The Cracked Spine (15 page)

“All right,” I said as the hair tickled on my arm again.

“Anyway, what if the Folio was found in a place that was underground, a place where no one has lived for a long time?” He leaned forward and lowered his voice again. “A place that we show tae tourists now. There's probably a tour going through there right this minute, in fact.”

I nodded. “Interesting.”

“What would you think about a ghost leading the way tae the treasure, perhaps leading a weary soul who thought they might be beginning tae lose their faculties, tae hear voices?”

I swallowed. Having my own cast of voices in my head had never made me think I was losing my faculties, but maybe it should have.

“I'm not exactly sure,” I said.

“A fine character sought me out as I was indulging in my favorite breakfast at a lovely place called Elephants and Bagels—you must try them. Anyway, this man came up tae me. He was much more than a wee bit down on his luck. His clothes were torn and filthy. Actually ‘torn' and ‘filthy' might be adequate words for the rest of him too, but I don't want tae sound cruel. He approached me as I exited the store. I thought he was a simple beggar and though I don't tend tae give money tae many beggars, there was something about his eyes that made me stop and listen tae him when he pulled on my sleeve and told me he had something he wanted tae tell me.

“He told me his story. He told me he'd found the manuscript, though he just called it a magical book, as he was trespassing, tailing along on a tour he snuck into to escape the rain one day. He told me that once inside and as they trailed down into the depths, voices guided him directly tae it, and then the voices told him tae find me and tell me where it was located, that I should retrieve it.”

It was very far-fetched, certainly, but a part of me wanted to believe it was true. Magic books, voices directing the way.

“What made you put it up for auction?” I asked.

“I had it for over three years, Delaney. I was doing nothing with it. I thought about giving it tae a legitimate museum, but I have friends like Edwin who I was sure would want tae own it. I thought more of my friends than I did of the greater good, I realize that and I fully admit it, but there it is.”

Interesting. And three years was long enough to keep anyone from finding the mystery man in the restaurant, but it wouldn't do me much good to point out the holes in the story.

Birk glanced toward the hallway. I could hear Edwin's voice but it was quiet, as if he'd moved well past the entryway. Birk sat even farther forward on the couch. He leaned toward me and said quietly, “Delaney, you've got tae do something about Edwin.”

I blinked. “I don't understand.”

“We're all worried about him. Of course, saddened that Jenny was killed, but before that tragedy occurred we were worried. He gave the Folio tae his sister tae care for. He told me that in confidence, but his desire tae include Jenny more in his life and business had worried us all. He told me he was going tae retrieve the Folio from her, but it never should have been left in her care. When we heard you were being hired, Genevieve and I—and others—hoped you would also watch closely over our friend and his decisions. I'll leave it at that for now, but please be on the lookout. And frankly”—he sent another anxious look toward the hallway—“none of us are the least bit surprised about Jenny.”

“How well did you know her?” I said.

“Since she was born. Edwin and I were childhood friends.”

“Who do you think might have killed her?” I said.

“Och, one of her drug friends, certainly. She made some terrible choices.”

“But she was doing better, right? Even if you didn't think she should be involved in Edwin's life, she was doing better?”

Birk shook his head slowly. “I don't think she was doing much better. None of us do.”

“I don't understand. I didn't know her. How would her being more a part of Edwin's life cause problems? Did she behave obnoxiously?”

“On the contrary. She was the picture of social propriety.”

“Why didn't you want her involved then?”

“History.” Birk looked at me with sad eyes. “Things I can't relay tae you because you weren't here over the years. You didn't see the damage caused, the hearts broken, the friendships tattered, the trust broken apart. Hard feelings that have been protected and perhaps buried for years. There's no need for Edwin tae have included Jenny in his business other than he was trying to mend his own broken trusts with her. He shouldn't have included the rest of us, some who might not have wanted tae think about his sister or forgive her.”

“You didn't want to forgive her?”

“Not me.”

“Morgan Ross and Genevieve Begbie, maybe?” I said.

