There was no coffin in the room, but I did find what I took to be a stairwell. I climbed over furniture and piles of books, moving things away from two walls, before I discovered an irregularity in the third and a locked door. It could’ve been a large closet, but I was betting it wasn’t.

Franny came in then and asked what I was doing.

“Getting dirty and ruining a Pucci pantsuit,” I said.

“It’s Sears Roebuck and I never liked it on you anyway. What’s behind that big cupboard?”

“Tons of dust. I was just checking to see if any of this junk is worth selling. I thought maybe we could have a garage sale—or barn sale, I suppose we’d have to call it here.”

“Sell these old books and newspapers too, before Duff gets some rare lung disease from them.” She followed me back to the bedroom. “I thought you hated it here, Mama.”

“I do.”

“It doesn’t seem as though you’re making any great efforts to get us home.”

“I am trying, dear, even though I haven’t been successful.” I had something else to ask her. “Franny, would you be willing to sleep downstairs for a while? I hate to leave Dad alone down there.”

“Since when did you become so concerned about Dad?”

I slapped her and she cried. I told her I knew she hadn’t meant the remark and that we were all living under a terrible strain. Of course I knew she was aware that I wasn’t madly in love with her father.

“It might be kind of scary sleeping in Steph’s room after what happened to her.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that. After all, it didn’t happen in the room. Also, there’s a key and you can lock the door.”

“Can I play my radio and records down there?”

“As long as you don’t disturb your father.”

I had a couple of reasons for wanting her downstairs. The first was to have her farther removed from Duff. I didn’t really expect him to give her any more trouble, but I thought it best to lessen the opportunities. Also, if she wasn’t sleeping in the room with me, I would be freer to conduct my investigations.

Jack pretended to be disappointed that Franny was moving downstairs instead of me. “I was thinking maybe I could come in and join you one of these nights,” he said, squeezing my arm.

“Join me for what?”

“You know.” He tried to give me one of his slobbery kisses, but I pulled away.

“When you’re ready to climb the stairs, I’ll be in the first room on the left,” I said. It would be a long time before he could manage the stairs, I thought, and an even longer time before he really had the inclination.