Cloche and Dagger

by Cloche

  ‘Oh, that’s ridiculous,’ I said. ‘And I do know my cousin.’

  ‘Really? I thought you said you two talked. I thought you said you were close!’ Harrison accused. He was looming over me again and I really hated it.

  ‘We do. We are!’ I hopped to my feet, rising up on my tiptoes to be closer to his height.

  ‘Everyone just calm down,’ Fee said. She took a step forward, looking like she wanted to step between us but was uncertain of how to do it.

  I stepped back from Harrison and blew out a breath, trying to calm myself.

  ‘Viv and I are close. But I can’t remember some guy from her university days, and she never mentioned any issues with Lady Ellis.’

  ‘You said before it wasn’t her style to care what others thought of her,’ Fee reminded Harrison. ‘It’s quite logical that she might not have said anything to Scarlett.’

  I gave her a small smile of gratitude and she nodded at me. I felt like I had at least one ally, and I suspected I was going to need her.

  Harrison looked like he wanted to chew through a chair cushion. I couldn’t blame him. This whole thing was a mess. I could only imagine what would happen when word got out about what Lady Ellis was and wasn’t wearing.

  I debated not telling them. I mean, maybe, the police would keep it quiet and no one would find out about the hat. Then again, I tried to picture Harrison if he heard it on the news and not from me. I heaved a sigh. Full disclosure seemed the only way to go.

  ‘There’s one other small detail,’ I said. ‘Really, it’s nothing, I’m sure.’

  ‘Oh, dear god.’ Harrison sank down into a chair. He rubbed a hand over his eyes. ‘Let us have it then.’

  ‘When we found Lady Ellis, or more accurately when her housekeeper, Mrs. Stone, found her, well, she was naked except for one article of clothing.’

  Both Fee and Harrison looked at me expectantly.

  ‘The hat Viv made for her,’ I said.

  ‘No!’ Fee said while Harrison swore under his breath.

  ‘Were there any press there?’ he asked.

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘I got the feeling the police were trying to keep it quiet until her husband arrived.’

  Harrison ran both hands through his hair. I supposed that was better than wrapping them around my neck as I suspected he would have liked to.

  ‘I need to make some calls,’ he said. ‘Excuse me.’

  ‘Would you like some tea?’ Fee asked as we watched him stride into the far corner of the shop.

  What I really wanted was a good cry, but I’d be damned if I’d do it in front of Harrison.

  ‘That would be really nice, Fee, thanks.’

  She patted me on the arm and headed into the back room. I glanced up and saw the bird on the wardrobe, staring at me as if amused by the disaster I found myself in.

  ‘Oh, put a sock in it,’ I said. I rose from my seat and followed Fee into the back. I may not be able to make a pot of tea, but I could certainly get a tin of biscuits out of the cupboard, not that I thought I’d be eating any.

  Fee and I were standing over the pot while the tea steeped when Harrison came back into the room. His ruddy cheeks were redder than usual, which made his eyes an even brighter shade of green.

  I noticed now that he was dressed as if he’d been at the office, in gray flannel pants and a crisp, white dress shirt. There was no sign of his jacket or tie. I noticed he had a broad-shouldered but lithe build without an ounce of fat on him. Not the norm for a guy who spent his days crunching numbers and certainly not for a guy who cleared up the pile of fisherman’s pie I’d seen him devour a few evenings before.

  Then again, he struck me as being a bit of an A-type personality. He probably worked out every day and drank water by the gallon. Unlike me, who only ran if someone was chasing me and who only drank caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.

  ‘I checked and the story hasn’t gotten out yet,’ he said. ‘At least the media hasn’t picked up on anything. Scarlett, do you think your photographer is trustworthy?’

  ‘Andre?’ I asked. ‘Absolutely. The poor man barfed. Believe me, he’s not going to tell anyone about it.’

  ‘He didn’t take any pictures of her, did he?’ he asked. ‘You know, to sell to the tabloids?’

  ‘No, he never even unpacked his equipment,’ I said. I was irritated on Andre’s behalf. ‘I really don’t think he’s like that.’

  ‘You can’t be too careful,’ Harrison said. ‘Look, I have to get back to my office. If you hear from Viv, call me or have her call me immediately.’

