“The police? That’s not going to be easy,” Ronnie said. “We’re under the jurisdiction of Ventura County, not any particular city. That would mean the sheriffs and I don’t believe they have anyone stationed anywhere near here, or anyone who is equipped to investigate a homicide. Perhaps they request assistance from Los Angeles—or even from Ventura. I don’t know how it works. I’ve never had to deal with anything like this before.” His usually worried face was now creased into a deep frown and he looked white enough to pass out any second.

“Do we have to?” my mother asked. “Call the police, I mean. Couldn’t we say it was an accident and he fell and hit his head? It probably was an accident, wasn’t it? He drank too much at dinner and he fainted, or had a heart attack. And if we call the police, think of the scandal.”

“This was no accident.” Darcy stared at her. “I think I can guarantee he was murdered.”

“Murdered? My darling Cy?” Stella’s voice trembled. “Who would do that to him? We were all his friends. We all adored him. Let me go to him.” She struggled as Darcy kept her away.

“I suppose he is actually dead?” Algie said, trying to sound flippant, but his voice trembled a little. “I mean he didn’t just faint or something?”

“I don’t think anyone survives his head being bashed in like that,” Darcy said grimly. “This was done with considerable force.”

“Come on, everyone,” Ronnie said. “Back into the rotunda, I suppose. And I’ll see if I can round up any kind of law enforcement, though I’ve no idea where.”

He grabbed Stella’s arm, attempting to pull her away. She resisted, trying to get back to Cy Goldman’s body. “He must have interrupted a burglar,” Stella said, her voice now choking with emotion. “The other candlestick is missing. But I don’t understand it. I mean, we were all here. Only a few yards away from him. How could anyone have come in here unnoticed? There’s only one way in to this estate and it’s through that gate. And our gatekeeper, Jimmy, would never let in anybody he doesn’t know.”

“We have to presume that the gatekeeper is all right,” Darcy said, “and an intruder didn’t bash him over the head to get in here.”

“Jimmy has an alarm button he can push from inside his cottage if he needs help,” Stella said. “And he can telephone through to the main house. And our groundsmen are armed.”

“I expect someone could cut the wire fence if they were determined enough,” Charlie said. “And there must be places where trees have grown up close enough to the fence to make it possible to climb over.”