by Beth Byers
“I imagine so,” Smith said. “They tend to be rather clever fellows and he probably had what he needed. “
“Who is this Dr. Hollands?” Vi demanded.
“He and his brother, Edward, are adventurers as well. They don’t have money of their own, but they have careers that let them get onto expeditions. Both of them went with us to Africa. Having a doctor when there are lions about just seemed like a good idea.”
“And Edward?” Vi asked. “What did he offer?”
“He’s rather an excellent shot and protector.” Rita bit down on her lip and admitted, “I’d seen him learning from the local medicine men and women. He could have poisoned someone easily. He carries that stuff with him. This case of vials of the most alarming things.”
Vi glanced at Smith who nodded. She didn’t even find it surprising anymore that Smith knew things like, there was a guest who has a case of suspicious things. She didn’t think she’d have been surprised if he knew that before the murder occurred and he’d been breaking into rooms and going through people’s private things out of boredom.
“So, those two knew Reese, needed money, were in second place for this valuable prize, and had alarming access to the most obscure of deadly things along with the prosaic deadly things.”
“Just so,” Smith said. He waited with an expectant look on his face and Vi wanted to box his ears. Look at him, waiting for her to put something together he’d already figured out.
“We don’t all think like criminals.”
“But this killer does.”
Vi’s gaze narrowed on him and finally she said, “Rita isn’t surprised. Some of her other friends wouldn't be either.”
Smith lightly clapped and Vi turned to Beatrice for help.
“There’s nothing I could do.”
“Anyone who had traveled with the Hollands brothers would have known what Shelby and Edward Hollands might have had in their rooms.” Rita sounded sick, and Vi felt it. Who carried a case of poisons to a wedding celebration? Oh, that’s right. Rita’s friends.
“Does this rule out your father?” Vi asked, hoping that they could at least narrow down their list, but Rita shook her head.
“It was father who paid them for Africa. He refused to let me go if we didn’t have protection and a doctor. The two who were used to traveling together and had the skills? Father bragged about how clever he was to find those fellows.”
Chapter 13
Violet followed Beatrice and Rita down to the library. It had been locked by Ham the night before, and Rita had to unlock the doors to let them in. After she opened the doors, she crossed the room to pull back the heavy curtains and let in some light. The walls were lined with expensive books, but they weren’t a family collection. At least they weren’t Rita’s family collection; her father had bought a collection or two from those who had experienced hard times.
From what Vi could tell, Mr. Russell waited until someone else lost heavily and then snuck in and took treasures for ready money and a song. It felt predatory, but Vi tried not to think on it too long. Mr. Russell was Rita’s father, and Vi was inclined to dislike him lately. She needed to let her dislike go and find the things to like in him again.
Vi looked at the chalkboard and forced herself to focus on something else. Someone else had written extra notes. Now the entry for Reese read:
REESE STAFFORD — One-time lover of Rita. Long-time friend of many others in attendance. Was at the table with most of those friends. Did someone poison his food? Was he poisoned earlier in the day? Probable lover of Loopsie Giles. Why was Reese fighting with the Lissows? Could that be the reason for the murder?
History of cheating. Did he cheat at Russell’s snipe hunt? Did he win? If he cheated and won, is it possible that whoever came next murdered him in a flash of anger?
“This is Smith, isn’t it?” Vi asked and Beatrice nodded. Vi read aloud:
Stafford was certainly poisoned. The opportunities were narrow to give him the poison, however, so those who might have the best motives didn’t have the best opportunity. He was a pretty boy who was used to using looks and charm to get his way, rather like a lot of Rita’s friends. Shocking really that Barnes would fit her so well given her company before him. Though, I wouldn’t have wanted Reese around Beatrice, the man wasn’t any more disgusting than most of the human race and little stands out as a reason as to why he might have been murdered. Why kill someone so boring?
“Only your Smith could make not having desperate enemies and a conspiring nature be bad things.” Vi rubbed her hand over her face as she paced in front of the chalkboard. Having a narrow window of poisoning was a wrinkle. Who could have put something into the soup Reese had served for himself without him noticing?
“Smith probably has a dozen men who want to kill him,” Rita added. “It’s probably a point of pride with him.”
“Not to be unkind,” Beatrice said carefully, “but given the number of people Jack and Ham have sent to prison, they probably also have a large number of people who want to kill them. Though, I will concede that Smith probably does enjoy that hatred to an extent that your loves do not.”
Vi frowned. “I hadn’t considered that before. They must have quite the number of enemies. How alarming.”
“Neither,” Rita said, biting her lip, “had I.”
“I didn’t mean to say something to upset you,” Beatrice tried.
“You’re not upsetting me,” Vi lied. “Just a surprising perspective.”
“You know, Vi,” Rita added, “We probably have folks who’d like to see us suffer as well. It’s not as though we haven’t helped trap those who have done wrong when we could.”
“Don’t,” Vi begged, shaking off the thoughts and turning back to the chalkboard to avoid them. She kept reading aloud, working through her own thoughts along with Smith’s.
