{"id":819,"date":"2016-05-13T17:17:03","date_gmt":"2016-05-13T17:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zatma.org\/new-wp\/?p=819"},"modified":"2016-05-14T15:09:44","modified_gmt":"2016-05-14T15:09:44","slug":"the-crossword-puzzle-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/?p=819","title":{"rendered":"The Crossword Puzzle (#7)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Ming<\/dt>\n
Ming Zhen Shakya<\/a><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\u00a0To see more literature about Zen and the Art of Investigation:<\/h6>\n
http:\/\/www.zenanthonywolff.com<\/a><\/strong><\/i><\/h5>\n
<\/h6>\n
\n

The Crossword Puzzle<\/h2>\n

by Anthony Wolff (Ming Zhen Shakya)<\/strong><\/p>\n

To see all published chapters of “The Crossword Puzzle” click here<\/a><\/p>\n

PART 7:\u00a0ELIMINATING THE IMPOSSIBLE<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Thanksgiving Day holiday had ended and there was no need for Mrs. Eglington to keep trudging up and down the old attic steps or for Gladys to stay in her upstairs room, either.\u00a0 They stayed in the house to serve Paige for whom they had no affection or respect.\u00a0 They agreed to stay on until the probate procedure was concluded; \u201cI\u2019m going to see about moving into the master bedroom,\u201d Mrs. Eglington confided to Gladys, \u201cand you can see about taking Nola\u2019s bedroom. \u00a0 I\u2019ve got enough money of my own saved to buy a new mattress… and besides, he wasn\u2019t killed in that room.\u00a0 Master Roland is a kind man.\u00a0 He\u2019ll understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two women approached Paige who definitely did not want her servants going around town telling tales about life at Ghent house, and she was also lonely living alone on the second floor.\u00a0 At first she seemed reluctant and didn\u2019t quite know what to say.\u00a0 \u201cYou can\u2019t use my room or the children\u2019s rooms; and I don\u2019t know what to do if one of them brings a friend home to spend the night. And I miss my sister,\u201d she began to cry.\u00a0 \u201dWhen she returns she will be given her choice of bedroom so one of you will have to leave the room immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Eglington allayed her fear.\u00a0 \u201cIf you ever require the rooms, we\u2019ll move back into the attic in two shakes of a lamb\u2019s tail.\u00a0 Have no fear, Madam.\u00a0 And no one in town will know that we\u2019ve come down to the second floor.\u00a0 You have our word.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that the stair to the attic is so difficult for me,\u201d she pleaded.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Paige agreed.\u00a0 \u201cBut tell no one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Telling no one did not include Gregor, Jules, or Hines.\u00a0 Jules waited for his inheritance, but Gregor and Hines had no specific reason to stay.\u00a0 Jules knew only that he had been named as a beneficiary.\u00a0 He did not know to what extent Hines had lied to him.\u00a0 The atmosphere in the house did not conduce to contentment in any form.\u00a0 Often the servants did not reply normally, but snapped or snarled, or said something sarcastic in response to each other\u2019s questions or comments.<\/p>\n

Hines Whitman was furious when he heard that Mrs. Eglington was moving her things into the master\u2019s bedroom.\u00a0 \u201cI wanted that room for myself!\u201d he announced as if what he said had any significance.<\/p>\n

