Page 72 of Death at Inishmore Castle

“It can be,” Kieran said. “But there’s nothing to worry about. We are in for some flooding and winds, but you’re safe.” He was always so gentle with my sister. I appreciated him for that, even though he saved all of his cynicism and snark for me.

It was okay, I could take it. In that way, we spoke the same language. The psychiatrist my detective sometimes consulted in my books would have all kinds of things to say about that.

In real life, I tried not to analyze our relationship. My sister believed he had feelings for me. I wasn’t so sure. If I thought too hard about it, it became confusing. We liked spending time together and when he touched me…well, I liked it.

“Well, you’re not leaving me here,” Lizzie said. “I’m coming with you.”

“It might be better if you attend the games they are playing. You can keep an eye on the players and text us if anything goes hinky,” I said.

“So, I’d be undercover?”

“Yes,” I said, knowing that would appeal to her. As much as she complained about my snooping, she couldn’t resist solving a mystery.

“Fine. But you have to promise to be careful.”

“I will. And we’ll walk you down so you won’t be alone.”

A half-hour later, the search began. The guests were all involved in the games. The wording in Kieran’s warrant meant he did not have to announce the search. For now, he felt like it might be best if the guests were unaware. His team split into three and went searching for the evidence I’d already found, and anything else they came across.

Kieran and I headed downstairs to one of the many storage areas the O’Sullivans had. Nora had made Kieran a map. It was much colder and damper down there. I was wishing I’d brought a much warmer sweater.

With the master key Gordon gave Kieran, he was able to open the heavy wooden door. The O’Sullivans were the only ones who knew we were doing a search. Kieran hadn’t told them that Sally and their accountant had both been stealing from them. They thought this was about the deaths of the priest and nun.

He found a round switch on the wall and turned on the lights. The storeroom area went on for as far as the eye could see.

The bad part was there were so many things lying all over the place. Beautiful paintings were stacked against the walls. Unlit chandeliers hung from the ceiling. And there were long wooden tables holding a variety of vases, crystal, statues, and other items.

“There is no way we can go through all of this,” I said. “It’s so much more than I imagined.”

“Well, I have a list of the current inventory that is supposed to be here. It goes from the most expensive item to the least.”

“Where did you get that?”

“Mrs. O’Sullivan compiled it for me. When I asked her about the logs in the study, she said they’d moved everything online years ago. Supposedly, everything has been appraised.”

“Then why were the criminals looking through the logs?”

“Could be they weren’t aware that this existed.”

“From the dust and the lack of footprints, I’d say we’re the first people in here for some time. I mean, it’s a temperature-controlled room, I’m sure to keep the art from fading. But keeping dust out in an old castle like this must be difficult.”

He glanced around the room. “I thought we’d check the pricier items to make certain they’re still here.”

“Okay, Detective Inspector, where do we begin?”

“A Caravaggio,” he said.

“Wow. That’s quite the piece,” I said, glancing at the picture on the paper. “I wonder where it is.”

“This says it is valued at seventy-five thousand,” he said.

“Uh. Are you sure you read that right? More like seventy-five million. And it’s sitting down here where no one can see it. It’s kind of sad.”

“Look.” He showed me the paper. It was listed for seventy-five thousand. I was no expert but I knew enough about art to understand that was woefully underpriced.

“Why would they be so unaware of how much their painting is worth?”

“Because someone told them they are fakes. The accountant must have been working with the appraiser to devalue their collection. Then I bet he planned to sneak down here and steal things one by one.”

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