Natalie said. And the old man would pull it if he knew about Ellen and Rebecca. They established a legal relationship in Connecticut a couple years ago. But before they had told anyone, they found out about the uncles will. Even back then, he was scheduled to die any day, as Natalie put it. And theyd be the benefactors. Or at least Rebecca would.
But only if she stayed in her uncles good graces. I guess thats why they moved up here, out of the line of fire.
Nell nodded. Ellen confided in Billy, which bothered Rebecca terribly. And her relationship with Aidan was all for show. Except when Aidan figured it out, he felt used. I cant say I blame him. Its the deception that would bother him. Aidan was nothing if not honest, and he expected other people to act the same way.
So Rebecca disliked the fact that Aidan knew.
Apparently. She isnt the most trusting person. And she hated that he and Billy knew things that could affect her life. It was a power issue. They had power over her. And she was desperately afraid that it would get back to her uncle.
Its unfortunate, Ben said. I wonder how Ellen feels about all thisabout putting her life on hold until someone died. It doesnt seem like her kind of thing.
Nell agreed. Ellen was pleasantand she loved to knit, certainly in her favor. This must have been difficult for her, all this pretending. Confiding in Billy may have brought comfort to Ellen. Thats probably why she did it. At the least, she had someone to talk to. Billy had been good to Ellen and Rebecca.
Nell told Ben about dropping Natalie off, and the small notebook that held the moneys owed to the couple. All debts owed were forgiven upon his death. What an interesting man.
A generous gesture, Ben agreed. But that information in the wrong hands could get a person killed. Did people know about it?
He didnt hide it. I called Jane on the way home and she said Billy joked about it sometimes at the council meetings. But they were all friends. No one thought twice about it. Besides, until Natalie came along, Billy never pressured anyone to pay him back, apparently.
The breeze off the ocean was cool, and the smell of the mint in her tea wafted up. She held it beneath her chin, the steam rising up and clearing her breathing.
Clearing her thinking was another matter.
Natalie had seemed in need of company as much as in need of her yarn, and she was reluctant to go home. She talked on at some length about her life with Billy: how they had met, how he convinced her life with him would be a frolicking ride filled with glamour and success.
Nell had listened closely, thinking maybe something would slip out that would fit into the disjointed puzzle theyd laid out on the table earlier. No one wanted to talk about the murders in front of Natalie, so instead they concentrated on their knitting and even Cass finished a whole hat as they nodded and smiled at appropriate places.
Finally, unable to keep her eyes open, Birdie suggested calling it a day.
Cass agreedshe and Pete had an early morning checking her traps, and all of them could use a good nights sleep.
Birdie allowed no discussion from anyone, including Natalie, and theyd cleaned off the table, helped Nell and Izzy lock all the windows, and did, indeed, call it a day.
Willow had her bikewith the new headlight Ben had insisted on installing. Nell suggested she drive Natalie home. She didnt know her level of tolerance, but two glasses of wine had gone down rather quickly.
Nell had pulled the car into the Sobel driveway and idled the engine while Natalie collected her bags. She turned on the seat and looked over at her passenger.
Natalie, I have a question about something you said yesterday at the tea shop. You mentioned that you didnt know the names of the people who owed Billy money. Billy kept that private, but he told you the reasons for the loans, right?
Natalie nodded. He thought that would convince me that we didnt need to demand payment. But the reasons dont matter, do they? A loan is a loan is a loan.
Do you remember the reason for the loan that wasnt repaid before Billy died?
Natalie pulled her brows together in the shadowy car, trying to remember. Then she leaned over and opened her large black bag. She rummaged around in it for a minute, then pulled out a small notebook with a rubber band around it.
I took notes when Billy and I talked about business matters. It helped me remember the important things.
Like who owed you money,
Nell thought.
Natalie clicked on the cars overhead light, wet her finger, and paged through the notebook. Yes, here it is as clear as day. It was to repay a gambling debt. One big whopping gambling debt.
She looked at Nell gravely. Gambling, she said, one thin brow arching. Its the worst kind of debt. Sometimes people get killed over things like that.
Nell looked over at Ben now. His eyes were closed, but she knew he was still awake. She had told him nearly everything theyd discussedexcept for the crude threat that had been left in Izzys shop.
Crude,
she thought. That was what it was. It had frightened her at the time, mostly because it had landed in Izzy shop. Had it appeared in her own mailbox, it would not have carried the same weight of worry. But now, sitting beside Ben on her deck, the note itself was less frightening. It wasnt the work of a trained hit man or organized crimethat was evident. But it brought certainty to her conviction that no matter what the newspaper or the neighbors or the police were saying, nothing was wrapped up.
Aidans and Billys murderer was walking around Sea Harbor.
And that was frightening, indeed.
Nell awoke early on Friday and reached across the bed, her eyes still half closed. It was empty.
She pulled herself awake and looked around. The windows were wide-open, and the morning breeze filled the gauzy curtains like sails on a ship. Birds chirped and the horns of fishing boats heading out to the open sea were faint in the background.
The more immediate noises were the whirr of the coffee bean grinder and voices. Several voices.
Nell slipped out of bed and into a hoody and light sweatpants.
Izzy and Willow sat on stools at the kitchen island in running shorts, their hair damp and scrunchies wrapped around their wrists like bracelets.
Ben poured each of them a cup of strong coffee.
Whats up? Nell asked. Is Bens coffee so good that you got up at dawn for it?
Just couldnt sleep, is all, Izzy said. Willow and I hit the beach at the same time, so we ran together.
Youve had trouble sleeping for a few days, Izzy, Nell said, concerned.
Just too many things going on.
Willow dug into the pocket of her sweatpants and tugged out a small envelope. She set it on the island. Here, Iz. Magic Nembutal. Sleep like a baby. At least thats what Brendan says.
Nell frowned. Thats not aspirin, you know. Be smart about medicine, Willow.
Willow assured her that she would. Im overly cautious about things like this.
Izzy smiled. Me, too. I think Ill try yoga.
So what do you make of the Rebecca and Ellen story? Izzy finally asked.
Nell took the cup of coffee that Ben offered her. I think it was a kind of mystery that was out thereand it led us down the wrong path. We sensed the secrets, so we tried to figure them out. There were disconnects, so we automatically connected it to the murders of Aidan and Billy.
Nellie, I think youre right, Ben said. Its interesting. Heres what I make of it. I think all of Rebeccas worries, all of Ellens cover-ups, all the differing messages weve gotten by attending that story line, if you will, have simply pulled attention away from what was really going on in Canary Cove.
Rebecca didnt like Billy and Aidan, and thats that. She probably doesnt like me, either. Apparently shes not crazy about Natalie Sobel. Some people dont like other people. But Rebeccas not going to kill me over it, nor Natalie, just like she didnt kill Aidan and Billy. Id stake my life on it.