  ‘I will,’ I promised.

  ‘Do you have the number to my mobile?’ he asked.

  ‘No,’ I said.

  ‘Put it in now,’ he said. It wasn’t a request. I took out my cell and added him to my contacts.

  ‘If the police come by, call me, and I’ll come right over,’ he said. ‘And whatever you do, don’t say anything else to them about Viv. Just stick to “I don”t know,’ all right?’

  ‘Yes, sir,’ I said. If he noticed my sarcasm, he didn’t say anything. He turned and left without so much as a good-bye.

  ‘Man, he’s bossy,’ I said to Fee. ‘How does Viv put up with him?’

  ‘Well, he’s not hard on the eyes, now is he?’ Fee asked.

  ‘I hadn’t noticed,’ I lied.

  She looked at me and laughed as if she knew full well that I knew exactly how good-looking Harrison Wentworth was. She took the cozy off the teapot and poured us each a cup.

  ‘Who do you suppose murdered Lady Ellis?’ she asked.

  ‘No idea,’ I said. ‘Isn’t it usually the person closest to them? Like the husband?’

  ‘Oh, that’ll cause a stir in the gossip pot,’ Fee said. ‘Lord Ellis accused of murdering his wife.’

  ‘Well, we don’t know,’ I said. ‘I mean, as far as I know, it could have been the housekeeper. She was the only person there aside from us.’

  ‘Why would a domestic stab her boss?’ Fee asked. ‘Kind of a lousy plan to skewer the heart that feeds you.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘Maybe she was driven to it from being at Lady Ellis’s beck and call for years and finally she just snapped.’

  ‘Do you really think she did it?’ Fee asked.

  I thought back to how Mrs. Stone had staggered out of the bedroom door and promptly fainted. No, I didn’t really see her as a suspect. I sipped my tea and absently nibbled on a biscuit.

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘Unless she has another job performing in a theater on Shaftesbury Avenue, I don’t think there is any way her reaction to what she saw was anything other than genuine. It was a gruesome sight.’

  A shudder rippled down my back as I recalled seeing Lady Ellis’s pale naked body against the deep green of her floor. I had a feeling the image of her sightless eyes and her hand clutched around the knife that had killed her were going to haunt me for some time to come.

  Chapter 21

  It was late afternoon when Inspector Franks and his partner, Inspector Simms, arrived at the shop. I had been expecting them, but still it made me nervous. I could only hope that they had no idea that Viv and Lady Ellis had a history.

  As soon as they came through the door, I gave Fee a small nod to indicate that she should call Harrison. Much as I hated to rely upon him, I didn’t want to get Viv into any more trouble than I already had.

  ‘Good afternoon, Ms. Parker,’ Inspector Franks said. He stroked his mustache, and I remembered his love of country-western music. Too bad Viv didn’t have any American cowboy hats around the shop. I’d have tried to charm, okay, bribe, him with one.

  ‘Inspectors,’ I said. ‘Can I get you anything?’

  ‘Water would be great,’ Inspector Simms said.

  It was the first time I’d really gotten a look at him. I’d been too upset earlier. His thick unibrow made him seem like quite the Neanderthal, but when he gave me a small smile he looked almost boyish. At best, he only had a few years on me.

  I g
estured for them to take a seat while I went to get a pitcher of ice water and some glasses. Fee was on the phone with Harrison while I made up the tray. I threw on a pile of grapes and some cheese and crackers, which I’d picked up yesterday to snack on, just to sweeten the pot, as it were.

  I sat across from the inspectors, who looked comically out of place in the hat shop. Inspector Simms kept looking around as if hoping no one would see him here. Franks helped himself to the cheese and crackers and I realized with the morning they’d had, they probably hadn’t had a chance to eat anything. Simms verified this by reaching gratefully for a handful of grapes.

  ‘Ms. Parker, has there been any word from your cousin?’ Inspector Franks asked.

  ‘No, why?’ I asked.

  ‘It’s troubling me that our murder victim was wearing only the hat your cousin made for her,’ he said. ‘Most especially because your cousin is missing.’

