“Sure, sure.” They both grinned. “We’ve got no drunk charge against you!”
Charlie started up the stairs and jokingly said, “You see, that’s where you’re wrong! Lucky you didn’t catch up with me till I was in my own home! I’ll just get my coat. Be with you in a minute.”
“Do you want to come and sit down?” Virginia offered, but the men declined, saying they would just wait in the car, then they heard Charlie say, “Hi, there, Smitty, old girl—watch it now—hey, cut it out——”
“Ambulance ought to be here in a few minutes,” said the officer to Gregg.
“I’d like to go in now, if I may,” said Gregg, his voice low. “I know, I know,” he said as the man started to caution him, “I won’t touch him ”
There having been no other source of light in the hall except the chandelier, the place was shadowy, lighted only by the yellow shafts from the living room and veranda, and the million reflected sparklings of the broken crystal.
Walter looked up, rubbing his tousled head in confusion. “Gregg! When did you arrive!” and then gripped his hand. “This is a miserable business—poor welcome for you.”
“Never mind,” said Gregg kindly. “I got in earlier this evening. You all right?”
Virginia heard his voice and looked up at him and he quickly knelt beside her.
“He’s trying to say something, Gregg,” she whispered, reaching up for his arm. “Something about rotten wood—something Mavis told him.”
A small dark blue velvet cushion had been eased under his head, his face bore no sign of pain except for a faint dew on his brow. Virginia wiped it gently with her handkerchief. Leaning over her, Walter whispered, “I’m going up to Bea—make sure she hasn’t heard anything.” Virginia nodded. “Have Miss Evans give her another hypo if necessary.” Walter pressed Gregg’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re home; I’ll be back in a minute.”
Charlie’s lips began to move again, and Virginia bent to hear him. “I’m scared, Virgie love—hate mysteries——” His eyes opened wide and sought her face.
Tenderly she stroked his cheek, murmuring, “It’s all right, it’s all right,” as if to a child.
“Like the fox fire—scared me—silly, nothin’ to it. You know what it comes from?”
“No, what does it come from, Charlie dear?”
There was a ghost of a chuckle in his throat as he said, “Nothin’ mysterious about it—it comes from”—his eyes glazed and he whispered—“from rotten wood—just stinkin’ rotten wood.” There was a slight smile of satisfaction on his face as a greater mystery was resolved for him.
Gregg drew Virginia to her feet, to the wide door of the east veranda, where the air blew sweet from the sea. In the distance the thunder diminished and became part of the sound of the surf. The rain began to fall, rustling in the trees like a sigh.