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Given what Joe had said about this man she didn’t doubt it and felt her temper begin to stir. Taking a leaf from Joe’s book, she slowly inhaled a deep breath and forced herself to relax a little so neither Sayers, or the magistrate, had any idea she was upset.
“Well, nobody appears to have seen him. If he is not here either, I am afraid there is a problem. I need to speak with you about the last time you saw him, his behaviour, that kind of thing,” Lucas announced. “We need to take a look around.”
Marguerite suspected there was another, altogether less trustworthy reason for them to want to get into the house and search it – like the body upstairs they knew was there.
“You will not invade this house and search it. There is no reason for you to. I object, and so will my father. Whilst he isn’t here, I can assure you that my father is fine. He was perfectly happy and reasonable this morning. As his daughter, I should know. This is all stuff and nonsense about nothing, so I am afraid you have wasted your time.” She turned a dour look on Sayers. “Both of you,” she added for good measure.
“When was the last time you saw him?” the magistrate persisted.
“I have already told you, this morning.” Her eyes dared Sayers to argue. “Why? What does it have to do with you? I am the man’s daughter and I haven’t reported there to be a problem. I don’t see where my father’s whereabouts are any concern of yours. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“I need to speak with him about something that happened at the shop the other night, that’s all. I have reason to suspect he might have seen something useful to our investigation,” Lucas murmured hesitantly.
“Like what?” Marguerite countered. She knew he was lying because her father would have told her. “Unless the place has been robbed there is nothing to concern you.”
“It’s not anything to worry your pretty little head about,” Lucas drawled patronisingly.
Marguerite’s brow lifted. She stared at the man with such baleful hatred that he shifted uncomfortably and looked as though he wanted to flee. He threw a nervous look at Sayers, who was positively glaring at her. Still, she refused to back down and threw him a filthy glare before she pierced the magistrate with a warning look.
“I think you need to speak with my father’s associate, Hugo Donaldson, if there is a problem with the shop. After all, Mr Donaldson is the live-in help there. If anything has gone wrong, it is his fault. Speak to him.”
“Now, darling, don’t be so mean,” the Count chided. “He could arrest you, you know.”
“For what? Telling you my father is alright?” She snorted inelegantly. “I shall have you investigated by the judiciary if you should try to search this house without his permission.”
Joe coughed. “I am afraid my fiancé is a bit of a firebrand. It will do you no good to threaten her. She has associates in high places, I am afraid.”
“Oh?” Sayers looked intrigued.
Joe looked at the magistrate. “If you don’t mind?” He nodded to the door meaningfully. “My fiancé and I were about to leave to purchase some bands for our wedding next week.”
“But I thought you and her,” Lucas mumbled looking at Sayers uncertainly.
“I can assure you that the Count is mistaken if he thinks I shall marry him under any circumstances,” Marguerite declared coldly.
The magistrate looked at her in alarm, which turned to wariness when he read the contempt in the gaze she levelled on Sayers. It was obvious to everybody that she didn’t like him.
Both men looked uncomfortable for a moment, as though her venom had thrown them completely off their plan. Unsurprisingly, neither challenged her. When an awkward silence descended over everyone, Joe moved to the door and yanked it open wider.
“You have a good woman there,” Lucas murmured as he made his way outside. “I should be careful to make sure you look after her. Otherwise, someone might come along and steal her. After all, no woman likes a fool.”
There was a hint of warning in the cold look he levelled on Joe before he turned his back. In a considerably more affable manner, he stalked past Sayers, and straight out of the house without bothering to speak to anybody again.
Sayers looked nonplussed for a moment, as though the magistrate’s about turn was completely unexpected and uncharacteristic of him. With a frown, he slowly turned and ambled out of the door. Once on the doorstep, though, he paused, as though thinking carefully over his parting shot.
Marguerite stepped forward and slammed the door closed with a resounding bang. It echoed hollowly around the house but was nowhere near as satisfying as the heavy thud of the bolt sliding closed.
“Now that was rude,” Joe murmured with a grin.
“I know,” she replied with a smile. “It is ever so satisfying, though. My, they are determined, aren’t they?”
Joe sighed and shook his head before he carefully placed a finger over his lips to warn her to stay silent. Sayers was, after all, just on the other side of the door and could probably overhear them given how quiet it was outside.
“We need to get out of here, preferably before darkness falls,” Joe murmured as he ushered her unprotestingly across the hallway to the kitchen at the back of the house.
“Why? What happens then? Does he come back out of his box?”
Not seeing the humour in her statement, Joe snorted. “You could say that. Unfortunately, Marguerite, he also brings several of his friends with him, and they won’t care what damage they do to people or property when they storm through this house. While the Count has been thwarted, it is a temporary situation at best. I don’t doubt he has retreated but only so he could relaunch a more successful attack later.”