No matter how he grumbled about having to live in the turret, the others each had a remark that sealed him in the uncomfortable quarters. \u00a0 Gladys said, \u201cWhen Nola comes back, I\u2019ll have to move out of her room and I\u2019d just as soon stay in the carriage house as go back to the attic.\u201d\u00a0 Gregor grunted but did not voice an objection.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarriage house?\u00a0\u00a0You\u00a0<\/em>can live there but I can\u2019t?\u201d Hines complained.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you have attic to yourself,\u201d Gregor grinned malevolently.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can continue to live with Jules over the Four-car garage,\u201d Gladys noted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d leave today but I have to think about references,\u201d Hines countered.\u00a0 Since he had been needed to stay on to help with the unusual paperwork associated with a death in the family, Paige had asked Roland to let Hines use his room, but Roland declined saying that he did not want his privacy violated.\u00a0 Gregor had not wanted his privacy invaded either and so he had drapes hung on the windows that faced the turret.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At the beginning of December, Paige called Nola and asked to meet with her to get some needed advice, and despite Ellis\u2019s advice not to meet with her, she agreed.\u00a0 \u201cLet me do a little more investigating,\u201d he insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can be investigating at the same time,\u201d Nola said. \u00a0 Paige came to the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the funeral but before the kids left for school after Thanksgiving,\u201d Paige anguished, \u201call hell broke loose.\u00a0 Previously Pierre had blamed you for causing trouble between Spence and me.\u00a0 And then the Will was just read and he found out that I control all the assets except the house.\u00a0 Spence assigned a huge amount of our liquid assets to furnish that clinic.\u00a0 We\u2019re far from broke, but nowhere near where we used to be.\u00a0 The house is now Roland\u2019s – but we all have the right to live there as long as we stay single.\u00a0 Pierre didn\u2019t know this.\u00a0 He thought he\u2019d get a big chunk of cash and wanted an expensive Italian sports car for Christmas. He told all his friends who laughed at what they considered his fantasy.\u00a0 So he asked me for money to buy the car and I refused.\u00a0 It\u2019s outrageous.\u00a0 He\u2019s not even a freshman in college!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was his reaction?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe called me every name in the book.\u201d\u00a0 Paige began to cry.\u00a0 \u201cHe says he doesn\u2019t care who knows what a tramp I am.\u00a0 One of the servants must have told him about Gregor and me. He keeps referring to the pain I must have caused his father by carrying on with Greg right under his nose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou brought me on board,\u201d Nola said.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re responsible for Spence\u2019s recovery. Prior to my coming there Spence was being killed slowly by his well-meaning servants.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ellis\u2019s car pulled into the driveway and Paige, not wanting to talk to anyone else, decided to leave.\u00a0 \u201cPray for me,\u201d she said as she left the house and gave a nod to Ellis who met her in the doorway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Later that day, Pierre Ghent went to the police station to recant his earlier statement.\u00a0 Dave Rowan called Ellis to tell him.\u00a0 \u201cHe now wants to be truthful and reveal that it was his mother\u2019s sexual relationship with numerous other men that caused the trouble.\u00a0 Nola was innocent.\u00a0 She actually helped his dad.\u201d\u00a0 Rowan chuckled. \u201cWe\u2019ve taken his statement.\u00a0 You can drop by and read it whenever you want.\u201d \u00a0 He paused, \u201cListen, do you have any idea why he reversed himself so completely?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy guess would be that the kids knew that originally their mother was going to control the purse strings, and they regarded that as history from back in the days that Spence loved her and she was honorable and they were little.\u00a0 Spence did a lot of talking to his attorney recently and the kids probably thought he\u2019d rectify that outdated provision and let them inherit the money directly.\u00a0 I doubt that they were aware of just how much money Spence had spent lately.\u00a0 He let his partners buy him out and didn\u2019t have a personal income from his investment company for years. But while he worked, the family could have lived on his salary alone.\u00a0 Without it, they dipped into their considerable portfolio. He lost a lot in the last recession, too, and didn\u2019t have the wherewithal to recoup his losses.\u00a0 Then in the last year, Nola and Hines were hired and Spence went flying first class around the world and made a Swiss Spa his home away from home and committed a fortune to the new clinic addition… and the woman who went with it.\u00a0 Big bucks, all told.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Pierre thinks that by discrediting his mother he can have her removed as executrix.\u00a0 Nice kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s flesh and blood compared to money?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy am I surprised?\u201d\u00a0 Rowan grimly chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cListen, Ellis, in some of Spence\u2019s papers there were other puzzles – normal ones – that he seems to have started just before he died.\u00a0 They don\u2019t have themes listed, but there are clues.\u00a0 I\u2019m stymied but maybe Nola can give us some answers. I\u2019m gonna see about bringing her back here to have a look at them.\u00a0 Is that ok with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure… just let us know. I\u2019ve got to go out again to Corbin\u2019s office.\u00a0 You can reach me there if you need me.\u201d\u00a0 Ellis disconnected the call.\u00a0 He felt good about Rowan\u2019s attitude. Clearly, Nola was not seriously considered the prime suspect any longer, despite the legal machinery that was still chugging away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nola called Paige to tell her about Pierre\u2019s recantation.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s just a kid,\u201d she said, \u201clooking out for his own interests in the only way he can figure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paige cried and blew her nose. \u201cThey have no respect for me.\u00a0 Spencer poisoned them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nola switched to another related topic.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about the study. There are ground-level windows on two sides of the room.\u00a0 At the far end there are drapes between the windows and Spencer always used to keep a loaded rifle behind one of the drapes.\u00a0 Tell me about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are lots of feral dogs and coyotes that come out of the woods and attack our goats.\u00a0 While Spence was sick in bed, Jules would sometimes check the area and if he saw the goats being threatened, he\u2019d lower a window and ask Gregor to shoot the dog and then dispose of the dead animal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you say, \u2018Lower a window?\u2019\u201d Nola asked. \u201cWhy not raise it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause they\u2019re all near ground level.\u00a0 If you lower the top, you can lean on both window frames for stability when you take a shot. Since the windows are so easy to raise and lower, anybody could have climbed in and out without the rest of the house knowing it. i just thought I\u2019d mention it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo,\u201d Nola noted, \u201cany servant could have climbed in to help carry Spence into the bathroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt needn\u2019t have been a servant,\u201d Paige said.\u00a0 \u201cThe windows at the far end are close to the rocky hill that was too steep for us to use.\u00a0 But the workmen did rig a rope at the side.\u00a0 They pounded down a few posts and strung a rope to help them get up.\u00a0 They\u2019d often throw stuff down that side to save them the extra steps of going all the way around the estate to approach it from the front. \u00a0 Anybody could have climbed up without being seen on the driveway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus,\u201d Nola said.\u00a0 \u201cWe have to start someplace and the sooner, the better.\u00a0 Paige… talk to whichever one of the servants is still on good terms with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s probably Mrs. Eglington,\u201d Paige said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll see what I can learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGive me an honest answer.\u00a0 How do your children care for you and Spence?\u201d Nola asked with Incredulous concern. \u201cThere doesn\u2019t seem to be much mourning for his loss or sympathy for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paige sighed as tears filled her voice,\u201cThere was a time when we were a loving family… a unit.\u00a0 But kids have a way of taking their own path.\u00a0 They want to create their own personality and make themselves appear to be independent. They don\u2019t want to walk beside you anymore.\u00a0 They separate themselves by letting the only things they have, love and loyalty, convert to disloyalty and hate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you believe that Spence killed himself because Ingrid Hesse died in a car crash? Between losing her and investing all that construction money, I think he believed life was over for him, and that it\u2019s possible one of your servants took the gun.\u00a0 I don\u2019t believe that someone entered the study and just shot him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paige sighed. \u201cIt\u2019s always a mistake to think that because you pay someone, they feel love for you. Sure… all of them were capable of such mischief.\u00a0 Everybody looks out for Number One, even people who cash a paycheck you signed.\u00a0 It might help if we found out what plans Spence had for him and Ingrid. They must have had domestic plans… respectable ones. He never asked me for a divorce, but maybe that was one of the things he talked to his attorney about. They\u2019ve been waiting for the Lucerne execs to return from Europe to question them. And as far as moving Spence\u2019s body into the bathroom to wash the gun shot residue from his hands and arms, I might as well admit that Gregor is my candidate for the job.\u00a0 He used to think that he had some sort of power over me… well… I might as well specify it… photos and videos.\u00a0 But miraculously he seems to have lost the pictures.\u00a0 He accused me of stealing them, but I didn\u2019t do it.\u00a0 I have a guardian angel someplace. I\u2019m so sorry I started seeing that bastard.\u00a0 Gregor thought that with Spencer out of the way, he\u2019d have me to himself.\u201d\u00a0 Paige shuddered.\u00a0 \u201cOr even since I was in control of the money…\u201d she hesitated and then sighed again.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not worth talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll along I\u2019ve thought that he must be taking photos or videos of you – whether or not you knew it. I don\u2019t know why he\u2019s sticking around unless he\u2019s waiting for a payoff for helping one or more of the servants who got an inheritance.\u00a0 He\u2019s the type who would stoop to gaining control over someone no matter what it took.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paige began to cry.\u00a0 \u201cYes,\u201d she whispered, \u201che had many photos and videos of me.\u00a0 Some of the photos I knew about, but not until he accused me of stealing them did I learn about the videos. He wasn\u2019t above blackmailing me about them. How would my children ever have lived it down?\u00a0 He won\u2019t speak to me now.\u00a0 I\u2019m so alone.\u201d\u00a0 She began to sob.<\/p>\n

