Chapter Twenty-One
TWENTY-ONE
“Remember to try to avoid using my name, Ernie,” said Alec, stopping for a moment to regard the facade of the small shop. With its blinds drawn, it had a secretive look that the unadorned, unrevealing sign did nothing to dispel. Only the OPEN card in the door was remotely welcoming.
DS Piper grinned. “Right, Chief. It wouldn’t do for them to put two and two together and realise Mrs. Fletcher put us on to them. She’s a wonder, is Mrs. Fletcher. Comes up trumps every time.”
“Not quite every time. All right, you go first.”
Gently, slowly, Piper pushed the door open. No more than a soft tink came from the bell intended to announce the arrival of customers. Treading with care, Alec followed him into the dimly lit shop.
After a swift glance around, Piper crossed the room with steps as light as a cat’s, towards the corner where a velvet curtain hung.
He leaned over the counter towards it. For a minute he listened intently.
Then he shook his head, returned to Alec, and whispered, “They’re talking foreign. Not French; prob’ly Russian.”
Alec turned back to open and close the door vigorously, making the bell jangle.
The curtain stirred. A woman’s hand laden with rings drew it back. She came through and let it drop behind her. “Good evening, messieurs. What may I do for you?”
She turned on an electric light and the shop brightened, though the décor was still on the gloomy side.
Alec noted that the light was directed downward at the counter.
Enough spilled elsewhere for him to note also that the young woman—about thirty, at a guess—was elegantly dressed, though with a somewhat old-fashioned air.
Perhaps it was her abundant dark hair that lent that impression.
Her features suggested too much strength of character for conventional prettiness, at least of an English kind.
She could be formidable—in the English sense, not the French—if she felt the need, Alec guessed. He wondered what had attracted Teddy Devenish to her.
While he studied her, Ernie had presented his warrant card. “Detective Sergeant Piper, madam. My chief and I would like to ask you a few questions.”
“You are police? You have not the uniforms.”
“Plainclothes branch, madam. You are Miss Zerverev?”
“Zvereva,” she corrected him, “but I do not expect the English to pronounce it properly. What is it that you wish to know?”
“I understand Edward Devenish was a friend of yours?”
“Ed—Ah, Teddy. Yes, Teddy was a customer who became a friend … of sorts. This is the proper expression, I think.”
“‘Of sorts’? Would you care to explain?”
“Teddy came first to shop to have ruby set as tie pin. Was beautiful stone from brooch of his aunt deceased, too large, too beautiful for gentleman. I tell him better several small stones. I am designer. This is my work, yes?”
“So I’ve heard, madam.”
“This is my … my professional judgement. I know what is proper. He is annoyed that I contradict.” She shrugged expressively. “He insisted. I was not pleased. Ruby is ost … ost…”
“Ostentatious?”
“Ostentatious, yes. The English do not like ostentatious. It is not good taste, though this I do not say to Teddy. But you have proverb: The customer is always right. I must earn living, no?”
“Of course, madam,” Ernie said stolidly.
“So, I promised to make very nice design pin to show off big ruby. I tell Teddy come back next day to see sketch. He comes, oh yes, he comes, and he brings flowers, big bouquet carnations. Is apology, he says, for not taking advice. He never listens to advice and never cares for opinion of other people. I discover later, this is truth.”
“You accepted his apology?”
“I cannot refuse. He brings perhaps more work.”
“Did he bring more work?”
“Yes, and he brings friends.” Miss Zvereva frowned. “Not friends. They do not like him, I think, and they do not wish to give work to me. He makes them come, against their wish. I do not know how.”
Alec saw Piper’s ears prick up, metaphorically.
“That’s very interesting, madam. Can you remember the names of any of these people?”
She hesitated. “You will not tell them? Some have give us more work though first they came unhappy. I do not want to spoil this.”
“I can’t promise, but it’s very unlikely we’ll need to tell them the source of the information.”
“All right,” she agreed, still hesitant. “I cannot easily recall these English names but I will recognise if I read in order book. I will make list for you.”
“That would be helpful, madam.”
“However, will not include those who did not order.”
“Never mind. It sounds as if Mr. Devenish was pretty helpful to your business?”
“Yes. My father was very grateful.”
“And you?”
“I also, of course,” she said too quickly.
Piper glanced at Alec. He had done very well so far but now he seemed uncertain how to proceed.
Alec stepped into the breach. “It’s difficult to be grateful to someone who demands gratitude, isn’t it, Miss Zvereva?”