  This hadn’t sat well with me either, but I didn’t like the way it sounded, so I felt the need to take a defensive stand, although neatly cushioned in a polite tone of voice.

  ‘You’ve spoken to my aunt,’ I said. ‘So it’s not so much that she’s missing as we’re just not sure of where she is.’

  ‘Yes, but your aunt has only heard from her by e-mail,’ Franks said. ‘That bothers me.’

  It bothered me, too, but I didn’t say as much.

  The bells on the door handle jangled and I glanced up to see Harrison stride into the room. He looked confident and he smiled at Inspector Franks with a careless charm that I admired, particularly because I was freaking out on the inside.

  He shook hands with both inspectors and then gave me a warm smile.

  ‘How are you, Scarlett?’ he asked. He was playing it cool, as if he hadn’t been yelling at me just a few hours ago. I gave him a small nod to signify that I understood.

  ‘Well, there’s been an unfortunate occurrence with one of our clients,’ I said. I wanted to pat myself on the back for my own way with understatement.

  ‘Really?’ Harrison asked as if this was news.

  ‘Yes,’ Inspector Franks answered for me. ‘Which is why we’re here.’

  ‘So, it’s not about Vivian then?’ Harrison asked. ‘When I saw you I’d hoped…’

  ‘No, Mr. Wentworth,’ Franks said. They exchanged a look as if there was more to their conversation than the rest of us were aware of. ‘Unfortunately, we’ve had no luck in locating Ms. Tremont. However, one of her clients was found murdered this morning.’

  ‘No!’ Harrison sounded positively shocked and for a moment even I forgot that he already knew.

  ‘I’m afraid so,’ Inspector Franks said. He gave Harrison a considering look. ‘Lady Ellis was found stabbed, wearing only a hat from this shop, and Ms. Parker here was one of the first to find her.’

  Harrison sat down beside me and took my hand in his. ‘Oh my god, are you all right?’

  He looked so genuinely solicitous that I almost fell for it. Then I remembered how bossy he’d been, and I took my hand out of his and said, ‘I’m fine.’

  He raised his eyebrows at me and I looked away, pretending that I didn’t get his silent message to go along with him. What did he think I was going to do? Tell the police he already knew all of this? Then again, why didn’t he want them to know?

  I gave him a sideways glance, but he’d already turned back to Inspector Franks.

  ‘Do they have any suspects yet?’ he asked.

  ‘We’re still following several leads,’ Franks said.

  Harrison nodded as if that was about what he expected.

  ‘Ms. Parker,’ Inspector Franks said. ‘Would you mind telling us again exactly what you saw and heard this morning while you were in the Ellises’ home? No detail is too small.’

  ‘Not at all,’ I said.

  I proceeded to tell them exactly what I had told them before. I had no new details for them, which I’m sure was a disappointment, but the truth was, I had a feeling Lady Ellis had been dead for a while before we found her, otherwise how could her carpet have been so saturated with blood? I shivered at the memory of the carpet.

  ‘All right?’ Harrison asked, and I nodded.

  Simms helped himself to another handful of grapes and as he munched he looked at me. After a good swallow, he asked, ‘Did you see anything that struck you as out of the ordinary when you entered the Ellises’ home?’

  I blew out a breath and thought about it. Andre and I had been talking when we pulled up. I remembered climbing out of the car and studying the house while I waited for Andre to get his equipment.

  ‘Honestly, I was so taken by the house that I didn’t really notice if anyone was out and about around us,’ I said. ‘The only person I saw was the housekeeper, Mrs. Stone, when she let us in.’

  ‘How was she when she greeted you?’ Franks asked.

  ‘Rude,’ I said.

  I saw Franks suppress a smile.

  ‘Not anxious then?’ Simms asked.

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘She was very calm and very condescending, but after she found Lady Ellis, well, she fainted.’

  The inspectors both nodded. I had a feeling Mrs. Stone was in the clear.

  ‘What about Lord Ellis?’ I asked. ‘Has he been told about his wife’s death?’

  ‘Yes,’ Franks said. He heaved a sigh. ‘The media’s gotten hold of the story as well, so brace yourself. If they find out you were there, they’ll be knocking your door down next.’

