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Three pairs of accusing gazes—Ellery scowled into the rearview mirror—met this announcement, and Freddie protested, “Why would we want to ruin their weekend?”

Oscar said, “Because it’s not the 1950s, Fred. They have a right to know what’s going on.”

“But nothing’s going on! It’s typical doom and gloom media speculation.”

“It’s not speculation that a dangerous mental patient escaped and is maybe running loose on this island.”

“Maybe,” Freddie stressed. “Or maybe not. I seriously doubt even a crazy person is going to try camping out in this weather. I bet he faked the cops out and is hiding in plain sight in New York right now.”

“Okay, wait a minute,” Ellery interjected. “According to Jack, they found the wreckage of the boat Dolph stole on the other side of the island. There’s a high probability he drowned, but they didn’t find a body. So.”

Flip stared at him. “Talk about keeping things from people.”

Ellery made a face. “I only found out late last night after everyone was in bed.”

“As far as I remember, we all had breakfast together.”

“I got distracted by Tosh and Chelsea, and then we were running late. It just slipped my mind.”

“Anescaped axe-murdererslipped your mind?”

“What about Tosh?” Freddie scrunched forward to better hear.

“She and Chelsea are getting on each other’s nerves,” Flip said.

“Sure. And now you want to stress them out even more by telling them there could be an axe-murderer wandering around the island.”

Ellery sighed.

“I don’t think it’s going to stress them out as much as you imagine,” Flip said. “They weretotallyenjoying appearing in last night’s episode ofEerie Indiana. We all were. Right, Ellery?”

“Wellllll...” Ellery said.

“But seriously.”

Ellery said, “But seriously, Freddie, we can’t hide this from them. Even if it wasn’t already way too late.”

“I’m just thinking of the girls,” Freddie said.

“From your time machine,” joked Flip.

Freddie grumpily shoved away Oscar’s duffel bag, which had slid onto his shoulder, and sat back in his seat.

Oscar grinned and nudged Freddie with his elbow. “Chivalry is not dead so long as you’re around, my friend.”

“Ha!” Freddie said.

Chapter Nine

Tosh and Freddie’s divorce, a year after they married, came as a surprise to no one but Freddie.

Whathadsurprised everyone, or at least the people who knew them well, was how they’d ever got together in the first place.

Or rather, what had convinced Tosh to plight her troth to a big goof like Freddie.

Because it was no mystery what had initially attracted her. Freddie was handsome and fun and generous. He was a surprisingly decent actor, if limited in range, and—most surprising of all, given the way girls threw themselves at him—he had been absolutely devoted to Tosh.

Equally, it was no mystery as to what had initially attracted Freddie to Tosh. She was lovely and lively and smart. She laughed easily at Freddie’s terrible jokes. She was a very good actress—she had that instant likeability factor both onstage and off. And she had a trust fund. Not that money had ever been an issue for Freddie. His parents were wealthy, too.