“So long, Sheba,” T. S. Woodhouse said. “It’s been good knowing you.”
Henry was asleep, curled toward the wall. Theta slipped in behind him, matching the arch of him. She draped her arm across his side. He stirred, lacing his fingers in hers. Theta began to cry, and Henry turned to her.
“Theta? What’s the matter?”
“I was at the theater. I-I heard noises. Somebody was there, Hen!”
Henry fought off his sleepiness and tried to make sense of what Theta was saying. “Who was there? What are you talking about, darlin’?”
“I went back and Wally was there with the cops. He looked like he’d been punched. I pretended like I was out on the town and just walking by, and I asked him what happened.”
Theta buried her face against Henry’s side. Henry could feel her trembling.
“It was Daisy,” she finally managed. “The Pentacle Killer got Daisy. She must’ve come back for her earrings and… It could’ve been me, Henry.”
Theta started to cry again. Henry pulled her close. The thought of losing Theta terrified him. “Are you hurt?”
“No. Oh, Hen, I heard this awful whistling coming from everywhere. I was running, but I couldn’t get the doors open, and…” Her voice softened to nearly a whisper. “It started to happen again, Hen. Just like Kansas.”
Henry knew about what had happened in Kansas. He also knew it hadn’t happened since.
“Well, you’re safe now. I got you.”
“What’s happening, Hen?”
“I don’t know, cher.”
Henry put his arms around Theta; she rested her seal-black head against his chest, and they stayed that way till dawn.
THE WILD MAN OF BORNEO
The morning’s papers had a field day with the murder of Daisy Goodwin. FINAL BOW! MURDER AT THE FOLLIES! PENTACLE PERFORMANCE! Evie was reading the Daily News’s front-page story when Sam ran in waving a piece of official-looking paper overhead. “I’ve got news!” He trundled quickly up the spiral iron staircase to where Evie stood in the library’s tall stacks and preened like a cat who knows there’s a dish of cream waiting.
“Okay. I’ll bite. What the devil are you so smug about?”
“I found the tax records for Knowles’ End.” He swung his legs over the railing, hopped onto the rolling ladder, and pushed off.