“Mr. Ayling is delayed in Chicago, so you start to worry,” completed Louise. “Penny, you’re certainly building up a case!”
“Maybe I am,” Penny admitted with a shrug. “However, other things bother me too.”
“For instance?”
“That scream we heard at midnight. Mr. Eckenrod and his wife told me they had been awakened by strange noises here.”
“Didn’t you understand from Father Benedict that Old Julia causes the commotion?”
“Yes, and it’s plain to see she is a poor demented creature. Still, there’s something about her—when we came in today, I had a feeling that she was trying to tell us something.”
“She did warn us away. However, in her condition she might say anything. So I dismissed it.”
“I wish I could talk to Old Julia when Father Benedict isn’t around,” Penny said soberly. “I have a hunch she could tell us interesting things about this place!”
“Then you do distrust Father Benedict!”
“Not exactly,” Penny denied. “He’s been pleasant enough to us, and I suppose he has a perfect right to start a crazy cult here if he chooses.”