Saffron beamed at Adrian. “But then you must no longer be under suspicion!”
He grinned back. “So it seems.”
Adrian thanked her and wished her well, then embraced Alexander before departing.
When the door clicked shut behind him, she turned to Alexander. “How has he been cleared? I haven’t told Nick or Inspector Green any of what I’ve found out.”
Alexander gave her a wry smile. “Is it wrong of me not to care? I’m far too relieved he’ll be heading back to Kingston.”
She noted the exhaustion lurking in the darkened depressions beneath his eyes, the deepened tension lines on his face. She felt as if she hadn’t seen him in weeks rather than days.
She wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her head on his chest. “I’m relieved too. Whatever the evidence, I’m glad the inspector found it.”
They stood like that for a long moment, his arms resting gently around her back. When he spoke, it was a rumble against her ear. “How is Harpenden?”
She was pleased to snuggle close to him on the couch for a few minutes as she explained all about the laboratory, the staff, and the missing papers.
“I wonder how much of this Inspector Green knows,” Alexander said. “Especially about the pyrethrins.”
“They weren’t on the list of chemicals, strangely,” she said.
Alexander, who’d been absently toying with her fingers, paused and gave her a significant look. “If this is proprietary research, I’m not surprised they’re reluctant to reveal it. Look what happened to the list of chemicals they did give the Inspector. You managed to get it into the hands of six different scientists who have no connection to thePath Lab, several of whom would have an interest in replicating their research before they could publish.”
“I’d thought of that,” Saffron said, “but that doesn’t explain why it wasn’t included. This is a murder investigation. I can’t imagine anyone picking and choosing the information they give the police.”
“Unless they have something to hide.”
“But everyone in the lab knows about the pyrethrins’ effects!” Saffron scowled. “Oh, this is maddening.”
“It is,” Alexander murmured, bringing her hand to his lips. His words tickled her skin. “Here we are, discussing murder once again when I’d planned to wine and dine you.” His soft laugh at her doubtful look skated over her palm before he pressed another kiss there. “Not the wine, but certainly supper.”
“I could put off supper for a while,” she whispered.
And so they did, filling the time with an embrace that left Saffron’s head spinning.
A rap on the door had her jerking dizzily away from Alexander. He looked as dumbfounded as she felt, his lips full and red and his hair tousled. Saffron couldn’t help but smile sheepishly at him as he stood and attempted to fix it.
“Yes?” he called. He was doing a poor job, so she rose to her feet and reached up to smooth her hands through the dark curls.
“Alexander.”
Alexander dropped his head onto Saffron’s shoulder with a sigh. “Nick.”
“Saffron with you?”
Saffron patted Alexander’s shoulder in commiseration. “Yes, I’m here.”
“Might I come in, or …?”
Alexander straightened up with a questioning look. She gave him a rueful smile and straightened his collar and tie, which she’d also mussed.
She opened the door. “What do you want, Nick?”
His understanding smile made her cheeks heat. “Is that any way to treat the man who ensured your beau’s brother is no longer on the hook for murder? Petrov’s case has been taken out of the police’shands. I understand Adrian is already on his way out of London.” He smirked at Alexander over her head. “You’re welcome.” He withdrew a note from his coat pocket and Saffron recognized her own handwriting. “Now, while I appreciate the note, I feel we needed to debrief about the Path Lab properly. Not to mention …”
Nick slipped around her to enter the office. He set down a briefcase on Alexander’s desk, unlatched it, and took a small round object from within. He straightened up and held it out in the palm of his hand.
“What is that?” Saffron asked, peering down at the lidded petri dish. It was stained with a yellow growth that made her stomach turn just looking at it.
