She said good-bye to Hannah and came over to me. "It was nice to meet you Miss Ryan. Will you be leaving soon?" She purposefully stood too close to my chair so it would be very awkward if I tried to stand.

I picked up my gla.s.s of sherry and crossed my legs. "I couldn't say. But it was a pleasure meeting you. Any friend of the family-"

Hannah shot out of her chair and took Allison by the arm. "Thank you for coming over, dear. Give us a call later, won't you?"

Allison looked over her shoulder as Hannah ushered her out. "I'll call you later, Mags."

"That would be great, Allison," Maggie called into the hallway then glared at me and started to say something.

"You've got lipstick on your forehead Miss Winfield," I said with a smug grin. I leaned over and presented a napkin.

She wrenched the napkin out of my hand.

I heard Hannah saying her good-byes before rejoining us. "Goodness, it is getting dark," Hannah said, sitting back with her sherry. "I think we may have a good storm. Now, where were we?"

"You were asking if Miss Ryan is from Illinois," Maggie said, with her eyes closed.

"Ah, yes." Hannah sat down and picked up her sherry. "Well?"

"Ladies, I have no idea where I'm from or where I'm going, but could someone get the knife out of my back?" I turned to expose my back. At least Hannah and I had a laugh.

"I think I could use a small refill," Maggie said. She struggled to sit up and retrieve her gla.s.s.

"I got it," I said absently, rising to get her gla.s.s.

"I can get it," she insisted as she struggled.

She couldn't reach it and she knew it. So, I shrugged and watched her flounder for a moment. It was too much; she nearly fell off the couch.

"Man, you're stubborn," I said impatiently and grabbed her gla.s.s from her.

"Thank you," she said too sweetly as I handed her the refilled gla.s.s.

We sat for a moment in silence. After telling Hannah the truth, I knew I had to tell Maggie as well. I figured now was as good a time as any.

"Maggie, I'm afraid I haven't been telling you the whole truth," I blurted. All at once, I felt a little foolish.

"Really?" Maggie asked. "What do you mean the whole truth?"

She stared at me, bewildered while I told them about Jan and Barb, and the whole nine yards. When I finished, I looked at Maggie. "Believe me, I did not know who you were until we were introduced. And even then I wasn't sure if I should stay or go."

"It's Kismet!" Hannah said with great enthusiasm until she looked at her niece. Her smile faded quickly.

"It's rot!" Maggie said, in an irritated voice. "So, you thought you'd get the scoop and leave, is that it? Have my aunt tell you personal family matters, then what? Give it to your magazine for a nice little cover story about the sad lives of the rich? Tell me why I should believe you?"

"Maggie, Jan and Barb told me you declined to meet with me, but I came up-"

"You came up to see if you could find me anyway, is that it? Even though I said I didn't want anyone here?"

I was getting tired of being cut off. "No, you self-absorbed little..." An appropriate word failed me. "First of all, I take wildlife photos. Unless a loon is in your lineage, which is a distinct possibility, I can't sell any photos or stories. I came up here because you have two friends who care a great deal about you who were worried sick. They honestly think something is wrong. Probably because of something you told them.

"I'm sure they could have easily told me, but because they respect your privacy, they did not say a word-only that you were a friend and in trouble. And since I am their friend and care about them, I thought maybe, just maybe, I might be able to help. However, I can see now that you don't want any help." My heart was pounding. Christ she got me angry. "I think I'd better go." I stood. "I'm sorry I disrupted your lives today. Really, it was never my intention and I apologize for losing my temper."

"Nonsense, we have a great deal to discuss and you aren't going anywhere," Hannah said. "What we need is food. We need lunch! I'll be right back, and you," she said to me, "Stay put. I mean it!"

I stared in disbelief as she left the room.

Without looking at me, Maggie started. "I might have been a little out of line a moment ago. I don't know you and I thought the worst. I apologize. Jan and Barb are good friends and I know they care. When they told me about you, initially I thought of meeting with you, but I didn't want anyone involved in this. I'd like you to stay. I haven't talked to anyone about this. Maybe you can help. I don't know. There is so much going on and I don't quite know what to do." She stopped and looked at me.

"I don't think your aunt will let me leave, anyway."

"You may be right. Thank you," she said gratefully. "So, what else did Aunt Hannah tell you?"

I proceeded to tell her the whole conversation from beginning to end.

She sat quietly and listened. She interrupted only once when I related what Hannah had said about our lifestyles. She actually blushed. "You'll have to forgive Aunt Hannah, she means well. She's a very direct person."

"Yes, she is. She cares very much."

"So, do you still want to help, or do you want to eat and run? I wouldn't blame you if you did."

"Well, I can't leave without my dog, and since I have no idea where she is, I guess I'll have to stay for a while."

Hannah came back in the room, pushing another tray. This time it was filled with sandwiches and potato salad. All at once, I was famished.

"No more discussions until you've both eaten," Hannah ordered.

We sat in silence for a few minutes eating our lunch. I didn't say anything. I couldn't. I was stuffing my face with a wonderful roast beef sandwich. It appeared we all had ravenous appet.i.tes.

As I ate my lunch, I thought of my car. Don't ask me why. "When we're finished perhaps Bedford can take me back to the scene of the crime, and I can get my car."

Hannah looked down and said nothing.

"Hannah?" I asked, slowly.

"Your car's not there," she mumbled into her plate.

"Beg pardon? It sounded very much like you said my car's not there."

She looked up at both of us. "Well, it's been damaged and I thought Stan could fix it," she said. I heard the innocence in her voice and then realized there was nothing innocent about Hannah.

I gave her a confused look. "Who's Stan?"

