As a young woman, Rose had been a devotee of the god Science, embracing the concept that if a phenomenon could not be replicated in a lab with a couple of rats, it did not exist. Then she began noticing that the moment a scientist “discovered” a phenomenon—germs, black holes, the internet, cell phones, subatomic particles—it was instantly transmuted from magic to Science.

It stood to reason that millions more phenomena that Science closed its collective eyes to existed as well.

To be inclusive, Rose long ago decided to believe in all things she could not see.

Can she believe that under the kind and civilized demeanor of Flynn or Daniel—or Flynn and Daniel—there lurk greed-frenzied monsters that will send their stepmother on to a better life before she can leave all those lovely millions to a shelter for homeless mother cats? Picturing it is rather like picturing the Hardy Boys mugging Anne of Green Gables.

Who else? Lying on Royal’s floor, eyes closed, Rose thinks. Marion would never leave her home and cats, not even to kill someone for a small fortune. Rose is safe on that front.

Camilla Reynolds and James Madding, the MCU’s early-rapid-onset dead, have to have been well-to-do to be lodged at Longwood. Had the sudden moves of their nearest and dearest after their timely expirations been because they were heirs by way of chicanery? Is that the deal? Invalidate, incarcerate, then dispose of? Marion might be able to find out if there were substantial inheritances involved.

If not Daniel or Flynn, then who?

Rose’s eyes pop open.

Nancy Dennis. Harley’s ex was never a big fan of Rose’s, though Rose was not the other woman. She wasn’t even the next woman. There was that nasty email telling her to stay away from Flynn and Mel. Can that have been to isolate Rose, make her distrustful of those who might help her?

Rose can remarry. There may be new stepchildren, new grandchildren. Foreseeably, Rose can change the will, leave the money to them. Does Nancy want to guarantee all the money goes to her sons?

Again Rose hugs her knees into her chest, then rocks until she is upright and in a half lotus. She despises this line of thought. Nameless, faceless suspects are interesting. Suspicion of those close to her is torture.

In the teepee, her whereabouts are known only to one family member, Mel; if Rose cannot trust her with her life, life isn’t worth having. She is safe enough for the moment. When she gets time, she will make an appointment with her estate lawyer and change the will, cut everyone out, then spread the word. That should keep family from killing her. They’d want her alive so she could change it back in their favor. Unless they decided to off her out of revenge.