Wilmington, NC 10 - Much Ado About Murder

restore the gardens and open them to the public for the azalea festival. Those musings pleased him.
    Still, the thought that his actors had to find new homes saddened him. But there had been no choice. He simply could not manage this large house any longer. And he had no heirs. He was the last of the Dalton Montjoy line.
    And then he had found them in his music room, poring through his papers. And Thomas had shouted, “I found it. This is it, Mother.”
    “Are you sure?” Cheri had asked.
    “I’ve listened to them pounding out this music over and over again until I thought I’d go nuts. So yes, I’m sure. This is it! But where’s the libretto?”
    Cheri had said, “Keep looking. It’s got to be here.”
    Then they’d seen Dalton standing in the doorway. Thomas clutching the score to Love is Mighty in his greedy hands. Dalton knew what this meant. Thomas was stealing Dalton’s music. He would enter it in the contest and win. Of that Dalton was sure. The music was that good. After all, Irving Berlin had had a hand in its creation.
    Dalton grabbed the poker from the fireplace and waved it threateningly at Thomas. “Put that down and get out!” he shouted.
    Cheri advanced toward him. She knew he’d never hit a woman with a poker. Besides she was fearless. As she distracted him, Thomas leapt to his side and wrested the poker from his grip. Dalton felt the wicked blow to the back of his head as Thomas struck him with his own poker. And then nothing.
    Later he smelled the gas fumes. He crawled to the door where Ashley Wilkes had found him. And then the infernal darkness took over. And a lifetime of memories resurfaced as he slept.
    Now, the darkness was receding and he clearly heard Cheri’s voice. “Do it! Do it, Thomas! Hurry, before someone comes.”
    While Thomas cried plaintively, “I can’t, Mother. I tried once before. Simon is dead because of us.”
    “Shut up, boy, and do it! If he wakes up he’ll tell it was us. We have to silence him, permanently.”

20

    Jon and I awakened early on Thursday morning. There was so much to do that day. Last evening, Jon had reached the tree service we use on our restoration projects and they agreed to meet him at the house at eight. I’d stay at home with the boys while he went over to meet them. “I’ll check on Linda Price and her team while I’m there,” Jon said.
    Last evening he had made several trips over to our new house to check on its security but had found nothing. No trespassers. No Thomas. No Angela. Actually, we were pleasantly surprised.
    “The locksmith is coming later this afternoon,” I reminded him. “One of us will have to be there with them. You know, this is really not a good morning for me to go to the hospital with Melanie. I’m going to call her and reschedule.”
    “I agree,” Jon said, just as we heard baby jabbering coming from the nursery. “It’s not like Dalton knows you’re there.” He shook his blonde tousled head. “I’ve never seen Melanie so soft on anyone as she is on Dalton. What’s that all about?”
    “Beats me,” I said. “Maybe he reminds her of Daddy. You go on and have your shower. I’ll take care of the monsters.” I laughed and got up.
    Jon got out of bed, naked and gorgeous. “I remember the days when you could join me in the shower. Not anymore.”
    The cries from the nursery grew louder.
    “You wouldn’t have it any other way,” I said with a smile.
    “You’re right.” And he disappeared into the bathroom.
    I didn’t get a chance to call Melanie until Jon joined me and the children in the kitchen. He took over their feeding and I got Melanie on the cell phone.
    “Mel, could we reschedule the visit to Dalton for another day? I’ve got a full plate today and no sitter.”
    “Ashley, you promised. I’ve got a listing this afternoon and a closing tomorrow. This is the best time for me.”
    Sensing I was getting an argument, Jon said, “Go ahead. I’ll be back here at nine. Tell her to pick you up at nine-thirty. That’ll give you time to get dressed.”
    “OK,” I told her, “My hero has come to rescue. See you at nine-thirty. Why is it so important to you that I be there? It’s not like he knows we’re there.”
    There was silence for a moment. Melanie doesn’t like getting caught being sentimental. “Because something tells me today is the day he’s going to come out of the coma. Don’t you want to be there for that?”
    What could I say but, “Sure. OK, see