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husband ever bought the place. ’Course, Mrs. Patton—I mean Mrs. Tagley—was the real power behind the throne, you might say. Samantha’s father never did have the gumption she did. But then, I guess that’s why they moved out to the country in the first place.”
    â€œBecause Mr. Patton didn’t—didn’t have enough gumption?” George asked, leaning against the counter.
    â€œWell, because his business had failed, I mean,” clarified Mrs. Reames. “He’d had some kind of nervous collapse after that businessman got through with him, and he and the missus bought the inn to give him more quiet surroundings. Ha! More quiet, my foot! Why, I can remember—”
    â€œYou said ‘after that businessman got through with him,’ ” Nancy gently reminded Mrs. Reames. “Who do you mean?”
    â€œWhy, he was—he was—the name escapes me now,” said Mrs. Reames. The room service telephone rang just then, but she ignored it. “Let them wait! They won’t starve! Well, whatever his name was, it was a real scandal, what he did to Mr. Patton. Said he was going into partnership with him. Got him to sign a lot of bad checks—and just cleaned him out. Mr. Patton never could hold his head up after that—”
    Mrs. Reames snapped her fingers so suddenlythat her glasses nearly fell off the end of her nose. “Sawyer! That was it, Mr. Sawyer!”
    Nancy just stared at Mrs. Reames for a moment before asking, “Mr. Sawyer? Any relation to Brock Sawyer?”
    â€œThat actor? Yup. That’s the one. He’s sitting pretty high in the saddle now, isn’t he? But his background is nothing to be proud of. I’m not surprised Mrs. Patton—I mean Mrs. Tagley—can’t stand the sight of him.” Mrs. Reames shot Nancy and George a knowing look.
    â€œAfter all, the boy’s own father as good as murdered her husband.”

Chapter

Eight
    S UDDENLY Mrs. Reames’s face froze. “You won’t tell Mrs. Tagley I’ve been blabbing on about her like this, will you?” she begged, twisting her apron. “I’d probably get in all kinds of trouble!”
    â€œI promise we’ll keep your secret,” Nancy told her. She stood up to leave. “Thank you so much. Come on, George.”
    â€œYou were right, George,” said Nancy as she and George took the stairs up to the main floor. “This really is a soap opera!”
    George asked, “Do you think Mrs. Tagley could have been trying to get revenge on Brock for what his father did to her first husband?”
    â€œIt’s possible,” said Nancy. “I hope not, though. I like Samantha. It would be terrible for her if her mother had done something like that.And that reminds me of something else. Does Samantha know about the way Brock’s father treated her father? I mean, does she know she fell in love with the son of the man who destroyed her father’s spirit?”
    George shrugged. “I guess that’s one of the things you can find out when you talk to Mrs. Tagley. You are going to talk to her, aren’t you?”
    â€œYou bet—very, very carefully. I really don’t want to get Mrs. Reames in trouble, so I’ll have to tiptoe around the whole thing. Let’s see, what time is it?” Nancy checked her watch. “Four-thirty. I don’t think there are any more activities scheduled for this afternoon. This is probably as good a time as any to talk to Mrs. Tagley.”
    â€œWant me to come?” asked George. “Or do you think she might say more if I’m not around?”
    â€œI guess I should try a personal approach,” said Nancy. “Maybe you can track down Bess and Jake.”
    â€œWill do. Good luck!” George headed for the elevator.
    Nancy found Mrs. Tagley’s office next to Samantha’s—the door open. When Nancy peeked in, she saw that