“Only because I came home.”
“But since youdidcome home and those certificates weren’t made official, I say all’s well that end’s well, so there’s no need for the Pinkerton to stay.”
Eunice narrowed her eyes on him. “And I might have agreed to send Agent Clifton away since all of you are family except I didn’t return home simply to save my inheritance. I’m also here to address some unfinished business from the past.”
“Eunice...” Ivan said from where he was standing by the music room door, his voice brimming with an unspoken warning.
She pretended she didn’t hear him. “That unfinished business pertains to Grandfather’s death.”
“There’s nothing unfinished about that,” Uncle Raymond said. “My brother’s been dead and buried for the past seven years.”
“Oh, there’s no question that Grandfather is dead, but thereissomething unfinished about his death because, you see, I have reason to believe he didn’t die from an accidental shooting.”
Aunt Hazel raised a hand to her throat. “James would never take his life on purpose.”
“I wasn’t suggesting he committed suicide. He was murdered, plain and simple, and it’s past time to bring his murderer to justice.”
CHAPTER
Twenty-Five
“Just so you know,” Ivan said, “it’s now no longer up for debate that after we solve this particular case, you’ll resign yourself to the fact you’re far too direct to go out into the field on investigations ever again.”
Pausing in the process of cinching Wyatt’s saddle, Arthur smiled as Eunice sauntered into view, wearing not one of Phillip’s dresses, but trousers paired with a gentleman’s jacket, complete with riding boots that had seen better days. Ivan was at her side, exasperation stamped on his face, exasperation Eunice did nothing to temper when she rolled her eyes.
“My continuing to go out into the field is certainly still debatable,” she argued. “Why, I imagine, what with how I blurted out about Grandfather being murdered, that our case is going to move forward at a rapid rate.” She stopped in her tracks when Wyatt let out a nicker that sounded somewhat menacing. “You mark my words, the killer will be exposed within the week.”
“Or you’ll be dead within the week.”
Eunice lifted her chin. “I didn’t get the feeling last night that the family is going to cooperate with us, given the vast disappointment they didn’t bother to hide over my being anything but dead. I figured they needed a shake-up. With the murder business out inthe open, everyone knows there’s skullduggery afoot. And,” she continued even though Ivan had opened his mouth, clearly ready to argue against that, “because the members of my family aren’t the type to take a bullet for anyone, I’m hoping we’ll be inundated with clues the longer we spend time with them.”
Arthur gave Wyatt’s ears a scratch, earning a nuzzle from Wyatt in return, something that had Eunice settling a glare on the horse.
“It’s obvious Wyatt didn’t miss me.”
“Or he was bereft without your company and is being ornery right now with you because it’s his way of showing you how distressed he was,” Arthur countered.
Wyatt tossed his head, released another nicker, then tossed his head in Eunice’s direction, which had her backing her way into a stall. “He’s ornery because orneriness is his normal nature.”
Arthur smiled when Wyatt gave him another nuzzle. “Perhaps that’s why he likes me. He senses a kindred spirit.”
“You’re nothing like Wyatt.”
Arthur’s lips curved into a grin, which faded when he realized Ivan was watching him far too closely. “Yes, well, that’s very kind of you to say. But returning to your theory about being inundated with clues the longer we spend time with your family, that might be somewhat tricky to do considering all except Hazel fled from the music room last night after you added that bit about being certain your grandfather’s killer was in that very room.”
“They didn’t flee directly after I said that,” Eunice argued. “If you’ll recall, Uncle Raymond didn’t hesitate to throw suspicion on you, stating that you were the one to find Grandfather, so you were obviously the one to murder him.”
“And you rose to my defense splendidly, telling them I wouldn’t have ended up with the empire James was willing to hand over to me if he died before he got us married.” Arthur frowned. “I have to admit, I was surprised when you disclosed everything about the day James died. I thought the plan was to keep the fact you were on the target field a secret.”
Eunice took a step out of the stall, freezing on the spot whenWyatt began pawing the ground. “That was an unintentional disclosure on my part, but I simply couldn’t figure out how to sufficiently explain why you’d stage the scene without telling the whole story.”
“Which led everyone to begin accusing you of murdering your grandfather,” Cooper said, pushing himself away from the stable wall he’d been leaning against. “That’s why I stepped in to explain that the Pinkertons had concluded neither you or Arthur were credible suspects, and then told your family I was prepared to sit down with each of them individually to do some interrogating.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Can’t say I was expecting everyone to make a mad dash for the door after I suggested that. I’m surprised no one was injured in the stampede.”
“It’s obvious no one is going to willingly sit down with you,” Eunice began, “hence the reason behind traveling into town today. I’m hopeful we’ll be able to take Doris and Alice, as well as Howard, by surprise when we stroll into their respective businesses. Surprise appearances have been known to have people spilling a few secrets, or at least that’s happened a few times on cases the agency has solved.”
“And while all of you are off to town,” Judith said, looking up from where she was sitting on a haybale, sketching Wyatt, “Ann, Georgette, Lloyd, and I will see if we can find some answers here with Hazel, Raymond, and Clarice. Hazel has agreed to sit for me this morning after I admitted to her that I admired her eyes. I’m not certain, however, that we’ll make any headway with Raymond and Clarice, given that they’re now sequestered in their suite of rooms and refuse to come out.”
“A clear sign of guilt if there ever was one,” Eunice said as one of the groomsmen appeared, leading a lovely mare by the name of Samantha and handing Eunice the reins once he reached her side.