Nola tried to redirect her emotions. \u201cThen you better stop whining and start taking control of that house.\u00a0 I\u2019m willing to bet that the turret hasn\u2019t been renovated.\u00a0 Even if Hines doesn\u2019t live in it, the house will belong to Roland and you might as well not incur his displeasure by leaving it in any shabby way.\u00a0 People say it was once the pride of the estate. \u00a0 And notice what your servants are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right!\u00a0 All right! I know that Gladys has a crush on Gregor.\u00a0 Ever since he first came here she looks at him with those kewpie-doll eyes.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen her staring at him when he works in the patio or garden with his shirt off.\u00a0 If the men are working outside in the heat and Mrs. E. makes a pitcher of lemonade for them, Gladys will squeeze an extra half lemon into the glass she hands him. She gets a thrill out of changing his bed linens and picking up his dirty clothing.\u00a0 It\u2019s sickening.\u00a0 And Hines is the same way.\u00a0 Any excuse to talk to Greg is a good excuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nola grinned. \u201cThat\u2019s the kind of thing you need to notice… special friendships between any two of them. So toughen up!\u00a0 Start running things properly; and if you find anything about Spencer\u2019s future plans with ingrid, let Ellis or me know.\u00a0 How he defends me will depend on all this little stuff that\u2019s in his lawyer\u2019s head.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ellis sat with Dave in the cafeteria.\u00a0 \u201cI expect that you\u2019ll not be filing any charges against Nola. That house was a real snake pit. None of them appreciated the good work that Nola did nursing him.\u00a0 I think everyone of them expected him to die within a matter of weeks or a few months at most.\u201d\u00a0 Before picking up his cup, he asked, \u201cHave you looked into this Doctor Hesse?\u00a0 Did anyone around her stand to gain or lose, financially or romantically, with Spencer Ghent in or out of the picture?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we looked.\u201d Dave got out his notebook.\u00a0 \u201cWe even ran her through Interpol.\u00a0 She was forty, a widow of a poor poet who, for some reason, she stuck with for 16 years.\u00a0 A hard worker.\u00a0 No scandal whatsoever. She worked for the Lucerne people for five years.\u00a0 The investigator over there said people wept when they found out she died.\u00a0 Years ago she inherited some money from a patient, but she donated it all to the clinic. \u00a0 The Minister of Health plus a bunch of other bigwigs attended her memorial.\u00a0 She was related to Austrian aristocracy but didn\u2019t acknowledge it. She liked to ski and ice skate.\u00a0 Beyond that there was her job as an officer at the clinic. \u00a0 Nothing… you will find nothing in her past.\u00a0 After ten years doing hands-on medicine, she went to college at night or on the net, studying economics. She had a few office positions and then became Chief Financial Operator and you don\u2019t deal in other people\u2019s money in Switzerland but that you are vetted with a capital V.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNola also reeks of competence.\u00a0 If Paige didn\u2019t like Spence\u2019s improvement under her care, she\u2019d have found a way to get rid of her.\u00a0 She gave Paige complete control whenever she was out of the house.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t want him dead and I don\u2019t think she killed him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOk,\u201d Ellis finished half of his coffee.\u00a0 \u201cWhat about that Japanese kid who was released early?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dHe\u2019s been in federal custody waiting to be deported but I don\u2019t know when that will be. He was here on a Japanese student visa which expired when he was incarcerated.\u00a0 I\u2019ll have to check with Immigration.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe guy from India might have wanted to get Spence out of the way.\u00a0 When Nola didn\u2019t come up with the money, he faced fraud charges.\u00a0 Spencer wouldn\u2019t have given him a nickel but Paige might have saved him.\u00a0 We need to find out if he crossed the border and returned to the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI still want Nola to look at those partially done\u00a0crosswords.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go to your place and I\u2019ll release her ankle bracelet and let the sergeant know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nola was delighted to get the bracelet removed.\u00a0 \u201cWhen I walk I often bang it with my other ankle and I can\u2019t get my skinny jeans over it.\u00a0 What a relief!\u201d<\/p>\n

They left in Rowan\u2019s unmarked police car.<\/p>\n

Nola and Paige greeted each other as though they hadn\u2019t seen each other in years.\u00a0 They began to babble and Rowan had to step in and remind Nola that she had a job to do.\u00a0 She and Paige went to the dining room where all of Spence\u2019s loose papers had been boxed once Mrs. Eglington moved into his room.\u00a0 Paige summoned Mrs. Eglington and told her to prepare an extra special afternoon tea for all her guests.<\/p>\n

After tea, everyone attended to other chores or business.\u00a0 Detective DeFazio and Jules went into the Four-car garage to inspect the vehicles; Rowan and Ellis were examining the windows in the study; Mrs. Eglington put the \u201cgood\u201d tea service away in a special cabinet; Gladys put a clean apron on and went to build a fire in the living room fireplace; and Hines and Gregor were out of sight somewhere on the premises.\u00a0 The presence of the pickup-truck and cars indicated that no one had left the area. It had begun to rain and low clouds shrouded the hilltop in mist.\u00a0 The temperature had also dropped.\u00a0 In the study, Rowan looked at his watch. It was after four o\u2019clock. \u201cI\u2019ll call my wife and tell her I\u2019m running late.\u00a0 We have to check to see if Nola\u2019s gotten anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paige and Nola had been in the dining room, but a member of Paige\u2019s \u201cFun Lovers Club\u201d (as it was unofficially called) called and was driving up to the house to pick her up for an \u201cimpromptu.\u201d\u00a0 Paige began the conversation with a solemn reticence but her caller seemed to be somewhat intoxicated and insisted that he was going to make her cease mourning; and rather than have him come to the house and encounter the police, she agreed to meet him down on the road at the base of the steep incline.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll try to get back within two hours,\u201d she said to Nola and slipped out of the kitchen door.<\/p>\n

Nola was working on a puzzle and read a clue that referred to a \u201cLogo of farrier\u2019s major equipment\u201d and went to see if an old blacksmith\u2019s anvil or hammer was stored in the farrier\u2019s shed.<\/p>\n

