Page 76 of The Bride Wore White

Rollins nodded. “I’m relieved to hear that. Still, that will hardly make up for Clara’s actions. All I can tell you is that she was a very ill woman. When Ella and I called on you at your house, we told you that her mental state had deteriorated in recent weeks.”

“I remember,” Jack said.

“We knew she was becoming unstable but we had no idea she had entirely lost her grip on sanity,” Ella said. “After last night, we could no longer ignore the situation. Rollins was making arrangements to have Clara committed for an extended rest cure when the hospital called with the news of her death.”

“My condolences,” Prudence said.

Ella gave her a weary smile. “Thank you. Under the circumstances, that is very generous. You and Mr.Wingate could have died in that fire last night.”

Rollins looked at Jack. “I understand you rescued my mother after she tried to kill herself by jumping off that cliff.”

“That’s right,” Jack said. “But I don’t think she was attempting suicide. She was hallucinating, and in the darkness she could not see where she was going. I think the fall was an accident.”

“We were told you drove her to the hospital,” Ella said. “Thank you.”

“Was she conscious?” Rollins asked.

“Part of the time,” Jack said.

Rollins’s mouth tightened. “Did she say anything coherent?”

Jack glanced at Prudence. It didn’t require any psychic mind reading to know he wanted her to answer the question. She was oddly flattered.

“Nothing that made any sense,” Prudence said smoothly. “As Jack said, Clara was hallucinating.”

“I see.” Rollins grimaced. “I suppose she told you Gilbert sent her to the house to witness the fire?”

“Yes,” Prudence said.

“That damned Dr.Flood,” Rollins muttered. “He’s the one who put those ridiculous notions about Gilbert visiting from the Other Side in her head.”

“Speaking of your brother,” Jack said, “have the authorities made any progress in the investigation of his death?”

Prudence went still. Her mouth was suddenly very dry. She realized she was holding her breath.

“No,” Rollins said, oblivious to her reaction. “I’m told the L.A. cops have hit a brick wall.”

Ella lowered her cup into her saucer. “Rollins and I were hoping you could clear up a small mystery for us.”

“What’s that?” Jack asked.

“We can’t understand how Clara managed to get to your house,” Rollins said. “She doesn’t drive.”

“Good question,” Jack said. “We’ve wondered about that, too. Do you think she might have ordered her chauffeur to drive her out to my place?”

“No,” Ella said. “Henry, her driver, quit yesterday after the spa incident. Evidently he got a job at one of the hotels here in town. He told Mrs.Hollister, the housekeeper, that the pay was better and Burning Cove was a lot more fun than San Francisco.”

Rollins grunted. “My mother was notoriously cheap. Seemed to think she was living in the last century when it came to wages.”

Jack gave Rollins a considering look. “There are two other people living in the house your mother rented. Dr.Flood and Maud Hollister.”

Ella and Rollins exchanged looks.

Rollins looked grim. “Ella and I talked about that. Maud never learned how to drive. But Harley Flood does drive. He could have driven my mother out to House of Shadows in the limo, but why would he do that? He had a very comfortable position as Clara’s private doctor. Why risk it by taking a chance on having her arrested for arson and attempted murder?”

“Or on the chance that Clara might be committed?” Prudence added quietly. “Because that’s what you were planning to do, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” Rollins shook his head. “It doesn’t look like Flood had amotive. Clara must have called a cab last night. It’s the only explanation.”

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