They were admitted to the home and shown into the sitting room, the butler giving Evander a curious glance. Benen did his part in staying no more than a few feet away from Evander at all times, standing next to the chair the man sat in. Thea also took a seat, waited.
“Have they arrested who did this yet?” asked Alasdair’s voice in the corridor, and then he entered, not looking as tired as Benen had expected. “Detectives. I hope you bring good news. Have you—what is he doing here?”
Alasdair glared at Evander, who didn’t look too pleased to see his brother himself.
Thea leaned over and addressed the butler lingering just behind Alasdair. “Why don’t you bring us some tea? I think everyone could use a cup.”
“You don’t look happy to see me,” said Evander.
“Detective Lister,” said Alasdair, turning to her.
“Lead Detective.”
“Yes. Please—my father threw him out. I very much doubt he would have wanted him back like this, looking smug and dressed in that, that—plain garbage. Do you realize just how much you are showing off, Evander?”
Evander smirked. Of course he knew, and it clearly thrilled him that his brother was so disturbed by being able to see the entirety of his frame, the curve of his cock and balls. Benen could kiss Evander now, if it had been allowed. He’d thought he was drawn to Evander’s status before, but to see the man in action, pushing certain standards to the limit, well—Benen didn’t think he could get enough of it.
“I don’t see how you could have learned nothing from being thrown out.”
“Well, as it happens, I did learn a thing or two. Mostly of the unsavory, lawless sort,” said Evander.
Alasdair winced.
“Oh, I have tales, Alasdair.”
“Detective—Lead Detective—I have to ask you to remove him.”
The maid showed up with the tea then, placed it on the low table in the middle of the room, and left. Everyone stared at it, then Evander got to his feet.
“I’ll just pour, shall I?”
“I’ll pour my own, thanks,” said Alasdair, lurching forward to claim the first cup. Evander rolled his eyes, less irritated than Benen would have been had someone acted like they didn’t want his hands on something they had to touch. He half expected Thea to have him return Evander to his seat and pour instead, but she seemed too interested in watching everything unfold.
“Thanks,” said Benen as Evander passed him the second to last cup. Evander’s fingers brushed his skin lightly; he was still smirking about his brother’s discomfort. Benen swallowed hard. Evander retrieved his own tea and returned to his seat.
“Lovely blend of wakeleaf tea,” said Thea. “Fallswenne brand?”
“I don’t know,” said Alasdair.
“Of course,” said Evander. “The discount our father negotiated after the engagement was impressive.”
“Oh, be quiet,” said Alasdair. “The family’s still trying to move past everything you’ve done. The least you can do is let it sit. Why is he here? I was under the impression he was sitting in a cell.”
“He was,” said Raldina. “For breaking into our station. He was trying to steal an orb found at the scene of the Josen Nevgeradel murder.”
Alasdair’s eyes slid over to Evander. “I don’t understand.” Alasdair set his cup down and turned to Thea. “Why was my brother at the scene of the Nevgeradel murder?”
“I didn’t say he was,” said Raldina.
Thea continued watching Alasdair, waiting. He looked from Raldina to Evander, back to Thea. He was definitely uncomfortable.
“I don’t understand,” said Alasdair again.
“Well, I was, technically,” said Evander. “After the murder, though.”
“Shut up,” said Benen, but Alasdair had taken hold of that.
“You’re not—you don’t think he murdered Nevgeradel and my father?” Alasdair looked horrified. “They had their difficulties, the scandal, but murder…I guess there are some things you learned in whatever hole you crawled into.”
“We’re here to clear up some things,” said Thea.
“Why isn’t he in a cell still? He’s not even cuffed,” said Alasdair, taking a step back.
“Obviously we want to make sure we have the right man,” said Raldina. She smiled pleasantly. “Your brother could be executed for this.”
“Then perhaps he should be. Oh, poor Marla. When she returns to find out what you’ve done now—”
“We’re still working on motive, which will help the case,” said Thea.
Benen was stiff, and it looked like Evander was, too, but Thea had that look about her that she got when she knew more than she was saying.
