me.”
“All you get from the trust is a year’s salary as severance pay. At your
insistence,” Lexie said. “Max wanted to give you much more. Why did you turn it
down?”
“I inherited some family money, and Max has paid me very well, so I’ve
saved quite a bit. I don’t need more money.” Trey looked rueful. “What I do
need is family. My wife died four years ago, and we never had kids. I consider
Max’s grandkids my family, and I didn’t want to risk ruining my relationship
with them because they resented how much I got from the trust. Especially when
I’d never spend it anyway.”
“Will you be looking for another job?”
He shook his head. “I think I’ll retire. I’m sixty-three, and after
working with Max, any other job would be a major letdown.”
“Do you know what family secrets Max was concerned might be uncovered?”
“Other than what you already know, I haven’t got a clue.” Trey steepled
his fingers. “I’m sure you’ve considered the possibility that when Max arranged
to send you the letter, he was trying to create one last great drama, making
sure if he died, someone would suspect it was murder.”
Lexie nodded. “Can you think of anything else that might be relevant?”
she asked.
Trey considered that for a moment, and then shook his head. “If I do,
I’ll let you know. It’s hard for me to believe anyone in the family killed Max.
But if one of them did, I want the killer punished.”
Lexie got to her feet. “I’d appreciate it. I’d also appreciate it if
you’d keep my identity quiet.”
“Absolutely,” Trey said. “Are you married?”
“Divorced. Why?”
“Because it just occurred to me that Max might have had another reason
for wanting you to work with Ben on this. He could have been trying to match up
his favorite grandson with Jessica’s niece.”
Lexie rolled her eyes. “If so, it’s a good thing he was such a successful
writer. Because he’d never have made it as a matchmaker.”
# # #
When Lexie walked into the parlor for sherry hour that evening, everyone
except for Ben and Trey was already there. “Have you seen Ben?” she asked
Cecilia. “I knocked on his door before I came down, but he didn’t answer.”
She’d also been watching out the window for his return. Much as she’d prefer to
avoid him until their kiss was a distant memory, she needed to talk to him
about what she’d learned from Trey.
“I don’t think he’s back from work yet,” Cecilia said.
Jeremy draped an arm around Lexie’s shoulders. “So you’re on your own?
Lucky for me.”
Lexie deftly extricated herself from Jeremy’s arm. “How was boating?”
“Terrific. You’ll have to join me tomorrow.”
“Do you remember when Grandfather took Dylan and Seth out sailing and
convinced them that the lake was haunted and they needed to clap the entire
trip to keep the ghosts from tipping over their boat?” Cecilia asked.
Jeremy chuckled. “Grandfather had the special effects crew working on the
movie version of one of his books rig up some dry ice specters,” he explained
to Lexie. “Scared those two to death.”
“Attention, everyone. Attention.” Muriel was standing in front of the
fireplace, waving her hands. She’d traded her habit for a deep purple caftan
and silver turban. Seth was busily snapping pictures. “Later tonight I will be
holding a séance. My dear brother has tried to speak to us. We need to listen.”
“That was the result of the combination of Dylan and alcohol,” Jeremy
said. “Grandfather had nothing to do with it.”
“Some of us aren’t quite as narrow-minded as you seem to be, Jeremy.” As
Muriel waved her hands again, Lexie counted a total of six rings and three
bracelets, all gold and studded with jewels.
“Why not do an exorcism?” Jeremy asked. “That way he won’t bother anyone
else.”
“It would be unseemly to banish Maxwell from his own house, especially if
he wants to tell us something. I have a special
“All you get from the trust is a year’s salary as severance pay. At your
insistence,” Lexie said. “Max wanted to give you much more. Why did you turn it
down?”
“I inherited some family money, and Max has paid me very well, so I’ve
saved quite a bit. I don’t need more money.” Trey looked rueful. “What I do
need is family. My wife died four years ago, and we never had kids. I consider
Max’s grandkids my family, and I didn’t want to risk ruining my relationship
with them because they resented how much I got from the trust. Especially when
I’d never spend it anyway.”
“Will you be looking for another job?”
He shook his head. “I think I’ll retire. I’m sixty-three, and after
working with Max, any other job would be a major letdown.”
“Do you know what family secrets Max was concerned might be uncovered?”
“Other than what you already know, I haven’t got a clue.” Trey steepled
his fingers. “I’m sure you’ve considered the possibility that when Max arranged
to send you the letter, he was trying to create one last great drama, making
sure if he died, someone would suspect it was murder.”
Lexie nodded. “Can you think of anything else that might be relevant?”
she asked.
Trey considered that for a moment, and then shook his head. “If I do,
I’ll let you know. It’s hard for me to believe anyone in the family killed Max.
But if one of them did, I want the killer punished.”
Lexie got to her feet. “I’d appreciate it. I’d also appreciate it if
you’d keep my identity quiet.”
“Absolutely,” Trey said. “Are you married?”
“Divorced. Why?”
“Because it just occurred to me that Max might have had another reason
for wanting you to work with Ben on this. He could have been trying to match up
his favorite grandson with Jessica’s niece.”
Lexie rolled her eyes. “If so, it’s a good thing he was such a successful
writer. Because he’d never have made it as a matchmaker.”
# # #
When Lexie walked into the parlor for sherry hour that evening, everyone
except for Ben and Trey was already there. “Have you seen Ben?” she asked
Cecilia. “I knocked on his door before I came down, but he didn’t answer.”
She’d also been watching out the window for his return. Much as she’d prefer to
avoid him until their kiss was a distant memory, she needed to talk to him
about what she’d learned from Trey.
“I don’t think he’s back from work yet,” Cecilia said.
Jeremy draped an arm around Lexie’s shoulders. “So you’re on your own?
Lucky for me.”
Lexie deftly extricated herself from Jeremy’s arm. “How was boating?”
“Terrific. You’ll have to join me tomorrow.”
“Do you remember when Grandfather took Dylan and Seth out sailing and
convinced them that the lake was haunted and they needed to clap the entire
trip to keep the ghosts from tipping over their boat?” Cecilia asked.
Jeremy chuckled. “Grandfather had the special effects crew working on the
movie version of one of his books rig up some dry ice specters,” he explained
to Lexie. “Scared those two to death.”
“Attention, everyone. Attention.” Muriel was standing in front of the
fireplace, waving her hands. She’d traded her habit for a deep purple caftan
and silver turban. Seth was busily snapping pictures. “Later tonight I will be
holding a séance. My dear brother has tried to speak to us. We need to listen.”
“That was the result of the combination of Dylan and alcohol,” Jeremy
said. “Grandfather had nothing to do with it.”
“Some of us aren’t quite as narrow-minded as you seem to be, Jeremy.” As
Muriel waved her hands again, Lexie counted a total of six rings and three
bracelets, all gold and studded with jewels.
“Why not do an exorcism?” Jeremy asked. “That way he won’t bother anyone
else.”
“It would be unseemly to banish Maxwell from his own house, especially if
he wants to tell us something. I have a special
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