An Unsinkable Love(80)

"None at all. Better make it a canvas, though, not a blanket." The servants headed off to find the materials requested.

As Ernie stepped into the foyer and called the police station, the other three silently surveyed the body on the floor. Malcolm spoke first. "The man should have been on stage. I've never known anyone as capable of hiding their true nature as Eldon. I hated the man, but I never suspected he could have killed Father, or planned our deaths so callously."

Elizabeth shivered. "To think I lived with him these years.

He's a monster!"

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An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

Ernie returned in time to hear the comment. He pulled the older woman under his sheltering arm. "I've known Eldon all my life. Didn't like him when we were growing up. He was mean. Sneaky like. Percy suffered from Eldon's pranks more than anyone, but he never made a fuss about it. Most summers we would find pets that had been tortured and killed, and I always wondered. Guess I should have paid more attention."

Malcolm shook his head. "You were a kid then too. And you can bet Eldon would have had a story to explain away any questions."

Bree snuggled close in his embrace as he continued, his voice tinged with sadness, "I wonder who besides Father got in his way? How many others has he hurt or killed?"

"You can bet I'll be lookin' into that. I don't suppose it matters much now, but if there's families out there wondering about someone who's missing, I'd like to give them an answer, one way or the other."

Elizabeth pleaded, "Find Eleanor. I never believed she would just leave us. She had no family in France or England and I'm sure she had no money." She gripped his arm tightly.

"Try to find her, please."

"I will."

Malcolm frowned. "You know, while we were in Europe I read some novels by two Frenchman. I forget their names.

Their stories had a villain named Fantômas. He did all kinds of horrible things, but never considered anything he did bad.

They were just things he thought he needed to do to make his life better. He even killed his own son. He adapted to fit 270

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

any situation and no one knew what he was really like. I think Eldon was the same—he had no conscience."

Ernie nodded. "I think you're right." He took a deep breath, as if to clear his lungs from the foulness Eldon had become.

Elizabeth spoke up. "I suggest another strong drink for all of us, but perhaps we should partake in the library?"

They trooped down the hall just as Anderson and Bertie returned. "I'll join you in a moment," Ernie said, and turned to help the servants.

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An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson





Chapter 46


The police left in the wee hours of the morning, taking Eldon's body with them. Elizabeth retired to her room, but not before Malcolm glimpsed a gentle embrace between his mother and the police chief.

He stood with Bree in the doorway and watched the convoy of vehicles roll down the drive, then urged her down onto the lawn. They slowly made their way around to the garden where they wandered hand in hand, enjoying the mild weather and soothing quiet. The faint lavender tint of dawn backlit the big oaks lining the drive. Gravel crunched beneath their shoes.

"You know, this might be the first peaceful moment we've had since we met," Bree said.

Malcolm snorted with amusement as he pulled her into his arms in the shadow of a huge rhododendron bush. She melted against him. He felt the instant response in his heart, and his body. She turned her face up to him and he eagerly accepted the invitation. After several long, satisfying moments, he raised his head. "You know, my love, we've weathered more disasters in the weeks we've known each other than most people do in a lifetime. If the seas couldn't take us, and Eldon didn't manage to do us in, I think we've got smooth sailing ahead."

Bree touched the cross at her neck. "Amen to that."