“What’s going on here?” he demanded.
“It’s a cocktail party,” I said. “Were you on the invitation list, Mr. . . . ?”
I pulled my clipboard out of my tote and brandished it, smiling helpfully, as if ready to verify his welcome if he’d only produce a name that matched one on my list.
“Cocktail party!” he exclaimed. “Who authorized that?”
“Mrs. Winkleson,” I said. “I gather you’re not here for the party, then. Can you tell me why you are here?”
“I’m here to see about the arrangements,” he said.
“Arrangements?” I echoed.
“And to assume possession of the house,” he said. “I am Theobald Winkleson, nephew to the late Mrs. Philomena Winkleson. Her heir.”
One of her heirs would be more accurate, if Marston was correct. “How nice for you,” I said aloud. “But as it happens, she isn’t the late Mrs. Winkleson. She’s very much alive.”
“Alive!” he exclaimed. “That can’t be.”
“I saw her five minutes ago in the living room,” I said. “Sipping a Black Russian.”
“But we heard—”
“Just what did you hear?” came Chief Burke’s voice from over my shoulder.
“That Aunt Philomena had been horribly murdered,” Theobald said. “As soon as I heard, I came right away. I drove all the way from Warrenton.”
“You’ll no doubt be relieved to know that your aunt is fine,” the chief said. “A little shaken up, to be sure, at having one of her guests murdered right here on the farm, but physically she’s fine. I’m sure she’ll be grateful that you rushed to be at her side in her time of trouble.”
From the expression on Theobald’s face, I suspected he wasn’t expecting a warm and affectionate welcome from his aunt. Nor had he expressed relief at hearing she was still alive.
“Perhaps Meg could let your aunt know that you’ve safely arrived,” the chief said. “I’d like to talk to you for a few minutes.”
Theobald drew himself up and appeared to be trying to regain his composure.
“Talk to me? Who the devil are you?” he asked.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “This is Chief Burke, who’s investigating the unfortunate murder that took place here this afternoon.”
Theobald turned pale. The chief gestured toward the little side parlor that I assumed he was using as his headquarters, and after a few moments of hesitation, Theobald obediently stumbled toward the door.
“Don’t worry about telling Mrs. Winkleson her nephew’s here,” the chief said, as he turned to follow Theobald. “I’ll take care of that in due time.”
“So you can see her reaction,” I said, nodding. “Roger.”
He frowned, and closed the parlor door behind him.
I was staring at the closed door, pondering this new arrival, when a voice at my shoulder startled me.
“So who is that guy, anyway? And do you think he did it?”
Chapter 29
Rob was standing in the doorway. Apparently he’d arrived at the house too late to hear who the newest arrival was, but in time to see the chief escorting him off for questioning.
“Is someone else minding the gate?” I asked him, as he shed his raincoat.
“One of the deputies,” he said. “Chief’s orders. Okay, if you’re not going to tell me who it is, I’ll make a guess. He’s a reporter, right?”
“No, he’s Mrs. Winkleson’s nephew,” I said.
“Probably tried to knock her off to inherit, then,” Rob said, nodding with satisfaction as he snagged a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.
“He’s hoping to inherit all right, but he only just got here,” I said. “Apparently as soon as he heard the news of the murder, he drove down here from Warrenton, no doubt salivating all the way. He took the news of her non-death hard.”
“He didn’t just get here,” Rob said. “He was hanging about earlier.”
“How much earlier?”
Rob took a meditative sip of his drink before answering.
“Just after I took over at the gate. Remember I told you about this guy who cruised by, slowed down, and then drove on past?”
“The stalker,” I said. “I remember.”
“That’s why I thought he was a reporter, nosing around. I figured maybe he heard something on the police radio and showed up to snoop. I even called Sammy and Horace to warn them, like you said, in case the guy was just going to drive out of sight and sneak in over the fence.”
“You’re positive it’s the same guy?”