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I’ve come back. It’s too late for Nana, but there’s people I got to talk to.” She glanced into the cabin. “I’m sorry the maid fell down.” Her glance at Annie was faintly accusing. “She looked awfully old to be cleaning rooms.”
    Billy looked at her sharply. “Maid? That’s—”
    Annie interrupted. “Billy, I can explain.” She didn’t intend to tell him the truth. At least, not in front of Iris. Annie had no doubt that Emma had rooted around in Ingrid’s office, found an extra key to Cabin Six, and set out to search it, carrying fresh towels in case the occupant returned. “Ingrid’s sister is in the hospital in Tallahassee. We’re taking care of everything while she’s gone.” We could be understood to include others, such as Laurel and Henny and, as soon as he arrived, Max. That the helpers did not include Emma could be shared with Billy later.
    â€œI see.” Billy nodded, clearly reassured. Emma’s unlikely presence at Nightingale Courts had been accounted for. “Emma was bringing towels—”
    Annie hoped her cheeks didn’t flame. She had an unfortunate tendency to turn bright red under the stress of subterfuge.
    â€œâ€”and must have tripped. I’ll take a look.”
    Billy stepped inside the cabin. Iris and Annie followed.
    Billy studied the bare, clean, uncluttered floor. “Where was she lying?”
    Iris pointed toward the footboard. “Right there. It lookedlike she hit the bed when she fell. There was a gash on the right side of her head.”
    Billy bent near the footboard. “Here’s where she hit. There’s blood here.”
    Iris turned away.
    â€œI’ll clean it up.” Annie reached down, scooped up the towels. They’d have to be washed anyway since they’d fallen on the floor. With a little cold water, she’d have the stain gone in a jiffy.
    Billy lifted a hand, then let it drop. “I guess that’s okay. Emma took a tumble. Maybe she got dizzy. If she lost her balance suddenly and fell hard, that would account for the head wound.”
    Annie hurried to the bathroom, dipped a towel in cold water. It didn’t take long to clean the footboard and swipe up a streak of blood from the tile floor.
    Billy turned to Iris. “Just for the record, did you see anybody near the cabin when you arrived?”
    â€œOnly a raccoon.” A tiny smile touched her thin face. “That made me feel at home. When Nana played the piano, a raccoon came to listen. We’d see her in the bushes near the side window.” Then, with a quick head shake, she continued in a cool, remote tone. “Anyway, I’d been downtown. On my bike. Coming back here, I stopped at Gas’n Go for some groceries.” She pointed at the small brown sack sitting on the chest.
    Gas’n Go was a mile and a half from Nightingale Courts. It belonged to Ben Parotti.
    â€œThe door was ajar. I pushed it in and saw her.”
    Billy nodded. “I suppose Emma left it open behind her since she was servicing the cabin.” He waved his hand at the small plaid duffel bag lying empty on the luggage rack. “Was everything in order?”
    Annie felt uncomfortable. What if Emma had disarranged Iris’s belongings?
    Iris looked surprised, then gave a wry smile. “You think somebody was trying to rob me? I got this outfit and one more. I got the sandals I’m wearing. A pretty stupid burglar.” She walked to the dresser, opened the top drawer. “My stuff’s here.” She looked weary. “Sometimes I feel like everything bad happens around me. That poor old lady bringing towels and falling down. I didn’t even need towels.”
    Billy was brisk. “Don’t take blame when none’s due.” He moved toward the door, stopped at the threshold. “You going to stay on the island long?”
    â€œA few days.” Her face was