“I’m sure she must have,” Marisa agreed. “I never thought about it before.”
“If your grandmother used a reader, that person would have had access to her house, too,” Nancy said. “Not that the volunteer was necessarily involved in the counterfeiting ring, but maybe he or she could tell us a little more about your grandmother’s personal life.”
“That’s a great idea,” Marisa said. “Eric and I got to know each other through his volunteer work. If my grandmother had the same volunteer for a number of years, she may have developed a relationship with that person.” Marisa stood. “I know the volunteer coordinator at the library. Why don’t I call him?”
Nancy handed Marisa the handkerchief so she could make the call without smudging any fingerprints the intruder might have left on the telephone. Marisa dialed the number and asked to speak with Leo Malone. They chatted for a moment. Finally, she said, “I was calling to see if my grandmother, Emmaline Whitby, used a volunteer reader.” Marisa twirled her hair around her finger. “She did? Could you tell me the reader’s name?” Marisa drew in a deep breath. “Oh. Yes, that’s all I need to know. Thanks, Leo. ’Bye.”
Marisa hung up the phone. She turned to Nancy and Bess. Her face was pale. “My grandmother’s volunteer reader for the past three years was Eric.”
“Why do you look so upset?” Bess asked. “Eric’s a nice guy. Why should we be surprised that he volunteered for your grandmother? That doesn’t mean he’s involved with the counterfeiting.”
“No,” Marisa said, “but why didn’t he tell me?”
“Some people are like that,” Bess said. “You know, silently doing good deeds—not drawing attention to themselves.”
“I think what Marisa means,” Nancy said, “is that Eric worked at the inn. He was caught spending counterfeit money. Later thousands of dollars’ worth of counterfeit money was found at the inn. Was Eric trying to hide something when he decided not to mention his connection to Candlelight Inn?”
“Maybe he figured out that my grandmother was the counterfeiter,” Marisa said. “Maybe he was trying to protect her, as I was.”
“Maybe,” Nancy said. “But if Eric’s actually involved in these incidents, I don’t think you should spend time alone with him until we investigate further, Marisa.”
“Agreed.” Marisa massaged Misty’s ears. “I didn’t expect a happy birthday, but I didn’t think it would be this depressing.” She adjusted Misty’s harness. “Do you mind if we go to the inn?” she asked Nancy. “I’d love to teach you some Braille. Then we could both skim through my grandmother’s papers for any mention of Eric’s name. Besides, I told Penny I’d stop by if I had time.”
Nancy glanced at her watch. It was almost three o’clock. Three more hours until Marisa’s party. “Sure. That’s a good idea. And I don’t have any plans until this evening.”
Nancy parked her car along the deserted driveway at Candlelight Inn. An apple fell from an ancient tree onto the hood. “Penny’s car isn’t here,” Nancy told Marisa.
Marisa opened the car door for Misty. “I know. She had some Guiding Eyes business in Chicago. She’ll be back tomorrow. And she’ll be thrilled if I get some paperwork out of the way before then.”
Nancy raised her collar as a gust of wind whistled through the trees and seemed to blow right through her. Marisa unlocked the front door. Nancy entered the foyer first. She flipped the light switch, but nothing happened.
“Did you pay the electric bill?” Nancy asked Marisa.
“Yes,” Marisa said. “The bulb burned out yesterday, and—” She paused. “Did you hear something?”
“No. But I’m sure your sense of hearing is better developed than mine.”
“This old house makes a lot of noises,” Marisa said as she began to walk down the hall. “It’s pretty creepy sometimes.”
Misty let out a low growl that was so ferocious, a shiver ran up Nancy’s spine.
“What is it, Misty?” Marisa stopped walking.
Nancy blinked as the living room lights flickered on.
Eric entered the foyer from the living room. “Surprise!” he shouted.
“Oh, no. A birthday party.” Marisa laughed. “I can’t believe you did this, Eric. You know I hate surprises.”
“So do I,” Nancy murmured. She locked eyes with Eric. He had a gun, and it was trained on Nancy.
14
Do or Die
“Is anyone else here?” Marisa asked, entering the living room. “My voice is echoing . . .”
Nancy took a step backward and Eric cocked his gun. “Don’t move,” he commanded.
Marisa gasped. “Is that a gun?”
“Yes,” Nancy replied tersely.
“Oh, no.” Marisa hung her head. “Eric, what have you done?”
“I was at the library this afternoon and talked to Leo Malone. I heard you were asking questions about me, Marisa.” Eric kept the gun pointed at Nancy. “You put her up to it, didn’t you, Nancy?”
Eric motioned for Nancy to sit on one of the high-backed chairs. Nancy paused, her mind racing. She and Marisa and Misty outnumbered Eric. Maybe they could overpower him. But Eric had a gun. No, it would be best to cooperate with Eric, Nancy decided.
Eric stepped closer to Nancy. “I said, sit down,” he ordered. Without waiting for her to move, he shoved her into the chair.
While Eric’s back was turned, Marisa and Misty inched toward the door. Eric whirled on them. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Marisa stopped. “Nowhere. I—” She pressed up against the table. A vase fell to the floor and shattered. For a split second, Eric looked down.
Seizing the moment, Nancy lunged for Eric’s gun and grabbed it. Startled, Eric’s trigger finger sent a shot through the ceiling.
A frightened Misty bolted from the room, knocking Nancy off-balance. Eric regained his composure and wrestled the gun from Nancy.
