“I already told you I still love you,” he said. “Didn’t I? If not, I love you and always shall.”
“Well, that’s more than enough, and see that you don’t do it again.”
“You’re adorable when you’ve lost your mind,” he said.
“And finally, no asking to stay with me. No asking me to stay with you. It can’t happen, won’t happen, so don’t even bring it up.”
“My lips are sealed,” he said. “May I start solving this case now?”
“Be my guest, please.”
“Thank you, I shall.”
Duke went straight back to the desk, and I followed him. He stuck the key in the lock of the bottom drawer.
It turned.
“Sometimes,” he said, looking into my eyes in a way that I think I had forbidden, “I am so good at this I surprise even myself.”
“Oh, open the drawer.”
Duke opened it and removed a notebook, a small brown notebook with a cord wrapped around it.
“That’s it,” I said. “That’s my grandfather’s case notebook.”
Duke opened the notebook and turned page after page.
“This is not a case notebook,” he said, meeting my eyes. “Every single page is aboutThe Secret of the Old Clock.Look.”
He placed the notebook open on the desk. He pointed to a few entries, all standard fare.
August 30
I know my daughter. Ellery would not have left Rainy nothing but a book. Even her favorite book. There has to be something more.
September 2
New cipher failed. I won’t give up yet.
September 20
Curiouser and curiouser.
A suggestion from an unexpected source has me thinking along new lines.
Pops had written the final entry a week ago, just before he left.
September 30
I think I understand the message now. Of course it was right there all along. But how could we have known? This changes everything we thought we knew about stories. And my Ellery did leave Rainy an inheritance of sorts, a richer one than I ever dared to dream. And poor Rainy and Duke, they’ll be star-crossed no more.
But if I’m right, my God, if I’m right, then…Well, of course Ellery would’ve had to keep it all a secret. This is explosive information. People in charge will want to cover it up. I think…I think perhaps they already have? I must tell Rainy. Except how can I? No, I have to confirm the truth first, otherwise she’ll be devastated. Yet if I’m right…she’ll finally know the truth about her mother.
I can’t believe it was staring us in the face the whole time.
For a few minutes I read and reread that final entry, tattooing every word onto my mind.
And my Ellery did leave Rainy an inheritance of sorts, a richer one than I ever dared to dream.
