“Hello, Inspector,” Freddie said curtly.
“Miss Atkinson,” he said with a brief nod before turning back to Alex. “Is there somewhere we could speak in private?”
“Why don’t we go to my father’s study—”
“No need,” Freddie said briskly. “I have some things to attend to.Lovelyto see you again.” Though her tone indicated quite the opposite. Then she marched out of the room with her nose stuck in the air.
Alex was bewildered. She had been certain Freddie would make a nuisance of herself in front of the detective, as usual. She turned to him and shook her head. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”
But Inspector Holland’s gaze was fixed on the doorway while his hands were clenched in fists at his sides. Then he quickly recovered and turned to her. “I’m sure it’s nothing to be concerned about.”
Alex furrowed her brow. “Yes,” she said slowly, then gestured for him to sit.
Inspector Holland looked relieved she didn’t press him further,and Alex filed that away in her mind to ruminate on later. They had far more important things to discuss at the moment than the reason for Freddie’s sour mood.
Once alone, Alex gestured to the tea service. “May I offer you a cup of tea?”
“No, thank you.” Then he leaned forward and clasped his large hands together. “I’d like you to tell me exactly what happened last night,” he said, getting right to the point. It was a quality Alex could appreciate.
“Certainly. But didn’t one of the officers tell you? I gave them a full statement last night.”
The inspector nodded. “Yes, but I’d still like to hear it from you. Particularly regarding anything you can remember about the man who assaulted Mr. Taylor.”
Alex then related exactly what she’d told the officers: She had been working at her desk when she heard Lucien’s shouts. After loading the pistol, she charged down the hallway and exchanged words with the assailant. The inspector’s lips twitched in an amused smile when Alex described their exchange along with her shock when the man ran off.
“Well, you did have a gun,” the inspector pointed out.
“I suppose that put me at an advantage.”
“Describe him for me.”
Alex took a sip of tea as she pondered this. “Tall. Most definitely over six feet. Well-built, but he seemed older. Like he was past his prime. He had dark eyes but I couldn’t see his hair color as it was hidden under his cap. But he also could have been bald.”
“Anything else of note?”
“He had several scars on his face, including one across his mouth.”
The inspector’s jaw tensed ever so slightly. “Thank you, miss. Atkinson. That is very helpful,” he said. “Is Mr. Taylor available?”
“He’s asleep at the moment, but I can try to wake him.”
Inspector Holland shook his head. “That won’t be necessary. I’m sure he needs to rest. I’ll speak with him another time.”
Alex tilted her head. “Then… you know his attacker?”
“Given your description, I’m quite certain it’s an ex-boxer named Gerald O’Hara. Went by the name of Gorgeous Gerry back in his fighting days.” Alex let out a snort and the inspector raised an eyebrow. “It was meant to be ironic.”
“I’ll say,” she muttered.
“He’s also a known associate of the Nun,” Inspector Holland continued.
Alex let out a breath. Though she had assumed as much, having her suspicions confirmed only deepened her guilt. “What happens now?”
Inspector Holland’s dark eyes gleamed. “Are you willing to testify against O’Hara in court?”
Alex didn’t hesitate. “I will do whatever it takes to ensure nothing like this happens again to anyone I—” She stopped abruptly and swallowed. “Anyone I care for.”
The inspector watched her closely. “Of course.”
