“What a stupid question. Who would be in bed with me?”
“Cut it out and act like an adult,” Robin said. “Mr. Melville has been murdered. His daughter and fiancé are right here and they’re grieving. Detective Samuels is trying to figure out who killed Mr. Melville, and you’re not helping matters.”
Alvarez looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry.” He took a calming breath and looked at Samuels. “The alarm startled me, and it took me a minute to get oriented. I looked at my watch, and it read twelve thirty-four. When the alarm didn’t stop, I went onto the landing. Mr. Rockwell and Miss Lockwood saw me come out of my room. That’s the best I can do.”
“Is that right, Mr. Rockwell?”
Rockwell hesitated. “Mr. Alvarez did come out of his room after I came out of mine.”
“Who else was on the landing?”
“Mr. Trent, Mr. Breland, and Miss Lockwood.”
Samuels turned to Nelly. “Can you tell me what happened after we left you, Mr. Melville, and Miss Monroe in the library?”
“Sheila and I stayed with my father until he told us that he wanted to go to bed. Dad liked to have a glass of brandy before retiring. He asked me to have Sheila get it, and I told her. Sheila opened the door, and Dad drove his chair into the hallway.”
“What time was that?” Samuels asked.
“I didn’t look at a watch, but it was shortly before the alarm went off.”
“Okay. Go on.”
“As soon as we were in the hall, Sheila went into the kitchen for the brandy, and I waited for her. My father drove his chair to the elevator. When I turned around, the elevator was going up. Sheila came out of the kitchen with the brandy, and we were starting to go up the stairs when the alarm went off.”
“Does that seem right, Miss Monroe?”
“Yes. I was looking for a book to take up with me when Nelly told me that Frank wanted to go to bed. I opened the door for Frank, and he drove toward the elevator. Nelly reminded me toget his brandy. When I came out of the kitchen, Nelly was waiting for me, and the elevator was going up.”
“What happened to the brandy?” Robin asked.
“I had it in my hand when we went up the steps. When… When I saw… I dropped it.”
Robin remembered hearing glass shatter seconds before Sheila tried to get to her fiancé.
“Mrs. Raskin, where were you when the alarm went off?” Samuels asked.
“Luther and I helped the caterers clean up the dining hall. Then we all went up to our rooms,” she answered. “I had just gotten into bed when the alarm went off.”
“Sandy and I were in our room,” Janet said.
“Milo and I were almost asleep too,” Max said.
“Does anyone have anything to add?” Samuels asked.
No one spoke up.
“There’s nothing any of us can do until the road is cleared. So, I suggest you lock your doors and try to get some sleep.”
Robin was about to leave the room when Sheila touched her arm.
“Please come to my room,” Sheila said. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Robin followed Sheila up the stairs to a room opposite Frank Melville’s office. The room was small and had a queen-sized bed, a comfortable armchair, a small wall-mounted television, and a desk on which a computer sat. Sheila shut the door and turned to face Robin.
“How are you doing?” Robin asked, remembering how she felt the day Jeff died.