Page 77 of The Bride Wore White

Prudence caught Jack’s eye and knew they were both thinking the same thing: Clara had been hallucinating wildly. It was very difficult to imagine her calling a cab and carrying out an obviously premeditated act of arson.

Ella got to her feet and looked at Rollins. “We should be on our way. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.”

“Right.” Rollins stood and checked his watch. “We need to get on the road.”

“You’re leaving for San Francisco today?” Prudence asked.

“Yes,” Ella said. “Rollins wants to return to the city as soon as possible to deal with the press and to reassure Dover’s clients. We packed this morning and made arrangements to have Clara’s body transported home by train. The only reason we’re still here in Burning Cove is because Rollins wanted to call on you to apologize for Clara’s behavior.”

“What about Maud Hollister and Dr.Flood?” Jack asked.

“Flood offered to drive Clara’s limo back to San Francisco,” Rollins said. “I took him up on it. Maud will pack Clara’s things and drive home with Flood. And as soon as the car and my mother’s personal possessions have been returned to the city, I intend to fire both Flood and Maud.”

“Is that right?” Jack looked politely curious. “I know you don’t think much of Flood’s medical skills, but I was under the impression that Maud Hollister worked for your mother for years.”

“She must be devastated by Clara’s death,” Prudence said quickly. “Everyone says she was devoted to her employer.”

“She probably won’t be quite so devoted when she discovers that my mother left her out of the will,” Rollins said. “And I certainly don’t intend to make up for that oversight with a check. I never did like Hollister, and I can assure you she feels the same way about me.”

“You’re aware of the contents of your mother’s will?” Jack asked.

“No, but I know my mother very well,” Rollins said. “Trust me, she was not the type to remember staff, no matter how faithful or devoted, in her will. Let’s be on our way, Ella.”

“Yes, of course,” Ella said.

“I’ll get the door,” Jack said.

He saw Rollins and Ella out of the villa and returned to the patio. Prudence recognized the banked fires in his eyes.

“What are you thinking?” she said.

“I’m thinking that with the Dovers on the way out of town, the devoted housekeeper and the quack doctor will be alone in that rented villa.”

“We’re going to talk to them?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll have to have that conversation this afternoon. They will be leaving town tomorrow to drive the limo back to San Francisco and take Clara’s things home.”

Jack’s eyes got a little hotter. “We will definitely talk to them today, but I don’t think they will be rushing to leave town tomorrow. They have to know things are not going to go well for them when they finally do return to San Francisco.”

“Because they know how Rollins feels about them.”

“Yes.” Jack looked down at his crime tree. “I’ve got a theory about Maud Hollister and Harley Flood. I’m curious to see if I’m right.”

Chapter 36

Mr.and Mrs.Dover left for San Francisco this morning,” Maud Hollister said. “If you want to file a lawsuit because of what happened last night, you’ll have to get in touch with them. I had nothing to do with it.”

She stood in the doorway of the villa, blocking the entrance. She was trying hard not to stare at the side of Jack’s face, but her eyes kept darting from Prudence to the scars and back again.

Prudence gave her a cool smile. “I’d like to offer you my condolences, Maud. I know you were very close to Clara Dover. But first let me introduce my client, Mr.Wingate. Jack, this is Clara’s devoted housekeeper, Mrs.Hollister.”

Jack tipped his fedora. “Mrs.Hollister. We would appreciate some of your time. We won’t stay long.”

“I don’t have anything to say to you,” Maud said. But she was starting to look uneasy.

“It might interest you to know that the Dovers came to see us at the Burning Cove Hotel on their way out of town,” Jack said.

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