“At the moment, I’m speaking to you.”
“That’s why you’re here? Miss Chen?”
“Yes.”
“You raised so many questions regarding Miss Headley, I just assumed...”
Ben prompted, “Assumed?”
“Assumed your visit had something to do with her. Mr. Shepard’s presence supported that assumption. It occurred to me he had registered a complaint with you.”
“He did, on behalf of Miss Chen.”
“Oh, I see. I hope you are satisfied that I have done nothing untoward.”
Ben did not say one way or the other. “Do you still have the note you found outside Miss Chen’s door?”
Martin shook his head. “I destroyed it.”
“Did you write it yourself?”
“No! It was vile. Did she say I wrote it?”
“She did not. Did anyone step forward to admit authorship?”
“Not to me. Has anyone ever claimed responsibility?”
“No.”
“Humor me, Sheriff. Why the questions about Miss Headley?”
“You’re misremembering, Mr. Cabot. The majority of my questions were about your work for Miss Headley. Your presence in town has given rise to speculation.”
“I’m aware. Mrs. Springer thinks I have something to dowith Victor Headley’s railroad enterprise. I imagine she’s not alone.”
“No, she’s not,” said Ben. “My mother thinks you’re spying on Mr. Shepard.”
Martin’s smile was regretful. “If only I had been hired for that task, but no. I have nothing at all to do with Mr. Headley. I’ve never met him.”
“I believe that will change soon. He’s informed Mr. Shepard by telegram that he will be arriving within a few days.”
“Oh?”
“He will very much want to know how his daughter came to be murdered under your watch.”
Chapter Thirty-eight
Lily was studying the wanted notices in Ben’s office when Ben and Roen arrived. She turned when the door opened and regarded them expectantly. “Well?”
“Let us take our coats off first,” said Ben. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I want to know how the interview went with Mr. Cabot. When Roen didn’t return home, I thought he must be here. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t wait any longer.”
Roen shrugged out of his coat and passed it to Ben to hang up. He closed the distance to Lily in a few strides and kissed her on the cheek. “Come. Sit with me over there.” He pointed to the two visitor chairs. “Ben just concluded the interview. We didn’t discuss it on the walk here.”
“Too damn cold,” said Ben. He looked in the coffeepot on the stove and made a face. It was empty. He decided coffee could wait but the fire needed attending. He tossed in some kindling, and when it blazed, he added coal from the scuttle. When he turned around, he saw Lily scooting her chair closer to Roen’s. She leaned her shoulder against his. It was a small gesture, but an intimate one, and all the residual doubts Ben had about their unconventional marriage vanished.
Ben sat behind his desk and asked Roen, “Do you think Cabot was genuinely caught unaware when I told him Miss Headley was murdered?”
