"Did she ever believe she was Annie Quincy?"
"Who knows? I don't think we'll ever learn when reality took over from fantasy. My guess is she acted out of some inner desperation. She turned to Ryland, throwing herself on him, but that didn't work. It was an impossible situation for her. She hated her husband who in turn despised her. I'm sure she believed, perhaps rightly so, she couldn't just leave him. His ego and sense of dominance over her wouldn't let him allow her to be the one walking away. Look at the way he treated her-always embarrassing and belittling her. He practically raped her the night he first stayed in Bird Song. It's like he needed her to be his punching bag, at least verbally if not physically. Why, I don't know, but I'm sure the shrinks could tell you."
"What about the death of Shipton's son? Was that Shipton's basis for everything?"
"I honestly don't know. There's no doubt he blamed Edith for his son's death. If both boys were struggling in the water, I suppose her natural impulse would be to first save her own child. Perhaps that's what she did. What else happened out there at the pool? Who knows? I do think the intimation Donnie's lack of speech was a result of that incident may be overrated. My guess is Donnie's muteness may be far more complicated. I wouldn't be surprised the Shipton marriage was a disaster from the start and Donnie's silence is a result of that tension."
"There's no doubt Donnie hated his stepfather," Fred said. "I always figured dad might have murdered his son and frightened the boy into silence. I read an English caper about that happening one time."
"I'll leave Donnie's problems for the guys in white coats to sort it out," Dean answered. "But given the pair of parents the boy was forced to live with, it's a wonder he's as well adjusted as he is. Donnie needs a prolonged dose of professional help and an environment absent the stress he's been living under. It sounds like he's getting it now. Hopefully he'll come around."
"So you think Shipton came out here to Ouray with the intention of killing his wife?" Cynthia asked.
"At first I didn't think so, but the fact that he had the old suicide note with him makes me think he at least considered it, if the opportunity presented itself . When he read about Annie Quincy's death, that must have seemed too perfect for him to pass up. He may have even realized what happened up at the ice park."
"You still haven't told us why you went climbing down the cliff trying to kill yourself," Cynthia said, a touch of chill still in her voice. "Or what happened up there."