Ben tossed the cushion on the far side of the bed. “Her body needs to be moved to Ridley’s surgery. She’ll be able to confirm that Miss Headley was drowned. I’ll get Hitch and Abe to help. There’s a stretcher in the surgery. Do you want to inform her father or shall I?”
“I will do it. You should send a telegram later. He will want to hear from the law.”
“Were they close?” asked Ridley.
“No, not according to Victorine. Victor never spoke to me about her so I don’t know what he thought about their relationship. I don’t believe he’ll come here, although he could surprise me. Regardless, he’ll want to bury her in New York whether he accompanies her casket or not.”
“We are skirting the obvious question,” said Ridley.
Ben said, “I suppose you mean who did this. Roen? Suspects?”
“If I were in your shoes, I’d be at the top of that list.”
“Yeah. You are.” He looked at Ridley. “This is why I don’t speculate before I have all the facts.”
“Point taken,” she said, mildly contrite.
“I’ll want to speak to Abe and Ellie to learn if they heard or saw anyone last night.”
“The backward key,” said Roen.
Ben nodded. “Yes, there’s that.” He explained to Ridley what Abe had told them about the key that morning. “It suggests that someone used it to gain entry to this suite and put itback in the wrong direction. Perhaps the person was concerned about not being admitted if he knocked and announced himself, or perhaps he valued the element of surprise. There are only three other rooms on this floor. One is the apartment where Abe and Ellie live. The other two are rooms similar to those on the floor below. Hitch and I will speak to all the guests later today.”
Roen said, “To answer the question you haven’t asked, after you and Ridley left last night, I saw Fedora safely to Mrs. Brady’s and then went straight home. I was there the rest of the evening, most of it in bed with my wife. Lizzie had a bad dream that closely mirrored the events of the afternoon and came looking for her mother. She can vouch that I was in the room.”
Ben rubbed behind his ear and strained to tamp down his smile. “I think I can spare little Lizzie an interrogation. Lily’s word will be enough.”
“Thank you. I didn’t expect that you’d rely on mine alone.”
Ben nodded. “Can’t say I’m not glad you understand. If a man in my job isn’t suspicious, he’s dead.”
Chapter Thirty-six
Fedora was standing outside in front of the boardinghouse when Hitch arrived. She wore a scarf wrapped over her head instead of a hat and pulled it forward so that it covered most of the bruised side of her face. She kept her head down and spoke very little. None of that was unusual. No one who saw her leaving the boardinghouse gave her more than a single glance, and the absence of comments told her that her bruised cheek and red eye hadn’t been noticed or no one cared enough to inquire about them.
Hitch didn’t notice either. Fedora was content to listen to him prattle on about settling an argument at the Songbird between a ranch hand from Twin Star and Buzz Winegarten’s nephew before it became a physical altercation.
“Folks were placing bets and Buzz was taking them,” said Hitch. “He doesn’t much care for his sister’s son. Keeps him on ’cause he’s family, but watches him like a bird of prey every time Lincoln’s hand gets near the till. Hey, here we are already. It doesn’t take long enough to walk you here. I liked the walk to the Butterworth better on account of it taking more time.”
Fedora nodded and thanked Hitch for his escort. She opened the back door and out of habit began removing her scarf as she made to step inside. Hitch’s sharp intake of breath stopped her. Her hand hovered near her face for several moments before she dropped it to her side.
Hitch grasped Fedora by the shoulders and turned her to face him. His eyes widened. Above them, his eyebrows rose. “What happened to you?”
“Ask the sheriff. Please, I’d rather not talk about it.” She saw that he was disappointed in her answer but accepting of it.
“Then I’ll be going. Put some ice on that cheek.”
She reached into a coat pocket and pulled out the empty ice bag to show it to him. “I will.”
Hitch left her, but not before he surprised them both by placing his lips against her bruised cheek and then the uninjured corner of her mouth. “I love you,” he said.
Fedora stared after his retreating figure, and when she finally stepped inside the kitchen, she thought her feet did not quite touch the ground.
•••
Martin Cabot saw Deputy Springer striding toward the jail. The young man was obviously in a hurry. Martin suspected he knew the reason for the deputy’s haste, but the state of Fedora Chen’s lovely countenance was no longer his concern, and as he was on his way to the train station to purchase a ticket, he didn’t have time to dwell on it. There was always an early train heading somewhere, and he intended to be on it. The destination was of no importance to him. Eventually he would make his way back to Manhattan, but he could take his time about it. He had money of his own as well as cash he removed from Victorine’s suite. He found her reserves in a black lacquered jewelry box at the bottom of her wardrobe when he stashed the damp towels. It struck him as ironic that the box was a Chinese work of art with gold hand-painted characters gracing the lid and sides. There was also jewelry with the cash, but because the rings and necklaces could be identified with Victorine, he moved the jewelry to a drawer, where it could be found. He kept the box for himself as a memento.
Martin had always liked mementos.
