A Forgotten Murder (Medlar Mystery 3)

Jack didn’t pull away, but Kate did.

Sara got in one step before all hell broke loose.

Like the bulldog he resembled, Mr. Howland went charging. “You bloody bastard,” he yelled. “She’s your daughter.”

In one moment, he swept Teddy aside and went after Jack, head down, charging like an enraged bull.

Jack was fast and sidestepped the charge—which meant that Mr. Howland was going toward the w

all. If he hit it, his head would be broken like a pumpkin.

Sara, Jack and Kate had spent a lot of time boxing, and they were used to punches and jabs that they had to duck.

Sara dropped her drink to the carpet and made three leaps to reach the man to grab him from behind. Kate was at his right side and she threw herself onto him, pinning his arm down. Jack put himself in front of the man.

They managed to stop him just as he was mere inches from ramming into Jack. But saving him didn’t stop his rage. “I’ll kill you,” he yelled, and went after Jack.

Sara was behind him, her arms around his waist, her head on his back, but her light weight wasn’t hindering him. Kate had his arm locked down, but he still went after Jack.

It was Nadine who stopped him. She got through the melee to stand in front of him. “He’s not Sean,” she yelled. “He’s Jack. You don’t know him. Not. Sean.” She had to repeat it three times before it registered.

Yet again, he switched. The energy left him. He stood upright. In the present again.

Sara and Kate stepped away, but Jack stayed where he was, ready to take the man down if necessary.

Mr. Howland looked at Jack. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m—” The man looked like he might die of embarrassment.

“How about if I take you to your room?” Jack’s voice was kind and Mr. Howland nodded.

“I’m sorry,” the older man said as they went up the stairs. His face was still red. “My mind comes and goes. I try to control it, but...”

“It’s all right,” Jack said. “We all have problems.”

“A big, good-looking young man like you?”

“Me most of all,” Jack said. “I look like a man your daughter hated.”

Mr. Howland gave a snort of laughter. “Far from it. She...” He took a breath. “I thought she was going to kill herself after he left. I would have lost her and my beautiful granddaughter both. Here. I’m in this room.”

It was the Napoleon Room.

“They see me as a failed ruler,” he said as he fumbled to find the key. “I lock it because I don’t trust any of them. They’re all liars and thieves.”

Jack pulled a penknife out of his pocket. “Let me try.”

“You are him. I liked him a lot. The son I never had. Before I found out what he did to my daughter, that is. Dropped her like garbage.” He was looking down the hall. “This place is bringing back memories.”

“About breaking elephants?” Jack was working the door lock.

“Oh yeah. I remember that night so clearly. They were arguing.”

“Sounds like they were always arguing,” Jack said.

“No. This was different. She was...desperate, that’s what she was. And he... Well, he didn’t care at all.”

“You mean Nadine and Sean? She told him she was pregnant and he didn’t care?” Jack didn’t like hearing that.

“No, not him. They were going to run away together. Nadine was packed and ready to go. But he didn’t show up.”