“It was more than that.”

“If I had to credit anyone, I guess it would be Felice Bazinet—or whatever her married name is. She called the police to tell them where the Dows were going to take me. I don’t know how she got the information out of her dad. But I’m glad she did.”

“You said she was in on the plan, though. It was her job to delay you until dark. The Dows needed time to plant those spikes in the road and alert everyone in their network.”

“It wasn’t the Dows who planted them—it was Jewett. Tempest liked nothing better than manipulating people into doing her dirty work for her. She had Bruce Jewett under her thumb for years because of what Arlo Burch had seen. Now Jewett is probably going to prison for the rest of his life. But after years of being bled dry, I think he’s relieved it’s finally over.”

“But he still won’t say why he did it?”

“Just that he and the professor got into a heated argument and the boat began to rock and Chamberlain fell over. Jewett claims that life vest came off when he tried to haul the old man onboard, which can happen. He says the professor went under because the river was fast and cold, and there was nothing he could do.”

“Not a lover’s quarrel?”

“That’s what Mariëtte Chamberlain thinks. I have no idea. But it’s interesting that Jewett gets so enraged at the implication that he and the professor had a sexual relationship. He doesn’t mind being branded a murderer, but he considers being outed as gay as the worst stigma a man can suffer.”

Billy had finished his eggnog and poured some straight rum from the bottle into his mug. He was secretive, turned his broad back, not wanting his wife to see. He only thought he got away with it. Aimee Cronk missed nothing.

“You sure you don’t want some?” he whispered. “Oh, right. You’re on those meds. Be careful with that stuff. I’ve lost too many of my army friends to opiates.”

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

“That’s what they all say.” But even drunk, he seemed to sense I was telling the truth. “One thing I’ve been wondering about. Who left the note on your windshield?”

“Beats me.”

“Don’t you want to—?”

“It doesn’t matter, Billy. You’re never going to solve every little mystery in life. So forget the unimportant ones.”

He brooded on this, and I could see he was far from satisfied. “And you never explained about that Felicia.”

“Felice.”

“Why she’d do it? Why did she inform on the Dows after helping them?”