JEROME ALBERTSON — Long-time friend of Reese Stafford. Claims to have an income that doesn’t require a working position. Perhaps Jerome tried to take a wealthy lover from Reese? Was at the table with Reese when he died.
The new note read:
The opportunity to kill Reese was there, but why? This fellow was too busy chasing Lady Eleanor and her bank account. There is no history of enmity that would cause a murder. They traveled together and were known to be friends without being as devoted as those lovers, Barnes and Wakefield. If his checkbook register is to be believed, Albertson has enough money for a while as well several small gifts hidden in his bags that are worth enough for a nice addition if the man needed it. Maybe if the items were stolen, he might have been a target himself, but given his pursuit of Lady Eleanor, expensive gifts seem to be the intent of his relationships.
Vi almost crossed to the board to erase the things written about Lady Eleanor, but surely her stepmother would stop playing supportive stepmother who just wanted to help and go back to spoiled countess. She ignored the jab at Jack and Ham’s friendship.
“Smith certainly understood Jerome quickly,” Rita muttered. “As much as I hate to admit it, I think he’s gotten to the heart of Jerome. He wouldn’t have benefited from killing Reese, and even though they knew each other, Jerome would never put himself at risk for anyone else.”
“As far as we know, Jerome doesn’t have a reason to kill, and he wasn’t acting oddly before Reese died,” Vi added. “There was no triggering event and longtime friends don’t just randomly decide to kill one another.”
Vi moved down the chalkboard and read the next entry.
PERCIVAL BATTING — Long-time friend of Reese Stafford. Was at the table with Reese when he died.
The new note read:
According to the Lissows, Loopsie Giles and Percival were known to find comfort together when their other partners had left them upset. Anyone who sleeps with his friend’s love is a snake. But that’s a reason to kill this rat not the boring Reese.
Rita had gasped at the claim of an affair and muttered, “That must be why Melvin left Loopsie. He dove right into
that relationship with Betty Lissow. If he’d caught Loopsie and Percival together? That would have spelled the end of their relationship no matter how fervently Loopsie threw herself at his feet and begged for forgiveness, and as I recall—Loops did just that.”
“Smith would murder someone if I betrayed him, but Mr. Lissow simply moved on. And the offending party would have been Percival Batting, not Reese.”
“What if Reese was cuckolded as well?” Rita asked.
“But then he would have been the killer,” Beatrice said. “Not the one killed.”
Vi frowned and then read on when they didn’t have an answer. “Reese might have cared about that, but this Percival fellow wouldn’t. Too much time has passed for this to be the cause of the murder.”
The next name read:
MELVIN LISSOW — Had been in a shoving match with Reese and Loopsie. What was the bad blood between them and did it provide a motive for murder? Was at the table with Reese when he died.
Smith had added: So much opportunity. Bad blood. Very possibly.
BETTY LISSOW — Had been in a shoving match with Reese and Loopsie. What was the bad blood between them and did it provide a motive for murder? Was at the table with Reese when he died.
Smith added,
“A poor man’s Rita. But Rita would be dangerous indeed if someone interfered with her relationship with Ham. Is it the same for Betty?”
Vi finished the rest without pausing in her reading.
PHILIP RUSSELL — Bride’s father. He knew Reese Stafford for years, but there was no bad blood between them. At one time Reese aspired to Rita’s hand, but surely he knew those days were gone. Russell has a lot of money and power. Why would he need to murder someone who was as seemingly useless as Reese Stafford? Was not at the table with Reese. Where was Russell when Reese died?
The new note read:
He was directly next to that woman he is seeing along with her daughter and Dr. Shelby Hollands. Edward Hollands had been at the table with Russell as well but wasn’t there when Reese died or in the minutes before.
RITA RUSSELL — We don’t have time for this nonsense.
Smith had added:
Spoiled, beautiful. Could be a scorned lover.
HAMILTON BARNES — We don’t have time for this nonsense.
To Ham, Smith had added:
Dangerous.
OBSESSIVE TREASURE FELLOW —
Tried to win the treasure. Did he win? If he didn’t, did he know or suspect that Reese had won. Would this man have killed to get the prize? Jack had seen the man arguing with someone. Was that someone Reese Stafford? Who did win the prize?
Smith had added:
Probably one of the Hollands brothers. They certainly were focused on winning and might well get the prize now that Reese had died. They had access to the poison necessary to kill not just Reese, but all of us.
Hollands identified the poisoning. Pretending to be helpful? Looking to impress Russell? The brothers had paperwork for an exploratory proposal for several locations that they seemed to intend to run by both the earl and Russell. The intellectual side of the proposals seem suspect.
The friends looked at each other and Rita muttered, “My head is pounding. I don’t have any conclusions right now.”
“My bet is on Loopsie,” Beatrice said. “I don’t know how she might have gotten the poison, but the strongest motive among all of these things is either being a scorned lover or the treasure, and no one even knows what the prize is. It might be worth killing over, but that doesn’t mean anyone would when they weren’t sure.”
Vi wasn’t sure she agreed with Beatrice. Perhaps a nebulous prize from a man with a history of massive prizes was enough to murder over. You could dream up anything and make the prize truly amazing.
