“ ‘All right, I’ll check into Mayfair Medical,’ I said. ‘But I won’t find myself on the psychiatric ward, will I?’

“ ‘My boy, I despise the idea of nuthouses as much as you do,’ she replied. ‘But I think I’d be remiss if I didn’t request certain purely medical tests to be done. As for Mayfair Medical, it’s a marvel, with the finest doctors and equipment in the South.’

“ ‘I know, Aunt Queen. You have to remember, Lynelle was going to work in research there. Who in the environs of New Orleans doesn’t know all about Mayfair Medical? I’ve been there, beloved aunt, I walked those granite-tiled hallways with Lynelle. It was her dream come true, remember?’

“The fear came on me, it came on dark and strong when I thought of Lynelle in her breakneck high heels clicking on beside me through the hospital corridors, pointing out all the special features of this revolutionary clinic and hospital.

“I remembered the smallest, most special detail—that every ward in Mayfair Medical had broad comfortable benches along its walls, benches for the comfort of relatives and friends who were visiting with the patients. Every room was a private room. Every room had easy chairs for visitors.

“ ‘Oh, it’s too sad to think of poor Lynelle,’ Aunt Queen said, as if she were reading my mind or my wandering eyes. ‘Lynelle, Sweetheart, Pops, it’s too sad, too dreadful. But we cannot take our minds off the details of life, Quinn. The details will save us. We’ll have these tests done and we’ll discover if there’s anything to be worried about.’

“ ‘Worried about? You have a letter from the stranger! You know I didn’t write it or cook it up myself. I told you he was in my room, and he has been on the island since I warned him away. I burnt his books, I was so angry. And now this inscription. What can it mean? And the cameos. Why is it all connected?’

“She listened intently and affectionately.

“I told her the vision I had had of Rebecca hanging from the rusted hook, the hook having caught her rib. I told her how I had been unconscious on the floor afterwards.

“ ‘Jasmine said you fell down as if you’d been struck on the head. Your eyes never closed. And then you revived, just like that.’

“ ‘Did I have a seizure out there?’ I asked. ‘Is that what Jasmine really saw?’

“ ‘She didn’t see it,’ said Aunt Queen. ‘But we can talk about all this tomorrow afternoon on our way to Mayfair Medical. As for the mysterious intruder, we have guards everywhere. The Shed Men are in their glory. But regarding tomorrow morning . . .’

“ ‘Patsy’s been found and the will’s going to be read,’ I guessed.