“It was investigated in the same manner as the other deaths,” said Lou. “I’m sorry to say nothing came of it.” He actually seemed genuine. “When she died,” he continued, “Selene had in her possession a photograph of a small child. On the back was the name Briseis. When Circe became aware that I knew Selene had a child, she came to me and asked that I take that information to my grave. Neither of them wanted you here in Rhinebeck. Of course, I agreed, but something must have changed their minds because you’re here now, and I can’t deny that I am extremely curious as to why that is.”

“Me too,” I said. Why leave the house to me? Why lead me to the garden and make it seem like I belonged here if they never wanted me to come? “What about Circe? How did she die?”

“She was declared dead earlier this year,” said Lou. “She disappeared in 2010, three years after Selene’s death. She was never heard from again.”

I was taken aback. She left letters for me that long ago? “But I saw her tombstone.”

“You’d find nothing in the ground below it, I promise you.”

“She knew she was going to leave me the house, though. She left me letters.”

One of Lou’s transparent eyebrows arched up. “She did what?”

Karter clapped his hands together suddenly, startling me. “All right. Cool. Briseis, let’s go. This guy is full of shit.”

“Excuse me?” Lou said angrily, pushing back from his desk and standing up. Karter took a step forward. Lou was tall and lanky, and Karter was uncoordinated as hell. I couldn’t imagine the two of them fighting.

I grabbed the back of Karter’s shirt and pulled him toward me. I had more questions, but I couldn’t let Karter beat up this wraith of a man in the basement of his funeral parlor. “Thank you for your help. We’re gonna go.”

Lou shifted his gaze to me and his posture relaxed. He retook his seat. “It has been my pleasure. Will you give Marie a message for me if you happen to see her?”

“Uh, sure,” I said.

He smiled and his thin lips stretched across his yellowing teeth. “Tell her I don’t appreciate having to clean up after her. She’s sloppy. Please remind her that she has had plenty of time to get her act together.”

“Right.” I assumed he was talking about the men in the woods. I took Karter by the arm and led him upstairs.

We left Lou’s and went to the truck. I felt better after leaning my head against the dash and taking a few deep breaths. Karter sat in the driver’s seat, gripping the wheel.

“Saying those things to you like that? What the hell is wrong with him?” He reached over and squeezed my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Briseis.”