As Rowan and Ellis left the study, expecting to find Nola and Paige in the dining room, they saw that the room was empty but before they could even comment on the absence of the women, a shriek came from outside the house, a shriek that kept repeating.\u00a0 The two men ran out of the house towards the source of the noise.\u00a0 Hines was screaming.\u00a0 Nola came out of the farrier\u2019s shed to see what the commotion was about.\u00a0 Gladys scrambled down from the attic where she had gone to get some personal things she had left there when she prepared to move into Nola\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

On the ground under the turret\u2019s corner Gregor Nikolov\u2019s body lay crushed from having fallen four storeys.\u00a0 The back of his head had stuck an upright edging stone and had split his head almost into two parts.\u00a0 The sight was hideous and the man who had seemed so sturdy and solid, now seemed like a bloody heap of blood and skin covered by a denim shirt and pants.<\/p>\n

DeFazio was calling for additional police detail as he ran to the fallen man.\u00a0 When he reached Rowan and Ellis, who could barely look at the body, he announced, \u201cSo Gregor Nikolov has just committed suicide. Think it was guilt?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSuicide?\u201d Rowan asked with anger and incredulity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat else?\u201d DeFazio answered.\u00a0 \u201cThe roof of the turret is conical.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t sun-bathing up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou stupid ass,\u201d Rowan said, walking back towards the house as the other servants began to appear.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with him?\u201d DeFazio asked Ellis.<\/p>\n

Ellis pointed up at the turret.\u00a0 \u201cSuicides do not usually stop to shut the windows after they\u2019ve defenestrated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Jesus,\u201d DeFazio whispered.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t notice that they were all shut.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLive and learn,\u201d Ellis said and began to follow Rowan.\u00a0 He turned and saw Nola standing in the doorway of the farrier\u2019s shed.\u00a0 \u201cWhat are you doing out here?\u201d he shouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m trying to find a clue that Spence left in one of the puzzles.\u00a0 \u2018Name of smith\u2019s important tool.\u2019\u00a0 I thought it might be the anvil.\u201d\u00a0 Her eyes immediately followed the direction of the screaming. \u201cIs that Gregor on the ground?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ellis spoke harshly. \u201cYes. You were not supposed to leave the dining room.\u00a0 Gregor\u2019s been killed and you have no alibi.\u00a0 What the hell is wrong with you?\u201d Ellis pulled her from the shed and told her not to look at the bloody heap on the ground beside the main house.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Nola whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t go near the body,\u201d Ellis hissed, \u201cand just give yes and no answers. It looks like somebody pushed him out of a turret window. Where\u2019s Paige?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe went out on one of her\u00a0Fun Lovers<\/em>\u00a0prowls. She didn\u2019t want to go, but he was drunk and on his way.\u00a0 He apparently picked her up about half an hour ago. She\u2019s supposed to be back within another hour and a half.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have been left alone,\u201d Ellis snapped. He looked at the clouds, \u201cIt\u2019s going to rain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inside the house, Rowan did a head-count.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s Paige Ghent?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ellis answered.\u00a0 \u201cSome friend picked her up about thirty minutes ago.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t see the car so she must have… I don\u2019t know… is it possible to descend that steep hill.\u00a0 She could have met them down there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go see,\u201d Rowan said, before the rain or other police vehicles destroy any tracks.\u00a0 DeFazio!\u201d he shouted, \u201ccall the coroner and forensics and when the uniforms come have them secure the scene… from down on the road all the way up here.\u00a0 I\u2019m gonna check the hill in back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paige\u2019s heel marks were clearly evident as she held the rope and descended the sharp decline. \u201cWell, that\u2019s how she left without us seeing her,\u201d Rowan said.\u00a0 There were fresh tire marks in the road.\u00a0 He took off his trench coat and laid it over one set of tire prints.\u00a0 Ellis did the same for another.<\/p>\n

In a few minutes two police cars with flashing red and blue lights came up the road and were stopped by Rowan.\u00a0 \u201cWait here until forensics can take tire impressions.\u201d\u00a0 In another minute the forensics van arrived and took the needed tire impressions.<\/p>\n

Rowan herded everyone into the living room. \u201cAm I missing anybody besides Mrs. Ghent?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPierre,\u201d Hines said meekly.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood Christ! I forgot about him.\u00a0 Who\u2019s the last person to have seen him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou… probably,\u201d Hines offered.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrilliant!\u00a0 Where are the other two kids?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey went back to school.\u00a0 Pierre was too upset to travel, he said,\u201d Jules answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cCall him and Mrs. Ghent and tell them both to get the hell home now!\u00a0 Does anybody know why Gregor was up there in the tower?\u201d\u00a0 He looked at Gladys whose red eyes and nose indicated that she had been crying.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Mrs. Eglington said.\u00a0 \u201cGladys said that he was going to tighten the leaded glass to the window frame.\u00a0 The trim that held it came loose. I think Gregor must have tried to hold onto one window frame while he stood on the sill and worked on the upper frame. Upper or down, who knows?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWas Gladys there when he fell?\u201d Dave asked her, ignoring Gladys.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 As far as I know she was alone in the attic.\u00a0 Gladys came scrambling down when she heard the shouting.\u00a0 She started screaming, \u2018Call 9-1-1!\u2019 I was a bit confused because of the smoke I had just seen.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know which way to turn.\u201d\u00a0 Mrs. Eglington tried to comfort Gladys.\u00a0 \u201cAnd in case you\u2019re interested, Nola wasn\u2019t here and neither was Mrs. Ghent.\u00a0 Pierre was home but he drove away this morning to see you. I saw Hines on the stairs leading up to Gregor\u2019s apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was early,\u201d Hines snapped. \u201cThen I thought that before I bothered him I ought to check the turret to see if it really would be fit to live in once the renovations were made. Gladys was with me and I approved of the changes. And then I went to my space in the Four-car apartment. I don\u2019t know about anybody else. I was looking out the window and saw Gregor with a screwdriver standing on the sill outside the stained glass window he was trying to fix… tighten the screws that held the panel to the frame.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWas the clear glass window open or closed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u00a0 He had to open one to get outside so I guess I just assumed the window he came through was open.\u00a0 But then I saw him fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDescribe his actions,\u201d Rowan asked gently.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe fell backwards… the way a person looks when he goes to sit on a chair and it isn\u2019t there. Then his arms started flailing. So I screamed and ran down the side stairs and kept screaming.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDetective DeFazio and I were in the garage when we heard Hines shout,\u201d Jules said and DeFazio nodded affirmatively.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Eglington thought for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cI was in the kitchen and Gladys came down from the attic when we both heard the screams.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople around here like to die mysteriously,\u201d Ellis said.<\/p>\n

