Simpson shifted behind her, and Inspector Green lifted an eyebrow. “Indeed?”
Saffron saw the same idle doubt on the inspector’s face as she’d contended with a hundred times. She could handle it again. “When did I place poison in the glass? I was far across the table from both of the Henrys during dinner. During the first go-round of champagne glasses, I was in the hall with Mr. Ashton, accidentally overhearing the conversation between Mrs. Henry and Lady Agatha, which I reported to you. I had no opportunity to touch either of their glasses, as when we returned the toast was already being made. Later, I came to say goodnight to the Leisters after they had already poured their champagne and the glasses were in their hands, apart from Mrs. Henry, who was handed her glass as I attempted to speak to Lady Agatha. Others can vouch for my being far from Mrs. Henry and the champagne. Dr. Maxwell was nowhere near Mrs. Henry for the entire evening either, nor did he interact with Dr. Henry, to my knowledge. Furthermore, I have never been in Dr. Henry’s office or his home. I daresay you and your colleagues have taken up using fingerprints. I’m happy to provide you a set of mine, and you may check it against those found on Mrs. Henry’s glass. Finally, I fail to see how the professor who you say harassed me plays into it at all.”
Inspector Green sidestepped her. “You claim that you were in the hallway with Mr. Ashton while the first round of champagne glasses were passed around.”
“Mr. Ashton can confirm it,” Saffron replied confidently.
“The trouble is, Miss Everleigh, that your relationship with Mr. Ashton is such that he could say whatever suited the situation to ensure your alibi.”
“My relationship with him? We’re colleagues. We work in the same building.”
“You were seen with him at the party.”
“We wereintroducedat the party. And as I’ve said, we’re colleagues. It is natural to converse with one’s coworkers,” Saffronsaid, working hard to conceal the anger she felt. Gossip seemed to follow her everywhere she went!
The inspector cocked an eyebrow. “In a dark hallway, for example? Seems an odd place to converse with a man you met that evening. You must have become very fast friends, to have been seen around campus and each other’s offices so often.”
From behind her, Simpson made a noise like a stifled laugh. Inspector Green shot a quelling look over her shoulder.
Saffron tried to restrain her indignation, her hands clutching together in her lap. “As I said, we work together. We just began collaborating on the work for the expedition. Mr. Ashton is my department’s representative, as botany sits under biology. Dr. Maxwell’s tasks for the expedition have been assigned to Mr. Ashton, and they require preparation, research. As you have detained Dr. Maxwell,” she added with a glare, “I have to do more to assist Mr. Ashton.”
“As you say,” Inspector Green demurred.
Unsatisfied, Saffron continued. “I still fail to see the relevance of my unfortunate experience with the professor.”
Without blinking, Inspector Green said, “Dr. Maxwell threatened Dr. Berking when he heard of Dr. Berking’s behavior toward you on the sixteenth of March.”
Shock rolled through her, followed by a warm glow of gratitude. Saffron doubted Dr. Maxwell would seriously threaten anything apart from an insect eating his exotic specimens, but that he would pit himself against Berking on her behalf was enough to make her willing to drink down xolotl for him all over again.
“According to who?” she asked, determined to bolster Maxwell’s defense. “Dr. Berking? He can hardly be trusted to report accurately.”
“That may be true, but we have alternate sources to confirm it,” said the inspector as he stood. “I must ask you to stayin London for the duration of the investigation. Thank you for your time, Miss Everleigh.”
Closing the door after the policemen, her anxiety rose. Why did the inspector think her capable of murder? What did he know about her—or rather, what had people said about her?
It seemed as if she’d only managed to get herself in more trouble. Now, it looked like she was under just as much suspicion as Dr. Maxwell.
CHAPTER 10
Alexander arrived at the office determined to cross a few things off his to-do list. Staying busy would keep his mind where it belonged—on the expedition and ensuring he was ready for it.
The prospect of the expedition left Alexander feeling restless, as if he needed to immediately be in motion. Six months in the jungle would break up the monotony of lab work nicely. His last expedition had been more than a year ago. It was time for another. He’d managed to convince himself—or rather, his mother had convinced him—that staying in London was a sound decision. The guilt of her worry and heartbreak over him, during and after his service, meant he found it next to impossible to deny her. In the end, he was relieved that he’d been asked to step in. He enjoyed the single-mindedness of an expedition; one was there to do the job, and that’s all there was to it.
First among his tasks was ordering equipment. Dr. Henry’s assistant, Snyder, had provided him with instructions for gear and the dates of the voyages and a rough itinerary, being sure to point out on multiple occasions that it was likely to be dangerous and uncomfortable. Between his previous travels and his experience in the army, Alexander was used to both, so he didn’t find Snyder’s wide-eyed warnings disconcerting.
Alexander spent an hour going over the study designs from various professors and jotting down notes on what he’d need to order. He followed this up by going to each professor and double-checking everything before turning in the equipment forms to Richard Blake’s office.
Of course, all this took longer than it should have because Saffron Everleigh and her determination to save Dr. Maxwell would not leave his mind. Even though she’d seemed fine yesterday, apart from when her flatmate had thoroughly scolded her, the urge to make sure she was all right hovered in the periphery in his mind all morning.
Rather than climb the stone steps into the library as he’d planned, Alexander crossed the Quad, deciding it was time for a break. Clouds skittered across the sky as a stiff breeze swept through the city. Alexander cut through the Wilkins Building and down the street beyond, toward the greenhouses. He entered, not wanting to admit that he was curious about the vine that had caused so much trouble.
Distracted by the rush of color and humidity upon entering the glass structure, Alexander walked into an elderly man with dirty trouser knees leaving the greenhouse. A terracotta pot shattered on the ground, and the dark earth scattered, exposing white, spidery roots. Apologizing, Alexander knelt down and helped him scoop the dirt back up.
“And why are you bustin’ into my greenhouse, mister?” the man growled. He was old and wrinkled, his red face weathered by years spent outdoors.
“I came in to take a look,” Alexander said, a little taken aback by his tone and a lot taken aback by the filth layered under the man’s fingernails. He must be the caretaker. “Miss Everleigh suggested examining some of the species found here.”
Eyes narrowed, he asked, “You with University College?”
