“You’re one to talk with your have-to-kill-us-if-you-did line.”
“Come on,” Dino said. “That’s a classic.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
In Stone’s ear, Felicity said, “If you two are quite through, can you please go inside?”
Chapter 23
Several members of the housestaff were waiting in the grand entrance hall to greet the mourners when Pryce entered. He made a beeline to the nearest member and asked for directions to a toilet.
The butler gestured to a hallway and said, “Down that way, first door to the left.”
“Thank you.”
Pryce fought to keep his pace normal when all he wanted to do was run. Once he finally reached the bathroom and had the door closed behind him, he plopped down on the toilet lid and expelled a relieved breath.
Until a few minutes ago, he’d had no news for Bronsky. The church service and that at her graveside had both gone off without Dame Felicity showing up alive.
But everything changed on the cart ride to the house.
He stared at the floor and replayed in his mind what he’d heard until he had it committed to memory. He then pulled out his phone.
Bronsky hadn’t given him his phone number, just an email address that Pryce was to use only if absolutely necessary.
Pryce was sure what he’d learned fit that bill.
He sent off an email, telling Bronsky to call him. Then he stood, thinking it would be a while before he’d hear back. But he’d only taken two steps toward the door when his phone vibrated, the caller ID blocked.
“Hello?” he answered, keeping his voice low so that no one outside the room could hear him.
“You can’t be home already,” Bronsky said. “My understanding is that Dame Felicity’s burial just finished.”
“It did, and I’m not. I’m in her house.”
“You’rewhat?”
“I’m in Dame Felicity’s house. There’s a reception and I—”
“Get out of there now! I’ll call you back in ten minutes.”
Bronsky hung up.
Pryce was not sure what he’d done wrong, but he knew an order when he heard it.
He headed back to the entrance hall and weaved his way around the guests who were making their way inside.
A golf cart had just dropped off an elderly couple. Before the driver could return to the church, Pryce flagged him down and jumped into the back.
After the short ride, he walked as quickly as he could to his sedan and hopped in. As he started the engine, his phone rang again.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Where are you now?” Bronsky asked.
“In my car.”
“Are you still on her property?”