“Aye,” he said as though he was impressed.

“If I wanted to talk to Mr. Ross and Ms. Begbie, how would I find them?”

Birk looked at me a long moment. As he was contemplating my question, Ingy brought in a golden tray adorned with a golden coffee carafe, gold cups, and a gold plate piled with shortbread cookies.

“Ingy,” Birk said quietly after he glanced out to the hallway once again, “please write down the contact information for Morgan Ross and Genevieve Begbie. Sneak the piece of paper with their addresses and phone numbers into Ms. Nichols's possession without Edwin noticing. Please. And add my phone number too. Just in case.”

“Oh, I wasn't…” I began.

Birk winked at me. Ingy looked back and forth between Birk and me, her sad eyes drooping a tiny bit more, before she set the tray on a side table next to Birk and left the room.

“Looks like I'll be serving,” Birk said as he stood and reached for the carafe. “Coffee?”

Edwin rejoined us but didn't offer up what the phone call was about. We drank coffee and ate cookies as Birk made me tell him all about Kansas. He was fascinated by farm life, by my work in the museum. Before long, the conversation flowed easily between the three of us. I caught Edwin observing the interaction between Birk and me a time or two.

As we left, I realized I liked Birk, but I still didn't trust him. He probably felt the same about me. I wasn't going to be his spy, but I hoped that's not what he'd been asking. There was a chance his concern for Edwin was genuine and based upon the affection of a lifelong friendship. I would watch for disturbing signs from my new boss, but I wouldn't report back to Birk.

I also didn't trust Genevieve and Monroe, but I didn't think Birk thought that was my reason for wanting to contact them. I was grateful for the folded piece of paper that Ingy slipped into my hand as we were all gathered by the front door. Edwin gave Ingy a questioning glance but didn't inquire as to why she was standing so close to me for a moment while not offering up any sort of farewell to either him or me. I hadn't planned on being so secretive, but it didn't seem like a bad idea. At least for now.

As Edwin drove the Citroën away from the mansion, I glanced in the car's side mirror. Birk stood in the open golden doorway as he puffed on his pipe much more seriously now.

I didn't think he could see me looking, or my smile as I noticed Ingy next to him, one hand on her hip and her other hand's index finger pointing at him as adamantly as she spoke. She wasn't happy. Birk didn't seem to care.

“Where to now?” I said.

“How about Jenny's flat?” Edwin said.

“Good idea.”

I'd slipped the paper in my pocket and it beckoned me to give it a look, but I resisted. I felt a little disloyal to my new boss, but not too much. I suddenly decided that it was far too soon to know who to trust.

 

THIRTEEN

The route Edwin took to Jenny's flat was slightly different than the route Elias had taken, but I was still able to orient myself using the castle. I liked how quickly I seemed to be catching on to a few locations. I didn't admit to Edwin that I'd been at Jenny's the day before.

“She lived there, in that brown building,” Edwin said as he stopped out front in almost the identical spot Elias had stopped.

I felt guilty enough about my lie of omission that I just made a noncommittal sound as I looked at the building too. Today, the clouds weren't as ominous. It currently wasn't raining, but the whole place still seemed spooky.

“Let's see if we can get inside,” Edwin said. “The police should be done. Perhaps we can make a better search of it. I doubt we'll find any clues the police didn't find, but if the Folio is there, some place I didn't see it, we can at least rule out that it had something tae do with her death.”

I looked at Edwin.

“You really did think that Birk might have had something to do with her death, didn't you? I mean because of the Folio. Did you think he wanted the Folio back and killed Jenny to get it?”

“I wasn't sure, Delaney. I hoped not, but he's a crafty fellow. I told Rosie and Hamlet that Jenny had the Folio and then you of course, and there's no doubt in my mind that they and you didn't have anything tae do with her death. I just had tae see for myself if I could catch Birk off guard, if he would act suspicious when I asked the questions. I've known him for so long that I thought I would be able tae read his face, perhaps a flash of guilt in his eyes. But I saw nothing that made me suspicious. I don't think I'm being naive. I just had tae see for myself. Does that make sense?”

