“I see,” signed Maggie. She glanced over at Diana, who was finishing her second Danish and ignoring their signing. “Does Diana know this?”

“I haven’t told her,” said Cordelia. “I don’t know if her father did.”

Maggie suspected he hadn’t. He hadn’t told Diana much about her family. How had she gotten so involved with these two women? But how could she not care about what happened to them? “Cordelia, why would anyone want to hurt you or Diana?”

“I have no idea.”

A very bright light on the wall between the kitchen and living room started blinking.

“Someone’s at the door. I’ll get it,” said Diana.

Of course. In the home of someone who was hearing impaired a light would signal that someone was at the door; a doorbell wouldn’t be heard. Maggie had read about signals connected to TDD machines and doorbells, but this was the first time she’d seen one operating.

Chief Ike Irons came back with Diana. “Good morning, ladies. Maggie Summer. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I came to keep Diana and Cordelia company. They’ve had a difficult morning.”

“And you speak the hand talk, don’t you? I remember your saying that. Well, then it’s good you’re here. You can translate for Ms. West. I wanted them both to know we looked in their yard, and down to the beach from their porch, this morning, but we didn’t find any footprints. Of course, the wind has blown considerable, and wet leaves are over everything. But we couldn’t find a trace of whoever was here.”

“Did you check on the beach? Down by the tide line? Maybe whoever was here was picked up by a boat,” Maggie interrupted.

“Doubt it. If there were someone there he probably walked through the water so the tide washed away any footprints.”

“Well, he wouldn’t walk in that frigid water forever! Wouldn’t you see where he walked out?”

“Theoretically, yes, Dr. Summer. But we didn’t find anything. For whatever reason. The beach isn’t even, and the tide comes up pretty high about now. Maybe whoever it was hopped on a unicorn. In any case, we didn’t find anything. But we haven’t given up. We’re checking marinas and gas stations to see if anyone remembers seeing someone pump gasoline into a container in the past day or so. But that’s not unusual around here, you know. And we’re going to keep an eye on this house, both from the road and the water, for the next few days.”

Chief Irons nodded to Diana and to Cordelia. “Miss Hopkins and Ms West can be assured they’re under the personal protection of the Winslow Police Department.”

While Maggie translated the message for Cordelia, Diana asked, “Have you figured out who killed my father yet, Chief Irons?”

“That investigation is underway.”

“What does that mean?” she asked. “Who are you investigating?”

“We don’t have any specific suspects yet,” Chief Irons replied, “but we’re working on developing a timeline: trying to find out where your father was during the last few days of his life, and who he saw then. Once we know that, we’ll be in a better position to start interviewing persons of interest.”

“What do you know so far?” asked Diana.

“We know he was here on Tuesday morning with you for breakfast, and he was seen in town later that morning.”

“Yes?”

“Well, so far, that’s it.”

“Where was he in town? With whom?”

Maggie listened as Chief Irons tried to avoid admitting he didn’t have too many answers. “He was walking down Main Street, near the statue of the whaling master. He was alone, heading toward the library.”

“That’s it? That’s all you know?”

“We’ve only had a couple of days to work on the investigation, you know. These things take time. This isn’t ‘CSI’ or ‘Law and Order.’ This is the real world, young lady.”

“And in the meantime someone just walks up to our house and tries to burn it down, with Cordelia and me inside!”

“We’re investigating that, too, I assure you. These sorts of things do not normally happen here in Winslow.”

“Well, they’re happening now! And they’re happening to my family! And I want them to stop!” Diana burst into tears, and turned to Cordelia, who reached out to hold her.

“These women are very upset, Chief. Isn’t there anything more that can be done for them?” Maggie asked.

“They could go and stay somewhere else, I suppose, but then whoever wanted to burn down their house could do that more easily.”

“If they went to stay at one of the B and Bs in town for a few days, very quietly, could someone on your staff stay here to protect their property?”

“Dr. Summer, do you have any idea how much that sort of protection would cost? I have one detective and three regular cops on my force. You think I could spare someone to hang out in an empty house on the chance some stupid kid came back to try to burn it? I’m sending over someone to clean off the gasoline that’s there now. I think between Miss West and our guys we scared off whoever was there this morning. I don’t think anyone’s coming back. Winslow’s a small town, Dr. Summer. If you don’t like it, you can go back to New Jersey.”

With that Chief Irons stomped off, heading for the front door. For once Maggie was glad Cordelia was hearing impaired. She couldn’t hear the door slam.

Or the light knock a few minutes later. But Maggie did. Diana was still sobbing, so she went to the door. It was probably too much to hope that Chief Irons had come back to apologize.

Yes, it was.

“Morning, Maggie. Gussie said Diana and Cordelia had a scare here this morning.”

“Exactly. Did you pass your friend Ike on your way here?”

Jim nodded. “His car went by mine.”

“Probably over the speed limit. He couldn’t wait to get out of here. He says he’s providing protection for them and for the house, but I don’t see it. They’re really upset, Jim. And, truthfully, so am I. Attempting to burn a house down is a pretty nasty game.”

“You’re right. Do either of them have any idea who would have done this?”

“No clues. Cordelia didn’t see anything helpful, and Diana was upstairs asleep. Neither of them can think of anything in the house someone might want to destroy, or a reason anyone might want to hurt them.”

Jim shook his head. “I don’t have a magic solution, Maggie. I’ll be moving out of my house in a couple of days, and I could have them both come and stay there, but that would leave this house unprotected. I don’t think they’d want that, either.”

“I suggested something like that to Ike. He didn’t seem impressed.”

Diana and Cordelia looked up as Maggie and Jim walked into the kitchen. From the look that passed between them, Maggie wondered what they’d been doing—or communicating. Did they look guilty?

Chapter 20

Harvard College.Cover of Appleton’s Journal of Literature, Science and Art for Saturday, March 5, 1870, and following seven pages, which are devoted to a history and current view of Harvard, including wood engravings of Harvard Square (which shows men driving cows away from the area), Harvard Church, the Library Building, Appleton Chapel, the Divinity School, Law School, Lawrence Scientific School, The Observatory, and the Class Tree. Special treasure for any Harvard graduate. Page size 7.5 x 11 inches. $75.

Maggie left Jim with Diana and Cordelia, hoping perhaps his advice and male calm could provide a different sort of comfort than her hot chocolate and Danish had.

Although the hot chocolate had certainly not been refused.

She headed toward the new Aunt Augusta’s Attic. If the schedule was on target, Gussie should be there, and the painters and carpenters should be finished. This morning they’d planned to unpack before, if she remembered correctly, a last-minute wedding cake check at the bakery.

Gussie’s van was the only vehicle in back of the new shop; there were no painting or construction trucks there. That seemed a positive sign. Maybe the work was complete.