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“Come to wish me a fond farewell?”

I turn toward the voice to see Niall’s lopsided grin. I return the smile and say, “To be honest, I was only taking one last stroll along the grounds. I am glad to see you, though. I owe you an apology.”

“No apology necessary,” he says. “I realize I’m a suspicious-looking sort. I could change meself to look and act more proper, but I’m too old and curmudgeonly to bother.”

“It grows ever harder to change oneself as we grow older, doesn’t it?” I agree.

“That it does. I’m glad I caught you before you left, though. I have something for you.”

He steps closer and hands me a business card. I turn it over and read, Sean O’Connell, Private Investigator.

“He’s a good man,” Niall says. “I hired him a few years back when an employee of mine disappeared with a million quid from the company. He found the bloke in three weeks. He and I became friends. I don’t know if you’ll stay in England, but he travels all over the world, so if you need him, he’ll come. Don’t worry about the expense either. I told him to bill me for whatever it costs to help you.”

“You told him about me?”

“I did. I don’t know if you’ll ever have need of him, but if you find yourself drawn to another mystery and can’t ignore it, it might be safer to use a professional than to stick your own neck out.”

I have no intention of getting involved in any of my future employers’ business, but then, I never intended to get involved with the Carltons either. I can’t say that I’ll never find myself entangled in a mystery again.

And then I think of Annie. Surely, after twenty-eight years, there’s nothing a private investigator could do to find answers to her disappearance, but perhaps…

“Thank you, Niall. That’s very kind of you.”

He shrugs. “Least I can do. You’re the only person who wouldn’t give up on that poor girl. Even I stopped my ears and covered my eyes. But you didn’t. Thank you for that.”

I smile at him. Then I surprise him by stepping forward and embracing him. He wraps his arms awkwardly around me, and when I release him, I see him blushing furiously. It’s silly of me, I know, but I’m flattered to know that at my age, I can still have that effect on a man. “I wish you all the best, Niall.”

He shuffles his feet. “You too, Mary.”

I take his hands in mine and squeeze them gently, then head back toward the house.

***

I walk to the porch, my luggage in my hand. Oliver and Lucas stand there waiting for me. Oliver has his hand on his younger brother’s shoulder, and Lucas has his arm around Oliver’s waist. They smile at me, and I feel tears well in my eyes as I embrace them.

“You will come visit, won’t you?” Lucas asks.

I smile at him. “I may need to visit you at school rather than home, but I promise I’ll see you again.”

Veronica is in the house. She managed to avoid arrest since she didn’t say anything that can be proven to be conspiracy to conceal evidence of a crime, but she’s furious with me for destroying her family. She hasn’t spoken to me since everything happened yesterday. I know she realizes I’ve done nothing wrong, but I made it impossible for her to ignore what she already knew. For some people, that’s worse.

“Alistair says he’ll have a place for us,” Oliver offers. “He wants to move me out to help him when I finish university. I think I will.”

“Do you think he’ll succeed?” I ask him.

“Honestly? No. Not without me. But he’s a good person in spite of his faults, and in this family, that’s rare. So I’ll help him. And you and Lucas can come visit us in Japan.”

I smile at him. “I would love that. Thank you.” I turn to Lucas. “Lucas, I’m truly sorry I couldn’t stay to tutor you. You’re a bright and exceptionally gifted young man. I hope you won’t forget that.”

“I won’t.” He rushes into my arms and embraces me. “You’re a good person. I’m glad I got to know you.”

I hold him tightly. “Thank you. I’m glad I got to know you.”

I hear the noise of a car engine and release Lucas. “That’s my taxi approaching, I believe.”

The next moment, it starts up the drive, confirming that statement. I smile at the two boys and offer one piece of parting wisdom.

“None of what happened here is your fault. None of it. It’s not your mother’s fault either, but she may be harder to convince. There will be hard days ahead, but you’ll all survive them. Stay strong and keep your heads held high. But never believe that any of you caused this in any way. That might seem obvious to you now. There will be times when it won’t seem so obvious. Don’t let your grief convince you of guilt.”

They both nod seriously. “We won’t,” Oliver says. “Will we, Lucas?”

Lucas shakes his head, but in truth, it’s Oliver I’m more worried about. He left Minnie alone to wait for her cab, and it would be all too easy for him to convince himself that that makes him culpable in her death. I understand that feeling all too well.

The taxi pulls to a stop, and I give the boys a final embrace, then take a seat. I watch them as the taxi pulls away from the Carlton estate. As the perfectly manicured grounds recede behind me, I take a deep breath and steel myself for the future.

I’ve found justice for Minnie, but my task is not yet complete. There’s another young girl who vanished nearly thirty years ago whose blood cries to me from the ground.

I reach into my pocket and run my fingers lightly over the business card Niall gave me. I’ll find you, Annie , I promise. I’ll bring justice to your memory too. I swear it.