Valaski was quiet for a minute, his brow furrowed. “Actually, if I remember correctly, Chelsea had been taking a pain medication at the time. I’m…I’m thinking it might have been Darvocet-N. I’d asked about it, naturally. She’d been seen by Dr. Nealy, who has passed away now, too. He’d given her a prescription because she’d twisted her back on a dive excursion.”
“You’re telling me that both of them might have been scared to death by hallucinations they experienced in the house because of medication?”
“I’m not telling you anything except for the medical findings. Autopsy is my job, Liam. Anything else is your job. You want me to pull the records on Chelsea Donovan and find out?”
“Actually, I would appreciate it,” Liam said.
“Sure. I’ll get back to you.” He cleared his throat. “And I’d appreciate it if you’d see to it that arrangements are made for Cutter’s body.”
“Yeah, well, thanks, Franklin. I’m sure you’ll hear about funeral arrangements for Cutter today. If you don’t hear, I will see to it.”
“Are you planning on seeing Miss Donovan soon?” Valaski asked him.
“Yes, I’ll see her.”
Valaski lifted a hand. “I need you to wait one minute. I’ll have you sign out his effects. You can take them to her.”
Liam waited while Valaski disappeared into another room, and then returned with a dull gray plastic bag. “I’ve kept his clothing for the mortuary. If Kelsey wants him buried in something else, she can let the mortuary know.”
“All right.”
“Open the bag, Liam, so you can sign for the contents.”
Liam did so. The bag contained Cutter’s old seafarer’s watch, his Masonic ring and the little casket he had held along with the book that had been in his lap, In Defense from Dark Magick.
Liam signed the log, stating that he had taken the items.
“What do you think the old coot was seeing in his mind’s eye?” Valaski asked, shaking his head.
“He never called the police. As far as I know, he wasn’t afraid of anyone,” Liam said.
“The book is titled In Defense from Dark Magick,” Valaski said. “I think he was having delusions, and believed that someone was out to hurt him, or take something from him. You wouldn’t call the police against magic, would you?”
“No. Thanks, Franklin. I’ll see you soon.”
“Socially, I hope,” Valaski said with a grimace.
“Yeah, socially.”
Liam left, wondering why he had come, and yet still disturbed. After all, Valaski was the one who had made him think that there had to have been something that had frightened both Cutter Merlin and his daughter, Chelsea. One had died from a fall, and one from old age.
Both with eyes wide open in fear.
What possible connection could there be?
Both had been on medications that might have caused hallucinations.
He thought about the kids who had broken into the house, and the way he had found them, cowering in the kitchen.
They hadn’t been on pain medication. And he was pretty damned sure they hadn’t been on any kind of drugs, at least not that night.
It was a scary house—unless you were accustomed to such a collection of oddities.
When he stepped outside, he found Bartholomew waiting for him.
“Why didn’t you come in?” Liam asked him.
Bartholomew shuddered. “It’s a morgue, Liam. Why would I go in?”
Liam lowered his head, smiling. Not even ghosts liked morgues.
“You tell me—why were you here?” Bartholomew returned.
“I don’t know. Yes, I do. I don’t like the house. And Kelsey is staying in it.”
Bartholomew was silent for a minute. “I don’t like the house, either.”
“But you can’t sense or feel anything that might be a clue as to why?” Liam asked him.
Bartholomew shook his head. “No. There’s just…something. Maybe it’s the house itself. It’s creepy.”
“Some people might say that talking to a ghost is creepy,” Liam said. He tried to mentally shake off his feelings of impending doom as he walked to his car.
There was other work that needed his attention. And all he had here was a feeling that something wasn’t right.
But he had to ask himself—if Kelsey hadn’t come down to stay in the house, would any thought of a wrong-doing, unseen, even be in his mind?
“What’s in the bag?” Bartholomew asked.
“I picked up Cutter’s property to return to Kelsey. His ring, his watch—the little casket he had clutched in his hands and the book.”
“Let me see, please?” Bartholomew asked.
“Wait ’til we’re in the car, please?” Liam suggested.
Bartholomew grinned. Once they were in the car, Liam opened the bag again. Bartholomew studied the casket with a frown.
“Do you know what it is? Anything about it?” Liam asked.
“No. Maybe Jaden and Ted can help.”
“Maybe. I’ll suggest Kelsey let them study it. What about the book?”
Liam opened the book to show to Bartholomew. Bartholomew could actually open a page, but it took a great deal of energy, effort and concentration.
“It’s a first edition,” Bartholomew noted. “Publication date 1838.”
“Cutter had a number of first-edition books,” Liam said.
“Perhaps I can find out more about the book,” Bartholomew said. “I’ll get on it, and I’ll do what I can,” he promised.