Page 69 of The House of Cross

“Well,” Mrs. Alcott said, picking up her drink again. “That’s horrific, but I know nothing about this Maestro. And if you wish to speak with me further, I think I will have an attorney present. Arthur!”

The big Polynesian appeared.

“Our guests are leaving us.”

“I am sorry to hear that, Theresa,” he said as we stood up.

Mahoney said, “One more question before we go? One that does not require an attorney present?”

Mrs. Alcott scowled but nodded.

“Did Ryan have congenitally missing teeth?”

“Yes,” she said. “Both upper lateral incisors. He had bridgework done.”

“Bridgework?”

Alcott said, “Well, bridgework and then implants later.”

“And Sean?”

“The same.”

“Bridgework and then implants?” I asked.

That seemed to throw her. “As a teenager, he had bridgework. After he left, I don’t know.”

We thanked her for her time and left the room, following Arthur. At the door, I said, “How long have you worked for Mrs. Alcott, Arthur?”

“Since her husband died. I owed him.”

“For what?”

“My life. Mr. Alcott saved me when I got caught in seaweed in a free dive. I’d already drowned, but he saved me. I owed him, so I serve her.”

I said, “What did you think of her late nephew?”

Arthur blinked slowly. “A great man. Like his uncle.”

Seeing we would not get more out of him, we hustled back out through the storm to the Tahoe. I immediately checked my phone. Nothing from Bree or Sampson.

It was nine o’clock mountain time. Eleven back east. She was officially twenty-four hours late in calling.

As we drove down the winding road from the ranch, Mahoney said, “That was a key question, whether Sean had missing teeth the same as Ryan.”

“Certainly keeps Bree’s theory alive. And I got the impression Alcott believes Ryan was in touch with his brother.”

“Agreed. She knew more than she was letting on. Maybe even about Maestro.”

“And M,” I said. “And she kind of hedged with the bridges and implants.”

“I remain suspicious.”

“I do too,” I said, yawning. “But if we don’t hear from Bree or John soon, I’m voting we eat, sleep, get up early, and drive to Idaho to pick up their trail.”

“I don’t know if Director Hamilton will like that. We sold this trip to her on seeing Alcott.”

“And we did see Mrs. Alcott and we did hear enough and see enough to know we can’t clear her of involvement in Maestro or the judicial killings.”

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