“Yes,” I said. “If it's any help, I don't think he has any idea the Folio has gone missing. I got no sense that he now had it in his possession.”

He nodded and then turned off the engine. “Come along, let's go talk tae the manager.”

I followed Edwin inside the brown, dreary building. We were greeted by the same quiet I'd noticed the day before, but it was much less eerie when I had someone with me.

Only a few moments after Edwin's enthusiastic knock on his door, the manager opened it wide. Since I'd seen a couple of men dressed in their robes when they opened their doors I was a little surprised to find this one fully clothed.

“Ah, Edwin,” he said as he hiked up his jeans and then extended his hand. “I'm sae sairy aboot yer sister. Come in, come in.”

The manager looked at me and nodded with a questioning glance. I just smiled.

“Thanks, Harry. Delaney, this is the building manager, Harry Boyd. Harry, this is my new employee, Delaney Nichols.”

He shook my hand but still didn't smile. He was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt that had a small oily stain over the right shoulder. There was a glimmer to the stain that made me think it had landed there recently. He was blondish and pale but the stubble on his face was dark. The combination, along with his big, muscular arms and big thighs, made him seem tough in a stereotypical neighborhood bully kind of way.

“We'd like tae go up to Jenny's flat if that's all right,” Edwin continued.

“Dinnae mynd a bit.” Harry shrugged. “The police told me I could clear it oot anytime. I was going tae call you later today tae discuss that with ye. I was hoping ye'd take whatever of Jenny's ye wanted. I can sell whatever ye dinnae want tae keep. I'm really sairy, Edwin.”

“Thank you, Harry.” Edwin swallowed hard. “I didn't bring my key tae the flat. Would you mind letting us in?”

“Dinnae mind,” he said again. He produced a large key ring that must have been uncomfortable in the back pocket it came from. “Let's go.”

Harry stepped out of his flat and pulled the door closed. He somehow found the correct key on his chock-full key ring and had the door locked quicker than I could have handled it with only one key.

As we turned, we were greeted by the man who lived across the hall. He was still in his robe, or in it again, but I suspected “still” was more accurate.

He looked only at me as he took a sip of something from the mug he held. I didn't see steam so it wasn't a warm drink.

“Good afternoon,” I said, hoping he wouldn't give me away.

“Afternoon,” he said. He looked at Harry and Edwin and then backed into his flat with two long steps, closing the door behind him.

“Ah, ignore him,” Harry said. “The man is nosier than an old biddy with nothing better tae do. I dinnae ken how he always kens when someone is oot here, but he opens the door and greets them in his robe. I've asked him tae stop, but he doesnae care tae listen.”

I walked behind Edwin and Harry and mouthed “Thank you” to the peephole in case he was watching.

Harry led the way to the elevator and up to the third floor. There wasn't any conversation, but our silence wasn't strained.

The third floor was similar to the first floor, achingly silent.

“It sure is quiet around here,” I said.

“We have an unusual amount of quiet residents,” Harry said. “Makes my job more pleasant, not telling people tae shut up and keep it doon all the time.”

The third floor also looked just like the first floor except for a couple of leftover pieces of crime scene tape over one door.

Harry peeled them off and said, “I kept it on there just in case. I doot anyone will be curious enough tae break in and look around, but I thought it might help deter the curious. I'll leave it taped tae the wall if ye want tae put it back up when ye're done. I wilnae try tae rent out the place for a wee bit. Jenny was paid up through this month and next.”

“She was?” Edwin said.

“Aye. She'd been keeping up with her rent these last six months or so. I havenae had tae call ye once.”

“No, you haven't. I hadn't thought about that. That's good tae know.”

“Uh-huh,” Harry said as he pushed open the door. “Do whatever ye need tae do in there. Just close the door when ye're done. It'll lock. Put up the tape if ye want.”

“We will. Thank you, Harry.”

“Aye,” he said.

He left us inside the flat, closing the door behind him.