A few minutes later, satisfied with the arrangements he had made, he and Rex went around to the front of the house. Nick pressed the bell. Footsteps sounded in the hall. The door opened. The man who looked out was in his late thirties. He was mostly dressed for the day in a pair of buff-colored trousers and a white shirt. He had not yet put on a tie.
He eyed Rex with an expression that was somewhere between wariness and irritation. Either Rex was not doing a very good job of looking adorable or else Norburn did not like dogs in general. Nick was willing to bet on the latter.
“Gilford Norburn?” Nick said in the tone he used when he was playing the role of a salesman or a messenger.
“I’m Norburn. Who are you and what are you doing on my front step at this hour? If you’re selling something you can get lost.”
Gilford started to close the door.
“I have a message for Mrs. Linda Norburn,” Nick said. “It concerns a member of her family.”
Gilford paused in the act of shutting the door. He narrowed his eyes. “Mrs. Norburn is my wife. She’s upstairs, packing for a voyage to Hawaii. She doesn’t have time to talk to you. Give me the message. I’ll see that she gets it.”
“I was instructed to give the message to Mrs. Norburn personally,” Nick said. “It concerns an inheritance from a distant relative.”
That got Gilford’s attention. He opened the door wide. There was an avid glint of excitement in his eyes.
“I was under the impression my wife had only one living relative,” he said. “Her aunt.”
“Your information is wrong. I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to discuss the particulars with anyone except Linda Norburn.”
Light footsteps sounded in the hall behind Gilford. A woman appeared. She peered past Gilford’s shoulder.
“I’m Linda Norburn,” she said. “I heard something about a message for me.”
Gilford looked annoyed. “It’s all right, darling. I’m sure it’s not important.”
“The message concerns a death in the family,” Nick said. “And an inheritance.”
Linda stared at him, horrified. “Not Aunt Eleanor. I talked to her yesterday. She was in excellent health.”
“If I might come inside?” Nick said. “This isn’t the sort of news that should be delivered on the front step.”
“Yes, of course, please come in.”
“We don’t know who this man is,” Gilford said. He was starting to appear uneasy again.
“My name is Nick Sundridge,” Nick said. “Mrs. Norburn, your aunt, Eleanor Barrows, is fine. But she sent me to tell you some very important news.”
“Let him in, Gilford,” Linda said.
Nick was relieved to hear the firm edge of authority in her voice. Linda was not a weak-willed individual. Norburn evidently realized he would not win the small skirmish. Reluctantly he stepped out of the way.
“The living room,” Linda said. “Follow me, please.”
Nick moved into the hallway. Rex accompanied him.
“The dog stays outside,” Gilford ordered. “He looks vicious.”
Nick motioned Rex outside. Rex obeyed. Nick dropped the leash on the front step. Rex sat down.
“Stay,” Nick said.
Rex whined but he sank down on the step.
Gilford shut the door. Rex’s low growl could be heard through the wooden panels.
Nick walked into the living room behind Linda. She stopped and turned to face him, her hands knotted tightly together, eyes huge with fear.
