When Shadows Fall Read Online Free PDF

they call it. Very big in Japan.”
    Benedict’s earlier words hit Sam then. Left this life on his own terms. “But Mr. Savage was—”
    Xander put a hand on her knee and stopped her. “A suicide. And he retained you last week to draw up a will, and named Dr. Owens as executrix. May I ask, who is the beneficiary? Does he have an heir?”
    Another gummy grin from the ghoul.
    “There are several people named in the will, but he’s left the bulk of the estate to a Mr. Henry Matcliff.” He was silent for a moment. “Unfortunately, Mr. Matcliff is proving difficult to locate. We wanted to alert you to the situation, and locate the primary beneficiary before contacting the rest of the heirs. We were hoping you would know where he is.”
    This was getting ridiculous, and Sam wasn’t in the mood. The letter this morning had upset her terribly, and now this? No. She wasn’t going to let this go on a moment longer.
    “I’d never heard of Mr. Savage until this morning. And I have no idea who this Matcliff character is. I’m sorry, Mr. Benedict, but I respectfully decline the offer of handling Mr. Savage’s estate. I trust your practice will do right by him.” She stood, and Benedict stood also in reflex, a look of shock on his face.
    “But Dr. Owens, you’re the only one Mr. Savage trusted to handle things for him.”
    “I said no, and I meant it. It’s late. I believe it’s time for you to go.”
    “But—”
    Xander stood and took three steps toward the front door. Benedict gathered up his things and followed. Once in the foyer, he said, “There’s more. You need to know he’s asked for you to do an autopsy on his body.”
    Sam felt another chill down her back despite the pashmina. “What?”
    “I’m afraid he was very specific. He clearly thought all of this through. He wanted you to be involved, Dr. Owens. He’s begging for your help...from the grave.”
    She shook her head. “Stop trying to manipulate me. I don’t want anything to do with this.”
    Benedict nodded grimly. “I understand you don’t want the responsibility, and there will be forms you’ll need to sign, declining the executor role. I will have them drawn up and sent to you. If you’re absolutely sure, that is.”
    “I’m sure. You can send them to my office. And next time, Mr. Benedict, please be sure to call first. I could have saved you a long trip today.”
    He hesitated, hands shaking silently, then shrugged and said, “I can’t force you to do something you don’t want to do, Dr. Owens, though I hope, once the shock has passed, you’ll reconsider. Perhaps we can speak again in the morning.”
    “Perhaps not.”
    Undeterred, Benedict said, “In the meantime, there is one last detail. Mr. Savage wanted you to have this.”
    He dug in his pocket and dropped a small silver key into her hand. “He said you’d know what to do with it.”
    Sam tried to hand it back. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be involved at all.”
    Benedict ignored her, tipped a finger to his forehead in a goodbye salute then walked down the stairs and disappeared around the corner onto P Street.
    * * *
    Xander closed the door and watched Sam, clearly upset, stalk into the dining room and begin clearing the cups away. He didn’t like this, not one bit. For a stranger to seek her out was one thing, but to get her involved in a legal predicament, to write letters claiming she was in danger because he was contacting her and now this, leaving her holding the bag with his estate inside? If Timothy Savage weren’t already dead, Xander would have killed him himself.
    He thought back to Savage’s letter. He said he’d compiled a list of people who could have murdered him. Who were these people? And why, if it was clearly a suicide, did Savage try to rope Sam into his world with the claim of murder?
    There was something rotten in Denmark. Without a doubt.
    The crash of broken china came from the kitchen. He hurried in to see Sam with a finger in her mouth,