“Of course not,” Wentworth said, sending his colleague a sharp glare.“It was different.The two cannot be compared.”
“So what you’re suggesting,” Adrian told Wentworth, “is you may have let down your guard during one such encounter, and Mrs.Lester might have acquired information she could then have shared with her husband.”
“You said you trusted only me,” Melroy snapped.“Yet you offered me nothing but crumbs compared with what you gave her.A mere nurse.”
Wentworth expelled a weary breath.“I didn’t lie to you, Melroy, or tell you less than what I told Lau…Mrs.Lester.In fact, I never mentioned any of this to her at all.”
“What are you saying?”Adrian asked.
“I’m saying that I don’t know if she figured out what I was working toward.At least not for certain.”A helpless expression filled Wentworth’s face.“I keep the key to my desk drawer in my right jacket pocket.One evening when I went to collect my journal with the intention of adding some notes, I found the key missing.Searched everywhere for it until I realized it had been placed in my left pocket instead.I shrugged it off as an error on my part but…”
“Mrs.Lester had the opportunity to pilfer it,” Samantha murmured while glancing at Adrian.It was beginning to look like Murdoch’s spy wasn’t only involved in the killings, but at the very center of them.
“Maybe,” Wentworth admitted.“Like I said, I dismissed the idea.Especially after checking the drawer and finding everything as I left it.”
“All she would have needed was to distract you,” Adrian said.
“She may not even have used the key that day,” Miss Hastings suggested.“If she made an imprint, she could have used a replica later.”
Samantha glanced at her, a little impressed by her reasoning.“Having a key of her own would certainly have decreased the chance of raising Wentworth’s suspicions.”
“She would have been able to return to the office at any time,” Adrian said.“Without him ever wondering over a missing key.”
“It could be I just misplaced it,” Wentworth said.
“Maybe,” Adrian agreed though the tone of his voice informed Samantha that he doubted this as much as she did.He turned to Miss Hastings.“Do you have some paper?I’d like to leave a note for Kendrick.”
“I’m sure he’ll arrive at any moment,” Miss Hastings told him.“It would be best if you’re able to speak with him directly.”
“I’ll leave you to that,” Adrian said before asking Wentworth one final question.“Where do the Lesters live?”
* * *
Peter Kendrick was glad to return to Bow Street.His audience with the Prince Regent had been insufferably long and had deviated toward discussions that held no importance.Like the seagulls the Prince Regent had seen on the beach while visiting Bath.
What did that or the meals he’d enjoyed matter?
Yet there had been no chance of extricating himself from the conversation and taking his leave.Tea had been served along with cake.Peter had forced himself to endure it while watching precious seconds tick by on an ornate clock.He’d nodded and forced the tea down his throat.Honestly, he’d never understand how anyone could stomach the swill.
“Let’s get back to business,” Chief Magistrate Hastings said as they entered the Bow Street Magistrate’s Court together.Though he’d made no comment about their meeting with Prinny, Peter was fairly certain Hastings shared his opinion.
It had been a colossal waste of time.
They parted ways immediately inside the entrance with Hastings heading upstairs to his office and Peter turning toward the hallway that led to his own.He barely managed three steps before he heard a familiar sound of feminine footfalls at his back.
His lips curved with amusement and with a fair amount of pleasure, if he were being completely honest.Despite wanting to dive right back into his quest for answers without the distraction Miss Hastings threatened to pose, he rather liked having her hunt him down.It made him wonder at her reasoning.If he were lucky, it would have just as much to do with him as any information she wished to impart.
He halted before he reached his door, schooled his features, and turned to face her.“Yes?”
In her haste to reach him it took her a moment to stop, which nearly sent her careening into him.Eyes wide, she stumbled sideways in an attempt to avoid a collision.Peter’s arm shot out, his hand curling around her upper arm to halt her progress.Which left him standing with a befuddled looking Miss Hastings pulled up against him.
All amusement drained from his person.He stared down at her, at those lovely brown eyes fringed by dark lashes, and that irritating mouth that gave voice to his shortcomings more often than not.Unbidden, he wondered what it might feel like beneath his own.
His fingers twitched and Miss Hastings squeaked.
Peter blinked.“Forgive me.”
He dropped his hand and she took a step back, rubbed her arm while seeming to make an effort to brush off whatever discomfort he’d put her through.“It’s all right.I’ll be fine.”
