“His eyes wereclosed?” Konstantin jumped on that.
Ilya took a step back. “Yes.”
“Why is that relevant?” I asked.
“Thank you, Lord Ilya,” Konstantin said. “You've been incredibly helpful.”
“I can go now?”
“Yes, you can go.”
Ilya raced away and soon the clicking of lights traced his retreat—one that was much faster than Master Andrei's.
When Ilya was out of earshot, Konstantin finally answered me, “The killer closed his victim's eyes. That's a sign of remorse or at least unease. Not something a hired assassin would feel. Nor would a professional touch the body more than was necessary.”
“So, the killer is one of us?”
“Yes. And another thing—that librarian is hiding something.”
Chapter Eleven
A page—as in a member of the castle staff, not a paper in a book—approached us as we were leaving the library and notified Konstantin that the bodies of the murder victims had been exhumed and were in the castle hospital, waiting for his examination.
I led the way to the other end of the castle, into a rectangular hall that was sectioned off with movable panels. There was a front desk, though no one manned it. The entire medical staff—three doctors, six nurses, and eight assistants—were gathered at the far end of the room. An aisle ran the length of the room, bisecting the sections. Konstantin and I strode down it, first passing empty hospital beds, then a laboratory, until we finally reached the crowd. To the right, across the aisle from them, was the only encased room in the hospital—the surgery. But the Master Physician and his team were in the prep area that doubled as storage, and it wasn't merely medical supplies that were stored there.
“Master Yaroslav?” I called.
The group parted, revealing three gurneys with sheet-covered bodies and one living man.
The Master Physician turned toward us. “Oh, Lord Mikhail. I didn't expect you to be accompanying the Garin.” He bowed to me, then inclined his head to Konstantin.
“I'm helping the Garin with his investigations. Master Yaroslav, this is Lord Konstantin.”
“It's an honor to meet you, Lord Konstantin.” Yaroslav waved us forward. “We have the murder victims right here. We removed them from their shrouds and disrobed them but have done nothing more.”
“Thank you.” Konstantin went forward as he drew that slim device from his jacket again. “If you could all step back, please.”
“Everyone, get back to your duties,” Master Yaroslav said. “I will attend the Garin.”
The staff filed out of the area, though I had no idea what it was they were off to do. Larchs did get hurt and required medical attention but most times, our rapid healing got to work before a physician was needed. I suppose there were other reasons to see a doctor, though. And yes, I was focusing on inconsequential things to put off focusing on the bodies.
“I can guess which is Lord Timofey, but who are the other two?” Konstantin asked, forcing me to look.
“The woman on your right is Lady Milana, the other is Eva,” Master Yaroslav, bless him, answered for me as he moved to Konstantin's side.
I winced as Konstantin, now wearing latex gloves—when had that happened?—yanked the sheet from Lord Timofey's body, exposing his nudity. He turned on his tubular device and drew the spotted grid over the body. Then he consulted the device's screen.
“No toxins,” Kon murmured.
The Garin flicked the light back to a normal white and got in close, lifting limbs, pushing back hair, and even opening Lord Timofey's mouth. When he was done with the front, he had Master Yaroslav help him turn the body over. As they did that, I got a good look at the wounds on Timofey's chest as well as the one across his neck. I stepped back.
Konstantin repeated his inspection of Timofey's back, then moved on to the women.
“Would you . . .” I cleared my throat.
Konstantin and the Master Physician both looked up from the body of the maid, Eva, their expressions blank.
“Uh, would you mind if I waited outside?” I asked Konstantin.
