“She’s a saleswoman. She won’t miss an opportunity to pick up out-of-towners who find they’re in love with the entire atmosphere of the city.”
“Shouldn’t I be on the computer?”
“Angela and our entire tech team are searching for possible suspects. If I’m right, one of them will be on Essex Street.”
“Calvin?”
“He said he’d be playing.” Jon hesitated for just a minute. “And, at some time, we’ll meet up with Ben and stop in at the morgue.”
“Fun,” Kylie murmured.
“Don’t worry; I’ll leave you at the reception area with a police officer while I speak with the medical examiner on duty—and hopefully the forensic anthropologist.”
“What makes you think—?”
“An ME is always on. And I’m willing to bet we’ll find that the forensic anthropologist is far more interested in bones than in Haunted Happenings. I also called Ben this morning and made sure.” He winked.
“Oh. Well, okay, then.” She stepped forward and took his arm. “Haunted Happenings, it is.”
As they drove, Kylie called Brenda.
Her friend promised that she was fine and had no intention of going out.
They found a parking spot in the garage. Their subsequent forays would be on foot.
Despite their current situation, Kylie loved the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall. There was so much to seize the imagination. She’d been in the Peabody Essex Museum dozens of times and still found exhibits to explore. One of her and Jon’s favorite restaurants—where they had strangely met at a time when she had been overwhelmed by events and had passed out in his arms—was there. Jon had promised they could stop for lunch because they were really at a loss.
She knew he couldn’t help thinking that the murderer had to be someone close. Someone who had watched the comings and goings at Brim House.
He didn’t know if the killer had intended for Brenda to lean against the wall and expose the dead when she did, but he knew that she would have been in the house by Friday at the latest. And he knew the wall was about to give—he’d just put a body behind it.
As they walked, Kylie remembered why she loved the city so much. She especially loved the shops. They gave an hour over to the museum, laughed over some of the souvenirs for sale, and enjoyed the imagination that went into so many of the shop windows.
They had lunch at the Cauldron, chatted with Cindy at the bar, and learned that she was afraid—as were several of the locals.
“The police have warned women through the media not to drink with strangers. I still see people in here chatting one another up—and drinking with people they don’t know,” she told them, shaking her head. “Not me. I go straight home after work.”
When she was gone, Jon murmured, “People always think it won’t happen to them. That bad things only happen to other people, and that they’re too smart to fall for the wrong man.”
“Well, hopefully, most of them are now moving in packs,” Kylie murmured. Jon glanced at his watch.
“Quick trip to the Old Burying Point,” Jon said.
And so, like many of those visiting the city, they headed out to the cemetery, pausing at the memorial that had been erected with granite walls and benches, each seat a monument to an executed victim of the craze. It was both a peaceful place and a somber one. A good reminder to all that mass hysteria and persecution could lead to revealing man’s tremendous capacity for cruelty to his fellow man.
They didn’t remain long; the day only had so many hours. Then they headed to the office of Nichols Realty.
A young man at the desk greeted them, smiling and cordial. He was, Kylie assumed, on his way to becoming an associate and would have, she was certain, a great sales manner.
He quickly assured them that Mandy Nichols was in and, after a moment, led them to her office.
“Kylie!” Mandy said, rising. She wore another handsome skirted business suit, and Kylie noticed that her nails were perfectly manicured, too. “Oh, no. Brenda is all right, isn’t she?”
“Yes. She’s fine. This is my husband, Jon. He just had a few questions for you,” Kylie assured her.
“Of course. I heard. You’re from the FBI?”
“I am an agent, yes,” Jon said, nodding and waiting for the women to sit before he took the second chair in front of her desk.
“It’s all so upsetting. Brenda is just the nicest human being. And I know how excited and thrilled she was to take possession of the house. I mean, what’s going on in the city is distressing enough, but when it comes home like that…I’m still so upset and sorry,” Mandy said.
“How many people did you show the house to?” Jon asked.
“I only showed Brim House when I knew the interest was real,” Mandy told them. “There was Brenda—and I hoped so badly that she’d get it—and four out-of-town business owners who wanted to do something commercial with it. I have the listing for you. Two of the buyers who came up were from New York, and two were from Los Angeles. They were trying to low-ball on the price. I was delighted when Brenda became the buyer. I have the records if you’d like copies of them.”
“Yes, thank you very much. At any time, did you notice anyone taking a special interest when you were at the house?” Jon asked her.
Mandy pursed her lips and shook her head. “At one time, I met everyone on the street. Not that many people, really—three houses facing three houses, the park behind them all…I don’t really remember who was where or when. I never let anyone inside the house without being there, and I carefully locked up every time I left.”
“We heard you did,” Jon assured her. “Are there any other keys in existence?”
Mandy looked perplexed for a minute. “I—I don’t know. The last owner had the bolt put in. It’s sturdy and strong. I didn’t think…well, I didn’t think to change it.”
“So there could be other keys in existence.”
“I guess,” she said weakly. “Brenda needs to change that bolt immediately.” She looked as if she were about to cry. “That is if she chooses to keep the house.”
“She very well might,” Kylie assured her.
“I really will take it back myself if she doesn’t. I’m so sorry. Well, anyway, I’ll have my assistant get you the names and addresses of anyone who was in the house—workers, delivery people—”
“I have that list already,” Jon assured her. “But I will look at your possible out-of-town buyers.”
“Right away.”
Mandy left them in her office and returned a minute later with some papers that she handed to Jon. He and Kylie thanked her and stood to leave.
“And now, the morgue,” Kylie said. “Are you sure I wouldn’t be all right—?”
“The reception area is like any other,” Jon said. “But I know Ben and another officer will be there.”
Kylie nodded. It was a long drive, but she knew it well. The Essex County Morgue was in Boston.
And as Jon had said, Ben was there, ready to greet them in the reception area, along with a young officer who would remain with Kylie.
“Anything I should know before going in?” Jon asked Ben.