“Blackmail, obviously,” said Alasdair. “And my father destroying his life. Why wouldn’t he want his revenge?” He shook his head. “You disgust me.”
“Any other reason for these people to die?” asked Thea.
When Alasdair shrugged, Raldina spoke. “The two lump payments at the end of your father’s book, what do you think those are?”
“I have no idea.”
“Because we can’t connect them to the blackmail payments he was sending Nevgeradel. But they are the sort we’ve seen before—when someone hires someone to take care of a problem.”
Alasdair’s eyes narrowed. “What sort of a problem?”
Thea set down her tea. The room had gotten very quiet. Benen set his half-empty cup on the mantle; in the chair next to Benen, Evander had frozen and was looking at his brother in horror.
“He paid to have Nevgeradel murdered?” asked Evander in a whisper.
“Certainly looks to be a possibility,” said Raldina brightly. “If he didn’t like the payment, he might’ve killed your father when he came to collect the second amount.”
“That sounds almost unbelievable,” said Alasdair. “Why would my father hire anyone to kill Nevgeradel? Why would someone murder him and not take more? There were bills still in the desk. Where’s the murder weapon?”
“Now that, we’ve found,” said Raldina, and nodded toward Evander. “In his room by the docks.”
“Funny it should end up there,” said Thea.
“Not if he’s guilty. Please, detectives, at least cuff him. I don’t feel safe.”
“I’d prefer to wait for your sister before I make an arrest. She is due back soon, isn’t she?” asked Thea.
Alasdair gaped at her and looked over at his brother. His eyes eventually found Benen, though, and he frowned. “He got to you. He’s charmed your officer, and now you believe everything he says. How could he have explained away a murder weapon in his room?”
“I couldn’t,” said Evander quietly. Benen put a hand on Evander’s shoulder, hoped everyone would assume he was keeping Evander in the chair. When no one was looking, he squeezed gently. Evander deflated somewhat.
“That seems damning, Detective Lister.”
“Lead Detective Lister,” said Thea, and rose as the door opened. “Marla Fergus? Please, come in, have some tea. This must be difficult.”
Marla, Benen could see, was completely used to people staring at her. She was put together and calm, didn’t seem to care at all that every gaze in the room was on her. Politicians were some of the coolest people around, and it showed. Despite everything, she was well dressed in dark, professional clothes, pink dusted onto her white face. She didn’t bother looking at Alasdair as she entered.
“Excruciating. I was given word during a private meeting and had to end it abruptly. What do you need from me?”
“It’s all being handled,” said Alasdair.
“Of course it isn’t. Father was worried you’d be ill-prepared to take over from him—”
“That was years ago.”
“Years is a bit of an overstatement, isn’t it?” asked Evander. Marla looked up from her tea.
“Oh, you’re here, Evander? In some sort of trouble?” she asked, eyes taking in Benen, who released his grip on Evander’s shoulder.
“He murdered both of them.” Alasdair blurted the words, gestured to his brother. “They found the murder weapon in his room. Marla, the things we’ve all kept from you…”
Marla arched an eyebrow at him and sipped her tea. “I know about Graden Fallswenne, Alasdair. And I think you were all overreacting. I was prepared to marry him and suggest we live our own separate lives—mine away in the capitol, his here with our brother. Never had a chance to propose it, though. Graden broke it off.” She paused. “You’re saying Evander murdered our father? Over this?”
“If you don’t think he would,” began Alasdair, but Thea interrupted.
“Enough,” she said, and everyone fell quiet.
No one sipped tea any longer, the tension thick in the air. Benen suddenly realized why they were all here, now—either Alasdair or Marla was responsible for the deaths. One of them had murdered their own father, and Thea knew it. She knew it, and from the look on her face, she knew which one, too. The only reason she could be waiting was in the hope the situation would lead to a confession.
“This is about the inheritance, isn’t it?” asked Thea after a time, looking from one Fergus to the next. “Now, who was too impatient to just wait for your father to die?”
Silence fell.
