Moonlight Becomes You (45 page)

Authors: Mary Higgins Clark

BOOK: Moonlight Becomes You

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“And pumping her for information. Odile dropped out of nursing school, but it wasn't because she failed her courses. She knew exactly what drugs to combine to cause heart failure. Apparently several women whom Liam had targeted escaped only because Nurse Markey was so solicitous. Odile claims she begged Liam not to make her tamper with Mrs. Rhinelander's medication, but he was too greedy. By then Nuala had decided to go into the manor provided she could have a two-bedroom unit.”

“Was it Connie Rhinelander's death that made Nuala suspicious?” Mrs. Bainbridge asked sadly.

“Yes, and then when she found that bell on Mrs. Rhinelander's grave, she apparently began to be sure that something terrible was going on at the residence. She must have asked some very pointed questions of Nurse Markey, who innocently reported them to Odile.”

“And Odile warned Liam,” Maggie said. Oh, Finnuala, she thought.

Bainbridge's lips tightened. “Squire Moore's god was money. I remember my father saying Moore actually bragged that it was more interesting to cheat someone out of it than make it honestly. Obviously Liam Payne is cut from the same evil cloth.”

“I would say so,” Neil agreed. “Liam was an excellent investment broker for the clients he didn't cheat. Fortunately both Mrs. Gebhart and Mrs. Arlington should be able to reclaim the money they entrusted to him from Payne's personal assets.”

“One last thing,” Maggie said. “Odile took that sketch
Nuala and Mrs. Shipley had made. One of the maids had seen it and joked about it. Odile knew it could get people thinking.”

“I'm glad Dr. Lane wasn't involved in all this.” Letitia Bainbridge sighed. “Oh, I must tell you. Our new director arrived yesterday. He seems very pleasant and comes highly recommended. He doesn't have Dr. Lane's charm, but we can't have everything, can we? His wife is a refreshing change from Odile, although she has a rather braying laugh.”

It was time to leave. They would drive in tandem back to New York.

“We'll visit you when we get back up here in November,” Maggie promised as she bent to kiss Letitia Bainbridge's cheek.

“I'm already looking forward to it,” Mrs. Bainbridge said briskly, then sighed. “You are so pretty, Maggie, and so nice and so smart. You're everything a grandmother would want for her grandson.” She looked at Neil. “You take good care of her.”

“He did save my life.” Maggie smiled. “He has to get some points for that.”

Fifteen minutes later they were ready to leave for New York. Her station wagon was already packed in her driveway. The house was locked up. For a moment, Maggie stood looking at it, remembering that night only two weeks ago, when she had arrived.

“It'll be fun to come up here on vacations and weekends, won't it?” she said.

Neil put his arm around her. “You're sure it won't hold too many bad memories?”

“No.” She inhaled deeply. “Not as long as you're around to dig me up when I need help.”

Then she laughed. “Don't look so shocked. Gallows humor has gotten me through some pretty bad times.”

“From now on, that will be my job,” Neil said as he opened the door of the station wagon for her. “Now remember, don't speed,” he cautioned. “I'll be right behind you.”

“You sound like your father,” Maggie said. Then she added, “And I like that just fine.”

Books by Mary Higgins Clark

Moonlight Becomes You

Silent Night

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

The Lottery Winner

Remember Me

I'll Be Seeing You

All Around the Town

Loves Music, Loves to Dance

The Anastasia Syndrome and Other Stories

While My Pretty One Sleeps

Weep No More, My Lady

Stillwatch

A Cry in the Night

The Cradle Will Fall

A Stranger Is Watching

Where Are the Children?

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.