The forensics\u2019 and the coroner\u2019s van both arrived.\u00a0 Dave Rowan looked at DeFazio.\u00a0 \u201cStay with the uniforms and get statements from everybody.\u00a0 Think you can do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ellis touched his arm.\u00a0 \u201cI could use a Jack Daniels along about now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw some in the study,\u201d Rowan whispered.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s after 5 p.m.\u00a0 I\u2019m off duty.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dave Rowan poured a couple of inches in each glass.\u00a0 \u201cEvery one of those sons-of-bitches, including the son and the widow, could have killed that man.\u201d<\/p>\n

As they stood in the study, a car pulled up to the portico and a sleepy, staggering Pierre got out His eyes were half closed and he had to hold onto the wall as he climbed up to the entrance.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s wearing the same clothes he wore when he came to my office this morning,\u201d Dave Rowan said.\u00a0 \u201cBut he\u2019s not feigning being swacked.\u00a0 The kid is stoned… or loaded.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe both,\u201d Ellis said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE SOLUTION<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Two new detectives appeared in the parking spaces beside the portico.\u00a0 \u201cYeah,\u201d Rowan said,<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m officially off. \u00a0 I\u2019ll go talk to one of them and tell them all that I know which ought to take me<\/p>\n

about four seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n

DeFazio stayed to guard the servants in the living rooms.\u00a0 \u201cNo talking!\u201d he kept repeating.<\/p>\n

Paige got out of a car and stomped up the portico steps.\u00a0 She went directly into the living room and sat beside Pierre on a Victorian love-seat.\u00a0 Until she and Pierre arrived, DeFazio did not want to start the interview process which proved to be as pointless as the previous one.\u00a0 This time, however, the servants did not want to disrupt the probate process by finding Paige guilty.\u00a0 If the Will was voided what would happen?\u00a0 Would Pierre, Roland, and Samantha get the money as natural heirs and just discard the provision that gave them their bequest?\u00a0 They didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

One after the other they gave their statements.\u00a0 Everyone was someplace else and didn\u2019t know anything about the incident.\u00a0 Paige and Pierre, though embarrassed enough to try to be vague about their whereabouts, finally named names and their alibis were verified.\u00a0 Pierre had been smoking marijuana and drinking with his friends and his clothing had carried the smell of marijuana and beer into the living room.<\/p>\n

Dave Rowan, calmer and more disposed to be logical, re-entered the living room. He called Ellis Foyle aside and said, I\u2019m trusting you to keep Nola in your house without the use of phones or visitors. We\u2019ve got her driver\u2019s license and passport but please, for Christ\u2019s sake, don\u2019t make things any more difficult.\u201d \u00a0 Ellis agreed and Nola left the house with them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Before Dave Rowan left the scene he ordered the carriage house; the main house; the steep hill behind the house; the farrier shed; and the garage wrapped in yellow crime scene tape.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d put you each in your goddamned rooms and put yellow tape on the door,\u201d he hissed.\u00a0 \u201cFucking death house. So you\u2019ll stay incommunicado.\u00a0 It\u2019s either that or I\u2019ll let you spend the next forty-eight hours at the police station writing your alibis in detail.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ellis was still angry with Nola.\u00a0 \u201cWhy the hell didn\u2019t you two stay put?\u00a0 This is a murder investigation.\u00a0 If you had to leave the dining room you should have called one of the uniforms who were on duty not that far from here… or called me or Dave.\u00a0 Jesus, now you\u2019re a suspect in two murders.\u201d<\/p>\n

All the cell phones in the house were collected and despite the protests the land lines were disconnected. Leading Detective Rowan was definitely disgusted.<\/p>\n

Nola did not try to offer an explanation.\u00a0 She remained silent and wondered when she would be able to speak to Paige again.<\/p>\n

Ellis cancelled several appointments so that he could stay home and verify her movements.\u00a0 He went so far as to ask Rowan for a spare set of handcuffs to secure her to a bed at night.\u00a0 Rowan thought it was a great idea and gave him his own cuffs to use.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s see what the D.A. says,\u201d Rowan responded. \u201cHe may want her back in a cell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ellis kept Nola handcuffed during the day… re-securing her to the bed during the night.\u00a0 \u201cYou brought this on yourself,\u201d he said, still angry as he snapped the second cuff around a headboard post<\/p>\n

\u201cOoh,\u201d Nola teased, \u201cbondage.\u201d \u00a0 Ellis was still smiling as he left the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dave Rowan lent Paige his phone to make funeral arrangements for Gregor once the coroner had finished with the body. \u201cYou can do everything you need to do from home.\u00a0 You\u2019re not under arrest so you don\u2019t need lawyers, but if you want one, now\u2019s the time to call.\u00a0 We have to straighten out some if this mess before one of you kills somebody else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Court was back in session and the District Attorney was no longer so friendly.\u00a0 He said that he intended to order Nola to return to the county correction facility but, at Rowan\u2019s request, he held off 24 hours before signing he order.<\/p>\n

Ellis Foyle was depressed.\u00a0 With Nola, her right wrist handcuffed to Ellis\u2019s left, sitting silently beside them as if she were not there at all, Ellis and Dave Rowan sat in a cafeteria and grumbled about ungrateful people… people whose self-interest takes precedence over promises. \u201cGod damn it!\u201d Ellis said. \u201cAll she had to do was stay put.\u00a0 I put myself out for someone and get crapped on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nola said nothing as she stirred her coffee with her left hand,<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople!\u201d Rowan agreed as his cellphone rang.\u00a0 He listened to the call and shook his head and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cHold on,\u201d he said to his caller, an expression of amazement on his face.\u00a0 \u201cYou cannot guess just what happened,\u201d he said to Ellis. Paige was asked to go to the coroner\u2019s office and pick up Soencer\u2019s unneeded personal effects… clothes, watch, chain he wore around his neck. But because she was so susceptible to hysterics, Gladys was asked to go with her.\u00a0 Naturally, a uniform was with them.\u00a0 They opened the paper bag and Gladys says, \u201cThis isn\u2019t Mr. Ghent\u2019s stuff.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tech pulls out a shirt and looks at the identity tag and says,\u2019Yes it is.\u2019 Gladys says, \u2018Mr. Ghent wouldn\u2019t be caught dead in this shirt.\u00a0 All his shirts had tails.\u00a0 This is one of those casual shirts…and it\u2019s an ugly shade of green. I know his preferences because I do his laundry.\u2019\u00a0 So the tech looks at the label again and it was purchased in France.\u201d Rowan grinned mischievously.\u00a0 \u201cDo you know what this means?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ellis yelped and hit himself on the head to indicate that he had just realized his mistake. \u201cYes I do! Tell the uniform cop with them to tell Paige to sign for the stuff and for both of them to come back to the Ghent\u2019s house immediately. We\u2019ve just solved this stupid case… both deaths,\u201d Ellis said. \u201dI\u2019ve always wanted to do one of those \u2018Get all the suspects in the parlor\u2019 scenes.\u00a0 While you call the coroner\u2019s office, I\u2019ve got to make a few phone calls.\u201d\u00a0 He unlocked Nola\u2019s handcuffs with the warning that Nola was not to move or speak unless she had something valuable to contribute to him… in private.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With two uniformed officers guarding the exit, everyone gathered in the Ghent\u2019s living room.\u00a0 Ellis and Dave Rowan both leaned an elbow on the mantlepiece.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is just like Hercule Poirot,\u201d Hines said. \u201cWill you be using an accent?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up and sit down,\u201d Rowan snapped.<\/p>\n