Eventually Marla spoke. “It doesn’t make sense that Evander would do this. He’s last in line for the money.”
“And you’re second,” said Alasdair. “Maybe, just maybe, Detective, this is as straightforward as it looks. Revenge. There were those payments of money—perhaps our father asked Evander to murder Nevgeradel for him, and after trying it once, he discovered how easy it was. He needed the money, having been kicked out—”
“You talk an awful lot,” said Benen.
Alasdair’s eyes flared when they found Benen. “He’s trying to pin this on me! I’m the eldest, everything is left to me, I’m the obvious person—”
“For once, this is something I didn’t do,” said Evander.
“The evidence clears him,” said Raldina. “As far as we can tell, he was in our police station when your father was murdered.”
“As far as you can tell?” asked Alasdair.
“Yet the murder weapon was in his room?” asked Marla.
“Yes,” said Thea. “It would seem that it’s been planted.”
Alasdair looked at Marla, but she frowned at Thea.
“Lead Detective Lister,” she said, “Please explain. If our brother isn’t guilty of this, who would try to pin it on him? Evander involves himself in petty scandals, the sort that wouldn’t be taken seriously as scandals among the common populace. Hardly something to spite him for.”
“But getting rid of him does clean up any loose ends and removes the possibility he’ll continue to be a family problem moving forward. So, taken with the fact Nevgeradel was murdered, presumably over the blackmail, you and your other brother have fairly clear motives. Your career can’t afford too much family drama, and Alasdair can move into his inheritance without having to deal with either his brother or his father interfering.”
“I was the easy person to blame,” said Evander. “And I thought I was the untrustworthy one.”
“I was in the capitol,” said Marla, and frowned at Alasdair.
“But you can get down to Jewylle on Ilben fast, can’t you?” asked Raldina. “You just did today.”
“As I said, it was everyone else overreacting to the situation between my brother and Graden Fallswenne. It’s doubtful Evander having murdered anyone would resurrect that relationship. I hear Graden is hiding from everyone down by the docks. I assumed he and my brother were continuing their affair.”
“I’m afraid not,” said Evander. “He and I…parted ways when you and he did. Believe me when I say I never wanted any of this to happen—”
“It’s done,” said Marla, and turned to Thea. “Now, you can arrest me for this, but you won’t be able to hold me. I have witnesses proving I’ve been in the capitol for weeks and the ability to make sure you’ll never work again.”
Thea smiled slightly. The tension was thick in the air; Evander even cringed in his seat. Benen stood there, wondering whether maybe Marla and Alasdair were in it together, when Thea replied.
“I normally react very poorly to someone threatening me for doing my job, but this time I’ll let it pass. I understand you’re a busy woman, and I also understand that you didn’t do it.”
“But you just said Evander didn’t,” said Alasdair. His back had gone very stiff. “And Marla could be here from the capitol easily, as well as knew where our brother and Graden were staying. She’d want Evander’s silence more than I would.”
“Would she?” asked Thea. “I suppose that’s a defense you could attempt. All other things aside, Alasdair, the fact remains, you were the only person for certain here the night your father died, and the only one who tried to buy Graden off. Now, why would you do that?”
Alasdair’s eyes darted around the room once, twice, then he tucked a hand behind his back and yanked Marla by the hair with the other. She let out a little cry as he jerked her to him.
“Gun,” said Raldina.
By the time Alasdair had brought his hand around again, Raldina and Thea had pulled theirs. Benen’s Turtledove II leapt to his hands, the room suddenly too hot and deadly. Evander jumped up and ducked behind Benen, oddly making Benen feel more confident.
“You’re blaming the wrong man,” said Alasdair. He had a Turtledove III model in his hand, pointed inches away from Marla’s head. She did not look pleased, but she said nothing. Benen was impressed by her cool, knowing she had to be terrified.
“Yeah, threatening to kill someone’s really going to help with that,” said Benen.
“Trelayne,” hissed Thea. “Alasdair, you don’t need to kill anyone else.”
“Why do you think I’ve killed anyone? He’s the one with the murder weapon.”
