As old as Billy was, it was easy to see that he wasn’t made for building anything.
“Then they sent you here,” Sara said. “After you learned your lesson.”
Billy nodded. “They were the executors of the Lachlan estate and they needed a live-in caretaker. I was to look after the place and see that it didn’t fall into ruin. I was given just enough money to buy food and bits of clothing. They really were stingy.”
Randal was piecing it all together. “You supplemented your income with parties.”
“I did,” Billy said proudly. “The big, gracious house, my abilities as raconteur... It was perfect. People paid well for the experience.”
“Are you saying that it was Derek Oliver’s party?” Sara asked.
“Of course. He paid for everything and he made the guest list.”
“So they werehisfriends?” Sara asked.
“Heavens no!” Billy said. “He had no friends. He invited people and theyhadto come.” No one was understanding. Billy said, “Darlings, he was blackmailing them all. Each and every one of them. But then, no one on earth would spend a week with Derek Oliver if he weren’t threatening them.”
Sara’s eyes were wide. “Blackmailing them for what?”
“I don’t know, but it was something bad for each of them.”
“Except Lea,” Randal said.
“Her most of all.” Billy looked at them. “Lea was Derek’s wife, but we all knew he was trying to find a replacement for her. The money she brought to the marriage had run out, so he wanted to get rid of her.” He looked at Randal. “But I imagine you know all about what was going on in that marriage.”
Randal made no reply.
Jack spoke. “You found him dead, his brain extracted and a toy inside, so you glued his skull back together, then you put him in the closet and sealed the door.”
“I did,” Billy said. “I put his toupee on too. It was ugly, but I knew he hated being bald. After I, uh, reassembled him, I pulled him into the closet. That wasn’t easy! The coat hooks were low for the children, so I latched him to them, closed the door, then sealed it. I’d learned how to caulk in my year of construction.” Even so many years later, he shivered at the memory. “Besides, I felt some responsibility for it all as I was the one who sent Reid up there to repair a window. I was worried about little Kate being safe.”
“What about the mess?” Sara asked. “It must have been some.”
“It was surprisingly clean.” When Billy paused, the others looked at each other, then back at him to tell more.
“Afterward, I opened all the windows,” Billy said. “They were screened so I thought it would be safe from birds and things. Then I locked the whole floor up. I told Reid that Roy had borrowed his toolbox, and I told Kate that a monster was up there.” He looked at her. “Sorry for the lie.”
“Under the circumstances, I think that was acceptable.”
“After that, the rest of us went on about our business.” He smiled. “We had such a good time!”
“You kept partying even after a guest went missing?” Sara asked.
“Actually, we started partying after he was gone. Lea said it wasn’t the first time he’d run off and left everything behind for her to take care of, so his absence caused no concern. And with Derek not there making all of us miserable, we quite enjoyed ourselves. There was ample food and drink and music. Barbara and Roy danced all night.” He looked at Jack. “Can you sing like Roy did?”
“I didn’t know my father could sing,” Jack said.
“Yes,” Kate said, “Jack has a beautiful voice. He sings with bands, and sometimes he sings for just Sara and me. He can do opera and country and rock and roll. His voice can bring tears to an audience or put them in the throes of ecstasy. He—” They were all staring at her and her face turned the color of her hair. “Yes, he can sing.”
Billy looked at Randal in question and he nodded.
Sara wanted to put them back on the subject. “But you knew Oliver hadn’t willingly left the party.”
Billy’s lips tightened. “What I actually knew was that that horrible man had changed my life forever. Because of him, I knew I wouldn’t be able to give any more parties. I couldn’t when there was a, you know, upstairs. Someone was bound to notice.”
“Don’t you mean that themurdererchanged your life?” Sara asked.
“You can look at it like that, but if Derek Oliver hadn’t been such a despicable person, no one would have felt compelled to remove him from the earth. I’m sure that the life of every person there was improved by his death. The murderer was the brave one, and the others should thank him—or her.”
