Chapter 22: She Knew

Lorna called me on Friday morning and said Ward had gone to Sheridan for the county commissioners until four.

"The study is open," she said. "The key's under the brass clock. If you want the original transfer slips for the co-op account, they're in his desk."

"Lorna, why would you give me that?"

"Because you keep the books," she said. "And because you asked me a question at my dinner table, and I never answered it."

She hung up.

I left Lottie with Kit and drove to the main house alone.

I hadn't been inside in three weeks.

The portrait wall in the front hall was exactly as I remembered it.

Four generations of Renner men looked down from their frames, all of them with the same gray, dark-ringed eyes.

I walked past them without slowing down.

Ward's study was at the back of the house, behind the kitchen.

It smelled of cigar leather and old paper.

I found the key under the clock and let myself in.

The rolltop desk was locked, but the key to it was on the same ring.

I told myself I was only looking for slips.

The first drawer held the co-op's carbon books, a stack of blank checks, and a pair of reading glasses.

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