“As I recently disclosed to you, I’m an inquiry agent. Solving mysteries is what I do. I’m beginning to get a hunch about what happened to the two of you.”
As Douglas began reading the letter Georgette had given him, Arthur couldn’t help but notice how Douglas’s face turned ashen the longer he read. He finally lifted his head, his gaze seeking out Georgette again. “Forgive me, Georgette. Here I’ve been less than charitable toward you since I arrived, but you obviously would have been devasted to receive such a letter from me. I promise you, though, that I didn’t write this, just as I realize you didn’t write the letter your father gave me.”
Georgette’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “It’s almost unfathomable that Father would pit us against each other in such a despicable manner, but obviously, that’s what he did. The only question ishowhe managed to do it because we already know thewhy.”
“He wanted control over whom you chose for a husband,” Douglas said.
“He wanted control over everything and everyone,” Georgette corrected, taking the letter from Douglas and handing both of the letters to Eunice. “Learning I was expecting Eunice must have been quite the wrench in whatever plans he’d made for me.”
Silence once again settled over the room as Eunice began reading the letters, shaking her head a few minutes later. “Whoever forged these was very good at their craft.”
She got to her feet and began pacing around the room, her family watching her every step. “I’m beginning to wonder if everything that’s been disclosed today, as well as yesterday, is connected to Grandfather’s death. This is a family with too many secrets to count, but I believe it’s time for those secrets—all of them—to come out.”
“We could be here for days,” Hazel said from where she was still sitting beside Lloyd.
“If days is what it takes, then days it’ll have to be,” Eunice said. “We need closure in the matter of Grandfather, and I need to stop looking over my shoulder every other minute, wondering if whoever killed him is coming after me next. So, with all that said, if anyone would like to raise their hand and take responsibility for the transgressions that have occurred, it would save all of us a lot of time and drama, since I’m sure once we open this Pandora’s box that can be labeled Mason Family Secrets, it’ll be difficult to get those secrets back in the box.”
Arthur wasn’t exactly surprised when no one raised their hand.
“Ah, so we’re going to have to go the difficult route,” Eunice said before gesturing Cooper forward. “I believe this is where I turn everyone over to you, Agent Clifton. Would you care to set up an interrogation room in the parlor? It’s relatively removed from the rest of the house, which means any noises the suspects you’re questioning may make are certain to be muffled.”
It really wasn’t unexpected when Eunice’s family, save Aunt Hazel, who was looking around the room with a small smile on her face, and Uncle Raymond, who seemed to have misplaced his cane, immediately made a mad dash for the door.
CHAPTER
Twenty-Eight
“I was worried I was going to have to pull out my pistol at one point to stop the mass exodus from the library,” Ivan said, raking a hand through hair that was standing on end before he bent over and rubbed his shin. “And not that I want to sound like a whiner, but I think Doris kicked me.”
“You got off easy, because Alice bit me,” Cooper said, rubbing his arm. “I’ve often said a person needs to watch out for the most unsuspecting types, a sentiment that’s now been reinforced because I never imagined those particular sisters would turn violent.”
“And begs the question why they did,” Ann said, narrowing her eyes on Doris and Alice, who were huddled together on a settee and looking sulky.
Cooper’s lips curved. “I’m relatively certain the answer to that is a direct result of Eunice implying I use somewhat intimidating interrogation techniques.”
Ann rolled her eyes. “They’ll figure out you’re not into torture a few seconds after you begin questioning them, but even without questionable interrogation techniques being an option, I have a feeling no one in this room is going to cooperate. They’re family, and families are tricky, believing in loyalty and all. We need a different plan to get them talking.”
A loud clearing of a throat drew Eunice’s attention to the doorway of the library, where Aunt Hazel was standing, no doubt having been eavesdropping on them.
“If I may offer a suggestion?” Aunt Hazel began.
“By all means,” Cooper said.
Aunt Hazel sent a fond look to Ann. “It is true, dear, what you said about family being tricky, so I’m going to suggest you have everyone write down who they believe might have killed James. Since no one will be required to sign their names, well, it might have the family being more cooperative.”
Ann smiled. “Honestly, Hazel, that’s a brilliant idea, and it may very well work.”
“I do occasionally have brilliant ideas.” Aunt Hazel gave a pat to her hair. “I also have another brilliant thought, but that will need to wait until everyone scribbles down their suspect.” With that, she turned and moved back into the library, saying something about going to rejoin Lloyd, who, she added, was a most delightful gentleman.
Eunice turned to Arthur. “Your grandfather seems to be using his charm.”
“In all honesty, I’ve been thinking Hazel is the one who has been doing the charming.” He smiled. “It’ll be interesting to see how that develops.”
“Just another interesting aspect to our time in Montana,” Eunice said before she sent Ann and Judith off to the office to fetch supplies, with Cooper and Ivan telling her they were going to take up positions directly inside the door in case anyone decided to make a run for it again.
“Anything you’d like me to do?” Arthur asked.
Warmth immediately tinged her cheeks at the odd response that suddenly sprang to mind—a response she didn’t dare voice because what she’d really like for Arthur to do had absolutely nothing to do with their investigation.
