The Doctor and the Dead Man's Chest by Robin Hathaway

him. “Until you’ve been bitten?”
    He didn’t answer.

    After a moment, she asked, “Didn’t he take a chance? Now you have a sample of his handwriting?”
    â€œOr hers,” Fenimore said. “He or she must have been desperate, but decided it was worth the risk to scare me off.”
    â€œHe or she doesn’t know you very well,” she said ruefully.
    â€œThere’s Jenks now.” Fenimore saw a figure emerging from the barn. Handing Jennifer the purple teddy bear he had inherited, he said, “Meet me at the car,” and took off.
    â€œBe careful,” she called after him.
    When he was out of sight, Jennifer decided to use the time to mend fences. She found Miss Cunningham packing up the books she had been unable to sell.
    â€œCan I help?” Jennifer asked.
    The woman looked wary.
    â€œI could carry some cartons to the car for you,” Jennifer persisted.
    â€œThey’re heavy.”
    â€œI know. I’m a bookseller.” She grinned.
    â€œFirst, you’ll have to get rid of that ridiculous animal.”
    Jennifer set the teddy bear down under a tree. She held out her empty hands.
    â€œWell, I suppose you can start with that lot over there. I’m parked behind the tea tent. It’s a blue van.”
    Jennifer easily hefted a large box of books onto her hip and took off. Her slight figure was deceptive. She was very strong.
    â€œHey, Mr. Jenks,” Fenimore said, catching up with him.
    Jenks turned.
    Silhouetted against the sun, Fenimore could hardly see his face, but he sensed that his expression was not friendly. “Sorry to bother you, but I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
    Jenks grunted.
    â€œFirst—could you tell me what happened the night of the fire?”
    â€œWeren’t no fire.”
    â€œI know. But you didn’t find that out until later. Right?”

    Jenks looked across the field, apparently trying to remember that night three months ago. “I was doing my late night check, makin’ sure everything was locked up. Didn’t use to have to lock things,” he said. “It was about ten o’clock when I smelled smoke. I was standin’ right about here. It was foggy. When the fog comes up from the river, you can’t see a thing. But I followed my nose. When I got a few feet from the shed, I didn’t see any flames, but I took the hose out anyway and sprayed the shed. When the smoke cleared all I saw was an old smoke bomb. Some kid sure made a fool of me!”
    â€œHow could you know what it was? You did the right thing.”
    Jenks’s face cleared.
    â€œWhat about those cellar steps you were repairing, when Mrs. Ashley almost fell?”
    â€œI don’t know what happened, Doctor.” Again, he looked distressed. “I swear I locked the door when I was done.”
    â€œDoes anyone else have a key?”
    â€œOnly Mrs. Ashley. I keep meaning to get a second set of house keys made, but I never seem to get around to it.”
    â€œDo you keep your keys with you all the time?”
    â€œYep—except when I’m asleep. Then they’re on my bureau.”
    â€œI know it’s hard to remember, but did you miss them at any time?”
    He shook his head slowly.
    Fenimore said, “I’m sorry to take up your time, Mr. Jenks. But we’re pretty worried about Mrs. Ashley.”
    He nodded.
    â€œHave you noticed any strangers about the farm—in, say, the past six months?”
    â€œNot at the farm, but …”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œAt the old wharf. This farm goes right to the water’s edge, you know, and there are two wharves. The first—the newer one—is near the house. That’s the one Miss Susan and her boyfriend dive from. The other, the older one, is at the far edge of the farm, near
the cottage. We don’t use it anymore. It’s rotten. I once thought of buying it from Mrs. Ashley, with a few