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“You’re a fucking pig. She wasn’t some maid. She was someone’s child and she had a child. You have no idea the pain you’ve caused.” He stopped when he saw O’Leary reach into his coat but Paul clicked his teeth and pointed.
“We can step outside right now but I have a feeling you want to hear the rest of this.”
O’Leary pulled his hand free and snickered. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
“Let me tell you what I know,” Reginald began, ready to wipe the smarmy grin off O’Leary’s face. “Lois O’Mara attended to Lady Carrick while she was in Ireland, visiting relatives. But by some chance, Lois found herself privy to a plot in the course of her duties,” Reginald said. He was guessing about that part but he could tell by the way Winterstone’s glance jumped to O’Leary that he’d hit pay dirt. “Did she read something or overhear your plans to kill Lord Coonan?” He asked and Winterstone flinched.
“Is that the morphia talking, Lord Marston?” He was visibly shaken so Reginald made a giddy sound and slid closer.
“Someone’s getting nervous!” He noted, then leaned back when O’Leary tried to snatch his shirt.
“Sir Francis!” Lord Coonan growled in warning. O’Leary drew back, then looked around as four more uniformed policemen crept into the room.
“Why do you need them? No one’s going to make any trouble except Lord Marston,” Winterstone said nervously and Reginald gasped as he remembered what he was about to say.
“Lois O’Mara knew too much so Lord Winterstone killed her. Now, I can only assume that he and Sir Francis did a very good job of getting rid of the body because there was only one little bit of evidence to tie him to the murder,” he said and Paul was smiling at Reginald.
“Her rosary,” Paul said, causing everyone but Lord Winterstone and O’Leary to gasp.
“Exactly.” Reginald gave Lord Winterstone’s tie a little tug to straighten it. “So much better,” he whispered, ignoring Winterstone’s flaring nostrils and seething stare. “Now, I’m going to have to employ a little imagination here because we can’t ask her how, but Lady Carrick found the rosary—possibly after she witnessed you disposing of it—and refused to give it back unless you turned yourself in.” Reginald gave Winterstone an expectant look and his face was a very telling shade of bright red. Spittle gathered in the corners of his mouth as he panted at Reginald while O’Leary paced behind him.
“You and I have some business to attend to when you’re done telling tales, Lord Marston,” he growled at Reginald.
“I don’t think so.” Reginald tapped his chin as if he’d lost his place again. “That’s why she had to die but that created a new problem because that would be two murders connected to a house party Lord Winterstone had attended and someone might notice that a rosary had been stolen from Lois O’Mara. So Sir Francis decided to create a shell game by killing five more young Irish women so Lady Carrick would look like she was part of a pattern before she could be connected to the dead maid.”
“Clever,” Lavender noted and Reginald nodded.
“It was, and the extra Eldons were an especially impressive touch. Although, not as uncommon of a name these days,” he argued with himself before continuing. “But even Lois O’Mara could be linked to the other six because she was Irish and had been connected to Lady Carrick.”
“Very impressive, Lord Marston,” Lord Coonan said. Reginald shook his head.
“Mr. Sloan did most of the work, I just happened to turn up at the end with the last few pieces of the puzzle.” He widened his eyes at the Commissioner to make sure he knew that Paul should get all the credit.
“You’ve done exceptional work, Mr. Sloan. I’ll make sure Mr. Pinkerton knows that you’ve been a credit to his agency,” the Commissioner said, then gestured for Winterstone and O’Leary to be taken away.
“Now see here!” Winterstone shouted. “This isn’t over! We’re not through with you yet!” He warned but the officers moved in, quickly restraining Winterstone and O’Leary. Reginald nodded as he advanced on them.
“Did you hear him?” O’Leary shouted at Reginald. “We’re not through with you!” His face red with fury as he struggled to get free.
“No. I don’t think you are and I still have one more question. And it involves Sir Francis’s mother,” he murmured and his eyes tightened as Reginald finally caught the resemblance and connected all the dots. “Tell me, Sir Francis, who’s your father?” He drawled.
There was a spark of rabid rage in O’Leary’s eyes as he dove at Reginald but Paul shoved him back.
“You already know the answer!” O’Leary spat at Reginald. “You’ve always known!”
“Get him out of here!” Paul yelled as more policemen rushed in. “I’m going to tell Lord Carrick that his wife’s murderer has been arrested,” he said once he’d shaken the Commissioner’s and Lord Coonan’s hands.
“I’m going with you,” Reginald said but stopped when he found Lavender smiling fondly at him.
“Well done, Lord Marston.”
“Thank you for your help, sir.”
“No. Thank you,” Lavender said and pulled Reginald close so he could whisper in his ear. “You saved me the trouble of killing them and it was most entertaining. Best of luck with your American, Lord Marston,” he added as he gave Reginald’s arm an affectionate squeeze. With that, Reginald offered Lord Coonan and the Commissioner a jaunty wave and hurried after Paul. They quickly donned their overcoats and hats and were off in Reginald’s coach a few moments later.
“I did most of the work?” Paul said with a sarcastic snort.
“You had to cope with me and you did hit O’Leary.”