“Yes, but you are the one reacting to the accusation by threatening to murder someone,” said Evander.
“Shut him up, Trelayne,” said Thea.
“Why can’t you believe what you see with your own eyes?” asked Alasdair. He yanked on Marla’s hair again and she stifled another cry of pain. “He had motive, he had time. He was at Nevgeradel’s. He broke into your station! He had the murder weapon!”
“Yes, it was a good setup,” said Thea. “Not badly done. You can congratulate yourself on that.” She paused. “Why don’t you let your sister go and we’ll discuss this?”
“Why don’t you arrest the real murderer and we can discuss the evidence?” When Thea said nothing, Alasdair gestured with his pistol. “I insist.”
“Cuff me,” said Evander. Benen felt the man’s hand against his back, gently, briefly, and then Evander moved around to stand vaguely in front of him. Benen could hear his shallow, fearful breathing, and his hands shook when he extended them. “Go on.”
Alasdair yanked on Marla’s hair again.
“Do it,” said Thea.
Benen hesitated, set down his pistol. He moved calmly, smoothly, cuffing Evander’s hands in front rather than behind.
“Sorry about this,” he mumbled, but he couldn’t meet Evander’s eye.
“Good. Good. Now send him over here,” said Alasdair. “Not too close.”
“Don’t,” said Benen, but Evander turned and stepped out of reach. Benen grabbed up his Turtledove again, gritting his teeth. As though it would make any difference to have another gun on Alasdair. Benen watched Evander cross the room slowly, stop where Alasdair told him to.
“Now you can release Marla,” said Evander. “Alasdair.”
Alasdair didn’t move. Benen didn’t like this one bit—now the man had two hostages.
“Alasdair,” said Thea, pulling the man’s gaze back to her. “You want Evander to be executed for this.”
“It’s obvious he did it. My father clearly paid him to murder Josen Nevgeradel and take back the evidence of his relationship with Graden. After the easy m
oney, after learning how to kill, after everything, my brother and father argued, and Evander killed him. Then he dropped the weapon back in his room to rid himself of it later and went off to get himself caught at your station, giving him an alibi.”
“Alasdair,” said Evander quietly. “They said you paid Graden. Why?”
“I took pity on the man, after what you did to him.”
“With what money?” asked Thea. “What money did you use to pay him?”
“I suspect it has to do with at least some of that payout your father was writing,” said Raldina.
Alasdair’s eyes darted from her to Thea and he licked his lips.
“Here’s what I think,” said Thea. “I think you found out your father was paying someone to kill Nevgeradel, and you intercepted him. He didn’t bring back the evidence Nevgeradel was using to blackmail your father, so you negotiated with him, got him to leave without asking for the second payment. You took the murder weapon—”
“Why wouldn’t a professional bring back the evidence?” asked Alasdair. “This is all nonsense.”
“Because there was no evidence,” said Raldina. “We didn’t find any. But since you don’t have it, and the Fallswennes don’t have it…In fact, no one even knows what it was. Your brother and Graden didn’t exchange letters or gifts. Nevgeradel had heard of the affair through whatever means, and was claiming he had proof he never had.”
“You saw an opportunity,” said Thea, pulling Alasdair’s wide eyes back to her. “You could murder your father, pin this all on your brother, and smooth your way all at once. You’d have your father’s money without his watchful eye, and your brother would be so far out of the way he could never cause another family scandal again. You weren’t about to pay out for every little thing he was bound to be blackmailed for over the years.”
“So you murdered your father,” said Raldina. “And planted the weapon under your brother’s bed. You did tell us you knew he was down by the docks, Graden, too. You wanted to lead us to the weapon.”
“And you paid off Graden,” said Evander in a mumble, shaking his head. “With the second payment that should have gone to the hired killer?”
“He didn’t even have to get Graden to say anything,” said Benen. “Did you, Alasdair? When you tracked Graden down, found him desperate for more sugardream magic crystal, you discovered he’d just shared a cab with your brother the other day. Why pay him for a lie when the truth would be just as damning?”
The Officer and the Thief Page 9