48

It took a week to track down Tracy Venable. That Monday after school, Rudolph picked up Megan and Katherine. They drove out to a small café in town so they could meet Tracy.

When they first got to the café, they had a bit of trouble finding her. Rudolph was about to ask the waitress where Tracy was, but then he noticed her at a table near the back of the café. He went over to the table, and Katherine and Megan followed.

As Rudolph approached, Tracy said, "You must be the Bates kid."

"Rudolph Bates," he corrected, trying to sound cheerful and not show his annoyance.

"Right," Tracy continued. "And which one of these other two is your little girlfriend?"

"That would be me," Megan said, not trying to hide the fact that she despised Tracy. "I'm actually his fiancée, not his girlfriend. This is Katherine Kirkpatrick, since you didn't really ask."

The three sat down.

"Please, remind me why we're here," Tracy said.

"Long story short, my father left me a… note… referencing a sister. We're not sure whether he meant his mother's sister or his friend Maureen Coyle, and we can't ask him since he's dead," Rudolph said, leaving out the fast that he'd had a conversation with Norman's ghost. "Since you seem to be familiar with that time in his life, we were hoping you could help us."

"Before I agree, may I see this note?" Tracy asked.

Rudolph reluctantly pulled the clue out of his pocket and gave it to Tracy. She took it and read over it a few times.

"Since this references music and stairs, I'm inclined to believe your theory about the nun. I never came across Emma Spool having to do with music. The stairs only apply to her because she lived in an apartment on the second floor of the building. Maureen seems to fit all three elements. Try the convent she's from."

"That's not the only problem," Katherine said. "We don't know where this convent even was."

"I'll see what I can do," Tracy said. "How much are you willing to pay me, though?"