“It was the circumstance. You had to be there. The police were accusing Master Simmons of killing Bob because he saw an archer the night Dave was killed.”
“So?”
“Sofie was the archer that Bob saw at the museum. I don’t think she killed either of them. But I don’t think Master Simmons did either.”
“You could’ve waited to check that out.” He shook his head. “I understand you were in a bad place. I wish you would’ve given us a heads up so we could’ve gotten Sofie out of here.”
“Sorry. I did the best I could with what I had.”
He looked up at the deep blue sky that showed through the trees above us. “I know you did. The word is that the bolts that killed Dave and Bob were one of the Master Archer’s old toys.”
“He said his crossbow was returned when he found a note at his shop that led him to Sherwood.”
“Anyone could’ve written that.”
“Yes.” I told him about the photo that Bob had sent to the police. “Someone wants to frame Master Simmons for Dave’s murder.”
“Why would Bob do such a thing?”
“I don’t know, because now he’s dead too.”
Robin put his hand on mine. “You know you have our full backing looking into this, Jessie. If you need anything, let me know.”
I smiled. “As long as it doesn’t require any money, right? I think you must be broke by now with Marion’s ambitions.”
“You don’t know the half of it. She used up my credit card the first day. Since then she’s been using her own money. Don’t ask me where she got it, but Tony said she has twenty thousand dollars in the bank.”
“That’s a lot of money considering what she makes out here. Did she have a relative that died or something?”
“Not that I know of.” He sighed. “But she and I have been drifting further and further apart since she decided she was the Renaissance answer to Marilyn Monroe. I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine. Everyone goes through these things.”
He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. “You have always been so understanding. Chase is a lucky man. If you ever change your mind about him, let me know.”
“Have you ever heard of modifying a long bow to shoot bolts?”
He frowned. “I have, but I’ve never done it. I’m not crazy about a crossbow.”
A thought occurred to me. “Would you mind if I look through Sofie’s things since she’s not here?”
“Looking for a modified long bow?”
“Maybe.”
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’ll take you to her room. She’s staying in my spare room.”
“Marion allows that?”
“I don’t think she cares anymore.”
We climbed up into the highest branches of the giant oak. Robin had the biggest of the twelve treehouses (of course). The treehouse was nice. It had two bedrooms on two floors, a bathroom, a tiny kitchen, and a large living room.
The furniture was what you’d expect to find in a log cabin—kind of early American rustic. Everything was made of wood, some of it hand carved. It was nice, in a rough kind of way. I’d always thought it was relaxing.
“Here’s Sofie’s room.” He showed me the smaller of the two bedrooms. “She doesn’t have much space to hide anything. I’ll check under the bed.”
I looked in the tiny, makeshift closet. There were boots and cloaks and two long bows, but neither had been modified. Two quivers of arrows were full.
“I don’t see anything in here.”
“Not here either.” He rolled over from checking under the bed. “I don’t see Sofie as a killer anyway, Jessie. Do you?”
“No. But I don’t see Shakespeare or Master Simmons as killers either.” I told him about the bookie that might be involved in the murder. “Any ideas?”
“What’s going on in here?” Lady Marion stopped to check on us.
“Nothing to trouble yourself with, my love.” Robin smiled at her. “Just conjecturing on who killed the Village madmen. That’s all. Looking for a long bow modified to use as a crossbow. Seen any around recently?”
Really?” She stared at both of us as like a trapped animal stares at her captor. “I’ll choose what I worry about, my love.”
The beautiful Lady Marion pulled a small gun from her boot and pointed it at us.
Chapter Eighteen
“Oh no.” Robin fell back on the floor as though he’d been wounded. “I can’t believe it. Marion—why would you do such a thing?”