Free Secrets of Hallstead House by Amy M Reade

favorite season. Summer, especially in New York City, can be uncomfortably hot. When fall comes I feel like I get my energy back.”
    “That’s exactly what Forrest used to say.” Alex laughed. She looked wistful, as if she were remembering happy autumns past, and fell silent again.
    When she next spoke, she changed the subject. “Did you visit the turret?”
    “Yes, I did. Oh, and here’s the key.” I reached into my pocket for the key and handed it to her.
    “What did you think?” Alex asked.
    “I loved it! It’s so bright and peaceful up there. And the views are gorgeous!”
    “I knew you’d like it. That room used to be my haven. I could spend hours up there painting and drawing. Sometimes I would go up there to take a break from my work. To me, it is a place of refuge, and I wanted to keep it separate from all the things that used to take up my time. Now, of course, my work takes up even more time than it used to and I haven’t been up there in quite a while.” She pointed to her hip. “Plus, this keeps me pretty well confined to the first floor of Summerplace and this path we’re walking on now.”
    “There was an unfinished painting on the easel up there. It’s beautiful,” I said.
    “Yes, I remember that,” Alex mused. “I had only to finish the islands and the trees around the edges of the picture.”
    “Why don’t you finish it?” I urged. “I could bring your supplies downstairs and you could start working on it again.”
    “No, dear, I don’t think I could paint anywhere but in that turret, and of course it’s impossible for me to get up there.”
    “Then that will be one of our goals for your recovery process, for you to get back up into that turret and start painting again.”
    Alex’s eyes shone and she turned to me excitedly. “Do you think we could do that?” she asked hopefully.
    “Absolutely!”
    “Oh, I hope so.” She sounded almost girlish in her enthusiasm. It made me happy to watch her.
    We had reached the front of Summerplace again and Alex said she was a bit tired and wanted to rest for a little while. “I think that’s a good idea,” I agreed. “We need to make sure that you’re not working too hard.”
    I had been trying to think of a casual way to ask whether anyone knew I had been up in the turret earlier but could think of nothing to say that wouldn’t arouse Alex’s suspicion, so I remained silent.
    I saw that Alex was resting comfortably in her bedroom before heading outside again. It was too nice a day to stay indoors. Aimlessly, I wandered down to the boathouse. Pete was walking up one of the docks toward me. Despite his behavior since I arrived on the island, I felt a sudden determination to win his trust.
    “Hi,” I called out to him. “Is there anything I can do to help you down here?”
    He came to stand near me and asked, “What exactly did you have in mind?”
    I shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just such a nice day and Alex is resting right now. I thought maybe you could use a hand with something.”
    “Is Alex all right?” Pete asked quickly.
    “She’s fine,” I assured him. “We went for a walk and she’s just a little tired. She spent most of the morning working in her office.”
    “There’s really nothing you can do down here,” Pete said shortly. He chuckled. “I don’t know what you thought you could possibly help me with, especially after that fireplace episode last night.”
    My anger flared up at him again. Why bother trying to gain his trust, anyway? I was getting sick and tired of his snide comments. “You know, just because I’m a woman and from New York doesn’t make me a useless half-wit,” I said hotly. “I may not have been brought up around here, but I’m willing to learn what I need to know to help out.” I turned on my heel and started to stalk away, but Pete called me back, laughing.
    “Whoa!”
    I was infuriated, and his laughter made matters worse. “What do you want?” I snapped.
    “I’m