“I beg your pardon?”
“You said you wanted to question the guideonceagain.I was not aware you’d questioned him a first time.”
He slanted her a peeved look. The bloody woman was too observant for her own good. Or perhaps,his goodwould be more apt a statement. “An opportunity presented itself when you sent your telegram.”
A look of concentration came over her face, as if she tried to determine when that would have taken place.
“At the time, he claimed to have delivered your so-called companion to the train station.”
“Yes, I know. I told you that much.”
“I wanted to ask him how it was, if that was the case, she wound up dead.“
“I see. That was very clever thinking, sir.”
As he watched, she took a swallow of brandy, then licked her plump lips, eyeing him with an expectant expression. “And? What did the guide have to say for himself?”
“He was nowhere to be found. He had not been seen for days, and by the look of his cottage, had packed in a hurry before leaving. I spoke with the magistrate briefly. He informed me he’d questioned the neighbors and found no one who had witnessed his departure.”
“No one? He slunk off? That would imply guilt, would it not? Perhaps he is a member of the band of jewel thieves.” She sipped more brandy.
Sterling shook his head and eyed the ceiling. Jewel thieves. She seemed particularly attached to the inane notion. “Annabelle, there is no ring or band or whatever you’ve termed it, of jewel thieves.”
Her blue eyes flashed with defiance. “You cannot be certain of that. If only I had retrieved the diamond—”
“Shard of glass,” he muttered, before drinking more brandy.
She went on as if he hadn’t interrupted. “No doubt the villains have removed it from the kiln by now.”
“No doubt. And if not, more’s a pity. As of today, whoever wandered into the kilns to terrorize you will find his route inside sealed off.” He’d commissioned rough doors with heavy locks to be installed before departing yesterday.
“I see.”
“May I continue?”
“By all means.”
“Contrary to your theory, I found no evidence linking Mr. Blackwell to a ring of thieves.” Although the man did have decent furnishings that bespoke of a regular income. “I did, however, find certain items which I believe he took from your maid. Items that, no doubt, belonged to you.”
She sucked in a breath. “Such as?”
“A kidskin, woman’s billfold etched with the lettersAandM—empty. A silver brush and comb, similarly engraved. They will arrive later, via courier.”
“That thieving toad,” she fumed, then her eyes lit. “As the guide did have my things…”
“Then it stands to reason he was the man responsible for what happened to Lucy. My guess is, he learned that her body had washed to shore, and rather than risk facing a murder and larceny charge, fled.”
She gazed at him in wide-eyed admiration. “You solved Lucy’s murder, sir. That was fast work. I suppose….I suppose that means you have no further objection to my leaving?”
Annoyance pricked him.
Before he could respond, she went on, scrubbing one hand over her thigh. “Although I may as well await my chaperone at this point.” The sullen lilt to her tone, as ifhehad broached the notion of her leaving, served to lessen his pique.
“We can’t be certain the guide was the killer. Not to mention, I still suspect his complicity with the men who held you at gunpoint.”
“Oh. Good point.”
He gave her a long look. “There’s something else we need to discuss.”
