Chapter Five. I looked out at the pouring rain and was glad I wasn't out in it

I looked out at the pouring rain and was glad I wasn't out in it. I stood at the kitchen window, with my hands in my pockets, staring out at the darkness. Thinking of the day's events, I wondered if I was in over my head with this one. Helping Jan last year was one thing. This might be quite another. I'd now been away from the P.I. scene for four long years. My instincts were failing me and I wondered if I could be any help at all.

The wind was howling and the temperature dropped dramatically yet again. I should go out to my car and get my sweater. I should remember I don't have my car. I turned to see Maggie watching me as she sat at the table with her foot propped up on another kitchen chair.

"A penny for your thoughts," she said. "Or at your age, are you finding it difficult to gather them?"

I saw the mischievous grin and was about to say something, probably sarcastic, when Hannah started down the cellar stairs.

Maggie apparently didn't think it was a good idea. "Aunt Hannah, do not go down that steep staircase."

"Oh, don't be such a ninny. I'm fine. Besides, it's not as if you could go get us a bottle of wine."

I threw my hands up and started down the cellar steps, listening to the two of them bantering back and forth. I had such a headache.

It was dark in the cellar. I turned on the wall switch and a small light went on, which did not illuminate as much as I had hoped. As I walked down the stairs, the dampness hit me right in the face, and I shivered violently. Cellars gave me the creeps.

Through the dimly lit room, I saw a large wine selection in the far corner. There were boxes and old furniture in the other corner. There was a small cellar window at the top of that wall, which looked like it was in serious need of a cleaning. However, who could reach it? Next to it was a stairwell of six or so steps leading up to another door that I assumed led outside.

I turned my attention back to my task. I perused the selection before me. "Okay, if I were filthy rich, which wine would I choose?" Not knowing what I was looking for, I closed my eyes and randomly reached for a bottle. I looked at the label. "Rothschild Bordeaux 1958. It's got dust all over it. It's either very good or very bad. The Winfield ladies will tell me I'm sure," I said in a haughty tone and blew the dust off the bottle and headed upstairs.

They were both still babbling as I came back up the stairs. Hannah stopped her prattle long enough to give Maggie a scathing look.

"See what you've done," she scolded and Maggie glared at her and got the glasses.

I handed the bottle to Hannah who blinked several times. "You have excellent taste, Kate."

Maggie looked at the bottle and laughed as she opened it, then poured three glasses of the red wine.

"What? Isn't it a good year?" I asked, as if I have any idea what a good year was.

With a smug grin, Maggie handed me a glass. "Oh, it'll do. It comes out to roughly $88.00 a glass."

Now I blinked several times. I looked from the wineglass to both women. "Oh."

"Oh, indeed. A toast," Hannah said.

Oh God, I thought.

"Christ," Maggie grumbled.

"Shut up, dear," Hannah said to her without looking at her. We lifted our glasses. "A toast, to our new friend, Kate, a good sport and hopefully... a good cook."

"Here, here," added Maggie.

We touched our glasses together and not one of them broke. Maybe it was going to be a good night after all.

"Now," I said rubbing my hands together. "Apparently, I'm cooking. So, you don't mind if I invade your kitchen, do you?"

"God no," said Maggie. "I don't cook all that much, I leave that to Aunt Hannah."

"By all means dear, invade, invade!" Hannah said.

I went over to the refrigerator, opened it and found it completely stocked.

"Okay, what'll it be?" I asked.

"I bought some gorgeous steaks yesterday," Hannah said. "There's some asparagus in there and fixings for salad."

"Great, then steaks it is. Okay with you Miss Winfield?" I asked.

"Okay with me Miss Ryan," she said.

Hannah sat back. I noticed her smiling as she drank her wine.

After dinner, Stan the faithful mechanic came by and brought my suitcase and camera equipment.

"What a relief," Maggie said. "I thought you might have to wear one of Aunt Hannah's old nightgowns to bed."

"Oh, good grief, I don't wear those old things any more, I'm liberated. I sleep in the buff!" Hannah said.

"That's way more than I need to know," I said as I reached over and took Hannah's wine away from her. She laughed uproariously.

Maggie looked at her aunt. "I am going to have you committed."