Ellis looked at everyone who sat in the room. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a few questions and need a few answers. I\u2019ll let Detective Rowan do the honors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rowan opened the paper bag and withdrew the green shirt.\u00a0 \u201cFirst we\u2019re going to consider Mr. Ghent\u2019s death.\u00a0 This paper bag contains his personal effects that were not needed as evidence.\u00a0 His watch, underwear, jewelry and so on.\u00a0 Who did Mr. Ghent\u2019s laundry?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did,\u201d Gladys said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs this his shirt?\u201d Rowan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018He wouldn\u2019t be caught dead wearing a shirt like that… not even on vacation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhose shirt is it.. this shirt that was purchased in Marseilles?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMine,\u201d Hines said.\u00a0 \u201cIt came from one of the best shops in Marseilles. I guess Mr. Ghent liked it so much that he borrowed it. I still have a few garments hanging in his closet.\u00a0 He would know that I wouldn\u2019t object.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. No,\u201d Ellis said.\u00a0 \u201cThe reason it was on Spencer Ghent\u2019s body is that the shirt he was wearing got wet when you washed the gun shot residue from his hand and arm. And you feared the GSR would also be on his shirt in the wrong place. So you exchanged shirts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRidiculous!\u201d Hines sneered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know police procedures,\u201d Gladys said, \u201cbut I do know Mr. Ghent\u2019s wardrobe.\u00a0 And there is nothing like that ugly shirt in his wardrobe; but there is one in yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rowan continued, directing his comments to Hines.\u00a0 \u201cMy guess is that you and your accomplices intended to kill Spence and blame it on the Japanese kid. – as a home invasion or revenge.\u00a0 We called the Immigration Service and learned that they had just taken the kid in custody on Tuesday.\u00a0 So he had an alibi.\u00a0 You had to find someone else to blame.\u00a0 But then you saw that such plans were worthless.\u00a0 You entered the study and found Spence loading that old 22 from the collection.\u00a0 You knew how depressed he was so you quietly left and called Jules who called Gregor.\u00a0 At any moment there would be a gunshot… which would have invalidated the insurance policies; so you called Jules to help you make the suicide look like a murder.\u00a0 You knew that there would be gun shot residue on his hand, arm and shirt and you knew that to wash it off, he\u2019d have to be taken to the bathroom\u00a0 You couldn\u2019t carry him and Jules has a bad back and can\u2019t carry anything heavier than a food tray and you probably couldn\u2019t even carry that.\u00a0 So, since Jules thought he was going to collect a lot of money from the Will and needed Ghent dead sooner than later and knew that Gregor needed money, he offered to pay him well just to move a body back and forth to the bath room. Gregor never signed on for a murder even though he did involve himself in that letter business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jules and Gregor protested the scenario Rowan had given, but Detective DeFazio silenced them.<\/p>\n

\u201cNola,\u201d Rowan continued, \u201cwas taking a shower and Mrs. Eglington was back in the kitchen with Gladys.\u00a0 So you, Hines, ran out to where Jules and Gregor were doing yard work and told them of the change in plans and asked them to move closer to the study.\u00a0 As soon as they heard the gunshot, Gregor was going to enter the study through a window. Jules would act as though he were continuing the yard work and maybe even say that he hadn\u2019t heard any shot… while Gregor moved the body.\u00a0 After you cleaned Spence\u2019s hand and arm, you\u2019d go back to your room and then come back running to investigate the shot. You entered through the foyer while Gregor left through the window.\u00a0 Jules didn\u2019t have anything to do but fix that letter of Nola\u2019s in order to make her look guilty.\u00a0 He changed the date and Gregor gave it to Detective DeFazio during his interview.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ellis picked up the charge. \u201cGregor carried Spence\u2019s body into the bathroom and you and he washed his arms and hands and then you saw that Spence\u2019s shirt was wet and so you exchanged shirts with him.\u00a0 Mrs. Eglington and Gladys had already seen Jules that morning and knew what he was wearing. But no one had seen you. So you took Spencer\u2019s shirt and put a little cold water on the blood stains, washing them out of the collar, and tucked Spence\u2019s shirt into your jeans and maybe put a sweater on.\u00a0 Nola walked in while you had Spence in the bathroom.\u00a0 You answered, \u2018Left.\u2019 She took the wrong envelope to the newspaper and you two put Spencer\u2019s body back and went your separate ways.<\/p>\n