"Our mechanic! He's very good and I'm sure-"

"You called a tow truck to come and take away my car? Hannah, I need my car! How else am I going to get home?"

"Aunt Hannah, Kate and I discussed it. She said she would stay."

"Oh," Hannah said. She looked down at her plate.

"No!" I said in disbelief as it dawned on me. "Tell me you didn't have that guy tow my car just to keep me here all day. Tell me you didn't do that, Hannah."

Maggie hid her face behind both hands; her shoulders were shaking as she laughed.

I looked at Hannah. "Hannah?"

"Well, you were going to leave and I didn't know what to do! So, I called Stan and had him tow your car." She looked at me with a sheepish grin. "So you might as well finish your lunch. I told Stan to call us later."

I stood dumbfounded. I had no idea what to say. I finally shook my head, sighed, sat down and did what I was told. I finished my lunch.

Chapter Four.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, it started getting very dark and windy and the temperature dropped at least twenty degrees.

"It's getting a little chilly. Why don't we go in the other room and light a fire?" Maggie suggested.

"Need a hand?" I held out my hand and helped her up.

As we walked through the foyer, I looked out the window to see Chance snooping around the front yard. Maggie saw her too.

"Why don't you get her? I'm sure the poor thing is cold. Bring her in by the fire," she offered.

I opened the door and whistled. Chance looked up, saw me and started racing for the door. She was dirty around her snout so I knew she'd been digging at something. She came to the door and sat staring up at me.

I wagged my finger and tried my best role playing of mistress and canine. "Man, you better behave yourself or I'll put you right in the car."

Then I remembered I had no car in which to put her. So much for my threat. Chance followed me down the hall as I went in the direction Maggie had gone with her cane. I stood in a ma.s.sive doorway and looked into an expansive room. The opposite wall had two big French doors, which led out onto a huge deck and the surrounding woods. A couch right in front of the fireplace and two overstuffed chairs to the left, separated by a table, gave the room a cozy, comfortable feeling.

Maggie stood by the fireplace struggling to get the wood. As she awkwardly gathered the wood, it was obvious her ankle was causing her pain. I thought I would offer my expertise. "Why don't you let me do that? I love playing with fire."

"Why does that not surprise me?" Maggie replied as she stood back.

In minutes, I had a roaring fire going. Fires were one of my specialties, and even I had to admire it. I turned to see my dog on Maggie's lap, sleeping.

Suddenly, there was a clap of thunder. Chance yapped and jumped off Maggie's lap and scooted under the coffee table.

"What a coward," I said shaking my head as I sat next to Maggie on the couch.

"Leave that poor dog alone," Maggie scolded and I turned to face her.

I was going to argue with her but was tired of quarreling. Besides, she looked exhausted.

"It's been a long day, hasn't it?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, and interesting," she answered. "While you were in the kitchen with Doc, Aunt Hannah told me your father was a detective. Are you following in his footsteps?"

"He wanted me to join the force. He came from a long line of policemen and firemen. Seems the thing to be if you're Irish and from Chicago. He could see I had a flair for it, but it wasn't for me. I think he was a little disappointed, although he never let on. I did, however, try my hand at being a private investigator for a few years." I stared at the fire, visions of that night flashing through my mind-the dark cellar, Bob covered in blood, someone screaming in pain. A cold shiver ran through me now when I remembered I was the one screaming. Lost in my thoughts, I didn't catch Maggie's question. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"I asked what became of your business." She watched me as if I were nuts.

"Oh, the fun went out of it." What a lame reason, I thought to myself. Looking at her, I could tell she knew I wasn't telling the truth. How in the world could I tell anyone? Dammit, why did she have to ask me? I'm fine when I don't think about it.

"Not talking or thinking about this will not make it go away. You have to face your demons, Kate," the hospital psychiatrist said, calmly.

"Don't patronize me! You don't think I know that?" I yelled and slammed my fist on her desk.

All at once, my heart started pounding in my chest and the claustrophobic feeling started. Don't start this again, I begged the G.o.ds above. But they didn't seem to hold me in very high regard these days. Beads of perspiration broke out on my brow and I hastily wiped them away and walked over to the fire. Maggie said nothing but I was sure she noticed the change. How could she not? I took a deep breath and turned back to her. She was sitting watching me and smiling slightly.

"I suppose I can't get away from my insatiable curiosity," I tried to explain. "I shouldn't be surprised when I find myself in this type of situation. I'm only following my instincts."

"And they led you here," she said quietly.

I smiled slightly and said, "I think so." We were silent for a moment.

"I'm glad they did. So, how long have you known Jan and Barb?"

"I've known Jan for almost eighteen years. We went to college together and became fast friends. She's a card. I met Barb after she started seeing Jan about two years ago. So, how long have you known them?"

"It's the opposite. I've known Barb for ten years. She was a nurse at Cook County. Thank G.o.d, she got out of that place."

"Ten years, did you meet her in grammar school?"

"Grammar school?" she asked frowning. "Say, what is it with you? First, it's amy age' and now this. Do you have an age fetish? How old do you think I am?" she asked. I heard the anger rising. "Never mind, I don't think I want to know."

"Can we drop this? I'm sorry," I said quickly. This kind of conversation could cause nothing but trouble.

"So what else did Aunt Hannah and you discuss?"

"Nothing. Is there more?" I asked.

"N-no," she hesitated. "It's nothing."

"Why don't you tell me and then we can decide if it's nothing?" I asked.

She looked into the fire. I waited silently, hoping she'd open up.

"Margaret, if you don't tell her I will!" Hannah exclaimed as she leaned in between us.

I nearly jumped off the couch. As soon as my heart rate returned to normal, Hannah repeated herself.

"Margaret!"