  As if in response to his words, the bells on the front door jangled. I glanced up to see an elderly woman and a younger version of herself come through the door. Not media but customers.

  I rose to greet them, but Fee was already coming from the back. She glanced over at me and gave me a small nod, letting me know she would handle it. I took my seat again.

  ‘How should I handle the press?’ I asked. I felt my stomach twisting itself into knots. Not again. I really couldn’t bear to be in the bull’s-eye of the media again.

  My face must have reflected my angst because Harrison rested his hand on my back, right in the middle of my shoulder blades as if trying to prop me up and comfort me at the same time.

  ‘You can close the shop if you need to,’ he said. ‘You don’t have to deal with all of this.’

  I was so grateful, I almost wept. But then, I thought of our customers and how disappointed Mim would be if I drove our business into the ground because I closed up because of a few pesky reporters.

  ‘No, it’s all right,’ I said. ‘I can handle it.’

  Inspector Franks was watching both Harrison and me with a speculative gaze. I did not want to tell him about my woes with the media, so I quickly shoved aside my dread.

  ‘Is there anything else I can help you with?’ I asked.

  ‘We’re going to need to search the shop and your cousin’s private residence,’ Inspector Franks said.

  ‘Why?’ I asked. Probably I should have just said ‘okay,’ but I wanted to know what they could possibly be looking for in here.

  ‘We have to find your cousin,’ he said. ‘With the victim clothed only in a hat that your cousin made for her, and your cousin being missing, well, it just leaves too many questions.’

  ‘Surely you don’t think there’s a connection?’ Harrison asked.

  ‘At this point, I’m not ruling anything out,’ Inspector Franks said. ‘Especially since Lord Ellis has confessed to being in love with your cousin Vivian and that his wife hated her.’

  Chapter 22

  ‘How did that come up?’ Harrison asked. I could see his jaw clenching furiously and I could tell he was keeping his temper in check by sheer force of will.

  ‘The hat,’ Simms said. He had finally stopped eating and I noticed the tray I’d brought out had been cleaned of all but two crackers. ‘When Lord Ellis heard that his wife was wearing only the hat from this shop, he became quite distraught.’

  Franks and Simms exchanged an uncomfortable look and I took that to mean that Lord E
llis had made quite a spectacle of himself. I tried to picture the smarmy Lord Ellis, who had been here just a few days before, looking distraught. I couldn’t picture it.

  ‘I expect any man would be upset to hear that his wife was stabbed to death, never mind what she was wearing,’ Harrison said. He put a hand on my shoulder and I took it to mean that I shouldn’t contribute to this portion of the conversation.

  ‘Agreed,’ Franks said.

  ‘If you’d like to begin your search in the shop,’ I said. ‘I can show you the upstairs where Viv and I live, when you’re ready.’

  ‘Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Parker,’ Franks said.

  ‘We can start with her office area in back.’

  We all rose and I led the inspectors toward the workroom. Fee was still helping the mother and daughter, who were happily settled in another sitting area, trying on hats. They were looking at bright colors and fun shapes so I suspected that this was a happy event for which they were buying their hats.

  Fee glanced at us as we passed and I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. Mercifully, the back room was nice and tidy, with only a bit of clutter on the worktable from where Fee had been stitching some fine netting onto the brim of a black fascinator.

  ‘Thank you, Ms. Parker,’ Inspector Franks said. It was clear he wanted me out of the way while they searched. ‘We’ll let you know when we’re ready to look into the other rooms.’

  ‘All right,’ I said.

  ‘You look a bit peaky,’ Harrison said. ‘Let’s step outside and get some fresh air.’

  It wasn’t a request. He took my arm and led me out the back door into the tiny garden Viv kept at the back of the house. A fountain trickled in one corner while a trailing rose bush, its red leaves just bursting as they had not yet turned green, climbed up the back of the house and along one wall of the small, bricked-in courtyard.

  ‘Come here,’ he said.

  ‘Where?’ I asked. There was no room out here. Where were we supposed to go?

  He opened his arms. ‘Here.’

  I raised my eyebrows at him. Shocked.

  ‘I want you close so we can’t be overheard,’ he said. ‘It’ll look like I’m comforting you.’