Page 98 of When She Dreams

“Go on,” Sam said to Pamela.

“That was it, at least at the time,” she said. “Bev boxed up the diary and seemed to forget about it until a month ago. That’s when she saw the photos of the Guilfoyles in the newspapers.”

“She recognized Arthur Guilfoyle as the Dream Master from the picture she found in the diary,” Sam said.

“Yes.” Pamela drank some coffee and lowered the cup. “She got very excited. All she could talk about was the money the Guilfoyles would pay to keep the stories of the Dream Master and the Jennaway death out of the papers. Something about drugs being involved. She said the rumors could ruin them.”

“She set out to blackmail the Guilfoyles,” Sam said. “What about Aunt Cornelia?”

Pamela grimaced. “She got the notion to try to get Aunt Cornelia to pay for silence, too. She said she could connect her to the Astral Travelers Society and therefore to the mysterious death of Jennaway. She didn’t know how to reach the woman who wrote the column, so shesent a letter via the newspaper editor. She said it was a long shot because Cornelia might not get the letter in time. She wasn’t particularly concerned.”

“Because the Guilfoyles were her primary targets,” Sam said.

Pamela nodded. “She figured they had the most to lose.”

“Did she mention Dr. Oxlade?” Sam asked.

“No, not that I recall.” Pamela sighed. “I warned her that extortion is a very dangerous business.”

“You were right,” Sam said quietly.

Pamela looked at him. “Bev was murdered, wasn’t she?”

“Looks like it,” Sam said. “But the police probably won’t be able to prove it.”

“Poor Beverly,” Pamela whispered. “She was so unhappy.”

Maggie lowered her cup. “Did Beverly find a photograph of Aunt Cornelia in her sister’s things?”

“No,” Pamela said. “The only picture she had to go by was the one of Aunt Cornelia at the nightclub in Burning Cove. But that woman turned out to be an imposter. Bev didn’t know what she was doing. The Guilfoyles are selling dreams. They stand to make a lot of money. People in that position will do whatever they think is necessary to protect themselves. Killing a small-time blackmailer wouldn’t bother them at all.”

“You’re right,” Maggie said gently. “The problem was that Beverly Nevins sold herself a dream. She thought she was going to make a lot of money in a hurry and reclaim the life she had known before her father lost the family fortune.”

“Yes,” Pamela said.

“I know the type,” Maggie said. “My ex-fiancé chased the same dream.”

“It’s just so sad,” Pamela said. “If only she had focused on the future. Instead, she obsessed over the past.”

“Any chance you brought that diary with you today?” Sam asked.

“No,” Pamela said. “Beverly took it with her when she packed for Burning Cove. She said it held the proof she needed to convince the Guilfoyles and Aunt Cornelia that she could ruin them if they didn’t pay her.”

“Just to confirm,” Sam said, “as far as you know, Beverly Nevins intended to blackmail three people? The Guilfoyles and Aunt Cornelia?”

“Those are the only people she talked about,” Pamela said. “Look, I need to go. It’s a long drive back to L.A. I’d rather not be on that road alone after dark.”

“I don’t blame you,” Maggie said. “You’ve been very helpful.” She opened her handbag, took out several bills, and handed them to Pamela. “Thank you.”

Pamela looked at the cash, uncertain. “That’s too much. I just need gas money and the rent.”

“We appreciate your time,” Maggie said. “You answered some questions for us.”

“Well, okay,” Pamela said. She put the money into her handbag and got to her feet. “Thank you.”

“One more question,” Sam said. “You said Nevins took the diary and the photo with her when she left for Burning Cove.”

“That’s right,” Pamela said.

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