A flame glowed, hissing and spitting red sparks. She stifled a yelp. Lord, her nerves were a bundle of wasps.
“Are you attached to Pearl and her family?” he asked.
“Yes.” She regretted the too eager tone. “Pearl and I grew up together.”
A frown creased his brow, but if he found her story unbelievable, he didn’t say anything. “Pearl is the key to find the stolen money.”
Her chest heaved with a storm of emotions. That wasn’t possible.
“I can assure you that it is possible,” he said.
Tarnation. She’d spoken out loud. “Pearl can’t be involved in a financial fraud. I refuse to believe it. She’s a practised accountant, but I’m sure her father didn’t tell her anything. I saw her a few days before she vanished, and she was perfectly happy and normal. If she’d known about any financial trouble, she would’ve been distraught. She told me her father never revealed all the details of his work.”
“Do you have any clue where she might be? A friend who might help her?”
Pearl closed her fists to not show how much her hands trembled. “No, I’m sorry. I don’t know anything.”
“Listen, since Pearl isn’t available, I’ll ask you. I’d like to search her house.”
“Excuse me?” She tipped her head up.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t tell you anything specific, but I do need to see her house. Will you escort me? I’d feel less like an intruder if Pearl’s friend is with me.”
Tarnation. “I believe an investigation is ongoing. I thought the police are handling the case.”
His brows knitted together, and a bitter smile twisted his mouth. “The police aren’t equipped or trained to deal with a financial crime of this proportion, and I’m afraid they might overlook a few clues. I’d be more confident if I could have the chance to search Pearl’s house on my own.”
“What do you hope to find?”
A long exhalation hissed from him. “I’m not sure. Something that the police might’ve judged as unimportant or trivial.”
“I don’t understand.” Pearl stuck out her chin. If Christopher wanted her cooperation, she needed to know more. “You’re treating Pearl and her father as criminals.”
“Because they are.” A glint flashed in his eyes where the flames mirrored.
The words were like a bucket of icy water on her back. Her breath froze in her lungs. “You can’t be serious.” Father? A criminal? It was ridiculous. “I seriously doubt that the Blackmoore-Smiths are criminals, financial or otherwise.”
“I’m sorry to give you such a shock, but Elias Blackmoore-Smith disappeared with nearly two million pounds, after emptying his bank account. We suspect Pearl is his accomplice, and that she knows where the money is kept. This is a felony.”
The room spun, and she slumped back into the chair. There had to be a mistake. She certainly had no idea where the money could be, and surely Father couldn’t be involved in such an awful crime. He’d always been so careful with his work, so considerate towards his clients. The whole affair had to be a misunderstanding. Father had been framed, and the only way she had to prove his innocence—and hers—was to let Christopher carry on his personal investigation.
She smoothed her skirts and rose, despite her trembling legs. “All right then. I’ll accompany you to the Blackmoore-Smiths’ house.”
He shot up as well. “Thank you for your cooperation. I’ll arrange the trip to London for tomorrow. Would you like me to escort you to the ball again?” He offered his crooked arm, but she didn’t take it.
“No, thanks.” Her stomach roiled with nausea, and a headache hammered her skull.
Her appetite for balls and music had been swallowed by a monster of outrage.