"Yes, but not tonight." She was still laughing while reaching around me for her glass.

The phone rang when we started to clear the table. Maggie and Hannah both looked at the clock, then at each other. Neither made a move to pick it up.

I looked at them. "Want me to get it?"

"No," they said simultaneously.

I raised an eyebrow and continued clearing the dishes. The phone stopped ringing. One minute later, it started ringing again. And exactly the same thing happened.

"All right, what's going on?" I asked as the phone continued to ring. It was driving me nuts. Then it stopped.

"Nothing is going on, just because the phone rings doesn't mean I have to answer it. I mean it is my house, isn't it Miss Ryan?" Maggie asked.

She had a very snippy attitude. My patience was wearing very thin. "Look, I know you don't know me from Adam, or Eve for that matter, but if you'd like me to help, you need to let me know what's going on. So maybe we can set a few ground rules. First, do you want my help?"

"Yes," Hannah said quickly. She looked at Maggie and motioned with her head.

Maggie stood silent for a moment. "Yes," she finally said.

"Okay, then the foremost rule...please tell me the truth. I can't help if you don't." I looked at Maggie. "Otherwise, you'll wind up dead, and I won't have that on my conscience."

No answer. I rubbed my forehead.

"Look, I don't know if I can help you but you have to trust me. You simply have to. And I need to know I can trust you too. Dammit, this is serious. Now, why didn't you answer the phone?"

Maggie hesitated for a minute before answering. "I've been getting crank phone calls this past week. They seem to come at the same time of night. There's usually no one on the other end...only breathing. So, I told Aunt Hannah not to pick up the phone, and let the answering machine get it." She watched me for a minute and then softened. "I'm sorry, I need your help and I will level with you from now on."

I looked her straight in the eye.

"Pax?" she smiled and held out her hand.

"Pax," I said and took it.

"Well, now that that's settled," Hannah said confidently.

"I haven't even gotten to you yet, Hannah." I said.

"Me, what have I done?" she asked, horrified.

"Oh, nothing, Miss I Had Your Car Towed Because It Was Damaged. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Kate."

"And by the way, who was the second phone call from earlier?"

Hannah put her hand up to her mouth and laughed. "Margaret, I'm so sorry. It was Allison. She wanted you to call her back." She stopped and looked at the clock. "An hour ago."

With that, the doorbell rang.

"Guess who?" I asked and picked up my glass.

I noticed Maggie got up, quite easily now and started for the door.

"Margaret, your ankle seems to be better, dear."

"It is much better, Aunt Hannah!" she called over her shoulder.

Hannah looked at me. "It does seem better."

"Boy, that Doc. He sure is a wonderful doctor," I said. I watched her as she blushed and laughed. "He is kind of handsome," I admitted truthfully.

"Handsome, nothin', he's, oh, what's the term the women use today? He's a...babe!" Obviously feeling the wine and sherry, she laughed out loud. Then she covered her mouth. I couldn't help myself; I laughed with her.

"She's what? Why?" Allison was obviously rather angry.

Hannah and me both stopped laughing and looked at each other. Then there were low voices...not a good sign.

"Call her a cab!" Was the angry, sarcastic response.

"Look, Al, I don't owe you any explanation at all. And as I recall, you never offered any to me. I had to deal with it. So, she's staying and that's that. Deal with it."

I was a little embarrassed and I said to Hannah, "Maybe I should go and straighten this out. I don't want to be the cause of anything here."

"Oh, no you don't!" She reached over and grabbed my arm. "I've been waiting for this moment. For six months, Allison has been making Margaret feel guilty. Telling her that if she would only forgive her, they could go back to the way it was. Never mind that Margaret caught her with someone in their hotel room while she and Allison were in England. Seriously, that's what I was going to tell you earlier in the kitchen. Well, I'll let Margaret tell you now. But that 'let me take care of everything' attitude...she only wanted one thing from Margaret...her money."

"Be careful what you say Hannah." I waved my finger at her.

"It's true. I know that Allison is having financial difficulties. No, she wouldn't have the nerve to try to hurt Margaret. She knows I'd have her..."

"Ah, ah, Hannah..."

With that, we heard Maggie's voice. "I've had enough. Look, I'm tired and this is pointless. Thank you for stopping by. I'll call you later."

