Page 9 of Death at Inishmore Castle

“Well, they did seem to know one another. They bickered like an old married couple, though I couldn’t tell you what about. Anytime I came near them, they stopped talking. Do you think the nun killed him? Will I be struck down for blasphemy for even thinking that?”

“No,” Lizzie and I said at the same time.

“You’re only thinking what we all are,” Lizzie said. “But it is all speculation, and it won’t help the cause for us to think everyone is a suspect. Like my sister said, we have to act as if nothing has happened.”

Well, that was interesting, though. Sister Sarah must have known the deceased. Perhaps she had a reason for killing him. Though, Kieran would insist we find proof before accusing anyone of anything. And right now, there was nothing I could see that would indicate who had killed him.

I knew many of the other guests. They were our friends and neighbors. The Airendales and the birder, Fiona, hadn’t seemed to take much notice of the arguing priest and nun. Neither had Maximillian Herbert, the O’Sullivans’ accountant.

Had Sister Sarah killed him? It would have taken a great deal of force to push that blade into the heart. But what would have been her motive? It was too easy to blame someone, andinvestigators needed evidence, not supposition. If she did kill him, though, blood would be all over her clothing. That would be easy enough to prove.

Nora sniffed. “I’m not certain I can do this.”

Lizzie cleared her throat. “I’ll be there to help you. We only have to get through drinks and dinner. We’ll pretend nothing has happened. That’ll be safest for all of us. If a killer thinks we’re suspicious, that’s when bad things happen. In these instances, I’ve discovered it is best to play dumb.”

The other woman nodded and let Lizzie guide her away.

“Who do you think killed him?” Rob whispered as the lights flickered out.

“Well, it wasn’t one of us—at least, I hope not. From the sound of things, he and the nun didn’t get along and they knew each other. But if she’s a real nun?—”

“What?”

“Well, they are married to God, and I just can’t see someone of her stature being able to drive that letter opener through the ribs and up into the heart. The angle would be nearly impossible, even for a fully grown, much larger man.”

He grunted. “So, maybe the nun didn’t do it.”

“It’s suspicious that his name doesn’t match the one he gave the O’Sullivans. Was he hiding? And why? And why was he in this study?” Trying to stay away from the crime scene as much as possible, I perused the room with only the light from my phone. There were many books on the shelves, but everything appeared in order. Though I couldn’t see the ones at the top where the shelves met the ceiling.

“He was British according to his license. What was he doing here in Ireland in the middle of nowhere?”

I had so many questions.

“It sounds like one of your mystery novels with priests and nuns as the bad guys.”

The lights suddenly flashed back on. I was near the body and took some pictures. Gruesome, yes. But I had no idea when Kieran would show up so this was my only chance to take a good look.

That’s when I noticed the rosary in his hand.

It looked like the same one that Sister Sarah wore around her neck. It was broken, as if he’d ripped it off her.

I smiled. “I don’t normally use any sort of religious archetypes for fear of alienating readers, but something tells me these two are not who they pretend to be.”

“Really?” His eyes went wide.

I nodded. “It’s the name. I think he was pretending. I mean, if you’re going on the run, no one pays attention to you if you’re clergy, right? People just assume you are a decent guy when they see you in the robes and collar. I wish the internet wasn’t down so I could search his name.”

“You think all that because the names don’t match?”

I shrugged. “It’s all supposition. You’ve met me. I look at situations through a writer’s brain first. And he didn’t seem to be a decent guy. Not that someone from the church has to be. It’s just that he appeared to be very guarded and kind of nasty. He argued with the nun, so there was something not right there. And look at that.” I pointed to the rosary.

“Is that hers?”

“I saw her wearing it, but we won’t know until we ask her.”

“You can’t ask her questions. Kieran will kill you.”

I laughed. “You’ve met me. I can’t always contain my curiosity.”

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