Eve met his gaze and sent him a querying look. He waved her over, so she went to him.
“Why are you grinning like the Cheshire Cat?” she asked, suspicious.
“Because your grandmother was the light of my life, my bonnie lass. And that giant of yours looks at you the way I used to look at her.” He patted her cheek. “I’m happy for you.”
Eve’s heart wanted to believe his words, but the ugly voice she’d carried at the back of her mind for eight years wasn’t ready yet.
At a light tap on the door, Mrs. Campbell hurried to open it. Eve saw a shadow in one of the side doorways and spotted the three kitchen servants. She gave a soft groan. Was the entire household staff listening from the surrounding rooms?
23
“Uh, oh. Bad timing,” Joe said.
“What?” Darius turned around and saw a Scottish police car driving up.
“I’d hoped they’d give you more time to do your thing. Sorry.”
The housekeeper opened the door, wearing a broad grin which disappeared when her gaze landed on the police officer. Darius and Joe stepped aside for him.
“I’m looking for Graham Stewart,” the man said.
“Well, I . . . I’ll get him for you,” Mrs. Campbell said and hurried away.
“The cop’s in on it,” Joe whispered.
“What is this?” Eve’s grandfather demanded, leaning on his walker.
“I have business with Graham Stewart,” the officer repeated.
“That’s me.” The young man who followed behind Mrs. Campbell looked thinner than he had the last time Darius had seen him. And scared.
“Sir, you have the right to remain silent,” the policeman said and began the Scottish equivalent to the American Miranda rights.
“What?” Graham cried, looking panicky now. “I took the lie test.”
“And failed it. You’re under arrest.”
“I didn’t do it. I swear.” Graham threw himself at his grandfather’s feet and buried his face in his hands.
“You confessed that it was your drugs used to poison your cousin.”
The policeman continued to give the reasons for the arrest, but Darius wasn’t paying attention. Joe was covertly pointing to the crowd of servants that had gathered in the entrance, specifically at Alan. The man’s face had gone white, his breathing rapid. His gaze shifted from Graham on the ground to the officer, his expression conflicted. Darius thought he understood then.
It wasn’t until the policeman bent over to pull Graham to his feet that Alan’s expression shifted to one of resolve. He stepped forward.
“No. You mustn’t take him.Idid it.”
“What?” Archibald Stewart gasped, his face flushing with anger. “You tried to kill my granddaughter?”
“Because I’ve stood by this family my entire life. I could see how she was getting to you. She was already talking about blocking Graham’s birthrights. It’d only be a matter of time before she convinced you to change your will and reinstate her father.” Alan turned a look of hatred on Eve’s dad and spat on the ground. “He betrayed his family and cast aside his heritage. Duncan was your rightful heir and through him, Graham. I wasn’t going to sit back and let that be stolen from him.”
The officer reached for Alan’s arm. Agitated, he stepped back, but the rest of the servants closed in to form a wall to block him. His shoulders drooped, and he let the policeman handcuff him.
“Come with me.” The officer led the valet away, giving Joe a nod this time as he passed.
“How did you know?” Darius asked.
“Alan’s fingerprints were on all the glasses. Graham’s were only on his. I guess the valet didn’t watch enough TV murder mysteries.”