\u201cGregor probably disposed of the gun.\u00a0 It will have to be here on the property.\u00a0 The police will find it along with a few sets of fingerprints I hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rowan asked, \u201cAnd why is Gregor hanging around?\u00a0 Why was he suddenly in need of money? Why did our inspection of his apartment reveal so much camera equipment?\u00a0 Why does the drug store in town comment on the old-fashioned film that they still keep in stock for him?\u00a0 Who was he photographing that made him feel so secure?\u201d\u00a0 He looked at Paige.\u00a0 \u201cWhose photos were being developed in the farrier\u2019s shed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s true,\u201d Paige admitted, wiping her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cHe had some embarrassing photos of me and intended to blackmail me into marrying him.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know that the house would belong to Roland or that Spence committed so much money to the new building.\u00a0 And then somebody stole the photos and, I hope, destroyed them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did any of the servants find out about the photos?\u201d Ellis asked rhetorically.\u00a0 \u201cNo one really appreciated the view from the turret until Hines was slated to move into it.\u00a0 Then Hines and Gladys got that unexpected view of the interior of the rear rooms of the carriage house and saw Gregor\u2019s hiding place for the photos.\u00a0 You all had seen his camera equipment and you all knew he wasn\u2019t photographing goats or sunsets.\u00a0 Maybe you also saw him developing photos in the farrier\u2019s shed.\u00a0 You all knew he was carrying on with Paige Ghent.\u00a0 You all knew that Spence had a new woman in his life and that he was about to fund an extension of the clinic for her… a very expensive building project.\u00a0 What you didn\u2019t know were the terms in Spence\u2019s last Will.\u00a0 None of you knew whether he had dropped the old $15,000 bequest in favor of a more up-to-date life-insurance policy – one that wouldn\u2019t be paid if he killed himself. Paige was incontrovertibly alibied by the hairdresser. Also, Spencer was so in love he might have given all that was available to Ingrid Hesse where it was stashed in some Swiss bank.\u00a0 You didn\u2019t know anything except it was better for you to have Spencer dead than alive,\u00a0 sooner than later, and by someone else\u2019s hand than his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo while some of you knew about the secret cache of photos, those pictures were particularly valuable to only one of you, one who was in love with him… Gladys or Hines.\u00a0 Who could get them first?\u00a0 Hines tried but Paige was in the apartment.\u00a0 So it was Gladys who got the photos and destroyed them and effectively severed Gregor\u2019s connection to Paige.\u00a0 The police found the ashes in the barbecue pit… Mrs. Eglington got a whiff of the smoke, but Gladys knew that ultimately Gregor would blame Hines.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Hines?\u201d he turned to him, \u201cYou wanted Gregor and saw a way that you could kill Spencer, make the bond even stronger between you two since he\u2019d then be able to blackmail Paige or marry her and you\u2019d be able to force Gregor to pay you for your copies of the pictures. When he got enough out of her you\u2019d plan a more private future with him. So you told Jules about those imaginary bequests, money that would not come if Spencer killed himself.\u00a0 Jules believed your lies and more, he wanted Nola blamed so that she wouldn\u2019t get such a large bequest from the will and jeopardize the money intended for him.\u00a0 Hines knew how Spencer was carrying on with Ingrid.\u00a0 Jules also knew about the phone traffic between Spence and his attorney.\u00a0 Money was getting tight.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t want Spencer to short-change him or cut him out of the will completely.\u00a0 The three of you made a suicide look like a murder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Detective Rowan moved on to the second death.\u00a0 \u201cThen we come to Gregor and the turret. It wouldn\u2019t have taken long for Gregor to learn that Paige would never own the house and couldn\u2019t live in it romantically with anyone.\u00a0 But she would get money, but when he tried to check his photos, they were gone.\u00a0 He probably looked up and could see that from the turret window it was possible to look down into the carriage house apartment.\u00a0 Both Gladys and Hines could see what was in those empty rooms… the junk Gregor stored there, among them a mysterious box he hid there.\u00a0 But Gregpr didn\u2019t particularly like Hines, and he didn\u2019t want him living with him. Yes, Gladys did have a crush on him and he knew it… but every woman he knew was vulnerable to him.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t take Gladys seriously.\u00a0 She went to his apartment pretending to pick up his laundry, but she went right to the hidden box and took the contents and burned them. Now Paige was free of Gregor.\u00a0 The small amount of smoke Mrs. Eglington had seen coming from behind the carriage house was what confused her when Gladys told her to call 9-1-1 when Gregor fell. Hines was still staying in Jules\u2019s apartment and when Gregor hit the ground, Detective DeFazio could give him and Jules alibis.<\/p>\n

But Gladys surely had no intention to kill Gregor.\u00a0 When she asked him to tighten the screws that held the stained glass panel, he was happy to oblige because he was happy to remove any obstacle that prevented Hines from pressing him to move into the carriage house.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut where was everybody when he fell? Paige and Pierre were away from the premises.\u00a0 Nola was in the farrier\u2019s shed. Hines was doing his chores in Jules\u2019 place in the presence of Detective DeFazio. Mrs. Eglington was in the kitchen.\u00a0 That leaves Gladys to be the one in the turret who foolishly closed the window.\u00a0 No doubt Gregor was standing on the outside of the sill, tightening some screws, and the bottom window was up high enough for him to slide in and out of. Did Gladys proposition him?\u00a0 Did she say that there now was no profit to be had from a relationship with Paige?\u00a0 Did he tell her that she just wasn\u2019t his type or laugh at her when she told him about how she\u2019d share her inheritance with him which was peanuts to him? Or, go into the glamour shot business as partners?\u00a0 He didn\u2019t need her for that.\u00a0 So it was all for nothing.\u00a0 And maybe he laughed at her love.\u00a0 And all she had to do was reach out and pull on his ankles and down he went.\u00a0 And then she shut the window and ran down the circular staircase to the attic floor, came through to the staircase and scrambled down it as if she were responding to the screams.<\/p>\n

Gladys sat there and stiffly said, \u201cAnd none of that fantasy can you prove.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t you like to have been a fly on the wall and know what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to know,\u201d Rowan said,\u00a0 \u201cand it looks like we\u2019ll have to take a trip to the station for a little interrogation.\u00a0 I\u2019m placing you under arrest.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he handcuffed Gladys, charged her with murder, and read her her rights, he asked, \u201cDoes anyone know what happened to the gun?\u201d<\/p>\n

Detective Martin DeFazio said, \u201cIf there\u2019s a deal to be had, now\u2019s the time to make it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCuff Mr. Whitman, charge him with obstruction of justice – we\u2019ll add the rest later… and read him his rights.\u201d\u00a0 Again he asked, \u201cThe gun?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hines whimpered.\u00a0 \u201cIf I tell you will I get a break with the D.A.?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I can do is put a good word in for you,\u201d Rowan replied. He turned to DeFazio. \u201cHook up Jules, too.\u00a0 He\u2019s part of the conspiracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s buried under one of the rocks on the steep slope behind the house,\u201d Hines said.\u00a0 \u201cI saw Gregor put it there.\u00a0 Just remember, I didn\u2019t kill anyone!\u201d<\/p>\n

