Robin reached across Melville to turn off the alarm, and the shawl fell on the floor of the car revealing the front of Melville’s shirt. It was stained red with blood, and protruding from the stain was the hilt of the knife that had been in the box with the bloodred pentagram on its cover.
Robin pressed the button for the third floor, and the elevator lurched upward. Nelly ripped open the gate as soon as the car arrived. Robin heard a glass shatter on the stone steps, and Sheila started toward Melville.
Robin edged around the wheelchair and held out her hand to stop Nelly and Sheila from entering the car.
“You can’t touch Frank,” she said. “The police need to examine him. You’ll disturb evidence.”
Nelly backed away, but Sheila acted as if she hadn’t heard Robin. Robin moved between Sheila and the dead man.
“Please, Sheila. We have to find out who did this. I know what you’re going through. I watched my fiancé die too. But you’ve got to pull yourself together.”
Sheila sagged and began to cry. Robin moved her away from the car, and Nelly draped an arm across her shoulder. Justin Trent walked down the stairs and placed a comforting hand on Nelly’s arm.
Ken walked down the stairs until he was near the car. Jose and Rockwell stayed on the landing, and Samuels stood behind them. Robin saw Mrs. Raskin, Luther, and the caterers looking up from the second-floor landing.
“Everybody, stand back,” Ken commanded. “This is a crime scene. You don’t want to contaminate it.”
“What do you want to do, Detective?” Robin asked Samuels.
Samuels looked like he hadn’t heard Robin, so she repeated her question. Samuels started. Then he looked at Robin.
“Yeah,” Samuels said. “Everyone stay out of the elevator. We have to preserve the scene for the boys from the crime lab.”
“Maybe, everyone should go down to the library,” Ken suggested.
“That’s a good idea,” Samuels agreed.
Mrs. Raskin, Luther, and the caterers started down the stairs. Ken, Sheila, Jose, and Rockwell followed them, but Nelly stayed behind. Trent looked like he was going to stay too, but Nelly told him to look after Sheila.
“We can’t leave my father in the elevator,” Nelly said. “Mudslides are blocking the road, and the phones don’t work. We don’t know when anyone will get here.”
“You’re right,” Robin said. “Is there a room we can put him in?”
“His bedroom,” Nelly said.
“That sounds good,” Samuels said.
“Do you have a phone, Robin?” Nelly asked. “You can get pictures of the crime scene before we move Dad.”
“Good idea,” Robin said. “It’s in my room.”
Robin ran to get the phone. It took her a few minutes to remember where she’d put it. Since there was no cell service on the mountain, she’d left it in her overnight bag. She grabbed the phone and left her room. Samuels was where she’d left him, and Nelly was standing on the landing with Sheila’s shawl. Robin took several pictures. Then she pushed the wheelchair onto the landing and took more pictures of the car after the body and wheelchair had been removed.
Nelly and the detective waited until Robin had finished documenting the crime scene. Then Nelly led the way to Melville’s bedroom. Robin followed with the wheelchair with Samuels tagging behind. Nelly stood aside, and Robin pushed the dead man inside.
“Help me lift Mr. Melville onto the bed,” Robin said.
Samuels grabbed Melville’s legs, and Robin lifted Melville’s shoulders. While they were maneuvering Melville onto his bed, Robin noticed a circular bruise on the dead man’s forehead.
“We better leave the shawl here,” Robin told Nelly. “It was over your dad’s shoulders, and there might be trace evidence on it.”
Nelly laid the shawl on the bed beside the dead man.
“Let’s go downstairs,” Samuels said. He held the door forNelly and Robin. Robin started to follow Nelly when something occurred to her. She walked to the bed and stared at the handle of the knife. She circled it with her hands, careful not to touch it.
“Miss Lockwood?” Samuels said.
“Sorry.”