Chapter Thirteen #2
“I understand that,” Gabriel said with a nod. “What happened after you left his home that day?”
“I had a meeting with my secretary regarding an upcoming trip then I went on to a dinner that included a few heads of state. It lasted long into the night, and once I returned home, I went straight to bed. Adelaide was home at that time. In fact, she’d curled up on one of the sofas in the drawing room, reading, and can attest to my movements. ”
The major rose to his feet. “Do you have any inkling who would have hated the duke enough to stab him multiple times to make certain he was dead?”
“To be honest, he has upset far too many men in the House of Lords, and the contacts he does business with.” The ambassador shrugged.
“The list is vast, and I know that isn’t helpful.
Did the various members of his family despise him?
I don’t know for certain, but it’s a good bet that they did.
” He tugged a pocket watch out and peered at it.
“I wish you fellows luck in solving this case, but I really must go.”
Gabriel nodded. “Thank you for your time. Mary did tell me she wanted to see you before you were off on your next trip.”
The other man nodded. “I shall call on you soon then.”
“I look forward to it, and Ambassador?”
“Yes?”
“Your daughter is quite exceptional. She deserves to be courted or matched with a man extraordinary in his own right, not with someone for position or wealth.” A muscle ticced in his cheek. “Please remember that.”
For the space of a few heartbeats, the ambassador stared at him. Then he nodded. “Thank you. I will, and I needed the reminder, because I agree with you.”
Seconds later, Gabriel was left alone with Major Kourier. “I don’t think he murdered the duke.”
“That was all too obvious,” the major said with sarcasm fairly dripping from his words. “Have you talked with the viscount’s lover?”
“The groom? Not yet.” He shook his head. “He is on my list. First, I need to stop by Whitehall and give Chief Inspector Morritson a report. No doubt he’ll be livid since I told him when I brought the earl in that the case was all but closed.”
The major headed toward the door. “Do you want moral support?”
“I wouldn’t say no.” God, why couldn’t he just find a moment of epiphany?
Whitehall
Westminster
Near St. James Park
“What kind of half-arsed field work was it to drag a damned earl into my office and all but accuse him of murder then come back the day afterward and tell me you think it might have been a mistake?” The chief inspector’s yell echoed off the walls of his office.
“I deserve your ire, of course.” Though it had been going on for at least ten minutes, and truly, it had grown a bit stale.
He folded his hands in his lap in a show of calm, yet inside, he seethed with annoyance.
“However, since you worked your way through the ranks at Bow Street, you should also know that investigating cases often provides mis-turns and dead ends. Preliminarily accusing someone of murder is part of the process.”
The larger man slammed his palm down on his desk as he glared at Gabriel.
“I authorized permission for you to consult on this case due to its high-profile nature, but during the course of your detective work, a fucking duke died! And apparently, you are no closer to solving this than you were at the beginning of the week!”
Then he proceeded to rant for the next few moments.
Gabriel wished that Kourier had been able to join him in the office, but the chief inspector had slammed the door without admitting the other man. In those seemingly endless minutes, the heat of anger brewed in his chest until it was fairly bursting out of him.
After shooting to his feet, he held up a hand.
“I beg your pardon, Chief Inspector Morritson, but I’m going to ask that you stop berating me.
” A muscle in his cheek twitched and he tamped down on the harsh response he wanted to unleash.
It would prove foolish to cut off the hand that fed him, so to speak, for he might need that passive income in the future.
“I am doing my level best and have worked on this case nearly every hour of the day since you gave it to me. Furthermore, I am a consultant for Bow Street, and that in no way gives you the right to dress me down as if I were one of your agents.”
“I am not done,” the other man said as his face began to redden.
“Well, I am. At least with this portion of my investigation. The longer I waste time here, the less time there will be for me to be out tracking down the person responsible for killing Boddingford.” He wrenched his top hat from one of the chairs and then jammed it on his head.
“But I was correct when I told you that the duke killed Mr. Corbett, and I’ll wager if you’d give me the authority to go through his personal effects, I’d find the pistol. ”
“I will not. That family has already been inconvenienced enough.”
“In truth, murder itself is most inconvenient.” When he didn’t receive a response, Gabriel blew out a breath.
“Now, I have a few other interviews to conduct, and yes, two of them are with the duke’s family.
I can’t help that they might not wish to talk with me, but in our world, killing your fellow man is still wrong, and the truth will come out. ”
Chief Inspector Morritson shook his head. “You were a good agent, Bright. Marrying a second time has diminished your capacity for edgy investigations.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I’d argue that marrying and having a family has brought me the opportunity to be more discerning due to compassion.
Gone are the days when a detective can go charging into someone’s life and demand the truth.
Investigating murder requires kid gloves and a gentle touch at times, because murder, like anything else, is a complex issue.
Only when the end is in sight can we become firm, but we must not lose our humanity along the way.
” Being with Mary and seeing his children thrive in their care had taught him that.
Then he gave a brief nod. “If you’ll excuse me. ”
Morritson surged to his feet. “The earl is expecting your apology.”
“He’ll have it once my investigation is completed.
” Out of the office, he made certain to slam the door behind him.
As soon as he met Major Kourier’s gaze in the waiting room, he shook his head.
“You have no idea how damned glad I am that I gave notice from this place when I did. I can no longer work within these short-sighted parameters.”
The major followed him into the corridor. “What will you do now?”
“What I have always done. Finish the case and shake the dust of this place from my boots, as the saying goes.” To his way of thinking, there were many ways of coming at an investigation and everyone had their own methods, but he’d be damned if he let someone intimidate him into thinking his way wasn’t valid.
What he needed right now was a council of war with his wife.