Page 59 of Death at Inishmore Castle

“It’s too bad you don’t do historical fiction. That woman sounds like such an interesting personality. That would make a fantastic movie.”

“She was amazing. She basically ran the place and contributed to the wealth of the estate. And I may not write historical fiction, but I could weave her into a current storyline set at a castle. You know, when I finish the two books I already owe my editor.”

“I’m surprised she hasn’t texted you this weekend.”

“One of the bonuses of not having consistent phone signal.”

Lizzie laughed.

We’d had a rough year with the deaths in the family, and I’d only started writing again a few months ago. I hadn’t quite caught up, but I wasn’t as behind as I’d been six months ago. The sheer panic I’d experienced about being able to write haddissipated since we’d arrived in Ireland. The place was good for my soul.

While I’d said I made this move for my sister, it had been equally good for me. I loved our little village, new friends and neighbors, and living by the Irish Sea. Except for mine and Mr. Poe’s habit of finding dead bodies, it had been nearly idyllic.

I opened my mouth to ask her a question but stopped when Mr. Poe growled at the wall.

My sister and I glanced at one another.

“Are you sure there isn’t a door to the passageways in here?” she whispered.

Once again, I shrugged.

There was a painting of the Irish countryside on the paneled wall where Mr. Poe sat.

I walked over and pressed on the wall. Nothing happened, but there was a whistle of air coming from somewhere. Remembering the lion in the panel downstairs, I pushed on the decorative trim of the wall panels.

There was a click, and a door popped open.

No one was on the other side, but like the study, there were dusty footprints on the floor. Someone had paused to listen through the wall.

“Well, that’s not creepy at all,” Lizzie whispered.

“Agreed.” I pulled out my cell and turned on the flashlight app.

“What are you doing? Do not go in there. Shut it back up and tell Kieran.”

“I will. I promise to tell him everything. I just want to see where it goes. You stay here with Mr. Poe, I won’t go far. I only want to see what it looks like down the hallway.”

“Mercy, no. What if the killer is in there?”

“They won’t be.” I didn’t know that for sure and my sister knew that. Or at least I hoped not. Mr. Poe was good about knowing when danger was about. But my curiosity won out.

There wasn’t much space between the stone walls, and the ceiling was extremely low. Anyone much taller or wider than me would have to bend down and turn sideways to get through the narrow hallways. There was no lighting, only the glow from my phone.

Not sure where it might lead, I moved to the left first. I paused when I heard voices. It was Scott and Rob talking about the rose garden. Scott was going to ask the gardener for some cuttings. He’d already asked for permission from Mrs. O’Sullivan, he said.

Not wanting to intrude on their conversation, I quietly moved down the passage, only to find it closed off by a massive wall.

I went back the other way.

“Did you see anything?”

“No. There is a wall down that way. I’m going the other way now.”

“Are you sure you don’t want us to come with you?” The dread in her question was quite clear. She wasn’t fond of small spaces. Nor was I. But they didn’t bother me quite as much.

“No. You two stay here with the door open. I don’t know how they open from this side, so I don’t want my exit blocked.”

“That makes sense. Promise you won’t go far.”

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