“Yes, there was a picture in theSalem Newsand a little story about the concert. Sounds like a lot of fun.”
Ronan found a smile. “Yes, it was fun seeing the kids perform.” He had to admit Fairbanks was one of the most prepared potential witnesses he’d ever spoken to, but he kept his guard up nonetheless. It was possible the man had killed his wife in a murderous rage. “While she was singing, my daughter was able to see the spirits of three children.”
“The kids who died in the lunchroom in 1968.” It wasn’t a question.
“Exactly. They told my daughter that each of them wanted to clear Miss Fairbanks’s name. None of them believe she was the one who poisoned them.”
Fairbanks sighed, sounding as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. “And being detectives, you’re interested in taking up the case?”
“We’d like to investigate the murders of the children, as well as your first wife,” Fitzgibbon said. “There was a lot of shoddy police work that went on back in the day. We’d like to use Marie’s murder as a means to solving the deaths of the kids. We’ve spent the last few days researching the events of 1968 and got the police files this morning. What we’d like to do now is come talk to you, but you’re under no obligation to see us. This is not an official police investigation. We have no jurisdiction over this matter, and as far as the Salem, New Hampshire, police are concerned, both cases are closed.”
“Okay,” Fairbanks said, sounding small. “I can give you some time on Monday, but don’t expect that what I know is going to crack the case for you. The police interviewed me only once, but I’ll tell you everything I can.”
“We appreciate that, Mr. Fairbanks,” Ronan said.
“Monday morning at ten. Don’t be late.”
“See you then,” Fitzgibbon agreed and ended the call.
“That was easier than I thought,” Jude said.
“I see his attitude one of two ways. Either he’s innocent, in which case talking to us is harmless. Or he’s guilty and because he’s gotten away with the murder for half a century thinks he’s untouchable.” Ronan was determined to figure out which was the case, come hell or high water.
12
Tennyson
Easter Sunday dawned bright and sunny. Pandemonium reigned in the house as Everly and Ezra scrambled to find the goodies and toys the Easter Bunny left throughout the house. Ronan recorded the festivities, and Ten played hot and cold with the kids to help them find the last few items they hadn’t discovered on their own. By half past nine, both kids and Ronan were buzzing around on sugar highs.
An hour later, the house was full to bursting in preparation for the kids’ Easter egg hunt. Ten and Ronan had spent an hour last night hiding the brightly colored plastic eggs throughout the backyard. In the hollow of the small tree, in the wheelbarrow, inside the playhouse. Anywhere they could think of.
“Okay, is everyone ready?” Ronan called out to the kids gathered around him.
“Ready!” Everly, Ezra, Wolf, and Aurora called out.
“Here’s how this works. Each one of you has a color. Everly is pink. Aurora is purple. Wolf is blue. Ezra is yellow, and Lizbet is green. Pick up the eggs that are your assigned coloronly.” As Ronan explained the rules, Ten walked around handing out brightly colored baskets to the kids and Cope, who was going to help Lizbet find her eggs. Fitz and Jace had their phones out and were ready to record the festivities. “Three! Two! One! Go!” Ronan shouted.
The kids took off in all different directions. Everly ran straight to the playhouse, where she found two pink eggs. Aurora was hot on her heels and found several of her own. Ezra chased the other kids, not really understanding what he was supposed to be doing. Ten went to his side and helped him find the yellow eggs. Lizbet squealed when Cope handed her a green egg. She studied it for a few seconds and threw it, laughing when Cope fetched it for her. At that point, Jude took the basket while Cope searched for the eggs.
Minutes later, it was all over. Each kid had twelve eggs in their basket, and thankfully, they were all the correct color. Over the last few days, each of the parents had picked up little treats to go inside the eggs that were specific to each child. Wolf wouldn’t have appreciated getting a small Elsa toy, and ditto for Aurora getting a Matchbox car.
Everyone headed back into the house to open their eggs. Ten brought everyone juice pouches and hoped that would keep them all busy long enough for him and Ronan to start preparations for the meal.
“Okay, where are we with dinner?” Ronan asked in a take-charge voice.
“I’ve got the lobster pot filled with water. It will take about half an hour for it to come up to a boil. I need to wrap the scallops in bacon and put the chowder together in the Crock-Pot.”
“Which entails what?” Ronan asked.
“I need to cut up the clams and potatoes, then sauté the bacon. That should only take fifteen minutes or so.”
“Okay, hop to it.” Ronan snorted at his own joke. “Jude, what do you need to do?”
“I’ve got to boil the water for the pasta and then make a roux for the cheese sauce. After everything is cooked, the dish has to go into the oven for forty minutes or so. Lastly, I need to slice up potatoes to go along with the lobster. They need to roast in the oven for a little bit longer than the mac and cheese.”
Ronan jotted down the cook time. “Fitz, can you help with cutting up all the potatoes? Jace, you’re on cocktail sauce duty. The recipe is on the table.”
“You got it.” Jace and Fitz went to the sink and washed their hands.
