Sunday, May 30th 1:00 A.M.
In spite of the late hour, the lights at 422 Collingswood Avenue were still ablaze. Fred had recently discovered the library rented audio tapes of mystery stories. As Dean entered the house, Sherlock Holmes was lecturing Watson in a voice sounding very much like Basil Rathbone while a radio across the room was playing soft music.
After waving a greeting, he dropped his jacket on a chair and made a quick trip to the bathroom. When he returned, Fred commented Dean's left cheek looked kinda red. Dean tossed Arthur Atherton's note at the old man. Fred snapped off the tape, read the note and looked up at his stepson with a sober gaze.
"This must put you on a whole different ground with the lady. I guess that accounts for the cheek. Did you fess up to her?"
"Yes and no," said Dean, "I didn't lie to her, but I didn't tell her what's going on either. She didn't take it very well."
"I can understand how that might be the case," Fred said.
"I think I'm history."
"I'm truly sorry but I'm not sure how it could have played out a whole lot better. We never had anything concrete to tell her- still don't."
"You're saying my lines," Dean said.
Dean explained to his stepfather Cynthia's impromptu trip to the shore after receiving Atherton's letter. He repeated their subsequent conversation after he'd driven down and met her.
"Is she going to talk to Atherton?" Fred asked.
"I told her what I thought of Arthur Atherton and that he doesn't know what he's talking about. She won't have anything to do with him anyway. She's totally upset about the whole business. She asked point-blank if I thought her husband was alive and I wouldn't answer. She knows I'm checking something but she's so confused right now she doesn't know what to believe except that she doesn't want to see me."
"I'm sure the poor darlin' is as confused as a mouse in a maze but I'm sorry it's put you two on the outs with each other."
"There's something else," Dean said. "Turn on the radio so we can talk."
Fred switched the dial to a local talk show. "You still think we're being bugged?" he asked in a near whisper.
"No," said Dean. "I just want to make sure." He fished around until he found his copy of the bicycle magazine he'd seen at the Byrne home. He opened to the article and handed it to Fred, explaining how Jeffrey Byrne had circled the request for information. "It's beginning to make some sense."