“Please,” I said. “You looked concerned, yesterday, like you were going to come to the pharmacy to talk to me. Do you know what happened?”

She paused again, and then her haughty demeanor fell. “Walk with me.”

I obeyed and we began slowly strolling along the square.

“Is he really dead?” I asked.

“Yes. He was found in his bedroom. The police came and spoke to my father. I was listening on the stairs.” She looked at me and sighed. “I guess I may have a bit of a habit of snooping.”

I was still struggling to believe that he was truly gone.

“What illness?” I asked.

“I’m sorry?”

“The paper said it was a sudden illness.”

She hesitated, as if weighing her words before answering.

“It wasn’t an illness,” she said.

“What?”

“It wasn’t a mysterious illness. He killed himself in his room with a pistol.”

She strolled on a few more steps before she realized that I had stopped walking and was no longer at her side.

“He killed himself?” I asked.

“So it would seem. You were on familiar terms with him. Any ideas why he would do that?”

By the way she was studying me, it was clear that she believed that I did, but my shock was unreadable.

“If he killed himself, why did the paper say it was an illness?” I asked.

“Because it’s Kingsbrook. Their daughter’s disappearance is enough of a scandal. It’s out of respect for Mrs. Carrington and the rest of her family.”

“Where is Mrs. Carrington?”

“I heard my father say that she’s still in Boston. Their valet is on his way to join her.”

I looked around the square, still unable to comprehend it all.

“Listen,” Patricia said, stepping closer, “I don’t know exactly what your ‘business’ was with Thomas Carrington, but if you want my advice, it’s best that he’s out of everyone’s lives … Was there anything else?”

I shook my head.

“Well, thank you for the pleasant walk, but I’m going to rejoin my friends now.”

She sadly smiled at me and walked off.

October 5th, 1900

Tonight we locked the pharmacy for the last time.

It took two more days, but we’ve sold almost all of the inventory. There were some items left on the shelves, but we’re leaving those behind.

With some of the money we’ve made over the past three days, Father bought a horse and small wagon. Tonight, we’re going to only gather the essentials from the house and leave first thing in the morning. I’ve already packed most of my clothes. It’s all too much. I’m taking a rest to write this entry before deciding what else to bring.