“How do you go about finding who killed her?”
I explained that it required tracking down those who had contact with her and speaking with them, if they could be found.
I didn’t go into the details of the murder that Ellie Sutton had witnessed ten years earlier, as I only had the information from that older newspaper article. I was hopeful that Mr. Burke might be able to tell me more.
“What about Mr. Brodie? Is he out following clues as well?” she then asked.
I simply nodded but didn’t explain. However, quick minds…
“Is there some danger? Is that the reason yer here? And Mrs. Ryan as well? She refused to say anything.”
As I was saying…
“There is repair work being done to the office…” I didn’t go into further explanation on that and didn’t explain about the further incident at the town house.
“Wot is this?” Lily asked with her usual sharp-eyed observation as she stood at the writing desk. “A locomotive?”
It was the toy I had retrieved from Ellie Sutton’s flat. At the time, I had a thought that it might tell us something. I needed to call on Mr. Brimley in that regard. I had added that to my list as well.
“It belongs to a person involved in our current inquiry case. I need to see someone who may be able to tell me something about it.”
“And this?” she held up the piece of dark blue wool that I had taken from my bag. “It looks the same as the police uniforms.”
I could have explained that it was merely something that Rupert had picked up. Still, there was that old saying about one lie needing another and then another, until one was caught up by them. And I reminded myself that Lily was indeed very intelligent and clever, and thought how I would feel if our positions were reversed.
The answer, of course, was that I would have pestered until I had the answer.
“It’s from a police constable’s uniform,” I finally replied. I saw the way her brows drew together, another question forming.
“And it might be important to the case?”
“Perhaps.”
“Mr. Clark says the same thing when he doesn’t want to explain something to me because he thinks I canna understand.”
My aunt insisted that I take breakfast with her and Lily, and then further insisted that I have her driver take me to my meeting. She would take the motor carriage if she needed to venture out into London.
And she was off to continue practicing her‘driving skills,’even though I had explained to her that a safari caravan did not require driving machines since there were no paved roads as in London.
“One can never be too prepared,” she cheerfully replied.
I cautioned Mr. Symons to not let her go out alone in the motor carriage. He reminded me that he had been with her for over thirty years and had not yet had to send anyone to rescue her.
When I pointed out that thirty years ago, she was not eighty-six years old, he simply reminded me that she had proven herself quite resourceful.
“Much as yourself, miss.”
Conversation ended.
If I was a religious person, I would have uttered a prayer on her behalf. As I was not, I said nothing more. I merely wrapped several biscuits in a napkin for the hound, placed my notebook and pen in my bag, and prepared to leave.
Lily made a face when I explained where I was going and whom I was hoping to meet with.
“His mother must not have liked him. Who would name a child Theodolphus?”
I was of the same opinion.
“I need to return these to her ladyship,” Lily said then of the goggles. “She misplaced the other pair earlier. She might need them.”
