Orendel deserved the same chance, but there was danger in helping the man with his goal. Unless Adrian served as nothing more than a source of knowledge and allowed the earl to manage the reins.
“All I can offer is my opinion and council. Whatever else you wish to accomplish will be up to you. Is that clear?”
“Perfectly so.” It wasn’t what he’d come for, but the earl’s expression still brightened a little. “What will your fee be?”
Acknowledging the importance of planning ahead, Adrian chose to revert to his father’s tactics and ask for that which could prove more useful than money. “A favor, which I shall collect when I see fit. Is that agreeable to you?”
Orendel’s hesitation was understandable. Given the reputation afforded to Adrian’s father and the presumption that Adrian worked in the same sort of way, the earl probably thought it no different than selling his soul to the devil. Nevertheless, he nodded and stuck out his hand.
Adrian reached across his desk and shook it, then took another sip of his coffee before saying, “To begin with, I’d like to take a look at the crime scene.”
A hasty nod as Orendel told him, “Anything to help find the bastard who did this.”
“Very well. I’ll be there tomorrow morning. Eight o’clock sharp.”
The bedchamber Adrian stood in was like a scene from the worst kind of nightmare. Splotches of dried blood stained most of the bed, including part of the wall behind the headboard. It looked like the work of a rabid animal, not a human.
Adrian stepped forward, leaving Orendel by the door. He scanned the space, from the floors to the vanity table and dresser, to the mattress on which Lady Eleanor’s body was found. She’d since been moved to the coroner’s office for further examination.
Adrian crossed a large Aubusson rug and considered the bed. There was still an indentation on the pillow where her head had been. Dark stains framed the area but were most prominent on the sheets.
His throat tightened as one particular spot drew his attention. The mattress had been punctured there, the blood surrounding the indentation suggesting the blade had been driven straight through the body.
That had not only required force, but would suggest the use of a longer blade.
“Do you have a ruler and some sort of thin stick available?” He sent Orendel a glance. “A knitting needle, perhaps?”
“I’ll see what I can find.”
The earl departed and Adrian sucked in a deep breath. Devil take it, he could not fathom the pain of the murder having been done in the Orendel’s house. There would be no escape from it unless they moved to another location.
He circumvented the bed, took a seat at the vanity table, and slid his gaze across the floor. It looked like there was blood here as well, smeared across the rug, as though it might have been stepped in. Something shimmered near the wall and Adrian slid from the stool and into a crouch. It was a piece of glass.
“Was something shattered here?” Adrian asked when Orendel brought the items he’d asked for.
“A vase.” Orendel sounded as though he was doing his damndest to fill his voice with strength, only to fail as the words came out broken. “The pieces were strewn across the carpet along with the flowers in it. Must have broken in the scuffle.”
“So someone’s been in here to clean.”
“Eleanor’s lady’s maid, Audrey. My wife told her tostop when she realized what she was doing. Audrey was only trying to help, but we wanted to make sure all the evidence had been collected before making any…changes.”
Adrian drew another deep breath and expelled it. Having the crime scene disturbed would make his job harder since there was no telling what else the maid might have done. He studied the carpeting nearest the window. “Looks like this spot was scrubbed. It’s brighter than the rest.”
“I don’t know why that would be.”
Adrian pulled off his glove and tested the area with his fingers. It was damp to the touch. “This was done recently.”
“You’re welcome to speak with Audrey about it.”
“That might prove useful.” Adrian glanced up at the window. A theory was already starting to form in his mind. He stood and went to collect the items the earl had brought him.
Using the knitting needle first, Adrian carefully probed the cut left in the mattress and marked the distance with his fingers when it wouldn’t go any deeper. He retrieved it and set it against the ruler. Four inches
Add to that the estimated depth of Lady Eleanor’s torso, and the blade would have been at least nine inches long. Not exactly the sort of thing one carried around in one’s boot. A nasty piece of equipment, most likely used for protection or possibly during a hunt.
A lot of men would have such a tool. What he’dlearned here was unlikely to help him track the villain. He turned to Orendel, wishing he could offer the man a concrete lead. Instead he said, “I think I’ve seen all I need. If I may, I’d like to speak with the maid you mentioned.”
Interviewing the rest of the family would perhaps prove useful as well, but given what they had all been through, he decided to give them a few days in which to recover before pressing them. He followed Orendel into the parlor and waited for the maid to arrive. It didn’t take long for her to do so, despite the reluctance that showed in her hesitant stride and wary expression.
