“What on earth possessed you to ask her that?” I hissed, once we were in the hallway.
Mr. Dorian lifted his chin, unrepentant. “I wanted to know if the police had spoken to them, and that seemed like the easiest way.”
I pressed the service button for the elevator and whirled back to face him. “You could have just asked them rather than make a veiled accusation of murder.”
He flashed me a wicked smile. “Ah, but where would be the fun in that?”
“You are impossible.” Then another thought occurred to me. “You haven’t spoken to your brother then.”
“Not yet,” he said in a clipped tone, but I could tell there was far more behind those words.
We both fell quiet for several long moments, and the only sound was the low groaning of the elevator as it made its slow ascent to us.
“She has nerves of steel, that one,” he finally replied. “Didn’t even blink. An actress through and through.”
“Well, of course not, when she had nothing to hide,” I said, exasperated by his continued suspicion.
But Mr. Dorian remained unconvinced. “Perhaps not about their whereabouts that evening, but I’m not so certain she was telling the full truth about the rest of it.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“Mrs. Langham thought that she and her late husband’s connection was not quite as platonic as was suggested, and that her young Italian was terribly jealous,” he said. “And I’m inclined to believe her.”
I bit my lower lip as I considered this. “It’s possible, I suppose.”
“Charles was a cad through and through,” he began. “But a terribly charming one. Women did not leave his company willingly. Mrs. Langham was under the impression that they still rendezvoused several times a year.”
I was unable to school my shock and then immediately felt naïve. Mrs. Pearson had seemed entirely genuine to me, but I should have proceeded with more caution and not so readily accepted the story she gave as the full truth. “How … dramatic,” I managed to respond.
“Actors,” Mr. Dorian said by way of explanation.
I sniffed as I recalled the various gossip columns about him in the company of several different actresses. And that was only the ones that were written about. “Well, you know more about that than I would,” I muttered without thinking.
Mr. Dorian shot me a curious look that I blatantly ignored. “In any case,” he continued, “it would possibly explain why Mrs. Pearson never sought a divorce herself.” Then he frowned, considering something. “Or perhaps she refused to sign the divorce papers unless she got something in return.”
I balked. “You think she was extorting him?”
“She had been here for over a week before his murder, yet they were still trying to arrange a meeting. Why would it take that long if it was something they both wanted?”
“But she said he had no money, and she mentioned that she was doing well.”
Mr. Dorian shrugged, unconcerned. “Yes, but perhaps not well enough to walk away from a payout, especially if she felt it was owed to her. And I’m sure Charles was perfectly capable of scrounging up some funds, when necessary,” he pointed out, then pursed his lips. “But even if that was the case, I’m not sure how that helps us solve this murder.”
The elevator finally arrived then, and the attendant pushedopen the gate. Mr. Dorian and I shuffled once more into the cramped space, and I leaned back against the wrought-iron bars, mulling over this scenario.
Then I straightened as something came to me. “Maybe that’s it,” I said. Mr. Dorian raised an eyebrow in question. “Perhaps he was trying to make a quick sale to pay her off,” I continued, now warming to the idea. “Only something went wrong. Or he was swindling someone, and they noticed.”
Mr. Dorian nodded slowly. “Yes. I like that idea.”
Meanwhile, the attendant looked back and forth at us with blatant curiosity.
“He’s a writer,” I explained. “We’re coming up with ideas. Sometimes inspiration strikes when you least expect it.”
Mr. Dorian rolled his eyes, but the attendant immediately perked up. “Really? Have you written anything I would know?”
Just as I was about to say the name of his first book, Mr. Dorian saidnoand shot me a warning look.
The attendant frowned as he considered this. “I don’t think I’ve heard of that, but I’ve got an idea for you. A story you wouldn’t believe.”
