this coast was conducted by water thatit’s like the houses along the big rivers in the south, where you have two front doors; one for the road side and one for the water side.”
“That explains so many of the narrow, twisty little roads we have around here—highways included,” Aden agreed, looking thoughtful.
“I’m sure the Chandlers would have had a jetty or a wharf, if not by their cliff, then close by, for people to reach them that way too.” All I had to work from was one reference in a diary and the tax records, so I didn’t know the actual location of it yet.
“Well, I might not be able to take you out on the water myself today, but maybe I can help. You say you haven’t been sailing for a while, but how would you feel about taking my outboard? It’s tied up at the marina on the other side of the point. The currents can be pretty strong along the point, but if you’re up to it, you’re welcome to take that out and have a look at the historic site from the water today.”
Actually, as little as I liked the idea of being beholden to Aden at this particular moment, it struck me as a great idea. No one expected me back at the house much before noontime, and the thought of being on the water was beguiling, especially if I could rationalize it as being in the name of work. “I’d love to, as long as you don’t….”
“I’m tied up here for the rest of the day. Why don’t you?” He grinned, a nasty little imp’s grin. “I can see you want to.”
Aden seemed to be able to see a good many things and I was beginning to think that it wasn’t his most appealing trait. “Okay, thanks, I’ll do that.”
“Here’s a note.” He began to scribble on a piece of paper and handed it to me. “I doubt that anyone would give you any trouble, but just in case, give them this. But you shouldn’t have any problem.” He reached into a drawer and then handed me a key, “This is for the padlock.”
I took it and put it into my pocket. “Great, thanks. You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Like I said, there’s no chance of me getting out of here today. I’m a slave to the phone and will be for a while.” He made a sour face. “Not the least of which will be the Chandler family reunionistas, when they hear that there’s been a death here. It is a big fundraiser for us and I can’t let it get away from me…us.”
“I’ll be sure to let you know what I see, if there is anything.” I heard the sound of the scene of the crime squad arriving, and Aden and I both turned our heads instinctively toward the noise. “I’ve got to give Detective Bader the film and then I’ll be off.”
“Film?”
“He wanted the pictures I took of the site during work yesterday, in case they show him anything useful that might help with the investigation of Justin’s death.”
Aden stared at me for a long moment, and I couldn’t fathom the expression on his face. Instinctively I tightened my grip on the strap of my handbag which held the photos. Finally he smiled humorlessly. “What a very curious profession you’re in, Dr. Fielding.”
I nodded, not smiling. “Some days, it’s a little more curious than I like.”
Chapter 6
O N MY WAY OUT TO MY CAR, I STOPPED BY THE site—which was now part of a crime scene. It was no more secure than it had been when I was working there, nothing more than the chain link fence on one side, the house on the other, the shrubs at one end, and a sawhorse and snow fencing at the other by the back of the property, but the addition of police tape certainly made a pronounced difference. I hesitated even to approach, but I guess my sense of self-restriction is a little stronger than most people’s; Bucky wouldn’t have blinked. Maybe it was an indication of birth order or something; whatever it was, it was a good summary of our personality types.
I didn’t have to do much more than pause by the tape when Detective Bader was at my side. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.
“That explains so many of the narrow, twisty little roads we have around here—highways included,” Aden agreed, looking thoughtful.
“I’m sure the Chandlers would have had a jetty or a wharf, if not by their cliff, then close by, for people to reach them that way too.” All I had to work from was one reference in a diary and the tax records, so I didn’t know the actual location of it yet.
“Well, I might not be able to take you out on the water myself today, but maybe I can help. You say you haven’t been sailing for a while, but how would you feel about taking my outboard? It’s tied up at the marina on the other side of the point. The currents can be pretty strong along the point, but if you’re up to it, you’re welcome to take that out and have a look at the historic site from the water today.”
Actually, as little as I liked the idea of being beholden to Aden at this particular moment, it struck me as a great idea. No one expected me back at the house much before noontime, and the thought of being on the water was beguiling, especially if I could rationalize it as being in the name of work. “I’d love to, as long as you don’t….”
“I’m tied up here for the rest of the day. Why don’t you?” He grinned, a nasty little imp’s grin. “I can see you want to.”
Aden seemed to be able to see a good many things and I was beginning to think that it wasn’t his most appealing trait. “Okay, thanks, I’ll do that.”
“Here’s a note.” He began to scribble on a piece of paper and handed it to me. “I doubt that anyone would give you any trouble, but just in case, give them this. But you shouldn’t have any problem.” He reached into a drawer and then handed me a key, “This is for the padlock.”
I took it and put it into my pocket. “Great, thanks. You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Like I said, there’s no chance of me getting out of here today. I’m a slave to the phone and will be for a while.” He made a sour face. “Not the least of which will be the Chandler family reunionistas, when they hear that there’s been a death here. It is a big fundraiser for us and I can’t let it get away from me…us.”
“I’ll be sure to let you know what I see, if there is anything.” I heard the sound of the scene of the crime squad arriving, and Aden and I both turned our heads instinctively toward the noise. “I’ve got to give Detective Bader the film and then I’ll be off.”
“Film?”
“He wanted the pictures I took of the site during work yesterday, in case they show him anything useful that might help with the investigation of Justin’s death.”
Aden stared at me for a long moment, and I couldn’t fathom the expression on his face. Instinctively I tightened my grip on the strap of my handbag which held the photos. Finally he smiled humorlessly. “What a very curious profession you’re in, Dr. Fielding.”
I nodded, not smiling. “Some days, it’s a little more curious than I like.”
Chapter 6
O N MY WAY OUT TO MY CAR, I STOPPED BY THE site—which was now part of a crime scene. It was no more secure than it had been when I was working there, nothing more than the chain link fence on one side, the house on the other, the shrubs at one end, and a sawhorse and snow fencing at the other by the back of the property, but the addition of police tape certainly made a pronounced difference. I hesitated even to approach, but I guess my sense of self-restriction is a little stronger than most people’s; Bucky wouldn’t have blinked. Maybe it was an indication of birth order or something; whatever it was, it was a good summary of our personality types.
I didn’t have to do much more than pause by the tape when Detective Bader was at my side. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.
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