The Heir

17

I was holding Katie, telling her it was okay, we were okay, I was right here with her. It was like the last time, but only a little. Last time it was Melvin going over a cliff, but that was his own fault, in one way or another. He wasn’t innocent.

Here I was holding Katie again, but it was much worse. It was too terrible to think of cottony Angela writing her little note, holding the gun to her head. How did she even know how to use a gun?

The rain had begun again. Katie had finished crying, and we had been sitting, just silent. Melvin’s death had meant change, but Angela’s meant only loss. Katie was grieving for Angela’s despair that we couldn’t help with, her loneliness that we couldn’t fill, even the friendship, of some type at least, that was lost.

Eric arrived dripping, wide-eyed and somber. But this time he had experience, he could deal with it. I couldn’t hold both of them, so I left them with each other.

Who was supposed to make the arrangements? Had anyone called her sister or brother? They were all estranged, of course. Only a funeral might bring them together. But Melvin’s hadn’t.

I called Fred. Good old Fred. Yes, all the arrangements had been made long ago by Melvin. Fred was executor-everything would be taken care of.

And by the way, just for my information, this would not cause any complications concerning any Boyer interests. All of Angela’s connections with Melvin’s estate were strictly for her lifetime only.

Which was now over.

“It also means you now have full rights over the main house and grounds,” he said.

“I’ll find a demolition company,” I said back to him.

“Wait until after the funeral,” he said. “You needn’t be annoyed. I’m just advising you.” He sounded annoyed.

“Then you wait until after the funeral, too.”

“Very well. Have the police called you yet?”

“It was suicide.”

“Supposedly, but if it isn’t…”

I pushed the little button that made him go away. He didn’t call back.

Nathan Kern called later to express his deepest regret and sympathy. I accepted just as deeply.

It was just four weeks since the last time. That had been on a Sunday, too, that we’d sat together mourning. But they really didn’t know when it had happened, this time, Sunday morning or Saturday night. They just found her in her puffy pink parlor after she didn’t show up for breakfast, and her bed hadn’t been slept in. Three maids and a cook lived in the place. It sure took them a long time to notice she was missing.

They were all unemployed now, as well as the gardeners and other staff. Katie would fix that soon enough. We’d need a real staff for our new mansion. It was actually convenient. Although… Melvin and Angela, their two employers, both dead, one month apart. Before we hired these people, we might want to get references.

We had our own quiet dinner, the three of us, long after dark. It helped some, and Eric slept in the guest room. I didn’t sleep in my own bed. I just laid there in it, even after Katie finally went to sleep. I’d been looking forward to a real night’s rest, but it would have to wait.