Page 56 of Buried Secrets

“Did you know he committed suicide in 1992?”

“The entire island knew.” A thread of irritation wove through her response.

“And what did you know of the doctor’s family?” Matt repeated thoughtfully.

“Just that he had one. I didn’t have a mind to pay much attention to the rumors of the time. Jasper and I had our own problems. Robert passed away of a heart attack not long after the doctor died, you know.”

Matt shifted in the rocking chair and allowed the silence to expand between them to prompt additional information. Eleanor Holloway, however, seemed entirely content to wait him out, and she returned her attention to the harbor view with apparent serenity.

“Your hand,” Matt said finally, gesturing to her bandaged hand. “Mind if I ask what happened?”

“Kitchen accident,” Mrs. Holloway replied without hesitation. “Handle snapped off my favorite pot, burned my hand pretty bad.”

“Sounds painful. Did you go to the clinic?”

“No need, I’ve had worse.”

“Caused you to miss work, though.”

“The flu caused me to miss work.” Mrs. Holloway adjusted her bandage slightly. “I’ll be back Monday.”

Matt leaned back, allowing the rocking chair to creak beneath his weight. “You sound okay. I heard you were pretty ill.”

“Yes, I saw your British friend at the grocery store. I couldn’t rely on Jasper to pick up my prescription.”

“You know anyone on this island would have helped you if you’d asked.” Though Matt knew she was stubborn and proud and wouldn’t want to bother anyone. Just like his parents.

This conversation felt like a dance, in which he wasn’t getting any closer to any kind of useful information. Time to dig into brass tacks.

“Mrs. Holloway, young women were found buried on mansion grounds. Women who likely stayed at the facility, who may have given birth there. I need to understand what happened to them.”

“As do I, Sheriff.” For the first time, genuine emotion colored her voice, with something that might have been sorrow or anger. “Half the island is pretty upset about it. Those girls came to the mansion for safety, care, discretion. Whatever happened to them was a betrayal.”

“Do you have any idea who might have wanted to harm them?”

Mrs. Holloway’s spine straightened even further, her chin lifting in what appeared to be genuine indignation. “If you’re implying that I or Jasper had anything to do with it—”

“I’m not implying anything,” Matt interrupted gently. “I’m asking if you, as someone connected to the mansion’s operations, might have insights others wouldn’t.”

“I processed paperwork for the town, Sheriff. I was not privy to the day-to-day events at the facility itself.”

“And Robert?”

Mrs. Holloway’s gaze swung to Matt with startling intensity. “Robert devoted his life to that mansion, to the good it did for hundreds of young women who had nowhere else to turn. He wouldn’t have allowed anyone to harm those girls.”

“Yet, some of them ended up buried. Somebody harmed them.”

“Not Robert.” The denial was firm and complete. “And not Jasper, before you continue down that path. You know that as well as I do.”

Matt nodded. Jasper had been delt an unfair hand in life, and as far as Matt knew, had never hurt anyone.

Mrs. Holloway rose to her feet, her back hunched as she gathered the blanket into her arms. “Now Sheriff, if you’ll excuse me, it’s getting a little cool out here for my old bones.”

Matt accepted the boundary she’d established. Clearly he wasn’t going to find out anything else from her today. “Well, thank you for your time. I hope your hand heals quickly.” He walked down the porch stairs.

“Sheriff?” Mrs. Holloway called as he reached the bottom step. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

As he drove toward the main road, Matt mentally organized the facts. Mrs. Holloway had been ready for his questions. Granted, the island grapevine had been speculating on the case since Ollie dug up the first cadaver.