In the Shadow of Lakecrest(69)

“I wanted to tell you how much I value your loyalty,” I began. “To me, you’re more than a maid. I’ve come to think of you as a friend.”

To my astonishment, Alice began to cry. I hadn’t pegged her as being sentimental.

“Oh, now . . . ,” I stammered, trying to lean over far enough to pat her hand. “There’s no need for all that.”

“There is! Talking about loyalty when I’ve let someone down!”

I had no idea what she was talking about.

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you for days. You see, I promised to pass on a message, then I got too nervous and afraid of what you’d say.”

“A message?” I asked. “Who’s it from?”

“Birgitta. She used to see to Miss Cecily.”

“You mean she was Cecily’s maid?”

Alice nodded. “She was such a help when I started here. Gave me all kinds of good advice. Mama says it’s not fair what Mrs. Lemont did to her—oh, but you mustn’t tell anyone I said that. I’ve got three younger brothers counting on the money I bring home.”

“I’d never betray a confidence. I hope you know that.”

“It was the body, you see. Miss Cecily’s. When Birgitta heard about it, she went right to the police and told them what she’d seen, but they wouldn’t listen to her.”

“What did she see?”

“The night Miss Cecily died, she gave Birgitta a note to deliver, quite late. As Birgitta came out of the room, she saw Mrs. Lemont in the hall. It looked like she’d been snooping around outside. Mrs. Lemont demanded to see the note, and Birgitta handed it over. She had no choice, did she? Birgitta saw Miss Cecily walking to the Labyrinth, from the window, not long afterward. Birgitta was scared something awful when the police came the next day. She didn’t know if it was her place to tell them about the note, so she didn’t.”

A sudden rumble broke the flow of Alice’s story. A car engine, approaching up the drive. Had Hannah come home early? It was clear Alice had the same fear; she hurried to the doorway and stuck her head out, listening with tense concern. The noise swelled and then gradually faded as the vehicle passed along the side of the house. A delivery truck, headed for the service entrance.

Alice came back into the room, clutching her hands together. The break in our conversation had allowed doubt to creep in.

I smiled to encourage her. “The note. Did Birgitta tell you what it said?”

“Oh no. It was sealed up in an envelope. Addressed to Karel Pavek.”

Karel? My thoughts tried to catch up with her words. Cecily had known Karel. The keeper of the Labyrinth. I remembered the accounts I’d seen in Obadiah’s papers, the list of workmen brought in to create Cecily’s classical retreat.

Alice continued. “Birgitta was dismissed the next day. Can you imagine Mrs. Lemont being so cold, after all the time Birgitta’d been with the family? Birgitta had a terrible time finding another place. She had to start over by taking in laundry. All these years, she thought Miss Cecily must have written something about leaving Lakecrest, and that’s why Mrs. Lemont knew Birgitta wouldn’t be needed anymore. Birgitta’s always been sure Miss Cecily was alive.

“She was awful upset when she heard about the body. Now she’s sure someone in the family did her in and the note had something to do with it. Birgitta marched down to the East Ridge police station and demanded to meet with the chief himself. He asked why she hadn’t come forward years ago and got her all confused with their questions, like she was the one who’d done something wrong! So she asked if I’d bring up the matter with you.”

“Why not Mr. Lemont?” I asked. “Surely you’ve told her about my . . . condition.”

“I’ve told her about you.” Alice looked down, suddenly shy. “How nice you’ve been. Birgitta thinks you might be more open-minded, not being born into the family and all. You could convince the police to take a second look.”

“I can’t do a thing from here,” I said. “Alice, if you’d help me, I can make it downstairs to the phone. I’ve met the police chief; I’m sure he’d come talk to me if I ask.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t. Mrs. Lemont gave me strict orders that you’re not to leave the room.”

“It’s not as if I’m going far. I won’t even leave the house.”

“But the baby, if something should happen . . . oh, I’d never forgive myself!”

“Please, Alice.”

She shook her head and backed away from the bed. Agitated but resolute.

“I promised Birgitta I’d talk to you, and now I have,” she said. “But I can’t do more than that. Please, Mrs. Lemont.”

No doubt Hannah had put the fear of God into all the servants. It probably took all Alice’s courage to tell me her friend’s story.

“Go find Karel,” I told her. “Tell him I want to talk to him, now. If Edna sees you, say I want to thank him for rescuing me from the Labyrinth.”

Alice didn’t nod or move toward the door. She stared at me, confused.

“Karel’s not here,” she said.

“Where is he? When will he be back?”

“He’s gone. Cleared out his things and left, right after the Labyrinth came down. Didn’t you know?”