InSight

designed to focus him, Dr. Schell asked Stewart about the plane crash that killed Martin Gentry. Schell knew what Stewart told her, so he expected the response that Mrs. Gentry and Collyer had murdered his father. But Stewart’s next statement sent a chill up Abby’s spine.
    “My father suspected my mother and Collyer were going to kill him.”
    She could hear Dr. Schell’s quick breath before he continued.
    “Your father knew his wife planned to kill him?”
    “Yes. He gave me an envelope to give the police if anything happened to him.”
    “Did you?”
    “No.”
    Stewart squirmed noisily in his chair.
    “Did you open the envelope?” Dr. Schell continued.
    “Yes.”
    “What did it say?”
    “I…can’t ― I don’t remember.”
    “And where is this envelope now?”
    “I put it in a safe place.”
    “Do you remember where, Stewart?”
    More fidgeting. “I don’t know. I can’t remember.”
    “Did you meet with Dr. Scanlon at that time?”
    At the mention of Scanlon, Stewart’s agitation boiled over. “I don’t want to answer any more questions. No more.”
    “Okay, that’s fine,” Dr. Schell said without a hint of disappointment. He brought Stewart back slowly. “Are you all right?”
    “Yes.”
    “Do you remember what you told me?”
    “Yes, I remember. I remember it now.”
    “Do you want to talk about it?”
    Stewart sniffed. Abby wondered if he was crying.
    “No, but I’d like to speak to Abby alone.”
    She heard him get up and pace.
    “Will you be all right, Abby?” Dr. Schell asked.
    “She’ll be fine,” Stewart said.
    Luke and Jeff were nearby, so Abby nodded. Her heart pounded. Though Stewart still paced, he sounded more lucid than at any time since he tricked her into his car at her office. Schell left the room, and Stewart dragged a chair next to her. His warm, dry hand covered hers.
    “I remember now, Abby. Parts are still fuzzy, but I remember most of it. I didn’t tell you anything.”
    Abby heart rate quickened. I didn’t forget. I never knew.
    “My father gave me an envelope to open if something happened to him. When his plane crashed, I opened it.”
    “What was in it?”
    “That’s the part I don’t remember. I’ve tried, but I can’t.” Stewart got up and walked from one side of the room to the other, shuffling in his slippers like an old man. “God, my head is pounding. It’s like I’m living in a dream, but I keep waking up. Then I forget the dream.”
    He was getting anxious. Was she still safe? “Stay focused, Stewart. What happened next?”
    “Next. What happened next?” Stewart repeated the question while he resumed his rotation. “Let me think. Think, Stewart, think. I…I went back to Charleston alone to confront my mother, and that’s when I heard the conversation between her and Collyer. I couldn’t believe my ears. They killed him because of what was in the envelope. I wanted to go to the police, but then I made the mistake of telling them that.” He stopped pacing and returned to his chair. “The next thing I remember I was talking with Scanlon. They did something to me. That’s why I never told you. I couldn’t have.”
    Relief filled Abby. She knew nothing that could have saved Macy’s life. Tears stung her eyes. After a couple of deep breaths, she said, “Do you still have the papers?”
    Stewart rose from the chair and started pacing again. A pained sound escaped from his throat. Abby tensed as he mumbled unintelligibly. Should she call Luke? A thought flashed into her mind, and she brushed it away as if it were lint on her sleeve. No, Stewart wouldn’t hurt me. Not now.
    “I’m jammed,” he said. “I can’t remember. I can’t ― ”
    “Never mind.” Abby needed him to stay calm. “Sit down. It’s not important. You can think of it later.”
    “No, now. I’m so close. I know it. So close.”
    His words were clipped, impatient. She didn’t want to agitate him further.
    “Okay, then, picture the papers. What do you see?” Stewart rocked in his chair next to her, back and forth, rubbing against her leg.
    “Numbers. Lots of numbers. They were fire in my hands.”
    “Did you show your mother the papers?”
    “No—I don’t know. I can’t remember. All I remember is Scanlon. After that, my world changed.”
    Abby reached for his hand. It felt hot now, bony and damp. She remembered his long elegant fingers as she wrapped around them. “Did you discuss what the papers were about?”
    “I don’t