Valerie Twyler, or Mary V. Cook, had known Athena Popolous in Greece, Livingston thought as he got into his car. For some reason Athena had written down part of Val’s license plate. Athena disappeared the day Val had her interview in Oxford. And Val had also accused Veronica of trying to poison Penelope Atwater, an idea that instinctively he found hard to believe. Regan Reilly had certainly disputed the notion. Another thing. Val’s upcoming marriage to Philip Whitcomb didn’t make sense. They seemed like oil and water. Was she marrying him because he was the probable heir to Lady Exner and her millions? If she indeed had tried to poison Penelope Atwater, there was no telling what she had planned next. And how soon. A sense of urgency made him lean his foot on the accelerator as he hurried back to Oxford.

Chapter 47

AT SEA

CAMERON HARDWICK WAS having a sleepless night. In his mind he kept going over and over his plan. He mentally visualized the stateroom. If Exner woke up when he was getting rid of Reilly, it would be too risky. He looked over at the vial of knockout drops he had on his dresser. They were the kind that worked over several hours. He’d drop them into her drink tonight and by ten or eleven at the latest, Exner’s chin would be impaled on her chest. After her party last night, it wouldn’t be surprising if she seemed exhausted. By the time he stole into the suite she’d be in never-never land. He smiled to himself.

Reilly. He’d love to sweeten her drink, but it was much too hazardous. He could feel strange vibes coming from her. She’d never let him get that close. And even if she did, if she started getting exceptionally sleepy, an alarm would sound in her head. No, he was hoping to use the element of surprise in her case. If she was asleep when he got inside, he’d have the extra few seconds he needed. If not, he knew he could get to her before she could reach for the phone. He’d checked. The phone in the living room was on a table in back of the sofa bed, too far away to grab before he got to her. If she tried to yell, it wouldn’t do her any good. What was that line? If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there, does it make a sound?