“Impossible! But I must pretend or my father grows angry. The flowers, you comprehend. He believes Teddy is in love with me. He finds out from his … his good friends, Russian friends—”
“Cronies?”
“That is the word! Papa finds out that Teddy is rich. Not just one ruby he owns, but much money. Is good. Also, he finds out that Teddy is of nobility. He will be baron—no, not baron—baronet, yes?”
“Yes, when his father dies. Not quite nobility, but aristocratic.”
“Never will Papa let me marry to one who is not of good family. Russian nobility is best, but we are in England. With English aristocrat in family, we are safe. So my father believes.”
“And you, Miss Zvereva? You agree?”
Again her shoulders lifted in that so expressive shrug. “Perhaps. But when I marry it will be for love, not for money or safety.”
“Are you thinking of getting married?”
“What young woman is not? But I did not even like Teddy.”
“Why?”
“Why does one like one person and not another? To me, he was conceited and arrogant, always expected—no, ‘assumed’ is the correct word?”
“Your vocabulary is excellent.”
“My grammar not so,” she said ruefully. “No matter, if I am understood. Teddy assumed I will be always grateful and delighted by his courtship. To my father, he was too agreeable. Papa saw only good manners and deference. To Vasily Ivanovich, he—”
“Vasily Ivanovich?” Alec queried.
“Our gold- and silversmith. The person who makes from my designs.”
“D’you mind spelling that, madam?” Piper begged.
She obliged, then advised him, “Not everyone transcribes Cyrillic alphabet to Latin exactly same way. This is one possible. Surname is Petrov. You can spell?”
“Petrov. Yes, thanks.”
“Vasily Ivanovich is first class fine craftsman. Teddy treated him like servant.” Her contemptuous tone was clearly aimed at Devenish’s bad manners, not at Petrov, Alec thought.
“You told your father you didn’t care to marry Devenish?” he asked.
“I told him I did not believe he really wanted to marry me. I have heard stories. Teddy likes to … I do not know words.”
“Raise expectations?” Alec said dryly. “With no prospect of their fulfilment?”
“Yes!”
“We have heard such stories, too.”
“Stepan Vladimirovich—my father—refused to listen. He said an English gentleman would not behave so. He remind me I am thirty, may be last chance for husband.”
“Never give up,” said Piper staunchly. He was courting a young woman of about the same age.
Miss Zvereva flashed him a smile, the first they had seen. It transformed her face. If she smiled more often, she’d have no trouble attracting suitors, Alec decided. Whether any would be acceptable to both her and her autocratic papa was another matter.
“Did you give in to your father?” he asked.
“He is old man, not well. If I say ‘never will I marry Teddy,’ will be much argument, not good for him. And tiring for me! I did not agree to accept Teddy if he asked me. I tell Papa only, I will not … rebuff him. When Teddy jilt me, as I expect always, he blames me for not encourage enough.”
“He was angry with you, as well as with Devenish.”
“With me. Not so much with Teddy.”
“I’ve heard rumours of a breach of promise suit.”
“Rumours only. Teddy made no promise and wrote no letters. Lawyer tells my father, is no grounds for suit.”
“Which, I should think, just made him angrier.”
“Monsieur, if you believe my father killed Teddy, you will take one look and know it is not possible,” she said calmly. “I have answered many questions. I have been frank. Now I cannot spare you more time. I have much work to be done.”
“Just one more question: Where were you last Wednesday morning?”
“Here, as I am every morning except Sunday. I cannot risk losing customers because is no one to attend.”
“Did any customers in fact come in?”
“I do not remember Wednesday in particular but I can check in ledger. Will be noted—if we do business.”
“Very good. Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Zvereva. I appreciate your frankness.” Though he was dubious about parts of it. “We won’t keep you from your work any longer. I should like a few words with your father now.”
“Stepan Vladimirovich speaks very little English. You speak not Russian, I think? French?”
“Very little, I’m afraid. I’ll have to ask you to interpret for us. I’m sorry to keep you longer from your work.”
She frowned, leaning forward with her hands flat on the counter. “And if I refuse?”
“Then we’ll have to invite Mr. Zverev to accompany us to Scotland Yard where we can send for a Russian interpreter.”
For a moment she stared silently down at her hands. When she raised her head, Alec read anxiety in her eyes. “Very well. You leave me no choice. You will remember that the prince is old and in poor health. I shall go and prepare him.” She swept out through the curtained doorway.
“Quick,” said Alec in a low voice, turning to Piper, “refresh my memory about Russian princes.”