“A perceived slight, no doubt. Miss Chen does not possess the wherewithal to be insolent.”
“You’re wrong, but I will admit that her impudence was unexpected.”
“So that’s all of it.”
“Yes. The truth. I swear it.”
“I believe you. Do you want to take a breath?”
“What?”
“It will take longer if you do. I’d like that. You owe me that after spoiling her beautiful face.”
“I did not—”
“Breathe,” he said, and pushed her under.
Chapter Thirty-five
It was early when Roen and Ben arrived at the Butterworth. Circumstances dictated that Roen tell the sheriff that Victorine was not at her finest in the morning. That bit of intelligence decided Ben that the better course was to wake her.
There was no one in the dining room, but Abe Butterworth was at his post behind the registration desk. He welcomed both men warmly. “If you’re looking for your mother, Ben, she’s already gone to the butcher’s. Best cuts are always at the start of the day, she says.”
“Not looking for her actually. We don’t expect to be long, so give her my best if I miss her.”
“Certainly.” He looked from Ben to Roen and then took them both in. “So what is your pleasure?”
“We’d like to visit Miss Headley,” said Ben. “What room is hers?”
“She has a suite, but she’s a late riser, and with no companion to help her dress and do whatever she does to her hair, Miss Headley doesn’t come down for breakfast until after ten.”
“We assumed she would still be sleeping, Abe.”
“Oh, well, I don’t know. The privacy of our guests is—”
Ben stopped him. It was not often that he had to point out that he was the law, but he did so now, opening his coat and tapping the star on his jacket.
“Right,” said Abe. “She’s in 301.”
“The key?” said Roen, holding out his hand.
“Yes, um, the key.” Abe gave them his back while he retrieved the key. “Odd,” he said, staring at it.
“What’s odd?” asked Roen.
Abe turned around and dropped it in Roen’s palm. “It was in its cubby backwards. Ellie and I always put the keys away in the same direction, with the head out and the working end in. No particular reason for it; I’ve just always done it that way and Ellie followed suit. I guess one of us could have put it in differently. It’s just that it’s not the usual thing.”
Roen closed his hand around the skeleton key. He wasn’t particularly interested in Abe’s story but he listened politely and suspected Ben was a tad more impatient as he had experience with Abe rambling.
“Thanks, Abe,” said Ben. He nudged Roen toward the stairs. “We’ll bring it back.”
Abe didn’t respond. He was still mumbling to himself when they reached the first landing.
“He’s particular,” Ben told Roen by way of explanation. “That’s why he and my mother suit so well.”
“They’re both going to be unhappy when they find out that Fedora was hurt. Will they ask Victorine to leave?”
“Probably.” Ben pointed to another stairwell at the end of the hall. “This way. Maybe they won’t have to. Maybe she’ll leave on her own.”