“I wonder if anyone knew.” Vi crossed to the chalkboard and swung the doors closed. “We should get a servant on this door, so guests don’t wander in and see what we’re thinking.”
Rita nodded and then asked, “Knew what?”
“What the prize was,” Vi said. “I need more coffee.”
“And food,” Beatrice added. “I’m starving.”
“There’s no way I'm going to the breakfast room,” Rita said. Instead, she rang the bell and waited for a servant to come. By the time their trays were left with just crumbs and the coffee was gone, they were left staring at the closed chalkboard cabinet.
“Who do you think did it?” Vi asked Rita.
Her gaze had become clear with food and coffee and her color had improved. “I always thought that poison case was sinister. I guess I lean towards Dr. Hollands and his brother.”
Vi glanced at Beatrice and asked, “Have you changed your theory?”
“My baseless accusation that I’d be likelier to kill over love than unknown treasure?” Beatrice shook her head and then added. “Of those reasons, my vote is scorned love. But my most trusted motive for murder is actually money. I’d like to find the crumbs to a money trail and follow that.”
“You could telephone Mr. Fredericks, and see if he knows anything about Reese and his finances. My man-of-business is always reliable.”
Beatrice nodded. “He might need to time to look into things, but I’ll set him on the trail.”
“Then you should go comfort Loopsie,” Rita suggested. “She’s a heavy drinker. Bring her a cocktail and a comforting ear. Maybe?”
Beatrice nodded and then Rita said, “I’ll go talk to Father. He might have told someone else what he had. Especially if they’d appreciated it. It’s possible he revealed things.”
Vi’s gaze moved over the list of suspects and decided upon the married couple. She’d find and question them or search their rooms. Vi’s gaze narrowed and she asked Rita, “Is there a master key to the house?”
Rita grinned evilly and crossed to the desk in the library. She dug through the drawers until she pulled out a ring of keys and said, “Which room?”
“The Lissows.”
Rita pulled out her notes and said, “The third floor, east wing, second to last door.”
“It’s not really breaking and entering if you have the permission of the owner, right?” Vi asked and then tucked the keys into her pocket.
“Right.” Rita sounded doubtful, so she added, “Maybe don’t get caught.”
“Or just lie really well about why you’re there. Smith said confidence and disdain are the best tools of someone who was stupid enough to get caught.”
“Given we just saw him under my bed, I’m not going to even let him insult me secondhand. He’s not perfect, and we all saw it with our own eyes.”
Chapter 14
Violet knocked on the door of the Lissows’ bedroom and there was no answer. She paused and then knocked again calling, “Mr. and Mrs. Lissow?”
Vi had a lie ready to say that Rita had been looking for them, but there was no answer. Slowly, Vi inserted the key into the lock, slid into the room, and locked it quickly behind her. Vi took quick stock of what she knew about this couple. Mr. Lissow had once been involved with Loopsie who had cheated on him. That act had caused him to throw over Loopsie and marry his surprisingly strong wife.
The thing about the couple was, however, they hadn’t reached the point where they didn’t hate Loopsie and Reese. Mr. and Mrs. Lissow had argued with the other couple, and they’d resorted to physical confrontations that had to be separated by Ham and Mr. Russell.
Vi could see hating someone who had cheated on you and broken your heart. But surely there was more to it than that? Could there be hurt still? What if Melvin Lissow had adored Loopsie? What if they were the star-crossed lovers who should have forgiven each other rather than fallen to pieces?
What would Vi do if Jack cheated on her in anger? Would she leave him? She flinched even though it was a supposition. What had Beatrice said? Smith would murder her lover but not herself. Vi felt as though she would be the same. She’d break Jack and his lover up, torture Jack, but she wasn’t sure she could let him g
o. No, Vi thought, their love was bigger than mistakes. Even soul-crushing mistakes.
The idea made Vi tear up, which, Vi had to acknowledge, meant she really needed to sleep. The moment this was over and Ham and Rita were off on their honeymoon, Vi was going to convince Jack to travel with her somewhere sunny and warm. She wanted to lay in hot sand and swim in warm, blue water. She wanted to nap the afternoons away, curled into Jack’s side, and then she wanted to dance the evenings away.
Vi quickly moved through the Lissows’ things. To her disappointment, Vi found nothing. Neatly arranged dresses and suits, a sewing kit, a few books. While she knelt to glance under the bed, the door opened. Vi looked up, over the side of the bed as Mrs. Lissow entered the room. Their gazes met and Vi told herself confidence and disdain.
“What are you doing?” Mrs. Lissow demanded.
Vi lifted a brow and said, “Looking for evidence that you and your husband killed Reese Stafford.”
Mrs. Lissow’s mouth dropped open and the sheer shock on her face convinced Vi that the woman hadn’t been involved. “Us? Why?”
“He was at the table when Reese died. You shoved Reese down. There’s clearly old hatred between you.”
Mrs. Lissow’s gaze narrowed and she asked, “He was at the table?”
“Him.” Vi knew it was mean, but she cooly added, “Loopsie was there with him as well.”
“Melvin was eating with Loopsie?” There was hurt in that gaze, but Vi didn’t see the matching shock from earlier. “He wasn’t.”