“Of course, that isn’t what I’m asking.”
“Then what?”
“Adrian said that the man appeared unwell. The police have asked him again and again if the man consumed anything on the train, if Adrian gave him anything, even a cigarette. He didn’t, but they don’t seem to believe him.”
Saffron frowned, ignoring the water dripping from the umbrella’s point onto her shoulder. “They think he was poisoned.”
A mixture of relief at her understanding and worry for Adrian made his stomach turn uneasily. “Yes.”
To his surprise, Saffron let out a laugh. “Just because I know things about poisonous plants doesn’t mean I’ll be of any use in proving your brother didn’t slip the man something! How can you expect me—”
“The man who died was a scientist. A horticulturalist. He worked in a lab,” he said quickly, “so you might be familiar with some plant or chemical he worked with.”
“And now I’m supposed to snoop around his lab?” She lifted an arm in exasperation. “Should I run up to change my shoes so I might creep around his garden too? Alexander, you’re asking me to do exactly what you told me off for doing before. That isn’t fair.”
He hung his head, wondering how the conversation had gotten so off track. “I’m not asking you to do anything of the kind. You have knowledge that might help the inspectorsolvethe case. I’m not asking you to do anything more than offer your help to Inspector Green. Showing that the man died from ingesting some chemical from his lab will help Adrian.”
“Simple. Easy,” she said sourly. “I’ll just tell Inspector Green to hand all the information over to me. He knows you and I have—had—a relationship of some kind, and he won’t suspect I’m up to something. No, not the detective inspector. He’ll never suspect a thing. Excellent plan.”
She turned and stomped up the steps to the flat. He took the steps two at a time to beat her to the top, where he held open thedoor. She shot him a dark look as she closed her umbrella and stepped inside.
That didn’t put him off. Even though he could feel his chances of fixing things between them dwindling with every sarcastic word from her mouth, he needed to do something to help his brother. At present, that looked like chasing Saffron up the stairs to her flat.
CHAPTER4
Saffron barely noticed Alexander next to her as she pounded up the steps. Her mind was too loud with all the things she wished she could throw at him, accusations and more sarcasm and outright shouting about him being a selfish, manipulative man.
None of it would come out, however, because underneath all that frustration at his hypocrisy was an appreciation for the absoluteness of his apology and his loyalty to his family. Even if she couldn’t trust that his apology was entirely genuine, it was very hard to be completely angry with a man who’d humble himself to help his brother. Not to mention he said he thought she could actually help the inspector solve the case.
But that too could easily be a manipulation. He knew that saying such things would work in his favor.
At the top of the stairs, Saffron shoved her key into the lock and pushed the door open. A wave of warm air scented with a savory dinner and traces of lingering bleach poured into the cold hall.
Saffron turned to tell Alexander good night, but before she could get a word out, Elizabeth was clattering down the hall.
“Saffron! And Alexander, what a pleasant surprise!”
Saffron opened her mouth to explain that it was not a pleasant surprise at all, but her words died as Elizabeth came to a stop before them. She wore one of her best dresses, burnt orange with yellow floral lace appliqué, and flawless makeup that left no hint of hercleaning frenzy on her person. But the smile stretching Elizabeth’s scarlet lips was more of a desperate baring of teeth.
“Is your brother still here?” Saffron asked.
“Yes, and I’ve just brought out coffee,” she replied. “Won’t you join us? Alexander, come and meet my brother, Nick.”
Alexander’s sudden stillness behind Saffron drew her attention away from the obvious subtext of Elizabeth’s invitation, that she didn’t want to spend another moment alone with her brother. Saffron turned to see that his face, which had been open and earnest during his plea, had shuttered. After a brief glance at Saffron, he said, “Of course.”
They removed their coats and were chivied down the hall by Elizabeth. She briefly squeezed Saffron’s cold hand in her own warm one, though Saffron didn’t know if it was in warning or gratitude.
The parlor was bright and inviting. The table that Saffron used as a desk had been dragged from the window to stand before the fire, lingering debris from supper layered atop.
A man rose from the couch as they entered. He was tall and solidly built, as all the Hale family were, and had the light, sandy coloring all three siblings shared. But that was all that Saffron found familiar in the man smiling broadly at her.
His eyes were crinkled into a warm smile, his teeth even and white. He wore some of his weight in his jaw and neck, both giving the impression of a sturdy character to go with his frame. His thick hair was short and neatly brushed back on his high forehead.
He stepped forward to meet her. “But this is never little Miss Everleigh, terror of all Bedfordshire,” he said with a chuckle.
Saffron offered him her hand. “How do you do, Nick? It’s been a long time.”
“An awfully long time,” he agreed, not releasing her hand right away. Instead, he held her away slightly, taking her in with friendly appreciation. “Long enough for you to be unrecognizable, apart from those Everleigh blues.”
