“And then sat back down beside St. John and inconveniently died? Wouldn’t he have bolted to separate himself from the crime?”
“He was in no condition to bolt. The miracle seems to be that he made it this far. There’s something going on here we don’t understand.”
“A good deal,” Solomon agreed. “If they were having a jolly, foul-tasting drink together, how and why, and by whom, were the bodies shifted into the odd positions you found them in? If they were moved here by someone else, who?”
“And why?”
Solomon wrapped the flask in his very white handkerchief and pocketed it. “I suppose I should take this to Inspector Harris.”
“He’ll scold his men for not finding it.”
“And so he should,” Solomon said austerely, allowing her one of those rare glimpses into his life as a successful man who expected the best of all his employees. “But first, we need to meet Cordell at the office.”
“We can take Janey and Hat with us…”
*
Hanibal Cordell presentedhimself at the Silver and Grey offices punctually at nine o’clock. The rather endearing uncertainty he had betrayed at the establishment last night had vanished and he was once again the self-possessed, almost arrogant young man of birth, wealth, and privilege.
Janey, showing Hat how it was done, announced the visitor to Solomon and Constance almost as soon as they had sat downfor a cup of tea. Fortunately, Janey had thought to supply a third cup, so there was no need of interruptions once they were all seated around Solomon’s impressive desk.
“Pleasant office,” Cordell remarked. “It speaks of both comfort and efficiency.”
“That was our aim,” Solomon said. “The details are Constance’s. Our usual contract, with our fees outlined, is in front of you—if you still wish to engage us. In full honesty, I have to tell you that while we treat private matters with unswerving confidentiality, we will never conceal crimes, whoever has committed them. So you must consider that before you sign the document.”
The man’s gaze had been on Constance. He had looked a lot last night, too. Solomon didn’t blame him for that. Nor did it necessarily betoken a hidden agenda. But as his eyes met Solomon’s, they were definitely thoughtful.
“I think,” Cordell said slowly, “you would have gone on investigating without my engaging your services. I am not trying to buy your results, merely to ensure you don’t give up in favor of some more pressing case. I need to know what happened to St. John, and so does Bella.”
“Does Bella know you are employing us in the matter?” Constance asked.
“Not yet,” Cordell said steadily, “but I shall tell her.”
“And will you tell her who we are? Who I am?”
“That you own the house where he was found? Yes, probably. She doesn’t know what the property is.”
“Won’t she want to meet us?” Constance asked curiously. “Will you allow that?”
Cordell hesitated, but only for an instant. “If you had asked me before last night, I would have said no. Now…I will not take her to that house, but I have no objections to your meeting.”
It irked Solomon that the world did not accept her. It irked him more that he had once regarded her in a similar light. Fascinating perhaps, desirable most certainly, but not for Polite Society.
Constance only smiled. “Don’t worry. I shan’t appall anyone by calling on the ladies. And they have already met Solomon. It would be helpful if one of us could speak more frankly to Miss St. John at least, and preferably to her mother and brother.”
“Why?” Cordell asked blankly.
“Because something in St. John’s life, past or present, must have led him to our doorstep, and frankly, we are struggling to discover what. A greater knowledge of the man and his family might help.”
Cordell licked his lips. “I’ll see what I can do,” he said at last, and picked up the contract.
Solomon was pleased to see that he read it thoroughly yet quickly, then reached for the pen beside him and signed his name clearly on both copies. So did Solomon.
“Tell us your impressions of the St. John family,” Constance said. “Were they comfortable together? Happy?”
“As happy as most. I would say they indulged their children more than my parents did, but it has done them no harm.”
“The children respected both parents?” Solomon asked, setting aside the Silver and Grey copy of the agreement.
