Thankfully, Alex always did a little spell on the tray so no accidents befell the elixir of life, and nothing spilled.
"Well, he's a charmer," said Julian, once the elevator door had closed on the man.
Everyone in the bullpen cracked up, and then people swarmed them for their coffees, though they saved cups for Lapointe and Thomas, who were absent from the proceedings.
"Where are your fearless leaders?" asked Julian, when one of Lapointe's favourite minions came and took the last free cup.
"In her office," said the agent. "The boss sent them into hiding from the angry nobleman."
"I'm very happy not to have had to deal with him, that's for sure," said Alex.
They made their way over to Lapointe's door and knocked, getting a surprised grin from Thomas that turned into an invitation inside. Alex handed off the coffee and they all filed in, finding Lapointe at her desk looking frazzled.
"The storm has passed," said Alex, giving Lapointe her own coffee.
"Oh, thank fuck," she said, taking a huge gulp. "That guy was above my paygrade."
"Your boss told him to get a lawyer, and he finally got the message and fucked off," said Alex.
"He definitely thought peerage should not be held in a cell, though," said Julian. "I'm surprised your boss didn't relent."
"Two high-placed nobles dead is two too many, and with three more sickened, she's lost all her privileges." Thomas sipped his own coffee with a grin. "Lord Wicket or whatever was the same rank as that tosser."
"And I outrank him," said Alex evilly. "Feel free to keep reminding him she poisoned a Viscount."
"Tosser," said Thomas affectionately.
"Always," replied Alex, saluting with his coffee and then drinking some. "All right, are we repairing to the polite interrogation room for this, or can we occupy your newly comfy couch?"
"It's not that new anymore," said Lapointe, "but I can take notes better in the other room. Everyone can fit, anyway."
Her office held six okay, but not everyone could sit.
"We don't actually have to follow them around," said James. "Although we're interested in the debrief."
"It's fine, let's go," said Julian, gesturing to the door.
They all trooped over to the interrogation room with the nice oval table that seated six, Lapointe and Thomas both bringing notepads with their coffees, and everyone arraying themselves comfortably in the identical chairs.
"All right, how do you want to do this?" asked Alex, while Julian got comfortable next to him.
"We have questions," said Thomas, flipping to a page in his notebook. "You gave us the basics, so we don't need that again."
"Again and again and again," intoned Julian, already tired of repeating the adventure in various contexts.
"So for the first murder," said Thomas, "You two were not in range of either poisoner or poisoned?"
"No, we were out of arm's reach," said Alex. "Even my arms. The furniture was arranged in a conversation group but we were on the other side of the coffee table in our own little loveseat, smaller than the settee that Wicket was sharing with the ladies."
"What's his name, Smythe-Darbyshire, was nearby, but also set apart by the arrangement enough he was never a suspect," said Julian. "He's also Baron Herbert."
"Probably not relevant," said Thomas, writing it down anyway.
"So there were six suspects because that was who was in proximity?" asked Lapointe. "People have asked why you only questioned a few of the attendees."
Alex snorted. "Half the people weren't even in the room. That's how Smithson got his pass, he was in another part of the house when Winterson was dosed."
"Honestly he wasn't much of a suspect," said Julian. "I can't explain it, but he never came off as anything but happy to be of service."
