“I left right after I finished with her, and didn’t get back until late Sunday evening. Long Lake is three hours from here, and my cabin has no phone or electricity. My grand-parents bought it in the twenties and added two rooms on to it, but preferred to get right away from modem conveniences. I spent many summers up there as a boy. When I inherited it, I kept it just as they had left it. It’s a dozen yards from the lake, and there have been loons nesting near the dock for as long as anyone can remember—” Penberthy brought himself back from his vacation with a little start. “Sorry.”

“Margot never mentioned incorporating to me,” said Betsy.

“Perhaps she meant to tell you once it was all done, and ... and never got a chance.”

“Yes, that might be. What time did she come to see you?”

Penberthy took a few seconds to think about it. “Her appointment was for two o‘clock, but she was about five minutes late, which isn’t like her. She apologized, I remember.”

“How long was she there?”

“Not very long. Perhaps half an hour. I had closed up and was on the road before three.”

“Did she say where she was going next?”

“No, I assumed it was home.” Penberthy looked around. “Are you going to keep the apartment, too? It hasn’t got the same kind of lease the store has, you know.”

“I don’t know, yet.”

“You are going to keep the shop open, aren’t you?”

Betsy started to say no, but instead said, “I haven’t finalized my plans. Does Mr. Mickels know about this incorporation?”

“I don’t know how he could.”

Her voice sharpened. “You mean she didn’t tell him?”

“It is not required by law that she inform him ahead of time, if that’s what you’re asking. And again, I don’t think there was time between the signing of the documents and ... her demise.”

“Then I know,” she whispered. “I know. Thank you very much for coming by, Mr. Penberthy,” she said, rising. “This has been very enlightening.”

“But—” he began.

“Good-bye, Mr. Penberthy,” she repeated, more firmly, and walked to the door.

He followed unwillingly. “I’ll call you tomorrow,” he promised. “There are still a great many details you need to be advised of.”

“Okay. Or how about I call you later this week?” She all but pushed him out the door, closing it in his face as he turned to say something more.

Betsy slammed the door shut and ran to the phone. Margot had a list of phone numbers taped to the wall beside it, and Jill’s number was first under the Cs.

Jill answered on the second ring, and Betsy said, “I got it, I knew there was something, and I’ve got it!”

“Got what?”