Chapter 26
They were awakened by a knock at the door, this time the welcome cadence of an impatient Lapointe.
"You are so early!" yelled Alex, stumbling out of bed and not bothering with his dressing gown just this once. He yanked open the door and said, "What time even is it?"
"Eight," said Murielle, leading both Thomas and Smithson inside. "We got you breakfast."
"Then I might forgive you," said Julian from bed, yawning and stretching and sitting up. "Let us eat and dress?"
"I just need a quick rundown on last night's additional murder," said Lapointe crankily. "You can eat and talk."
"Fine, fine," said Alex, getting back in bed and letting Smithson fuss.
The man didn't bother to say anything, just got them set up and ghosted out, closing the door after him.
"Bruce Camellia, esquire, a minor son of a noble and a major pain in the arse, was poisoned with an item of opportunity stolen from a flower arrangement. "
"Because the dumbass invited a murder suspect into his rooms for drinks," added Julian. "We don't know for sure about that bit, of course, but it fits the evidence. Two drinks, one undrunk, one poisoned. Dead guy. Et cetera."
"You've gotten quite blasé about all this," said Lapointe, sounding amused.
"I hate to admit it, but you have all made me far too used to corpses and their circumstances.
" Julian took a long drink of the coffee that Smithson had poured for them both, then added a bunch of milk and sugar to his and drank again.
Alex did the same, though the coffee was smooth enough that it wasn't as necessary as usual.
"It's very likely Camellia was chasing tail," said Alex bluntly. "Now go away and interview witnesses, because I'm terrible at all of that."
Thomas snorted. "It's nice to see you're back to your usual self, anyway."
"It was really quite a small dose," said Julian, "and I was able to chivvy it along since it was plant-based."
"Oh, is the coroner here?" asked Alex. "Just so I know if someone tampers with the bodies that it's likely them."
"He's got the sheets booby trapped to alert him somehow," explained Julian, amused at their faces. "He's put everything under preservation charms, evidence and bodies alike."
"Everything should be fresh, so to speak," said Alex. "Once you start mucking about with it, the charms will fade, but I can come remove them, too, just in case they'll interfere forensically."
"You're useful, anyway," said Lapointe. "All right, we'll go rouse some more nobles while you two get your act together."
"I'll text you when we're done so we can find you," said Alex. "I think there's a whole second parlour they never opened, in which no one's been poisoned yet, and probably at least a study or office you could take over."
"We'll figure it out," said Lapointe.
Then, much like on the phone, she turned and left without saying goodbye. Thomas waved with a sheepish grin as he shut the door on the way out, but that was fine. They didn't need niceties, just to solve these stupid murders and go home.
Someone had been paying attention, because breakfast was piled with things they'd both eaten the day before, so they fell to hungrily without bothering to make idle conversation, given the hurry.
It was as good as ever, if rather boring, and Alex thought he might actually feel back up to snuff once they were done.
Especially if they emptied both the pot of coffee and the tea that had also come on the tray.
Soon enough they were washed up and dressed, with Horace choosing to come with Alex, and the kittens promising to stay in the room. It helped that they'd gotten food and crunchy treats while the two men dressed, but also that they didn't really want to go out into the house where people kept dying.
Despite being on police business, they still got dressed as if for the house party, complete with cravats and the rest of it.
Julian was in warm russets and golden browns today, while Alex wore a suit Gerard had talked him into that he secretly loved, in a very deep burgundy with a subtle windowpane check.
The matching waistcoat was simple and comfortable, so the only part he really objected to was the stupid cravat, but Julian wouldn't let him leave it off, so he had garnets for his pin and cufflinks rather than ostentatious rubies.
When given his own choices, Alex actually preferred not to look like a posh git.
Julian was wearing gold in the shape of leaves for his accessories, which gleamed in the wan winter sun coming through the open curtains.
"You look gorgeous as always," said Alex, kissing him sweetly. "Do we clash?"
"A little, maybe," said Julian, "but yours is dark enough it's not a big deal."
"Good," said Alex with a little smirk. "Come on, let's go find Lapointe so she can mock me for wearing something that's not black."
He'd at least chosen a white shirt instead of the pale pink that went with the suit.
They texted to find that she had indeed taken over one of the rooms that hadn't been opened to party guests, with Chudleigh's grateful permission, and headed down to get a servant to direct them.
"Oh, sirs, you're not meant to be out!" said an exasperated maid they'd not met yet.
"I'm looking for where the police officers are, in Chudleigh's private study?" said Alex. "We're expected."
She relaxed. "All right, then," she said, and then explained how to get there in short, easy directions.
"Thanks," he said, and then they slipped behind one of the doors they hadn't been through yet and down a warmly decorated hallway to where he could hear voices coming from a closed door.
They paused, then Alex shrugged and knocked.
"If it's Alex, come in. If it's anyone else, go back to your rooms!" said Lapointe, sounding frustrated.
"Oh, dear," said Julian as they entered the room to find Miss Winterson sitting in a chair opposite where Lapointe was behind a heavy antique desk. "Have there been many interruptions?"
"More than there should have been," said Thomas darkly. "Coroner's almost here, along with the forensics van, so you two may get to go lifting spells soon."
"They've been ever so helpful," said Winterson, eyes shining bright and cheeks back to the flush of health. "They saved my life with that Dr. Tamlinson that Chuds is dating."
"How could we possibly let such a light go out?" said Alex.
Julian poked him through their bond, and gave him a look that meant he knew Alex was quoting.
She giggled and blushed happily, though, so he figured it was worth it. "Well, I'm almost done, I think?"
"Tell us again about your teacup," said Lapointe. "You've already remembered a lot more just by talking it through."
She sighed but did as instructed, and she did in fact remember several people passing by, couples chatting, a few individuals, some people who paused to join their conversation and others who didn't bother to stop.
It seemed she'd nearly let her tea go cold before ever sipping it, and had been considering a whole new cup that might have saved her, had she bothered.
She was still going when Thomas tugged them out into the hall and over to where the coroners and forensics guys were waiting.
Alex chose to go with the coroner first, figuring that was more urgent, and then they doubled back to release the parlour and other evidence while the coroner examined the first body.
No one was surprised when the result for Wicket was poisoning, exact type awaiting confirmation from toxicology. That got them going back upstairs to release Camellia's body, and Alex did that evidence as well since the forensics guys would be doing this room next.
Eventually they made their way back down to Lapointe, who was now interviewing one of the actual suspects, the easily offended Lady Halliwell.
"People are always assuming things, I find," she was saying haughtily, "and saying things they don't mean."
"That's especially true with the peerage," agreed Alex, coming in to find Lapointe looking like she might kill for a cup of coffee but was in fact too smart to ask for one while interviewing potential poisoners. "Forensics and the coroner are all set up."
"Were you nice to them?" asked Lapointe.
"Armistead wasn't here, so of course he was," said Julian teasingly. "I got a text that our Guardians are on the way, do you need us for anything right now?"
Lapointe sighed and shook her head. "No, no, I've got all your notes. We'll get rid of everyone later and have coffee when it's safe."
Alex saw something flash across Halliwell's face, but it was gone so fast he was half sure he'd imagined it. "No getting poisoned," agreed Alex.
"Again," added Julian. "We'll go find Smithson and get our rooms packed up, perhaps. I'm sure there's somewhere we can all six meet and chat."
"Sounds like a plan," said Thomas.
Halliwell seemed to be seething in place, as furious at being ignored as she was at being summoned.
Ah, well. She wasn't Alex's problem at the moment, so he left to find Smithson and, hopefully, some unpoisoned coffee.