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“But Chelsea knew?” Ellery prompted.

“She suspected, I guess. I don’t know how. She didn’t like Noah. She had a thing for him our freshman year, but he wasn’t interested. I felt that she knew, but we never talked about it. It was...unspoken. I trusted her.” Freddie added wryly, “Until this weekend.”

Ellery asked, “What the helldidhappen this weekend?”

“I don’t know,” Freddie said, and he sounded sincere. “I was actually looking forward to seeing her. And shelookedterrific. But right away she started dropping these cryptic hints about the past, and then she came right out and said she’d noticed something in Tosh’s photos, and she knew that I was responsible for Noah’s accident. She said it like she was sort of kidding, but she wasn’t.”

Freddie read Ellery’s expression, and said, “And honest to God, even that wasn’t a problem because I alreadyplannedon helping her. I’d already promised to talk to my agent. But that wasn’t enough for Chelsea. She wantedusto be together. She thought she could blackmail me into being with her!”

“Why didn’t you just...” Tosh didn’t finish the thought.

Freddie said, “I called her bluff. I said I wanted to see the photos because it wasn’t true, and then I waited until she went downstairs to get them. She went into the library, she opened the secret passage, and then I waited and she didn’t come out. Finally, I went into the passage, and she was just standing there holding that hatchet.” He shrugged. “She’d already told me she took the hatchet as one of her stupid practical jokes. But she was upset because the photos were gone and only the hatchet was left, so she knew you guys were playing a prank onher.”

“Not really,” Ellery said. He hadn’t seen the hatchet at all.

Freddie said calmly, “And then I realized that she was literally handing me the solution to a problemshehad created.”

Ellery glanced past Freddie and saw Lenny and Jack standing in the doorway. He waited for Jack to put an end to their conversation. But Jack nodded at him.

Carry on?

Ellery said automatically, “Then what?”

Freddie shrugged. “I hit her once. She didn’t even have time to yell. Then I went upstairs, quietly washed off, and waited a couple of hours. I walked over to the staircase, screamed like a girl, and waited for you all to pile out of your rooms. Which I thought was pretty clever.”

“Yeah, that was pretty clever,” Jack commented. “Leaving your bloody handprint on the hatchet handle, not so much.”

Everyone, including Freddie jumped. Freddie turned in his chair, and protested, “Hey! You can’t do that. You have to read me my rights!”

Jack said sardonically, “Unfortunately, the writers ofLAPD Bluesget a lot of stuff wrong. A confession made to a group of people in a public place where there’s no reasonable expectation of privacy, grants me the right to listen in right along with everyone else. But I’ll be happy to Mirandize you now...”

Epilogue

“I know you’re never going to invite us back,” Tosh said. “But at least let us know when and where to send the wedding gifts.”

It was Monday afternoon, and Ellery and Jack were at the harbor, seeing their guests off. Lenny was popping Dramamine and washing it down with a bottle of water. Flip was saying farewell to Watson. Oscar strode up the ramp, having safely stowed Tosh’s luggage and his own onboard.

“Hey,” Flip said. “It’s not likewekilled anyone.”

Lenny choked. “Jeez, Flip,” she sputtered.

Flip shrugged, gave Watson a final pat, and rose.

Jack, his arm around Ellery, said, “You know you’re all always welcome.”

“I thought you were coming back next summer,” Ellery protested. “I thought this was going to become a regular thing.”

He took in the expressions on the faces of his friends. “Well, I mean, notallof it—”

Tosh laughed and hugged him. When she let go, she had tears in her eyes. “You really are a glutton for punishment, Ell.”

Oscar said, “When are you guys getting married? Won’t Ellery be filming on location next summer?”

“Uh, we haven’t actually set the date yet,” Ellery glanced at Jack.

Jack said calmly, “We should do that as soon as possible. Maybe we can squeeze in a quick honeymoon around your shooting schedule.”

Remembering Jack’s initial reaction to the idea of his returning to films, Ellery smiled gratefully. The corner of Jack’s eyes crinkled in response.