Maggie came back to the table. "Not a word. Not one word," she said as she picked up her glass.

I looked at the clock. Only eight o'clock. It seemed like midnight and everyone had to be tired. I knew I was. I looked at my companions. "If you don't mind I need to make a phone call. I should call my sister. We were supposed to meet in Galena tomorrow for the weekend."

"Why don't you have her come here for the weekend? We have plenty of room. Your car won't be ready for two days. You said you and she always listened to your father's cases, maybe she can help as well."

"That would be fine, if you want to, Kate," Maggie said. "I feel terribly responsible for ruining your weekend. Maybe you can still salvage some of it."

"Well, I can call and check it out. Teri would be helpful. If you're sure?"

"Oh, good heaven's, of course! Will her husband be coming too?" Hannah asked, apparently excited at the prospect of more houseguests.

"Well, he was going to see if he could get away. Okay, let me call and scope it out."

"You can use the phone in the hallway if you like," Hannah said.

Mac, my adorable brother-in-law answered the phone. "Hi kiddo, how the hell are ya? Where in the hell are ya?"

I love Mac. His real name is Michael McAuliffe, and he is a wild Irishman who loves my sister madly. "In the rabbit hole, Mac." I laughed but heard nothing from him. "Hello?" I asked jokingly.

"Rabbit hole? I don't think I want to hear this. I'll get your sister," he said abruptly.

I briefly told my sister what was going on. I must admit it sounded incredible even to me.

"What have you gotten yourself into? Are you serious?" she asked.

I laughed at the tone in her voice. "Of course I'm serious, aren't I always?"

"No. God, that's horrible." Then she laughed. "She actually had your car towed?"

"Yeah. Look, the reason I called," I said and explained the situation. "What do you think?"

"I think it sounds like I'll be there about noon."

"Are you sure?" I asked again. "I have no idea what in the world is going on here, but I can feel it, Ter. This kid is in real trouble."

"You get yourself in the strangest predicaments," Teri said. "Oh, hell, I have to talk to Mac. Can I call you back in five minutes?"

I read her the number off the phone and went back into the kitchen. Hannah looked at me hopefully.

"Well, Teri will come for sure. She's talking to Mac now to see if he can come. She's going to call back in a minute to let me know," I said, and then looked at both of them. "Are you sure you want to do this? You didn't want anyone to know about this, now you're about to have half my family here."

"I'm sure, Kate. If they can help you then I'd like them to be here," Maggie said.

The phone rang and Hannah left the room to answer it.

Maggie was studying her wineglass and I could tell her thoughts were a million miles away. She looked up at me. "Sorry, my mind..."

"I understand. You know there's safety in numbers. This might be a good thing."

"I'm sure it will."

Hannah came into the kitchen talking on the phone. "That will be fine, Teri. You and Mac are welcome, please come whenever you like... Noon? That will be wonderful. I'll have your room ready... it's no problem at all. Well, see you tomorrow dear. Here's Kate."

She handed me the phone. I sat there with my mouth open staring at her.

She looked at me. "It's a portable phone, dear. You put it to your ear and talk."

As I took the phone from her, I heard Maggie chuckling in the background. "Hello," I said flatly.

Teri was laughing on the other end. "We have to come now. She promised pie."

I gave Teri the directions and was glad they were coming up for the weekend.

Hannah brought the coffee to the table along with what I had hoped was homemade pound cake. She also brought another decanter. This time it was cognac.

She looked at me and answered the questioning look on my face. "It complements the dessert," she said properly. She prepared the coffee, cognac and a piece of almond pound cake lavished with butter, for each of us.

"Everything all set?" Maggie asked tiredly.

"Yes, they'll be here around noon."

I went to the big bay window behind the kitchen table. The rain had stopped and now there was only a cool autumn wind rapidly blowing the clouds. As the clouds passed, I could see the near full moon shining brightly. I started thinking about the present situation, wondering what I could do to help. What did I know? I looked at the moon and through my reverie, I heard Hannah calling me.

Hannah looked at Maggie, who looked exhausted. "Look, I think we could all use a good night's sleep. Why don't you go to your room and take a nice hot bath, and go to bed? It's been a long day, sweetie," Hannah said.

