Page 55 of Death at Inishmore Castle

“Fair point.” If he’d stolen money from his firm, maybe he wouldn’t need more.

I wasn’t taking him off my list just yet.

Something clicked in my brain. “Oh.”

“Oh, what?”

“Well, in my head, I’ve been thinking the suspects are all guests here. The trouble didn’t begin until we all arrived. But as you said there is an entire staff that works here. Anyone could have come in and killed Carl. And Sarah was murdered outside.”

“Except we’ve vetted most of the staff, and everyone checks out. Again, like you just said, why choose this weekend to start all the trouble? And you sound like you are marking the O’Sullivans off the list, but we don’t have any proof that they were not involved.”

I pursed my lips. “You’re right. Still, I know you don’t trust my gut, but I do. It is not them. They wouldn’t ruin their chances for this weekend to be successful. This is making my head hurt. And it could be someone from the outside working with someone on the inside. The staff might check out, but do we know everything about them?

“First, I need to get into that study. I want to see what else I can find in there.”

“You don’t think it’s the journals that you just read?”

I shrugged. “It could be one of the things she listed is the treasure they are talking about. I just thought I’d look around while it is light to see if I can find anything else.”

“I’ll come with you,” he said. “I could use a break.”

Well, that was a surprise. I was so used to him saying no to my snooping that I just stood there staring at him.

“What?” he asked.

“You said, yes.”

He chuckled. “I told you before it was okay. I know I can’t keep you from sleuthing, but if you are with me, or your sister, at least we can keep you safe.”

I rolled my eyes.

“What is it you really hope to find in the study?”

“In looking at the books that Carl had on the desk, they had one thing in common.”

“What’s that?”

“They were either inventory lists from past centuries, or diaries. He was looking for something specific.”

“Yes, and…?”

“Well, he was still looking, right? I mean, if he’d found what he was looking for, he would have taken it to his room, or it would have been on his person.”

“So, you think he was still on the hunt.”

I nodded. “And what if it wasn’t a painting or vase he was searching for? Or even buried treasure. Though, I’m not ruling that last one out. People can be silly sometimes at the mere hint of treasure. And as we both know, that usually doesn’t work out.”

“So, what is it you think he was hunting for in the study?”

I smiled. “Follow me, Detective.”

FOURTEEN

Kieran unlocked the study and moved the crime scene tape so I could get through. We’d just stepped into the office when there was a strange squeaking sound like a door closing, and then footsteps. We glanced at one another and then Kieran rushed in to check the French doors leading to the outside gardens.

“They’re locked.” He tried the handles again, to be sure, but they didn’t move. And then the sound of footsteps tapered off.

“When did you hear the noises in the walls?”

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