“But she was the one who suggested you come with me,” Veronica protested.

“I had become a threat. She didn’t know how much Athena might have told me about her aunt’s death. She knew I was trying to recall everything. I keep a journal. I’m a trained investigator.”

“I see.” From her next question, it was clear that Veronica did see. “We met Val a year after the robbery in Greece. She always lived very modestly. What did she do with her share of all the valuable jewelry that was taken from the safe of Athena’s aunt?”

Regan grinned. “Veronica, anytime you want a job in my office, you’ve got one. Hardwick was obsessed with that watch and took it as his share. It’s priceless but would have been recognized immediately if he’d tried to sell it. He’s always kept it. Val sold the stones from her share of the jewelry for two hundred thousand dollars and put the money in a safe deposit box. Her finances have been under intense police scrutiny all these years and she knew it. She made what she considered a good bargain with her sometime lover. He would get rid of us. As Philip’s wife she could live in the style she wanted as soon as the Llewellyn Hall property was sold. And Hardwick would have the watch and get two hundred thousand dollars in cash.”

Veronica nodded. “I see. I see. Perhaps I shouldn’t have kept my wonderful news till next year.”

“News?” Regan asked.

“Of course I’m going to leave Llewellyn Hall, the fifty acres immediately surrounding it, and a trust to Philip. The rest I’m giving to Saint Polycarp’s, to be used to set up the Sir Gilbert Exner Poetry Center. Dear Philip will continue to extend his magic with the flowers. And it goes without saying that he will have a lifetime professorship at Saint Polycarp’s.”

“That’s wonderful, Veronica,” Regan said as she wondered how the relatives waiting on the pier would react to this news.

Everyone stayed in the Camelot Suite, drank champagne and cheered the Statue of Liberty when they sailed into the harbor. Luke and Nora invited one and all to join them at the Tavern on the Green for brunch.

“Do they allow children?” Immaculata asked hopefully.

“Sure they do,” Luke said heartily.

Sylvie asked anxiously, “Can you put up with Violet? Her plane to Florida doesn’t leave until five.”

“She was the first one to tie Cameron Hardwick to Greece. Believe me, she’s welcome,” Regan said.

Dale turned to Kenneth. “Let’s change our flight home and stay until tomorrow.”

“Done.”