Indian Pipes Read Online Free Page B

eighteenth-century Vineyard estate with water frontage.”
    “I can’t believe it. The old Mitchell place? They must have misplaced a decimal point. If it were eighteen thousand dollars, I’d be surprised.”
    “He was paying taxes on eighteen million.”
    “No wonder he took bribes,” Elizabeth said.
    Victoria looked at her watch. “I don’t know what you want of me,Hiram. You don’t intend to go to the police, which is what I advise you to do. You don’t like my suspects.”
    “I need your help, Victoria. Before I go to the police, we have to find the killer. It’s neither of your two suspects, believe me.”
    “That’s the second time you’ve used the word
we,”
said Victoria.
    “You’re the obvious person. You know everybody on this Island and who they’re related to. You know more history than anyone. In fact, you’ve lived much of it. And, you’ve gotten yourself a reputation as a sleuth.”
    Victoria looked down at her hands.
    “You know that Gram is a deputy police officer, don’t you?” Elizabeth asked.
    Hiram smiled. “Everybody on the Island knows.”
    “I can’t imagine what I can contribute this time.” Victoria studied him. “You’re holding something back, aren’t you, Hiram.” She waited.
    Hiram sighed again. “When Elizabeth came to get me last night, I had a hunch that the person on the cliff was Burkhardt. When I got to him, he was still alive. He mumbled a few words I couldn’t make out. Then he said clearly, ‘Sibyl,’ before he went unconscious.”
    Victoria was silent.
    Hiram repeated himself. “Just that one word, ‘Sibyl.’ “
    “Do you know anyone named Sibyl?” Victoria asked.
    “I don’t. Do you?”
    Victoria shook her head. “It’s not a common name. That was what the ancient Romans and Greeks called their oracles—Sibyl. Go to the police, Hiram.”
    “I’ll go to the police when we find something concrete that will clear me.”
    Victoria felt a presence behind her and turned to look out the window. A dark form skirted around the side of the house. “We’ve got a caller,” she said.
    Hiram, too, looked. The visitor, dressed entirely in black, had ducked into the entry. Hiram stood abruptly. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call you around five this afternoon. I have something else I have to tell you.” He slipped out through the rarely used east door rather than the usual entry door to the west.
    “What’s his problem?” Elizabeth muttered.
    There was a rap on the door that Hiram hadn’t used, the door opened, and a figure stepped inside.
    Victoria leaned forward and saw a tall man wearing a black muscle shirt and black jeans. He had a huge black beard and a wild mop of curly hair with a bent osprey feather protruding from it as if from an untidy nest. His eyes were dark irises floating in red-rimmed white seas. His feet were bare and dirty.
    Victoria got up from her chair with a broad smile.
    He greeted her, his right hand lifted.
    “Dojan!” Victoria went toward him. “You’re back!”

C HAPTER 4
     
    While Dojan and Victoria were standing in the doorway discussing the torments of his life in the nation’s capital, Joe Hanover, the plumber, was making a U-turn in front of Alley’s store. He parked his pickup truck under the dying elm across the road. It was almost lunchtime.
    “Stay here, Taffy. Good girl.” Joe ruffled the hair of his golden retriever and slammed the door shut. Taffy rested her head on the window frame, her mouth open. Joe waited for an old red Volvo to pass, and crossed to the store.
    The gang was on the front porch under the overhanging roof. Donald Schwartz sat on the bench next to Sarah Germaine. Lincoln Sibert leaned against the storefront, moving his shoulders back and forth, scratching his back.
    “What’s up, Sarah?” Joe shifted the wad of Red Man in his mouth, and spit discreetly off to one side, where customers usually didn’t step.
    Donald sat with his hands on the knees of jeans that were blotched with