“Anyway,” Marion said suddenly, “we can discuss these matters later. For now, I wonder, Callie, if you would join me in my study. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”

I glanced at Judith, but she seemed absorbed in buttering a steaming roll she had dug from the bread bowl.

“You guys go ahead,” she said, gesturing toward her plate. “I’m going to finish up here, and then I have a ton of paperwork to do.”

“Thank you, dear.”

Marion and I rose from the table, and she walked over and planted a kiss on her daughter’s head.

“Your father would be glad to know you’ve stepped in and taken control of things today. He always said that no matter what problems are besetting a company, anything can be surmounted as long as a strong, united front is presented to the employees and to the public.”

“I agree 100 percent. Things are in good hands, Mom.”

“I know, my dear, I know.”

With that, Marion walked from the room, shoulders high, leading the way to her study.

Eleven

“My husband was murdered,” Marion said softly after we were seated in her drawing room, the door closed. “The children don’t know yet. I’m not sure how to tell them, or when. But I know that you know, because I’ve spoken with Tom.”

I sat back and exhaled slowly, impressed with Marion’s Oscar-winning performance at the dinner table. You know what a disaster his health was, she had said to her daughter Judith, especially here at the end.

“They’re going to find out, Marion. The story will probably be featured on tonight’s news.”

“I know,” she answered, shaking her head sadly, “but poor Derek is struggling so with his own problems. And Judith has the responsibility of the company on her shoulders…” Her voice trailed off. “I want to protect them for as long as I can.”

I nodded, thinking that no matter how old a woman’s children grew, to her, they would always be her babies.

Marion stood and walked to the window, which was dark against the night sky. Absently, she traced a pattern in the condensation of the glass, and I could tell that she was taking a moment to form her words.

“According to Tom, the one blessing in this whole thing is that you’re here. He says that you’re the type of person who can find out anything about anyone.”

“Oh?”

“He told me he asked you to solve this murder.”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, knowing that I should just let her talk. She obviously had something important to say.

“I don’t mind telling you I was against the idea at first,” Marion continued, still facing the window. “The whole notion of someone nosing around in our affairs, poking through things—I didn’t like it.”

She turned to face me.

“But then Tom pointed out that the police will be doing that anyway. Better to have someone with our own interests at heart, someone whom we can trust to keep things in absolute confidence.”