“Well, it would appear Mr. Hoffman has gone missing.”
Annie shifted in her seat. “Missing?”
Taggart nodded. “It seems he never returned to Germany. Have you seen him at all since the day of the wedding?”
“I have not, sir. He stayed with me till the police left and the undertaker came to collect my father.” Annie’s throat tightened. “But he left immediately afterward and I haven’t seen or heard from him since.”
Frowning, the inspector leaned forward. “I apologize, Miss Fairfax, if you find this upsetting.”
“I’m all right, sir, but thank you. Actually, now I come to think of it, I believe Mr. Hoffman gave the police his London address.”
“Yes, he did, but he apparently vacated the place three weeks ago without notice.”
“I see. How did you learn of this? I mean, that Mr. Hoffman never went home?”
“We recently had a visit from his father. The family received a letter from Mr. Hoffman not long after he arrived in London, butthey’ve heard nothing since. Naturally, they’re worr—”
There came a couple of quick knocks on the door, which then opened, and Hattie entered, balancing a tea tray on one hand, her expression a little pinched. “Here you are.” She set the tray down on the small table next to Annie’s chair. “Shall I pour?”
“No, it’s all right, I can manage,” Annie replied. “Thank you, Hattie. That’ll be all.”
Taggart shifted in his seat. “Actually, I’d like Mrs. Henshaw to stay here for now. What I have to say next concerns her.”
Hattie’s eyes widened. “Me?”
“Yes,” he replied. “Specifically, your visit to Archibald Mason’s office and what you told him that day.”
“Ah.” Hattie fiddled with her apron.
“Whatyoutold Mr. Mason, Hattie?” Annie shook her head. “I don’t recall you telling him anything, specifically.”
“That’s because you were not present at the time, Miss Fairfax,” Taggart said. “And I’m assuming, from your reaction, that Mrs. Henshaw has not yet spoken to you about it.”
Annie threw a questioning look at Hattie. “You spoke to Mr. Mason alone? When?”
“That same day,” Hattie replied. “If you recall, I left my umbrella behind. I spoke to Mr. Mason when I went to collect it.”
Confused, Annie shook her head. “Spoke to him about what?”
Hattie gestured to the settee. “May I sit?”
Annie gave a nod. “Please do.”
Hattie perched herself on the edge of the settee and looked expectedly at the inspector. “Do you want me to repeat what I told Mr. Mason that day, sir?”
“Actually, no, Mrs. Henshaw,” Taggart replied, after a moment. “I’d prefer to relay what I’ve been told and for you to correct me if necessary. So, to begin, you told Mr. Mason you’d noticed a ring on Leopold De Witte’s finger when he came to visit Miss Fairfax afortnight after the funeral. Is that right?”
Hattie nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”
Taggart looked at Annie. “Is Mr. De Witte in the habit of wearing a ring, Miss Fairfax?”
Annie, who had been staring at Hattie, pushed through the fog of confusion in her mind and shifted her attention to Taggart. “Er, yes, he is, actually. A gold signet ring.”
Taggart nodded. “Now, Mrs. Henshaw, can you describe the ring you saw when Mr. De Witte visited that day?’
“It was not a signet ring,” Hattie said, with a firm shake of her head. “It was a simple gold band with a single jewel embedded in it. A diamond, I assume, since it had no color.”
“And I believe you told Mr. Mason you were certain you’d seen that same ring on Karl Hoffman’s finger.”
