Page 55

“Itwaswrong,” Ellery said. “It should never have happened. That doesn’t mean...” He hesitated to put it into words, especially since neither Lenny nor Flip had. He said finally, keeping his voice as low as Lenny’s, “It doesn’t mean it had anything to do with any ofus.”

“Agreed,” Lenny said quickly. “Exactly.”

“So why are we whispering?”

Flip pressed his lips together.

Lenny said shortly, “Because it’s a sensitive subject.”

True. But as far as Ellery could tell, Lenny and Flip shared his unease over Noah’s death, though, like himself, had nothing to base it on. Why assume they were the only ones who felt this way?

Or did Flip know more than he was saying? It was hard to tell. If so, he wasn’t going to share it with Lenny around. Lenny was adamantly opposed to ripping open old wounds, and maybe that was the most sensible attitude.

A floorboard squeaked in the hall. Ellery, Flip, and Lenny stared in silence.

Over a minute later, Chelsea appeared in the kitchen doorway. Her hair was piled into a messy bun, and she wore a heavy vintage style men’s Beacon bathrobe—and last night’s eye makeup.

“Where is everybody?” she asked, slumping into a chair at the kitchen table.

Since the people now present made up more than half ofeverybody, it was perhaps not the most tactful comment.

Ellery said, “I think everyone’s having a lazy day.”

“How nice,” Chelsea said bitterly. “Could we even get out the front door if we needed to?”

“Yep. The snow’s up to the top of the steps, but we can get out. I’m just not sure why we would need to. Or where we would go. We can’t drive anywhere.”

She groaned. “So, we reallyarestuck here until God knows when?Great.”

Flip said dryly, “I’m sure Ellery feels the same.”

Chelsea made a face. “Ellery knows what I mean.”

“I don’t doubt that.”

Chelsea looked to Ellery for understanding. “It’s just thatweall have lives to get back to.”

Lenny looked at her in disbelief. “Maybe stop now, Chels.”

“My God everyone is sotouchythis morning.” Chelsea rested her forehead on her fists. “Ellery, do you have anything for a headache?”

“Sure. Aspirin or ibuprofen?”

“Both. And an ice pack, if you have it.”

Ellery winked at Lenny and Flip and went to get Chelsea painkillers and ice.

When he’d handed over the medical supplies, Chelsea tottered out of the kitchen and returned upstairs.

Flip shook his head. “I don’t know about Chelsea, but a day of nothing to do but eat, drink, and relax sounds like heaven to me. I haven’t had a vacation like this in years.”

“Same.” Lenny added, “You know she was standing outside the kitchen listening to us, right?”

Ellery nodded. He had unconsciously timed Chelsea’s entrance from the point the floorboard squeaked to when she stepped into the doorway.

“She’s been doing that all weekend,” Flip commented. “I’m not sure what she thinks she’s going to hear.”

“Nothing good,” Lenny retorted.