Web of Dreams (Casteel 5)

As you know, I did locate your stepdaughter in

the hills of West Virginia. In my last report, I described the conditions under which she was living and I did report that she was pregnant.

I am afraid I have bad news. Yesterday, my assistant, whom I left on the case, called in to report that he had learned of your daughter's death. Apparently, she died in childbirth. He told me that she did not have professional medical attention and gave birth in her mountain cabin. I am sorry.

He did report that the child lived and it was a girl. I await further instructions.

Sincerely yours,

L. Stanford Banning, P.I.

.

For a moment I can't catch my breath. The air is so stale and so stifling in this old, dusty suite.

"ANNIE!"

It's Luke calling.

"I'm in here, Luke."

In a moment he is in the doorway.

"Everyone who is coming has arrived, Annie; and they're all asking after you. It's time," Luke says. I nod. "What have you been doing?"

"Just sitting here, reading."

"Reading what?" He comes farther in.

"A story, a strange, sad, but beautiful story, my grandmother's story." I hold back my tears, but Luke sees them in my eyes.

"Annie, let's go. This place is haunted by sadness and sorrow. You don't belong here."

"Yes." I smile. How handsome Luke is, as handsome as his grandfather must have been. He reaches out for me and I take his hand and stand up. We start out and I stop.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I say. "I just want to put this back. Somehow, I feel it belongs here among all the other memories." I put the diary back in the cloth bag and return it to the drawer. Then I look around once more and hurry to join Luke.

We descend the great stairway. I pause. I thought I heard a little boy's laugh. I even think I hear him calling: "Leigh! Leigh!"

I smile.

"What is it?" Luke asks.

"I was just imagining my father as a little boy calling after my grandmother to play with him."

Luke shakes his head.

We continue down the stairs and through the great entry hall. Is that music behind me? Angel's birthday party? A piano concert for wealthy guests? My father practicing his Chopin? Or is it just the wind finding its way into the great house? Maybe it's all of it.

I go out with Luke and close the great door behind me, leaving the question and the answer with all the others in the great house of Farthinggale Manor.