“We are here to see Mr. Barnes.”
He glanced down at the book before him. “You don’t have an appoint—”
“Police business,” Fletcher announced as he started toward the solicitor’s door. “We don’t need one.”
The clerk jerked to his feet, watching helplessly while they entered. “You can’t go in there!”
Did he say that so loudly to let his superior know he’d tried to stop them, Henry wondered.
Mr. Barnes looked up from his desk, pen in hand, with a frown. “What is the meaning of this?”
“We are bringing you in for questioning,” Henry stated plainly.
“For what?” His cheeks flushed, but Henry didn’t think it was from mere outrage. “I’m not going anywhere.”
And this was where it all came together. “We have a witness willing to testify that you assisted with the fraudulent amendment of two wills for patients murdered at Hollowgate Heights.” Henry lifted a brow. “If you’d prefer we can arrest you now and take you away in handcuffs. Or you can come with us willingly to answer our questions.”
The sound of the front door slamming shut had them glancing over their shoulders. The clerk was nowhere in sight.
Henry looked back at the solicitor, who smiled grimly. That was enough for unease to creep along his spine. “Where did your clerk go?”
“I have no idea.”
“Liar,” Fletcher growled as he looked between Henry and the door as if tempted to give chase.
“There’s no point in hauling me to Scotland Yard. I will be free within the hour.” Mr. Barnes sat back in his chair as if at ease.
His sudden confidence didn’t sit well with Henry, especially now that the clerk had fled. “Then you won’t mind going with us willingly,” he countered.
The clerk’s departure didn’t change the plan: the solicitor would be questioned and hopefully charged. He hadn’t expected Mr. Barnes to cooperate or offer any sort of confession, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t guilty.
“What if your clerk returns?” Fletcher asked, as Mr. Barnes locked the door.
“He has a key.”
Henry shared a look with his friend who nodded in response, clearly able to read his mind.
“I’ll see to placing a padlock on the door.” The sergeant smiled brightly at the solicitor. “Wouldn’t want your clerk to return and destroy any files or the like.”
Mr. Barnes pursed his lips, the news obviously unwelcome, which only made Henry more certain they were on the right path.
The remainder of the morning passed quickly. Dr. Stanhope sent a reply by return messenger, saying he would be happyto help and would bring another trusted physician with him. Henry and Fletcher questioned the solicitor, though the man had little to say.
Yes, he was acquainted with Dr. Thorne, as they already knew.
Yes, he’d been Mr. Dunn’s solicitor, as they already knew.
Yes, Mr. Dunn had amended his will just before his death, as they already knew.
Unhelpful, to say the least.
“And how long have you known Mrs. Dorothy Symes?” Henry asked. They had yet to hear from the niece who lived in Devon but based on what his parents’ neighbor, Mr. Olson, had told them, she might be a victim of the scheme as well.
Mr. Barnes stilled at the name. Did that mean he’d been involved with her will, too? “Again, I’d have to check my records. I cannot be expected to memorize every client. The name isn’t familiar to me.”
“What of Thomas Ambrose?”
The solicitor paled but said nothing.
