Page 33 of One Last Lie

My first instinct is Elena, but there are seven letters there, not five. I frown a moment. Then the answer comes to me. I write Theresa into the box and smile grimly. The noose tightens.

The next clue across reads, the most innocent. That’s an easy one. I write Samuel, then proceed to the next.

The clue reads, used to golf together. I leave that one blank for now. The following clue reads, would never desecrate his knives like that. I chuckle and write Paolo’s name.

The final three clues across also refer to events with which I’m not familiar, so I leave those blank and move on to the Down clues.

The first reads, thief in the night.

I frown when I read that. There are seven letters, just as there are with Theresa. While I certainly feel the first clue applies to Theresa as well, this clue admittedly applies more closely. I hesitantly fill in Theresa and leave question marks in both places. One of those names needs to change, but which clue and what name replaces Theresa’s?

The second clue reads, sees through the lies. Six letters. It’s positioned so that the third letter is the same as the fourth letter from the first clue across. Third letter. Who here has six letters in their name?

The only answer is Elijah, but if it’s Elijah, then who is the real answer to the first clue across?

I am disturbed too, by the fact that Johnathan used this clue to refer to his oldest son. Sees through what lies? Theresa’s? Elena’s? Johnathan’s?

Perhaps it’s not Elijah. I must remember that I know very little about Johnathan’s life. Already, there are several spots filled by people I’ve never heard of.

But something tells me I’m not wrong about this one.

The next clue is Deals drugs. Deals death?

That one’s easy as well. I write Simon and move on.

The clue here is knows who she really is.

Another amorphous she. Is this the same she who thinks she’s better than everyone else?

Also six letters. It can’t be Elijah, though, because the second letter is also the second letter of Samuel. I can hardly imagine anyone to be more innocent than Samuel.

Then it comes to me. I write Harrow and frown down at the puzzle. What does Harrow know? And why is it not Elena? In the tape I watched, Johnathan waxes lengthy about how dangerous Elena is. He all but comes out and says he believes Elena is trying to kill him. My limited experience with the woman suggests that if anyone is capable of such an atrocity toward Johnathan, it has to be her.

But Johnathan didn’t seem to think so. At least not when he wrote this puzzle.

Then again, perhaps I’m reading too much into it. The clue to the first across was only thinks she’s better than everyone. That’s hardly the same as definitely the one who killed me.

Still, I can’t shake the feeling that name is the key.

I move onto the next clue. Student who betrays her master. Five letters. Well, there’s Elena.

The next clue for down is placed oddly. It’s first letter occupies the sixth letter of the first clue across. It’s long, eight letters. It’s third letter is the a in Samuel and the final letter is the a in Paolo.

Isabella. I know that even before reading the clue. Must protect her!!

I feel a chill as I read that. The emphasis is evident not only in the double exclamation points but the depth of the ink and the slight tear of the e in protect. Johnathan was clearly worried about her.

Why? Why her specifically?

I return to the first clue across, and I see it. My blood runs cold, but it’s too clear now to be anything other than what it appears to be.

Seven words across. Fourth letter I. Sixth letter I. Thinks she’s better than everyone.

Cecilia.

I don’t write her name down. I can’t bring myself to. I can’t bring myself to believe that the children’s mother would have killed their father. I can’t be the reason they lose her so soon after losing Johnathan.

Not Cecilia. Surely not Cecilia.

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