Murderous Matrimony(38)

“Did that happen? Did you catch who was responsible?”

He grinned. “Ever hear of Zachary the Giant in the Village?”

“No. Is that who broke Dave’s legs?”

“That’s right. I was an excellent Bailiff in my day.”

“Was the bookie named John Healy?”

“I don’t think that was him. But this was a few years back. There’s probably someone new in town now.”

“Have you heard anything that could tie into this?” I told him what Bob had said about seeing the figure at the museum the night Dave was killed.

“The only thing we hear about every day is the ghost, the Blue Lady.” Mary crossed herself. “I haven’t seen her yet—they say it’s Wanda Le Fey.”

“Yes. It’s Wanda. I’ve seen a lot of her lately.”

Roger got up and went back to his glass work.

“He doesn’t believe,” Mary said. “If he can’t touch it, he doesn’t think it’s real. Why did I fall in love with a man like him, Jessie?”

I laughed. “It seemed to me at the time that you couldn’t help yourself!”

“That’s true enough.” She smiled, and never lost track of the grass she was weaving. “How is it with you and Chase?”

“It’s good. It’s a little weird right now with the wedding, and the ghost. But we’re okay.”

“Good. I can’t wait until the wedding, you know. I love a good wedding.”

We talked for a while longer about her family, and Tony. I finally had to say goodbye, and took my nugget of information with me. So this had happened before, when Roger was the Bailiff. A bookie didn’t come into the Village—he hired someone already here.

What if that was what had happened to Dave?

It was still drizzling a little outside. The cloud layer above me looked heavy and ready to pour down again at any moment. I went back to the museum and checked in with Manny. After the initial visitor rush, things were quiet. He and Oliver were heading out for lunch. I sighed as we closed the museum, adding the Gone to Lunch sign at the door.

There were going to be bad days, I reminded myself. When it rained, people didn’t come to the Village. It didn’t mean my museum was going to fail. I had a great line up of craftsmen and artisans coming for the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, which were always busy. It would be all right.

As I hit the cobblestones, I saw something I’d hoped never to see again—Morgan Stanley Manhattan, Chase’s brother.

I knew Chase’s family was coming for the wedding. Morgan was as handsome as Chase, but devious and underhanded. He’d brought Chase’s former fiancée to try and lure him away from me on a previous visit. The results had been catastrophic.

Long story short: Chase and I had survived and Morgan had gone away.

I supposed the handsome older gentleman with Morgan was their father. I hadn’t met him yet. He’d been in prison for a short while for insider trading. Not surprising with children named for financial institutions.

The older woman, blond and blue eyed with the best tan ever, was probably Chase’s mother. I hadn’t met her yet either. According to Morgan, she thought I wasn’t good enough for Chase. That was why she’d sent Morgan to get rid of me.

They were walking along in that manner that people have when they don’t know where they’re going.

“Are you sure Chase said he lives in a Dungeon?” Mrs. Manhattan questioned.

“I’ve been here before, Mother. Chase and Jessie live over there.” Morgan seemed already bored with the whole ordeal. “They call it the Dungeon.”

“If the boy wants to live in the Dungeon, who are we to interfere?” Mr. Manhattan declared.

“That’s why our brilliant son lives in this place,” Mrs. Manhattan accused. She got her six-inch heel caught between the cobblestones, and had to be extricated by her son and husband.

I quickly and carefully moved away from them before Morgan noticed me. I was in no mood to deal with Chase’s family. I knew I wouldn’t have any choice at some point, but not now.

“Want me to do something particularly nasty to them?” Wanda watched them with me. “I could throw something at them, or put them on top of the castle. I’m getting quite good at wreaking havoc.”

I knew it was too good to last. Wanda wasn’t completely gone yet.

“That’s okay. Not that you listen to me.”

“I want us to be friends since we’re going to be together for the whole rest of your life.” She laughed.

“I’m not kidding about giving you to someone else,” I threatened. “I’ll do it.”