Murder at the Mansion by Janet Finsilver Page B

what caused it.”
    â€œYou saw nothing resembling a pearl?”
    â€œA pearl?” The manager shook her head. “No. I didn’t see anything but blood.”
    My head began to spin. The staircase was visible from the hallway leading to the office. There wasn’t time for someone to go up it and get in and out of the room in the short time I’d stepped into the office and spoken with Hensley. The manager had gone in by herself. Had she taken the pearl? If so, why? Was it part of what had killed Sylvia? Was Margaret Hensley somehow connected to what had happened?

Chapter 7
    D eputy Sheriff Stanton’s phone rang. He listened for a moment. “Got it. I’ll meet you at the door.”
    A white van drove by the window . . . the coroner’s van. I shuddered, thinking of the body upstairs.
    Stanton said, “I’d like you both to stay here until I get back. I want to find out about Mrs. Porter’s interactions with you and others as soon as possible.”
    Hensley and I nodded, and the deputy left.
    The Heights manager held out a paper. “Kelly, I was going to ask you to do this when I wasn’t in the office. However, since you have to stay, this seems like it would be a good time for you to do this.”
    I walked over and took the paper. It was another inventory list like the ones I’d gotten earlier.
    Hensley pointed to a glass cabinet in the corner of the office. “You’ll find the items over there. It’s unlocked.”
    I was more than happy to have something to take my mind off of what had happened. Opening the cabinet, I took out a silver snuffbox. An engraved silhouette of a horse, a barn, and several trees decorated the top. I found it on the list and took a picture. I shot a quick look at the manager behind her desk.
    She was the only one I’d seen enter the room after me—and the pearl was there when I left. If she had taken the pearl, where had she put it? She wore a knee-length straight black skirt with a matching fitted cropped jacket. I didn’t see any pockets. Could she have held it against her side underneath her top without my noticing?
    Hensley wasn’t watching me. The box was similar in size to the pearl, and I pinned it against my body with my arm. My arm took on an awkward, unnatural look. Even as upset as I was, I think I would’ve noticed the odd angle.
    Could she have tucked it into the waistband of her skirt? She’d be taking a real chance on it falling out. I doubted she’d do that. Did she know some secret hiding place in Sylvia’s room? Had she taken the pearl and hidden it there? Was there a time when I wasn’t looking at her after we left the room?
    I took another item from the cabinet and tried to remember if I’d turned my back on her as we walked back to the office. I might’ve done that as she came out of the room. But where would she have hidden it on the landing? After the first few steps, we’d walked side by side. I’d go back and search at the first opportunity. Deputy Stanton didn’t believe it existed so wouldn’t be looking for it.
    But he would be trying to find a murder weapon. Murder. Hard to believe. And it had happened so close to us. How could a stranger have come in unnoticed? Unless it wasn’t a stranger. It could be a guest or staff member.
    I swallowed hard and glanced at Hensley again. She was alone when I had come to get her . . . and she had access to the room key. I’d seen her temper and knew she didn’t like Sylvia Porter, but murder? It didn’t seem likely.
    Sylvia had annoyed the staff and probably some of the guests, but that didn’t seem a strong enough motive for murder, either. I shook my head and gave up trying to figure it out. I didn’t know enough about Sylvia or what had happened before I arrived.
    Yesterday’s fall. Had that been attempted murder or an accidental trip? If someone had tried to kill her,