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Back Maplecroft
Chapters (206)
  1. Praise for Maplecroft
  2. Title page
  3. Copyright page
  4. Contents
  5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  6. THESE ARE THE THINGS AN EARTHQUAKE BRINGS
  7. •   •   •
  8. •   •   •
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  12. A DOCTOR, A LAWYER, A MERCHANT, A CHIEF
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  20. Phillip Zollicoffer, Professor of Biology, Miskatonic University
  21. Lizzie Andrew Borden
  22. •   •   •
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  24. •   •   •
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  26. BE SURE YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT
  27. •   •   •
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  29. I CROSS THE MAGPIE, THE MAGPIE CROSSES ME
  30. •   •   •
  31. Nance O’Neil
  32. THIS KNOT I KNIT, THIS KNOT I TIE
  33. •   •   •
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  37. AND IF YOU HAVE A HORSE WITH ONE WHITE LEG . . .
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  43. THE WORST IS TO BE JUDGED WITHOUT HOPE
  44. •   •   •
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  46. Lizzie Andrew Borden
  47. •   •   •
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  52. •   •   •
  53. BUT NETTLE SHANT HAVE NOTHING
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  55. CUT THEM ON FRIDAY, YOU CUT THEM FOR SORROW
  56. Phillip Zollicoffer, Professor of Biology, Miskatonic University
  57. •   •   •
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  62. HAPPY IS THE CORPSE THAT THE RAIN SHINES ON
  63. •   •   •
  64. •   •   •
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  67. A DWELLING PLACE OF JACKALS, THE DESOLATION FOREVER
  68. Lizzie Andrew Borden
  69. •   •   •
  70. •   •   •
  71. Nance O’Neil
  72. •   •   •
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  84. Emma L. Borden
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  86. •   •   •
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  88. Owen Seabury, M.D.
  89. •   •   •
  90. •   •   •
  91. Lizzie Andrew Borden
  92. •   •   •
  93. RIGHT CHEEK, LEFT CHEEK—WHY DO YOU BURN?
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  101. Aaron B. Stewart, Fire Chief, Farthington, Mass.
  102. Emma L. Borden
  103. •   •   •
  104. Gerald Macintyre, Telegraph Clerk, Western Union
  105. Owen Seabury, M.D.
  106. •   •   •
  107. Physalia, Z. University I Was Not Now
  108. •   •   •
  109. DEPART, ALL ANIMALS WITHOUT BONES
  110. Emma L. Borden
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  115. Owen Seabury, M.D.
  116. •   •   •
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  119. Lizzie Andrew Borden
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  130. Owen Seabury, M.D.
  131. Phillip Zollicoffer. Physalia Zollicoffris.
  132. •   •   •
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  137. Christoff Dane, M.D., Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, Kingston
  138. •   •   •
  139. Emma L. Borden
  140. •   •   •
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  144. Owen Seabury, M.D.
  145. •   •   •
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  150. Emma L. Borden
  151. •   •   •
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  153. FAMILY SLAIN IN MAYFIELD
  154. Owen Seabury, M.D.
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  165. Lizzie Andrew Borden
  166. •   •   •
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  176. Emma L. Borden
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  186. Owen Seabury, M.D.
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  197. Lizzie Andrew Borden
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  205. Inspector Simon Wolf
  206. •   •   •

Regardless of this bond of silence, Emma has no further interest in remaining in her sister’s care. When last I spoke with her, she was in the process of moving out . . . undertaking the endeavor despite (or because of) a precipitous decline in her already meager strength. Apparently, she’s made arrangements for herself at a health care facility in Providence. She offered no explanation for this, and Lizzie declined to supplement my understanding beyond a vague suggestion that Emma required more intensive care than she could provide at Maplecroft.

Something has happened between them, and maybe that something was Miss O’Neil, or maybe it was something else. Maybe the Fall River Event was more than their bond could stand. Maybe it was never a very tight bond to begin with. The age difference between them is something like ten or eleven years; their relationship was probably always a bit odd for siblings.

I overheard Emma curtly inform Lizzie that she intends to send letters. I guess we’ll see how their future works out. Sometimes, a bit of distance can help. Sometimes, it’s easier to write things down and mail them than to have the most difficult conversations in person.

I hope they do correspond, given the obvious sorrow and loneliness of the notorious Lizzie Borden, or Andrew, or whatever she’s calling herself these days. (Sometimes she appropriates some version of her father’s name, for the sake of anonymity—or something like it.) I do believe the woman is guilty of her parents’ murders, but there’s no proving it now . . . and if I could, I might not be inclined to. She isn’t just hiding something. She’s protecting something, perhaps with very good reason.

Something or someone. Herself? The town? Doctor Seabury?

You tell me.

Speaking of Seabury, since you asked about his state as well, I wish I had better news. I noted previously that his mind was slipping, and that I had concerns about his continued involvement in these events—not that there was any good way to remove him from the situation. The ladies of Maplecroft took him into their confidence at the start of this affair, and could not (or would not) extricate him from it. If anything, he’s been their sole friend and confidant these last couple of years.

But when I asked after him, Emma could scarcely bring herself to say his name. When she did, it was with a bitter gleam in her eyes. That woman is leaving town, and she’s not looking back. I’m not sure I blame her.

(Do what you must; that’s what I say. But then, I rather liked her. I wish her well, for all that my wishing can do for her.)

But Seabury. His state. When I finally caught up to him for coffee, it was clear that he’s slipping yet further, and I’m not sure how it’ll end.