บท 71: Chapter 71

“How did you know, Irene, that Brian would care for you so well?” Bear asked, his voice growing harder in tone as he shrunk in volume.

“Oh, Mary and I both told him since he was a little boy, he would be responsible for my upkeep. He ran his father ragged and he died. So it was only logical for Brian to take his place.”

Bear listened to her prattle on about her sainted husband for a few minutes while some salient tidbits of truth coalesced in his head.

“Irene, have you ever been in the hospital for something other than a physical ailment?”

“Oh, yes, Mr. Drummond. You mean my spells. I used to have them on a regular basis, and Brian was so afraid of me when I would come awake. I was finally hospitalized for ninety days.

They said I hurt the boy. Now, I know I didn’t, and Brian told them I hadn’t hurt him either. But they put me on pills I still take.