Page 78 of Last Date

“He’s a morphine addict and was arrested for stealing morphine, as you know. We’re not sure yet if he killed Allister. He swears he didn’t do it.”

“He seemed to truly hate Allister.”

“I agree.”

“He also seemed awfully worried about the police coming to his house.”

“There might be a few reasons for that, which have nothing to do with him murdering Allister. The morphine is one reason.” Merrick turned to face me. “The other is when we searched Bob’s house, we found the green box with the bingo money.”

I gaped at him. “Bob stole the bingo money?”

“He did.”

“Really?” So then, he hadn’t inherited money from an aunt to print those grunion T-shirts? He’d robbed St. Anthony’s bingo money? “My head is spinning.”

“As is mine. Imagine listening to this all night. I would have much rather been here with you.” He looked a little embarrassed as he finished speaking, but he didn’t take it back.

“I wished you’d been here too.”

“Yeah?”

I shrugged.

He smiled. “That’s awfully nice to hear.”

I cleared my throat because my face was warm. “Anyway, so Bob and Timothy swear they didn’t kill Allister.”

“Right.”

“I’m assuming Captain Roscoe didn’t. He worshiped Allister.”

“He wouldn’t have touched one hair on Allister’s head. He’d known Allister since before Selena was born. He thought of him like a son.”

“That was obvious. Yes.” I frowned. “How was he so certain Timothy wasn’t Elon? Did he just take Allister’s word for it? He’d have trusted anything Allister said, I’m sure.”

“Not exactly.” He pinched the skin between his eyes. “This is where it starts getting really weird.”

I studied him, bracing myself for what was to come.

“According to Captain Roscoe, the reason he and Allister were positive Timothy wasn’t Elon was because…” He winced. “Because Allister killed Elon when he was a child.”

“What?” I squawked in disbelief. “No way. That can’t be true.”

“If Captain Roscoe is telling the truth, it was an accidental death. Supposedly, Allister was pushing Elon in a swing. Elon wanted to go higher, so Allister obliged, but Elon fell out of the swing and broke his neck.”

“Jesus.” I cringed. “And he didn’t tell anyone?”

Merrick shook his head. “No. Captain Roscoe said Allister was terrified of his father and mother, so he covered it up. Captain Roscoe was there, and he helped dispose of the body somewhere on the property. Then they came up with the kidnapping story as an explanation for why Elon was just… gone.”

“I don’t understand why Allister wouldn’t just tell what happened. If it was an accident, why not just explain the circumstances?”

“It was well-known within the household staff that Allister resented Elon’s existence. Allister was afraid no one would believe him.”

In a voice barely above a whisper, I asked, “Do you believe it was an accident?”

Merrick avoided my gaze. “I don’t know what to think. Do I think Allister was capable of murdering his little brother? I’m sorry to say, I might. But I have no proof. We’ll never really know because Captain Roscoe supports Allister’s story.”

“I feel a little sick to my stomach,” I mumbled. “I knew Allister was pampered and entitled. I’d never have imagined him capable of something like that.”