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

being more amiable.”
    â€œHmm.” Her reasoning was a bit backward, but he understood what she was getting at. “How about Amory?”
    â€œOh, no. He’s too agreeable.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œIf he were carrying out some Machiavellian plot, he’d be tensed up. His mask of amiability would slip at least once, and it never did.”
    â€œHmm. What about Miss Cunningham?”
    Jennifer laughed. “She’s a terror all right. Reminds me of Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca, or Miss Haversham in Great Expectations. ”
    â€œWell, did she or didn’t she?”

    â€œI doubt it,” Jennifer spoke thoughtfully, “but I’m not certain. In her bitter, twisted way she might be jealous enough of Mrs. Ashley—of her money, her land, her social position …”
    â€œDid you learn anything while you were helping her load her books?”
    â€œShe did say one curious thing. When a copy of Treasure Island fell out of a box, she picked it up and stroked it lovingly. Then she said, ‘This was my favorite book as a child, but my mother took it away from me. She told me it was a boy’s book.’”
    â€œHer mother probably forced her to read Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm .”
    â€œNow it’s my turn.” Jennifer cast him a sly glance. “What about Susan?”
    â€œSusan? Ridiculous.”
    â€œWhy? She has total access to the house and barn. Who could more easily have planted the smoke bomb, stolen Jenks’s key, unlocked the cellar door, or hidden Mrs. Ashley’s medicine?”
    Jennifer had certainly been paying attention if she remembered Lydia’s missing medicine. He had barely mentioned that in the car. “But what could be her motive? She knows her grandmother is going to leave her everything when she dies.”
    â€œMaybe she can’t wait.” Jennifer grinned wickedly. “She’s also very attractive,” she added.
    â€œWhat’s that got to do with it?” He was outraged.
    â€œ … and she’s very fond of you.”
    â€œPreposterous! Why she could be my …”
    â€œDaughter.” Jennifer finished for him. “Haven’t you heard about Charlie Chaplin and Oona O’Neil? Caesar and Cleopatra?”
    â€œYes. And none of that applies to me.” He glanced at her sharply. She was grinning like the Cheshire cat.
    â€œThen there’s Susan’s boyfriend, that college kid.”
    â€œPeter Jordan. Some of those pranks did have the whiff of the fraternity about them.”
    â€œAnd what about Oliver?” Jennifer continued.
    â€œOld Perce? Out of the question.”

    â€œThe old school tie, eh?” she challenged.
    â€œBut Perce—Oliver wouldn’t harm a fly.”
    â€œYou obviously aren’t familiar with the pressures of academic life. When it comes to athletics, the alumni have no mercy. If a school goes too long without a winning team, they might threaten to withdraw their offspring en masse. Oliver has his eye on a new post in Manhattan. He’ll never get it if he doesn’t produce some good teams. In fact, if he doesn’t get those playing fields from Mrs. Ashley, your old buddy might be out of a job—a failure in the eyes of his former classmates. Many a man has turned to crime with far less provocation.”
    â€œHow do you know so much about this?”
    â€œMy uncle is headmaster of a boys’ school in New England. One season his soccer team lost every game. He got an ulcer and almost had a nervous breakdown.”
    â€œNonsense. Not ol’ Perce.”
    â€œOliver.”
    â€œWhat about the Jenkses?” Fenimore said hastily. “Now there’s a likely pair. A regular rural Bonnie and Clyde. Plenty of opportunity. They reside at the scene. Could have stolen the medicine, planted the smoke bomb, left the cellar door unlocked, delivered the note with the rancid meat attached, and staged the carcass