Annie gasped. “Surely not.”
“That’s what I told him, yes.” Hattie regarded Annie. “I remember it, because the day of the wedding was cloudy at first, but the sun came through the windows while Mr. Hoffman was, um, while he was checking your poor father for a pulse. The ring he was wearing, or rather, the jewel in it, glinted, and it caught my eye.”
A memory flared and Annie gripped the chair arms. “Actually, yes, I noticed that as well.”
Taggart nodded. “Good. Please go on, Mrs. Henshaw. Tell me why you suspect Leopold De Witte to be involved in Mr. Hoffman’s disappearance.”
Hattie cleared her throat. “Because the day Leo came to the house and, in my opinion, threatened Miss Fairfax, he was also wearing a ring. I might not have noticed it if he hadn’t lifted his hand to touch your cheek, Annie. You turned your cheek away, remember? That’s when I saw it, and I knew I’d seen it before, and I also knew where. It was the same ring I’d seen on Mr. Hoffman’s finger.” She shook her head. “My blood ran cold, let me tell you. I knew, right then, that I hadto get you out of the city, and the sooner the better.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this, Hattie?” Annie demanded, but the answer occurred to her as soon as the words left her mouth. “Never mind. I know what you’re going to say. You didn’t want to frighten me. It just makes me wonder what else you haven’t mentioned.”
“Just watching out for you, pet,” Hattie replied. “That’s all.”
Taggart appeared to ponder. “What threat was made to you, Miss Fairfax?”
Annie blinked. “Er, if I recall correctly, he said I would live to regret my decision.”
“A decision pertaining to…?”
“Renewing our engagement.”
“You decided against it, of course.”
“Yes.”
“Leopold De Witte is a dangerous man, and no one will convince me otherwise,” Hattie retorted. “I’d bet everything I own he’s responsible for Mr. Hoffman’s disappearance.”
“But there’s no proof, Hattie,” Annie pointed out. “It could be he simply owns a similar ring.”
Hattie huffed. “In all the times you spent with him, did you ever see him wearing a ring like that?”
“Not that I recall, no, but—”
“Well, there you are then,” Hattie replied, with a resolute nod.
“It is speculative at the moment,” Taggart said, “but worthy of investigation, I think. Thank you, Mrs. Henshaw. That will be all.”
“Ah. Right.” Hattie got to her feet. “Well, I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.” She gave what Annie knew to be a false smile. “Janet tells me you had an exceptionally interesting day, Miss Annie. I look forward to hearing about it later.”
Annie merely nodded.I swear, Hattie Henshaw, there are times…“I suppose I should have asked at the beginning, Inspector,” she said, asHattie left and closed the door, “but have you actually spoken to Leopold?”
“Not since he was cleared following the events in the church, Miss Fairfax, no. Unfortunately, like Karl Hoffman, he seems to have disappeared. It could be he’s no longer in the country, but we’re still on the lookout for him.”
“The last time we spoke, he said he’d rented rooms somewhere.”
“Yes, we’re aware of that, but he’s no longer at that address.”
“Karl Hoffman swore he’d track him down,” Annie said. “It was the last thing he said to me at the end of that horrible day.”
“And perhaps he did,” Taggart replied. “There’s a possibility a confrontation took place between these two men, and it did not end well for one of them.”
Annie sighed and slumped back in her chair. “What a mess.”
“Indeed.” Taggart leaned forward. “You’ve been through a lot, Miss Fairfax. There is just one more issue to be cleared up, then I shall leave you in peace.”
Annie frowned. “What issue?”
“Julian Northcott.”