"I have to take Chance out. I think I'll skulk around the back yard," I said.

Maggie whirled around to face me. "Don't, don't go out there."

"Hey," I said. "I have to get Chance out. I'll be right back."

"Promise you won't go into the woods?" she asked, putting her hand on my arm. "I'm not going upstairs until you come in."

"Okay, I'll be right back." I gave her hand a reassuring pat.

Chance had heard the word "out" and waited patiently at my side. "Come on, you mutt."

Once outside, I realized how cold it was. I waited for Chance to finish as I watched the woods. Maggie spooked me, thank you very much, and now I had an eerie feeling I was being watched, and not by Maggie.

It was cold and windy. The yard was unbelievably bright when the moon came out, then dark as pitch when it went behind the fast-moving clouds. As I looked out at the woods, my imagination got the better of me.

In the dark of the night, at the edge of the woods, I thought for sure I saw someone looking at me. Just standing, not moving...just looking. When I was about to pass it off as my imagination, Chance started to growl. Then she started to whine. I shivered uncontrollably and grabbed her collar more tightly, not wanting her to bolt into the woods. The hair on her neck was standing rigid. So was mine. I stood, perfectly still, and I swear I saw whatever...whoever...it was fade into the woods. The only sound was the rustling of the leaves.

Okay, that was enough for me. I turned, still holding Chance by the collar and, in a controlled panic, walked very quickly back to the door. I was too terrified to turn around, thinking that whatever it was changed its mind and was right at my heels. I fumbled at the door latch and almost cried out for help as it opened. I slammed the door behind me and locked it.

I turned around to see Maggie staring at me in horror. "What happened?" she asked.

"Nothing, everything is fine," I said. "It's freezing out there." I rubbed my hands over my arms.

Hannah appeared in the doorway. "Okay ladies, lights out, let's get to bed."

She turned out the lights as I checked all the doors and locks.

At the top of the stairs, Hannah stopped at a doorway. "Here you go, Kate. I put you in the room next to Margaret's. Everything is all ready, so have a good sleep." She came over and kissed my cheek. "Bless you," she said.

"Good night, Hannah," I said, warmly.

She then went over, kissed Maggie good night and went into her room at the end of the hall.

"Well, I appreciate all you're doing. I don't know why you're doing it but thank you," Maggie said.

"I'm not quite sure why I'm doing it either, but you're welcome."

I smiled and for a moment, she looked like she might say something, then she smiled as well.

"Well, good night," she whispered and opened her door.

"Good night, Maggie."

I went into my room and saw Chance sprawled out on the bed, sound asleep and snoring peacefully. What a life, I thought as I put my bag on the chair and went to the window. The wind had quieted and now the trees moved gently with the breeze. I peered out the window, wondering if my imagination had gotten the better of me. Did I see something? A shiver ran through me as I backed away from the window and drew the curtains shut. I went into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror.

"Getting a little grayer every time I look at you, Kate ole girl."

I also needed to shed a few pounds, but who didn't? What with middle age and all that. Overall though, I was content with my life and myself. I guess if I were more than six feet tall, my weight would be perfect. However, being five foot nine, several fewer pounds were in order.

I lie there with my hands behind my head, staring at the ceiling. Chance growled lowly as I gently nudged her out of the way.

What had I gotten into? Surely, something was going on, but what and why? I thought of Aunt Hannah's family history lesson. Who had control of the family business now that Maggie's father had died?

Then I remembered Hannah telling me, when we were in the kitchen, that Maggie's mother had died twenty years ago. I'd first thought she died from an illness. But then later, Hannah said she was killed. To me that took on a whole different connotation. I wondered if she were in some kind of an accident or something more. More than what?

Was there something going on or was this all Maggie's imagination? My instincts told me it was not, but then my instincts weren't what they used to be. I tossed restlessly and looked at the clock. Only 10:30.

But maybe, just maybe, Maggie and her aunt were just plain nuts like the aunts in the movie, Arsenic and Old Lace. They get rid of my car, then my dog, and then me. First we get moose, then we get squirrel. The immortal words of Boris Badanoff came to mind.

Wouldn't that beat all? I thought as I drifted off to sleep. Two crazy women...