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“You’re awfully curious,” Enid said

“I’m interested”

“Some secrets are best left at that—as secrets”

“Billy Litchfield died because of it”

“Yes,her hand “And until just nohen you showed ined that Billy Litchfield would have been involved in selling the cross It wasn’t in his character”

“He was desperate,” Annalisa said “His building was going co-op, and he didn’t have the money to buy it He was convinced he would have to leave New York”

“Ah, New York,” Enid said, taking another sip of water “New York has always been a difficult place Ultier than all of us I’ve lived here for over seventy years, and I’ve seen it happen again and again The city et run over in the process That, I’m afraid, is what must have happened to Billy” Enid leaned back in her chair “I’ old myself”

“No,” Annalisa said “It wasn’t New York Paul was responsible Sandy Brewer showed hi to fire hi of the Internet Debacle So Paul sent an e-mail to the Times”

“Aha,” Enid said And then, with a wave, as if she wished to sweep it all away, added, “There you go Everything alorks out for the best”

“Does it?” Annalisa said “I still need to kno Mrs Houghton got the cross” She looked directly into Enid’s eyes, her gaze not wavering Louise, Enid reot exactly what she wanted “Enid,” she said softly “You owe me”

“Do I?” Enid gave a little laugh “I suppose I do Otherwise, who knoould have happened to the apartment? Very well, my dear If you want the truth so much, you’ll have it Louise didn’t take the cross from the Met She took it from my stepmother, Flossie Davis Flossie took the cross because she was silly and stupid and thought it was pretty Louise saw her take it and ive it to her Louise, I’m sure, intended to return it to the museum, but Flossie had a bit of dirt on Louise She was quite sure that Louise killed her husband”

Annalisa stood up “I thought you said he’d died from a staph infection”

Enid sighed “That was how I remembered it But after Billy died, I had a chat with Flossie And then I went to the library There’s no doubt Randolf Houghton did return to One Fifth with some kind of infection But the next day, he rapidly went downhill and died twelve hours later The cause of death was never determined conclusively—but that wasn’t unusual in those days They didn’t have all the tests and medical equipment they do now The assumption was that the infection had killed him But Flossie never believed it Apparently, one of the ht before Randolf died, he lost his voice and couldn’t speak It’s one of the sy Very old-fashioned”

“So Louise was a murderer?” Annalisa said

“Mostly, Louise was a passionate gardener,” Enid replied carefully “She once had a greenhouse on her terrace but took it down after Randolf died Flossie insists she was growing belladonna If she were, she would have needed a greenhouse to do it in The plant can’t survive in direct sunlight”