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how the lawyer had found out where she lived. Then she flashed on last autumn’s murder and realized a simple Google search would provide headlines with the details. She drew a breath. “Nora Tierney.”
      “Miss Tierney, this is Daniel Kemp. I’m the solicitor representing Muriel and Harvey Pembroke in the matter of settling the estate of their son, Paul.” The man’s cheerful voice bore none of the gloomy tenor she expected from an estate lawyer.
      Nora struggled to keep her voice calm. “I see.” She really didn’t but wanted to appear cooperative. “How can I help?” she asked, instead of shouting the line, “ What do you want from me ?” Her thoughts clutched on the term “estate.” Could Paul’s parents think she’d stolen from their son’s flat? They’d never lived together; the few things of hers that had landed there she’d taken home and nothing more.
      “The Pembrokes were named in Paul’s will as his executors. They’re anxious to settle things and sell his flat. There’s a matter I’ve been instructed to discuss with you. I understand you were engaged to the deceased at the time of his death?”
      “You could say that.” Nora realized Paul must have at least told his parents of their engagement. What difference could that make now?
      “I need to obtain your signature.” There was the sound of fingers tapping a keyboard. “I could travel north to Cumbria next Monday if that would be convenient?”
      “Next Monday? I suppose so.” Nora bit her lip. “Mr. Kemp, can you tell me what this is about?”
      “I prefer to discuss these matters in person, but I assure you I won’t take up much of your time. Are there rooms at Ramsey Lodge to let? It’s a long ride, and I owe Mrs. Kemp a break.”
      “I’m afraid we’re fully booked for the next week, but I can give you the number of the Belsfield Hotel.” Nora gave him the address of Ramsey Lodge and her mobile number while she looked through the list of the lodge’s competitors.
      “Thank you. I’ll see you Monday after lunch. Shall we say by 2 o’clock?”
      The solicitor rang off, leaving Nora looking at the phone in her hand. She slumped in the desk chair. This must be a release of sorts, to stop her from putting in any claim on Paul’s estate. Yet in an age of express mail, scans and faxes, she thought signing papers could be handled without a personal visit. Perhaps Kemp’s real reason for driving more than five hours was to give his wife a few days away.
      But that didn’t address the deeper issue. Even if the solicitor hadn’t hinted at the issue of a child, Nora couldn’t continue to avoid telling the Pembrokes they had a grandchild. She walked to the open door and looked across the road to her right. Handfuls of tourists walked along the quay at Bowness Bay. Bright, gauzy clouds were perfectly reflected in the deep blue of the water’s surface. The setting was serene, and she loved living here, even if it was temporary. Why couldn’t life be as simple as the placid lake?
      Then she remembered the October morning when she’d stumbled over a corpse on her morning walk at the water’s edge. Nothing was simple when you looked beneath the surface.
      “There you are.” Declan joined her at the door.
      She turned to look at him, and he took her face in his hands and brushed her lips with his. “You look very serious.”
      She didn’t answer and turned away as movement on the driveway took her focus. A large lorry with FITZPATRICK’S RENTALS painted on the side pulled up the drive. “I have to let Simon know the props are here.”

    *

    4:30 PM

    Nora watched Declan help Simon and another man sort the props. She leaned against the doorway, taking a brief break. After Callie returned with a drowsy Sean, Nora put him in his cot to finish his nap, then answered lodge emails and matched the stack of checks Simon gave her with their appropriate bills, ready to be mailed out. She gathered