“Who what?”
“Who do you need to speak to?” Gabe said, still standing before him. “And unless you can see through me, I fail to see how you could spot anyone?”
“Go and annoy your wife,” Zach muttered. He then stepped sideways before Gabe could stop him and left.
“This is not done,” his brother called after him.
Zach ignored him and walked. Why had he said what he had? Clearly he was not himself tonight. Tomorrow, Gabe would want to talk to him, and Zach would have to avoid him because he had no wish to discuss the matter further.
Heading to the doors that led outside, he thought a few minutes of cool air would clear his head. Zach would then locate Mary and see if she was all right and apologize to her yet again.
It was getting tiring. Perhaps it was time for them to start avoiding each other as Beth had suggested. He didn’t like that idea at all. Could they be civil to each other instead of antagonistic?
Someone called to him from his right, but Zach ignored it and kept moving. Reaching the door, he opened it and stepped through.
London had been gripped with unseasonably cold weather for the last few days. The cool air slapped him hard in the face, and it felt wonderful. Moving to the balustrade, Zach braced elbows on the cold stone and inhaled. Below were the gardens lit with torchlight. Clearly the hosts were hoping for walks through their carefully weeded gardens. Instead, everyone was shut inside inhaling one another’s body odors and cloying scents.
There was only him out here, and he enjoyed the solitude, no matter how brief it would be.
“I know, Monty. We must return and ask more questions. Someone there is not telling us everything they know.”
The woman’s voice drifted to him from beyond the balcony that curved slightly to his left. A large statue that Zach guessed was Aphrodite obscured whoever was there. Likely some kind of tryst was his guess. Good luck to them in this weather. It was cold enough to dampen anyone’s ardor.
“I will go tomorrow night. We cannot cease until they are found.”
Zach pushed upright and off the railing he’d slumped over. Who was that? It was a female and familiar, even pitched low.
“You must have a care. These women and men are dangerous.” A man was speaking now, but he’d not heard his voice before.
“I know. As you must also.”
Mary.
He moved and didn’t see the urn. Kicking it hard, he let out an expletive, and then hopped about gripping his abused toes. The shuffle of feet had him hurrying to round Aphrodite. He found Mary standing at the railing, staring out into the night.
“Who were you with?” he demanded.
She turned to look at him and then away again.
“Leave me alone.” Her voice was cold and flat.
“I heard you speaking with someone. Who was it?”
“What I do or don’t do is no concern of yours.”
Zach stalked to where she stood. Grabbing her wrist, he turned her to face him.
“Release me at once.” Her chin rose, and he saw no fear, only anger. It was better than the tears he’d put there earlier.
“Who”—Zach leaned into her space—“were you talking to?”
Her lovely brown eyes widened.Lovely?Nothing about this woman was lovely, Zach reminded himself. She was a viper. Irritating and never lovely. Perhaps he was ailing for something?
“Tell me.” He shook her gently. “I heard you speaking about dangerous women and men and going somewhere tomorrow night.”
Surprise momentarily replaced the anger. She rallied quickly and tried to shake her arm free.
“Perhaps I am having an illicit rendezvous with a man, sir, and h-he’s married.”
