Wilmington, NC 10 - Much Ado About Murder

there was only blackness.
    Until a face appeared in front of his eyes. A face that leaned over his. A beautiful face with eyes the color of spring violets and a cloud of dark hair. The face of an angel.
    He knew that face. Young Ashley Wilkes. He recalled his feeling of relief that if his house had to be sold, had to pass out of his family to another, it was to Judge Peter Wilkes’ daughter. Judge Wilkes had been a force for good in this community. He had been a leader in the preservation movement of the Seventies. He had helped Dalton’s family and others hold onto their old homes.
    But what was Ashley Wilkes doing here in his dream? And what was she saying to him? He had to strain his ears to hear her, to make out her words.
    “Don’t talk, Dalton,” she told him.
    And then she did a strange thing. She covered his mouth with her own. Was she kissing him?
    No, you old fool, he told himself. She’s giving you CPR. That’s why she’s holding your nostrils closed.
    And that noxious odor? The gas. Of course, the gas. Now, he remembered. But only for an instant. Because in that instant, the blackness swirled around him, gathered him into itself, like a heavy dark cloud that whirled him away.
     
    10

    Melanie got up from the sofa arm where she had perched and moved into the middle of my library. “There was a gas leak, Jon. And we found Dalton Montjoy trying to crawl out of the house. Ashley dragged him out and gave him CPR. She saved his life.”
    Jon looked at me, alarm written all over his face. Had I placed myself in danger? I could read the question and concern in his eyes. My safety would always come first with Jon.
    “We were out on the porch,” I told him. “I was fine. The paramedics came right away. You must have heard the sirens?”
    “We heard them,” Aunt Ruby said. “When we saw they were at your house, we both hurried over there.”
    Aunt Ruby and Binkie’s little bungalow is located on Front Street, between Nun and Ann. I explained to Jon, “They caught up with us just as we arrived home.”
    “A gas leak, you say?” Binkie asked. “What happened?”
    “We don’t know yet. But the gas has been turned off. Firemen and a gas company crew are working there. We wanted to come straight home to let you know, Jon.”
    Jon stood up. “Let me have the keys. I’ll walk over there right now and check on things. I’ll have to secure the house after they leave.”
    “Do you want me to come with you?” I offered.
    “No, stay here for the time being. I know you want to catch up with Ruby and Binkie . I’ll call you on your cell if I need you.”
    “I’ll go with you, Jon,” Melanie offered. “I still have to remove the lockbox and take down the For Sale sign. Although that seems the least of our concerns right now.”
    My boys were playing around our feet, pulling themselves up, walking with short bursts of confidence. Peter tottered over to Aunt Ruby and grabbed her around the knees. She pulled him up onto her lap and talked to him.
    I continued my tale, about how we’d found Dalton Montjoy inside the storm door.
    “How is he?” Binkie wanted to know.
    “I’m not sure, Binkie . He was trying to talk but then he seemed to faint. He was completely unresponsive while I did the CPR. And then when the paramedics arrived, they surrounded him and I left his side. I’ll call the hospital after a little while. It’s probably too soon to get a report on him.”
    “But what about your house, Ashley dear?” Aunt Ruby asked as she played patty cake with Peter. Little Jonnie watched from the floor where he lay sprawled, feet kicking the air.
    “We’ll see what Jon finds at the house. Thank goodness, there wasn’t a spark or our house would have blown up. I still can’t believe this. Whatever the cause we’ll have to get the gas company in to find the leak and make repairs. I know we’ve got the whole house to restore before we can move in, but this adds a sense of urgency.”
    “Indeed it does, Ashley dear.” Binkie stood up as Jon and Melanie came back into the library. “That was fast.”
    “We weren’t allowed in,” Jon told us. “Not even on the grounds. I’ll let Nick tell you why.” He turned to Nick who had followed them into the library.
    What is he doing here? I wondered. Oh, Lord, as if there isn’t enough going wrong, why does Nick have to be involved in my life when trouble strikes?
    Nick remained in the doorway, as if perhaps he was as uncomfortable as I. This