The police left and Pierre went to bed while Mrs. Eglington served more tea and pastry to Ellis, Nola, and Paige.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the time for Church,\u201d Mrs. Eglington said, as she began her return to the kitchen.<\/p>\n

\u201cOr to go to a Zen Center and have a talk with a qualified master.\u00a0 We could always start a new group,\u201d Ellis said.<\/p>\n

Nora put down her tea and looked at him sternly.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe they need one in the outskirts of Anchorage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook,\u201d Paige said, \u201cI need religion… something significant in my life.\u00a0 I\u2019ve made a mess of things.\u00a0 I want to get away from here… to get a job, maybe as a salesgirl.\u00a0 I know shoes… clothes. \u00a0 I could be a receptionist at a hair salon or a restaurant.\u00a0 Roland will marry.\u00a0 It\u2019s only a question of time.\u00a0 And then we\u2019ll have family squabbles… historically it has happened that way with every generation.\u201d\u00a0 She began to cry.\u00a0 \u201cPierre has turned on me and Samantha acts like she\u2019s the only one who has a right to miss Spencer.\u00a0 I\u2019m an embarrassment to her and I don\u2019t blame her.\u201d\u00a0 She sighed deeply.\u00a0 \u201cSo while I do have enough cash to start a little mission someplace… I could also work as a receptionist or an assistant to a doctor.\u00a0 Maybe the tropics.\u00a0 Yes, maybe taking care of poor people or animals in some distant outpost of the Amazon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nola sighed.\u00a0 \u201cHeaven and hell exist and they exist here and now and in your own head; and you can live in one place or the other.\u00a0 But wherever you go, unless you\u2019ve been decapitated,\u00a0you carry your heaven and hell with you.\u00a0\u00a0So if you\u2019re truly inclined to \u2018pick up the cloth\u2019 even in a layman\u2019s capacity, you can start right here in town.\u00a0\u00a0In the outskirts, there are a few abandoned churches.\u00a0\u00a0You can buy one of them cheaply and turn it into a little Buddhist temple.\u00a0You\u2019ll have to do a lot of studying and learning to love living the austere life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can do that,\u201d Paige said without knowing what the austere life entailed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about in Schuylkill County?\u201d Ellis suggested.\u00a0 As Spence\u2019s widow, you may have a claim on the other sixty acres. Maybe Roland will see to it that you get clear title to them.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got a good case since they were obtained before the marriage.\u00a0 He\u2019ll be cooperative.\u00a0 You can go ahead and build those retreats.<\/p>\n

Nola interjected, \u201cBut the real thing, real Wabi Sabi and not this fashionable nonsense.\u00a0 Elegant simplicity, loyal useage.\u00a0 No more meretricious displays of wealth. \u00a0 Spencer committed himself to half a dozen pre-fab cabins.\u00a0 It could be a wonderful place to change attitudes and habits. Maybe people can conquer addictions there or just deepen their religious beliefs… some place that\u2019s their own that they can get away to whenever life gets rough. Or just stay their forever, contented with his or her own self and the simple life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Ellis said, \u201cPaige has funeral arrangements to make.\u00a0 Probably Gregor didn\u2019t have any relatives who\u2019d care to furnish a coffin or plot.\u00a0 Cremation may be the answer after she looks for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rowan added, \u201cAnd then Paige should pay back those depositors.\u00a0 Vikram is a lost cause in my opinion. He\u2019ll get in trouble in Mexico and get what\u2019s coming to him.\u00a0 But, hey… I\u2019d like to have one of those cabins.\u00a0 Put me down for one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ellis asked, \u201cWill you allow a wife and kids to visit?\u00a0 Think about it.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be like going to camp for the kids.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be like going to prison for my wife… but what the hell…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can give her a few conjugal visits and then let her escape, Rowan teased.\u00a0 \u201cJust please… none of her boyfriends.\u00a0 You gals have a lot of work to do.\u00a0 I\u2019ll get the list of depositors from Patricia Mahoney.\u00a0 Say… you could also make it a yoga retreat. My wife and I are both out of shape.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could put in a weight room,\u201d Paige contributed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo many choices,\u201d Nola said.\u00a0 \u201cGod works in mysterious ways… but I still like the thought of Alaska.<\/p>\n

(solution to the \u201ctheme given only”) puzzle<\/p>\n

Theme: Nothing…\u00a0 nothing left at all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
O<\/td>\nB<\/td>\nL<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nT<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nR<\/td>\nA<\/td>\nT<\/td>\nE<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nR<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nN<\/td>\nO<\/td>\nN<\/td>\nE<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nE<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nL<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nO<\/td>\nR<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nG<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nN<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nA<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nV<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nH<\/td>\n<\/td>\nA<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nN<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nE<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nT<\/td>\n<\/td>\nD<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nB<\/td>\nU<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nK<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nS<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nA<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nQ<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nN<\/td>\nU<\/td>\nL<\/td>\nL<\/td>\n<\/td>\nE<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nZ<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nA<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nX<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nR<\/td>\nA<\/td>\nD<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nC<\/td>\nA<\/td>\nT<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nD<\/td>\n<\/td>\nT<\/td>\nA<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nR<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nV<\/td>\nO<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nD<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nD<\/td>\n<\/td>\nN<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nE<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nC<\/td>\n<\/td>\nD<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nC<\/td>\nK<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nP<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nD<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI<\/td>\n<\/td>\nL<\/td>\n<\/td>\nT<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nZ<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nN<\/td>\nI<\/td>\nL<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nM<\/td>\nP<\/td>\nT<\/td>\nY<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nO<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nE<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nA<\/td>\n<\/td>\nH<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nB<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nR<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nF<\/td>\nT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nT<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nR<\/td>\n<\/td>\nE<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nB<\/td>\nU<\/td>\nS<\/td>\nT<\/td>\nE<\/td>\nD<\/td>\n<\/td>\nT<\/td>\n<\/td>\nR<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nD<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nH<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If the truth were known, Greed would rank highest of human sin. Greed is not mere covertness, it is a disease of the mind. In the last installment of The Crossword Puzzle, Ming Zhen Shakya shows how easily a confused person can fall under its spell. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":820,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,21],"tags":[23,41],"class_list":["post-819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english","category-free-e-books","tag-tales-from-the-sangha","tag-the-crossword-puzzle"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=819"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/819\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":837,"href":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/819\/revisions\/837"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zatma.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}