“It isn’t right,” said Miles. “I feel for that girl, I really do, but suicide? Here? It’s reprehensible.”

“It’s homicide,” I said. “In case you haven’t connected the dots, that means someone here’s guilty of murder.”

There was a collective gasp. These people had skills. Every one of them managed to look shocked.

“You’re no longer witnesses to Jasper Sinclair’s disappearance. All of you are now suspects in a violent murder.” Pacing as I spoke, I looked them each in the eyes. “Someone in this room stole that young woman’s life.” I laid it on thick, giving them my best Poirot. “Waited for their chance to attack, and wasted no time doing it. We have yet to confirm it, but Wellington and I strongly suspect whoever killed Abella is also responsible for Jasper’s disappearance. One or more of you will be charged with voluntary manslaughter. If it turns out whoever did this planned these killings in advance, that’s first-degree murder. Under New York penal law we’re talking a minimum twenty years. Max sentence is life without parole.”

Jade squealed and Miles looked at her in alarm. “Detectives,” he said, pulling his startled daughter to her feet, “I’d like to request that we be excused. This isn’t good for Jade—for Christ’s sake, she’s just a kid. I’d like your permission to take her back to town.”

“There’s no getting to the mainland right now,” said Tim.

“Screw the storm!” said Miles. “Norton knows how to drive a boat in bad weather. You two made it here this morning, didn’t you? Norton will take us. We’ll be fine.”

“I want to go with Philip,” Jade said. She looked up at Norton with huge, wet eyes. “You’ll take us, right?”

Norton smiled. “’Course I will, honey.”

“If they’re leaving,” said Bebe, “then so am I.”

“Me too,” said Ned. “We’ve got two boats. We’re only nine people now.” He paused to swallow the lump in his throat. “Get me the hell off this island.”

“I’m telling you, that’s not an option at this time,” said Tim. “Earlier, when Senior Investigator Merchant left the house, she had the foresight to check the boathouse. Both your skiff and the boat we used to get here are gone. It looks to us like someone willfully let them go.”

Tim had covered for me. Of course he did, I thought. He can’t have them knowing I lost my mind.

Miles looked from Tim’s face to mine in confusion. “Are you telling me there are no boats here at all?”

“No boats, no way off the island until another police vessel makes it out,” I said.

In the sliver of silence that followed, the wind picked up. Even in the shelter of the parlor the storm sounded fierce. Again the lights in the room flickered.

“I want to go home,” Jade cried, louder than was necessary, as she nuzzled her father’s sport jacket.

“Soon, baby, soon—and we don’t ever have to come back here again. Well?” Miles said, raising his voice. “Who was the idiot who sent our only hope of getting out of here into the channel?”