“So what are we looking for?” Edward asked, opening the top drawer of the dresser.
“Anything that looks out of place, I suppose. It’s doubtful we’ll find a killer’s confession lying around.”
Edward snorted. “Too bad. I thought that was how it’s done.”
I rummaged through the nightstand, finding the usual items: a hairbrush, a hand mirror, and a dime novel. Sifting through the letters from Mae’s family didn’t reveal much beyond their daily routines and wishes they could all get together soon, no mention of any trouble at Fairwood Manor. Everything appeared to be normal, except I knew Mae had a confrontation with Richard. The way his hands had gripped her shoulders, shaking her as he spoke, filled my mind.
“You know, what I can’t seem to figure out is, why would anyone murder Mae tonight? We’re stranded because of the snow. The only thing that makes sense is a spur-of-the-moment killing—something caused by pent-up rage the killer couldn’t control. They’d have to know they couldn’t get away until after the storm.”
Edward finished with the dresser and came to stand behind me. His polished shoes creaked over the floorboards.
“Maybe it’s because the killer isn’t finished?”
“What?”
I met Edward’s gaze, and maybe it was a trick of the candlelight, but his features were devoid of emotion. He took another step closer.
“What if the killer’s just getting started? And Mae was only the first. Maybe there will be others. You don’t need a getaway plan if you’re the last one alive when the snow stops.”
My mouth went dry. “What would be the motive?”
He lifted a shoulder in a shrug, the movement too casual for what he was implying. “Lots of reasons. Money, jealousy, revenge.”
“Edward…” The backs of my legs bumped the nightstand.
He reached out to steady me, a strange smile lighting his face. Suddenly, it didn’t seem like a good idea to be roaming around the house in the dark with a killer on the loose. Derrick assumed we were locked inside the storage room; he would be confident in the fact he had the only key. No one would look for us.
Would anyone hear me if I screamed?
My hands delved behind me, finding the letters and the lamp. The iron base was heavy, but could I use it against Edward, the man who’d been cheering me on since I arrived? Fear and uncertainty congealed in my mind, making my fingers tremble. I was afraid to act and afraid not to.
Edward retreated a step and shivered. He laughed softly to himself. “Jeez, I’m scaring myself here. Don’t mind an old man and his morbid thoughts. Let’s keep searching.”
I let out a slow breath as he flung open the closet door and peered inside, shifting smocks and hanging uniforms out of the way.
“Get it together, Tessa,” I mumbled, flexing my fingers to relieve the tension.
“What’s that, dear?”
“Did you find anything?”
Edward sneezed and backed out of the closet. “Nothing but dust.”
There was one place left to check, and, knowing Mae’s penchant for hiding things under the mattress, I had a good idea of where to look. I peeked under the bed, then I ran my hand between the bed frame and the mattress.Gotcha!I withdrew a leather folio and moved toward the nightstand, opening it beneath the light of the candle.
The folio was similar to the ledgers I’d seen Cynthia collecting earlier in the night. It contained the same information too—columns of shipping company profits and investments covered the pages.
“What do you have there?” Edward asked.
“I think it’s financial information for your family’s company.”
“Why would Mae have that?” He peered over my shoulder and squinted through his spectacles.
“There’s a note too.” I unfolded a scrap of paper that had been slipped between the pages. It was handwritten and brief.
I have the item you asked about. 5, 27, 123. I’m working late tonight. Go when no one can see you.
—G
