Proof of Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #4) - Lauren Elliott Page 0,86
here enjoying the shops along Marine Drive, but—”
“You want to go back to Hill Road House and see if you can learn anything else.”
Addie beamed a winning smile. “Yes. Philip was heading back there now, and I want to see if I can figure out what he’s up to, and if he’s involved with all this.”
“Serena and Zach are in line for ice cream now. We’d better let them know our new plan.”
“Thank you.” She planted a chocolate kiss on his lips.
“What was that for? Not that I mind.”
“For indulging me.”
“I have no choice, it seems,” he said, his fingers playing up her arm. “After all, I’m a doctor, and I swore an oath. I’m bound to keep you from strangling yourself on that thread you’re trying to untangle.”
Chapter 27
Simon pulled over to the side of the street to let Addie hop out while he found a parking spot up around the corner. Addie was surprised to see the number of cars here for the yard sale given the amount of people she’d just seen at the pier.
“I’ll catch up with you around back,” Simon called through the open passenger-side window as he pulled away.
Addie stepped up onto the curb and made her way to the front wrought-iron gate. No matter how many times she’d been here over the past few days, the feeling she’d had on her first visit was forever engraved in her mind. Suck it up, buttercup. This was your idea. Chin high, she ambled up the footpath to the front door. She knew Simon would look for her around the back of the house at the sale tables, but there was one stop she wanted to make before she went out there.
Addie opened the weathered mahogany door and stepped into the massive foyer. The house wrapped her in an eerie silence so deep Addie could hear the whoosh of her blood rushing through her ears. She wished now she had joined the throng outside, in the sunshine, where noise existed. Where is everyone? Blake’s staff was generally running around like crazed ants.
The living room had been completely cleared of tables and auction items. The study across the hall echoed in emptiness as well. It appeared that Blake had wasted no time in emptying the house as per the order from Art and Maggie. Voices resonated down the stairwell. She stopped short at the bottom of the steps and tilted her head to catch what they were saying, but it was no use. She could only make out a hum of muted murmurs. A second voice chimed in, matching the first one’s tone and intensity with one difference. Addie detected an Irish lilt to this voice. It was none other than Philip Atkinson, but who was he speaking to upstairs?
Addie hustled up the stairway. With each step she ascended, the mystery voice grew louder. By the time she reached the top the voices had trailed off and echoed as though they were coming from a tunnel or stairway. They were headed to the third floor. Addie hesitated at the top, but she knew she had one chance of discovering who Philip was arguing with. She scurried down the hall following what little of the murmurs she could make out and stopped when she came to the third-floor stairway. One, two, three. Now. She crept upward until the voices became clear again. The mystery man was Blake. From what she could make out, the two men were arguing about money. Addie peered over the rise of the top step, keeping low in a spread-eagle position over the steps.
The attic was huge, but unlike hers, which had a number of smaller rooms off to the sides and the one larger one across the back, this was an open space and the back wall was exactly that. There were no windows, and if not for the meager amount of light coming in from the two small windows on the front of the house and one on either side of the room, it would be a dark and dank space. After her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she could see Blake and Philip, a cardboard box between their feet.
“I told you he was a cheat. Him and his sister.” Philip’s unmistakable plummy voice sang out.
“Well, that’s not a problem anymore, is it?”
“No, it’s not. At least it shouldn’t be.”
“You did take care of that other little matter, didn’t you?” Blake’s jaw tightened.